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Down by the River

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Martha Kent Jenkinson & Michael Runey October 25, 2008, Church of the Holy Communion & Lowndes Grove Plantation

Photographs by:

Bradford Kachelhofer

Wreaths of moss and white Phalaenopsis orchids graced the doors of the Church of the Holy Communion.

SIMPLE AND ELEGANT White phaleonopsis orchids on a moss wreath adorned the doors of the Church of the Holy Communion

LEMON TWIST When planning the wedding, Mary Kent thought that the bright yellow would be an accent, but she soon fell in love with the color and wanted to have more of it.

PURE AND SIMPLE The fragrant and lovely bride's bouquet in dramatic shades of white used hydrangea, lisianthus, anemones, freesia, and ranunculus.

The couple’s nieces wore Vera Wang flower girl dresses and ivy and curly willow halos.

SUNSET BEAUTY Lowndes Grove Plantation shines any time of day, but the sunset reflecting on the water made a dramatic scene for Martha Kent's and Michael's reception.

Martha Kent accessorized her Melissa Sweet gown with earrings and a garter borrowed from her mother and grandmother.

BAR NONE In order to serve the large group of guests, a four-sided bar was created under the large tent. Antique mirrors highlighted the glassware on mahogany-stained bookshelves.

Sweet cool mojitos were served in tall Zombie glasses tied with lily grass.

The centerpieces on the dining tables featured white lisianthus, hydrangeas, and greenery with yellow cockscomb celosia.

esigner Lisa Thomas chose not to put a tent over the tables because the live oaks formed their own protective canopy.

PALMETTO PERFECTION Bright green palmetto fronds in antique bottles accent the simple tables with great panache.

Martha Kent says she found as much inspiration in her favorite home design publications as she did on the pages of wedding magazines, so Lisa created a mix of modern and antique furnishings. The riverside seating areas, which Lisa dressed with native foliage, made for a sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere and allowed guests to relax comfortably with food and drinks.

QUICK CONES Edible cups filled with crab salad are easily passed around to guests.

uests enjoyed a buffet-style menu that included seafood from Fish and bites from Brown’s Bar-B-Que in Kingstree, Martha Kent’s hometown. Crab salad and spicy tuna filled these edible cups for clever appetizers.

ITALIAN BITES Traditional Italian Caprese salad takes on bite-size form with small skewers of tomato, basil, and mozzarella drizzled with balsamic vinegar.

After nightfall, guests gathered by the fire pit, where artisans from Lianos Dos Palmas rolled cigars. “That was a very popular area,” says Lisa.

A large four-sided bar was necessary to serve the more than 400 guests, but it also formed a decorative focal point. Antique mirrors, corner lamps, and a chandelier covered in a perforated drum illuminated the tent and cast a starry glow onto the evening.

Jim Smeal of Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal created three wedding cakes—one each of coconut, chocolate, and lemon-key lime—decorated with delicate icing fern fronds and actual ranunculus blossoms, one of Martha Kent’s favorite flowers.

ALL OF THE ABOVE The wedding cake taste testing can be the most fun and most daunting decision in wedding planning. But Martha Kent and Michael opted for several of Jim Smeal's tasty creations with three smaller cakes instead of one larger cake.

FLAVORFUL FOLIAGE Each of the three wedding cakes by Jim Smeal was decorated with ranunculus blossoms and sweet icing greenery.

SILVER SERVING The natural floral and leafy themes of the decor are even seen in the cake servers.

UNIQUE ANTIQUES When Lisa Thomas of Ooh! Events met the bride and her family, they bonded over their mutual love of antiques such as this iron and crystal chandelier used in one of the tents.

RIVER BREEZES Lisa Thomas of Ooh! Events created luxurious tented rooms on the riverbanks for guests to take a break from dining and dancing.

Guests enjoyed the evening breezes off the water in imported tents fitted with chic sofas and chairs.

COMFY CUSHIONS Yellow accent pillows with soutache details welcomed guests to the seating areas during the evening.

Golden Beginning

Wedding Design by lisa thomas