Discover CharlestonCharleston SC: 5 Wedding Secrets to Keep it Simple

By Holly Roberson, Guest Contributor 

Charleston SC, named “one of the most romantic cities ” by Travel + Leisure, is also ranked #2 behind Las Vegas for destination weddings.  Aside from the churches whose steeples dot the skyline, wedding venues abound in the Holy City.  Let’s face it, the historic city itself is a picture perfect backdrop for gorgeous photos and with so much to do, why get married anywhere else? 

As owners of one of the most historic wedding venues in downtown Charleston, The Gadsden House, we know what goes into a wedding and how to keep it elegant, yet simple. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with planning a wedding when the real focus should be celebrating the process of becoming husband and wife.  As a Charleston local, whose watched many brides overcomplicate the day, here are the five secrets I’ve learned that might help you in planning your Charleston SC wedding. 

1. Make a List

Every bridal blog out there gives this instruction, but it’s true. Make a directory of your entire family with full names and keep this one up-to-date (future family brides will thank you).  Then make a list of all your friends.  Decide how you both envision your day.  Intimate ceremony? Or a thousand of your extended friends?  Make the invite list, sit on it for a week, and re-read it.  You might realize you overlooked a name. Then, write each name as you want it on the invitations.  If you do formal invitations, the calligrapher will want all of this information on hand: full name, salutation, suffix, informal name, address. 

Tip: put the list on notecards in an index box and you’ll find yourself using it as a genuine rolodex that can include personal tidbits like birthdays, food allergies, a memory jogger about your future aunt-in-law who made the best casserole at Christmas, or the name of your cousin’s dog.  It will make your “thank you ” note writing legendary!

2. Get the gown

Of course Charleston has scores of bridal boutiques, so just about any wedding dress you can imagine can be found in and around the lowcountry.  Decide your style and then shop for it, or have it made.  I personally recommend having it made or hiring a stylist to do the leg work for you. A stylist will meet with you and then shop ahead for the perfect dress, for your perfect fit, at your budget.  It takes the stress out of the experience, so ultimately all you have to do is try them on.  For those who thrill in the thought of shopping a luxury boutique for that perfect gown, I will let you in on a secret – make it easy on yourself and get a ticket to the Junior League Bridal Boutique on January 21, 2017, hosted this year at the historic downtown Charleston venue, the Peter Bocquet House, better known (to us!) as our office at 95 Broad Street.  There will be new and vintage gowns for the bride, the mother of the bride and bridesmaids.  Thanks to the League’s fabulous donors, all proceeds from the purchase of these dresses will go to the Junior League’s worthy causes.

3. Have it Done

It might be apparent by now that my idea of keeping it simple is to have the experts do it all for you.  Well, that IS how you keep it simple – have as many details as you like, but have someone else coordinate them all for you.  Charleston has a fleet of wedding coordinators who will be as involved as you want them – we have an incredible in-house team at The Gadsden House.  They make everything seem easy because they know all the right experts to hire.  They have already interviewed every florist, photographer, caterer, makeup and hair stylist, venue coordinator and have probably even been to a wedding at any venue you can imagine.  A wedding planner will take your ideas and bring them to life.  He or she will also help with welcome packets, accommodations for out of town guests, and can even help you to rent our 1931 Bentley to arrive at your ceremony in Charleston style. 

4. Be Thankful 

Buy yourself some stationary for writing notes. Personalized stationary reflecting your monogram is an elegant touch. Both the bride and groom need personalized stationary. Family and friends go to great lengths to celebrate with a couple, so make sure they know you are grateful for them as quickly as you can and include individual details in your note.  Remember the first tip on the list? These notations can help you write a better note to your future extended in-laws. 

Tip: It is said the Princess Diana would sit in the morning and address envelopes for the day’s events so that she could immediately send a note while everything was fresh in her mind. 

5. Register 

It is humbling to register for wedding gifts, but do it.  When someone wants to buy a gift, the delight is in knowing that it will be well received.  Register for what you want and need in all price ranges – it helps your guests.  Be sure to register from a business that ships for those out of town guests. 

Tip: Complete a list of china, silver, and crystal patterns, as well as where you are registered, and give it to the bride and groom’s mothers.  They will be the ones getting the call from well wishers and having a handy list makes life easy for them. 

Note: Finding a venue can be another stressful aspect of wedding planning. So if you’re looking for a wedding venue in Charleston SC, Luxury Simplified offers breathtaking spaces for weddings and parties. From The Gadsden House, to our Broad Street office and everything in between …