Deck the Halls

Carley Chimenti & Robert Dilworth December 2, 2023 • Daniel Island Club While living in Atlanta, Carley Chimenti and Robert Dilworth shared plenty of mutual friends, but with such differing personalities, it took pals a long time to set them up. Two years after finally hitting it off, the pair got engaged during a weekend getaway to Highlands, North Carolina, enjoying a surprise celebration with family the next morning. Though Carley admits she and her beau are opposites in many ways, they share a love for Christmas. As the two began planning December nuptials, “I really wanted to lean into the season without being too cliché,” she explains. To achieve their vision of a wintery soirée that played up the jolly holiday, the couple enlisted event designer Ellen Robinson. When planning a wedding around Christmastime, “it’s important to remember that it’s still a wedding,” advises Ellen. “You have to walk a line to make the day fun and festive but not a holiday party.” So the team relied on a palette of forest greens and champagne hues (while steering clear of red) to transform the Daniel Island Club ballroom. Luxe velvet tablecloths, soft draping, and glass hurricanes aglow in candlelight infused the space with an inviting warmth. Florist Marigold Charleston layered holiday evergreens with creamy blossoms atop door arches, chandeliers, and tables, including a towering display along the head table. Despite eschewing red in the décor, crimson found its way into the celebration, which fell on the day of another winter highlight: the SEC Championship. With fans from Alabama (Carley’s alma mater) and Georgia in attendance, Carley and Robert asked Studio R to print custom stickers to foster playful banter during cocktail hour. The band even played “Sweet Home Alabama” when the couple’s team won. Holiday cheer glittered in other ways, too, including a Christmas Fizz signature cocktail and an oyster ornament escort wall. At the reception, costumed elves handed out white Russians and light-up favors for the dance floor. And a friend dressed as Santa led the crowd in a raucous rendition of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.” The entire evening made for a merry celebration of marriage. Vendors Planning & Design: Ellen Robinson Events Venue, Catering, & Bar: Daniel Island Club Photography: Anne Rhett Photography Florals: Marigold Charleston Cake: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal Stationery & Signage: Studio R Calligraphy: May Kate Linder Linens: Social Spool Rentals: Curated Events, Emerson James, Cheers, Nüage Designs Entertainment: Charleston Virtuosi (ceremony), Perfect 10 Band (reception) Beauty: Patrick Navarro (hair), Lashes & Lace (makeup)