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Pretty Preppy

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Michelle Christian & Edward Eakin; September 13, 2008, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church & The William Aiken House

Photographs by:

Squire Fox

“We used a green and white paisley pattern everywhere, on the invitations and throughout the décor,” explains designer Kate Badger Little of Soirée by Tara Guérard.

BONUS WEB PHOTO: Upload your own images and artwork to sites like www.stamp.com to pull the stationery suite together.

BONUS WEB PHOTO: If you have a lot of out-of-towners, make it easier on them by including a map of your wedding weekend hot spots when you send out invitations.

BONUS WEB PHOTO: Absolutely Charleston supplied this old city bus to shuttle guests around downtown.

BONUS WEB PHOTO: Festive wreaths mark the entrance to the reception site; the organic materials and pale greens and pinks blend with the garden’s natural ambience.

BONUS WEB PHOTO: Design cards like these using clipart downloaded from the Web and personalized in programs like Word and Photoshop, then print and hang with craft store ribbon.

BONUS WEB PHOTO: Michelle’s all-white bouquet tempered the bridesmaids’ boldly colored versions, making it a bride-worthy standout.

Bridesmaids wore varying dresses from J. Crew in the same shade of orange sherbet, donned sassy pumps, and carried orange dahlias.

BONUS WEB PHOTO: Instead of the traditional bow, these flower girls leave you with a glimpse of their duty.

Paper cones filled with flowers served as pew markers at the church.

The Rev. Dr. David Williams (with his good-luck dog, Abigail) presided over the service at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.

The newlyweds share a first moment as husband and wife.

Symbolizing the reception’s funky-meets-high-style vibe, floating IKEA chairs offered guests a unique place to perch, while vivid green acrylic chandeliers lit up the night.

Since Michelle’s family hailed from the Northeast, clam chowder shots and mini lobster rolls were served up during the cocktail hour.

In lieu of a separate wedding party table, the bride and groom picked tablemates based on who they hadn’t spent quality time with during the busy weekend. “When they realized they were sitting with us, they felt truly welcome,” Michelle says.

Custom-made table linens in green were trimmed in purple and orange to suit the vivid walls of the William Aiken House.

Michelle changed into a shorter, more danceable dress when Joe Clarke's Big Band took the stage with Frank Sinatra songs and beach tunes. The next day, she and Jeb headed to The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island. “We opted for a honeymoon 40 minutes away from our reception,” Michelle says. “It was one of the best decisions we made!”

BONUS WEB PHOTO: Purple flip-flops let guests dance the night away in comfort.

garden “lounge” lit with tin-drum lanterns. WISE KEEPSAKE: Guests penned “Words to Live by” for the couple.

Seagrass couches and love seats filled a garden “lounge” lit with tin-drum lanterns.

In lieu of a traditional wedding cake, Jim Smeal’s coconut cake, pecan pie tartlettes, and mini peach cobblers and A Matter of Taste’s macaroons covered the dessert table.

BONUS WEB PHOTO: If you saturate your tablescape with color, keep dishes neutral.

BONUS WEB PHOTO: Servers and bartenders wore Boston Red Sox caps during cocktail hour—a surprise from the bride to the groom.

BONUS WEB PHOTO: French macaroons were a sweet favor for guests.

BONUS WEB PHOTO: Miniature carrot cakes worked the reception’s orange and green palette onto the dessert buffet.

Krispy Kreme doughnuts in dressy to-go boxes ended the night with an homage to a Southern fave.