Engagement: Emily and Chuck

Love stories in hospitals don't only happen in the story lines of Grey's Anatomy! Carolina's Hospital in Florence, SC is the location where this special love story began. Emily and Chuck met at work and after a little flirting in the doctor's lounge, they eventually went to dinner with a group of mutual friends.



Chuck planned the perfect first date: a picnic at Lynches River State Park with wine, cheese and little sandwiches. It was here that the two discovered their shared dislike for tomatoes... but the similarities didn't stop there. Both Emily and Chuck grew up on farms, both of their mothers are English teachers and they have many mutual family names. Emily's mother's name is Mary and her sister's Kathleen. Chuck's mother's name is Mary Kathleen and his sister's Emily. How sweet is that?

The smitten couple tried to keep their romance under wraps at work, but it wasn't long before everyone knew! Chuck popped the question on October 15th and the two are anticipating a beautiful wedding at the Dillon church that Emily grew up in followed by a reception in Florence, SC. Their wedding weekend will be a gorgeous combination of classic country chic and Emily's Scottish heritage. We can't wait to celebrate with them on May 1st!

Monique Lhuillier Trunk Show!

Maddison Row is a chic bridal boutique in downtown Charleston. With to-die-for designer gowns and sweet, southern hospitality, Maddison Row offers an intimate experience for each bride-to-be.

At the end of the month, Maddison Row will be hosting a Monique Lhuillier trunk show! We absolutely adore these gowns. This is definitely an event that you won't want to miss! Details are as follows...

Monique Lhuillier Trunk Show Event

~ The "BEST OF" Bridal Collection ~

January 28, 29 & 30

Come see a special assortment of the renowned designer's favorite gowns from the newest collection that hit the runway in October to gowns from the previous two collections!!!!

Trunk show is by appointment only. Brides will receive 10% off on any gown order. Call 843-720-7979 to schedule an appointment soon!!!

Uncork your Creative Side..

So we at Sweetgrass Social have been known to enjoy a glass of wine (or two) and thought we'd devote a blog post to a few of our favorite things: crafts, recycling and, of course, wine.

If you, too, are a wine connoisseur- or just enjoy a glass of vino every now and then- you might find yourself with a lot of empty bottles and corks laying around. Instead of tossing them in the recycling bin, why not reconstruct them into something useful? These projects are super simple and perfect for all skill levels of crafters. They're stunning for every day decorating, but would also be great conversation starters at your next party!

Our very own Meredith created this wreath that also doubles as a beautiful candle center piece.

The wine cork board. (The one pictured below is from WineIntro.) This idea comes from the queen of all things crafty: Martha Stewart. Check out this video with step-by-step instructions.

Okay, maybe you aren't into do-it-yourself projects, but would still like to pass something off as your own creation. Have no fear. For just 15 bucks, you can purchase this trivet kit from Gifted Grape. The kit supplies you with the wood frame. All you need to do is pop your wine corks in and- voila- an adorable trivet!

Have a wedding reception or dinner party coming up? Wine cork place card holders (from Good Housekeeping) are both unique and fun. These rustic, yet elegant place card holders are perfect for any occasion. How cute would these be as cheese labels at your next wine and cheese get together?

Now, unto making use of all of those bottles you have laying around...

These lighted wine bottles (from Mixing Bowl) are sophisticated AND easy on the pocket. All you'll need is glue, a drill, and lights. No need to put away those leftover holiday lights yet- just put them into an empty bottle and you've got a great, inexpensive lamp. These would make great mood lighting for your next romantic dinner or cocktail party!

This eclectic chandelier comes from Oregon Live. The assortment of colors, shapes, and sizes gives the light fixture a fresh look.

If you don't have quite enough patience for the chandelier, consider making these candle holders (from EarthFirst).

Still haven't seen something that you'd like to try? Why not make your own herb-infused olive oil and pour it into a wine bottle as a hostess gift? Or use one as a dish soap dispenser? The possibilities are endless!

We suggest a glass of chardonnay to help get your creative juices flowing.

Engagement: Jessica and Todd

We're so excited to work with Jessica and Todd and be a part of their May wedding here in Charleston. Their story began 2 years ago at the Music Farm in downtown Charleston. When they met, sparks flew! They were engaged one year later. You all know we love a good engagement story, and below is theirs in Jessica's own words.

The couple became engaged during the 2008 holiday season. Todd surprised Jessica by taking her to the James Island Festival of Lights, a local favorite holiday activity in the Lowcountry. As they walked around, Todd kept waiting for that perfect moment to pop the question. However, by the time they made it to the end, he still had yet to ask. So he suggested a second time around, at which time he immediately asked, and with a big smile on her face, Jessica replied YES!





The couple will be married on May 1, 2010 at Magnolia Plantation’s Carriage House. Stay tuned for pictures and more details!

Dreaming of Spring

The weather outside may still be chilly, but we're thinking warm thoughts as we gear up for the spring wedding season. The holidays have proven to be a popular time for engagements and we're thrilled to work with some amazing couples as they prepare for their weddings in the near future.

It's no surprise that spring is a popular time for weddings in Charleston... the toasty temperatures, beautiful beaches and stunning scenery make the holy city the perfect venue for a spectacular event.

Speaking of spring, check out this refreshing color palette. Sea-inspired shades of blues and greens are popping up everywhere and they are perfect for a spring or summer wedding.

This gorgeous bouquet is featured on Real Simple.

A fun bow tie from Southern Proper.

The always classy Vineyard Vines offers some great beach-themed pieces: seersucker club pants, gingham shirt, scallops headband.

The classic Ralph Lauren oxford.

Martha Stewart Weddings features these elegant cluster earrings from twistonline.com and cucumber-garnished gimlet...... as well as these creative sky blue and hydrangea cakes.

Dresses in bright seaside and bright hydrangea by J.Crew.

Spring green shell pendant necklace on Etsy from Birds Eye Designs.

Happy New Year!

Can you believe another year has come and gone?

As we bring in the new year and celebrate fresh beginnings, we thought it'd be fun to take a look at some of our most cherished wedding traditions.

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. We're all familiar with this adage, but did you know that the actual saying ends with and a silver sixpence in her shoe? It's an old English poem and a bride who has each good luck token on her wedding day is said to have a happy marriage.

If you're in need of something blue (or something new, for that matter), we love this gorgeous satin garter by Peterene Design. Speaking of garters, did you know that originally, brides used to toss their garters instead of their bouquets? In fact, European wedding guests used to try to grab the bride's garter themselves, as having a piece of the bride's clothing was believed to bring good luck. The custom changed in the 14th century to the husband retrieving and tossing the garter after brides were tired of fighting off drunken men. Change can be a good thing!

Today, brides from all over the world celebrate with unique traditions. From beautiful Mehndi designs (temporary body art made from a paste of henna leaves and water) on the hands of Indian brides...

... to guests signing the bride's shoes in Turkey.

The Turkish bride asks her single bridesmaids and relatives to sign the soles of her shoes before she walks down the aisle. When all of the dancing and wedding festivities are finished, the person whose signature has faded the most is said to be the next to marry. For more traditions from around the world, check out The Knot.

For a local look at wedding wear from years past, check out the Charleston Museum's Aisle Style: 150 Years of Wedding Fashion.The exhibit will be on display through the end of June.

So, here's to 2010. May we honor the traditions that have been enjoyed by so many happy couples and be inspired to start some new ones along the way. Cheers!