Bridal Blossoms
Buy the Bunch owner Paula Simon enjoyed gardening and working with flowers long before she decided to open a flower shop 18 years ago. “I had taken floral design courses earlier in my life and loved it,” Simon says. “I have always had a passion for gardening and working with flowers. When I found the business was for sale I decided to take a leap of faith.”
Tuned In
For Steve Harry, a partner at EastCoast Entertainment’s Charleston branch, tailoring the soundtrack to a couple’s wedding night is the most fun part of his job. “We listen to everybody’s taste in music, which is all different,” he says. “And once we hear what they’ve envisioned, we use our roster to match ideas that fit their taste, the wedding date and their budget.”
Painterly Perspective
We’re sure you’ve seen plenty of wedding photos, but what about a wedding painting? Laura Martindale Welch, owner of Artistic i Wedding, is a painter who will come to your wedding and paint a scene of your choice from life. The most popular choice for couples, she says, is the first dance, but she can do any scene that you prefer, whether that’s the moment you and your spouse-to-be become husband and wife or the bouquet toss.
Like the Romans
When it comes to style, you could do worse than to trust the Italians. Case in point: Campo Marzio, a fine accessories boutique that originated in Rome circa 1933. Larry and Shannon Gillespie opened the Charleston location—the first in North America—last fall after encountering the brand during a trip to Venice. The store specializes in handcrafted, Italian leather items like handbags, portfolios, and laptop and iPad cases, as well as fine writing accessories and other pieces for the home.
Flavor Crave
It’s a bit tragic that most brides and grooms never get to sample the food at their own weddings because—let’s be honest—it’s often the high point of the event. Whether it’s a formal sit-down meal, a casual buffet or a cocktail reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres, a good menu will haunt people’s memories.
With 22 years of experience in the culinary world, chef Michael Petrillo of cRaVE Catering knows a thing or two about creating a memorable meal, no matter where it’s being served. “We are very flexible in meeting the customer’s needs,” catering manager April Romanelli says. “We can adapt to any situation, whether it be in a field with no running water or a boat in the middle of the harbor, and still ensure complete satisfaction.”
Precious Moments
Her career as a local wedding and family photographer has flourished in Charleston for 13 years now, but Lea Austen’s knack for capturing special moments has been building for a lifetime. Relating to her subjects on and off film is where her passions lie.
Doctor Love
In the oversaturated world of Pinterest and 10-pound wedding magazines, it can be difficult to visualize the look of your perfect wedding day. Event Dining Rental Solutions (DRS) skips the guessing game by inviting clients into their 30,000-square-foot warehouse—and they’ve got a lot more than table settings on display.
The company started out simply enough by selling crystal stemware and plates, but when customers began asking if they could rent their wares, Event DRS decided to shift direction. Based on customers’ requests, the company expanded their inventory with new styles of china, stemware, linens and more. Then they branched out even further, offering handmade farm tables, antique bars, lighting and other decor.
Lawfully Wedded
Working as a full-time chaplain at a local hospital, life can be stressful for Lynn Brown Conklin—but you won’t hear her complaining about it. She thrives in a high-pressure environment, so when she officiates a wedding, it almost feels like a piece of cake.
Say Yes to the Dress
The ladies of Maddison Row bridal salon want their brides to feel special. So special, in fact, that they essentially shut down the shop for each and every customer. Working exclusively by private appointments, the boutique gives each bride the focused attention they deserve.
Pretty in Pink
There is this really amazing moment after applying makeup on a woman when she looks at herself in the mirror and sees a reflection that she hasn’t seen in a really long time—if ever at all,” Pink Dot Beauty Bar owner Meghan Rae Walker says. “I know firsthand how empowering it can be to feel great in your own skin.”
