Engagement: Ann and Ryan

Ann and Ryan met at a College of Charleston Alumni event, but it wasn't until their second meeting that the sparks really started to fly! A friend, who happened to be Ann's boss at the time, decided to play matchmaker and prompted Ryan to get Ann's number to ask her out. He did, and the rest is history!

Ann and Ryan dated for exactly four years before Ryan proposed to his lovely bride-to-be on April Fools Day, the fourth anniversary of their very first date!

This fun-loving couple will tie the knot on March 5, 2011! We are so excited to be a part of their beautiful day!

Gift Baskets for Out of Town Guests

Chances are you have guests traveling near and far to see you and your hubby-to-be tie the knot! So how do you let family and friends from out of town know how much you appreciate them celebrating your big day with you? Welcome Baskets are the perfect way to say thank you with a bit of personality!

One of our favorite Charleston vendors for welcome baskets and bridal party gifts is Seaside Gift Baskets. Whether you’re welcoming your guests to your wedding weekend or thanking your bridal party for being a part of your special day; they have gorgeous items for everyone!

Your bridesmaids would absolutely love a fun basket like this!

And this Charleston theme basket is just the thing to give guests who may not be familiar with the area!

There are so many great Charleston items to include in your welcome basket, these are a few of our favorite ideas!

As Charleston is one of the south's oldest and greatest cities (and who doesn’t love this fabulous city?!), why not give your friends and family a little piece of this southern town's oldest past times! Use baskets made of sweetgrass and make sure you include gorgeous sweetgrass roses, such as these.

A visitor’s guide, some yummy pralines, and of course an item decorated with our beautiful South Carolina Palmetto Tree, also make wonderful items to include in your guests welcome basket! And don’t forget a bottle of wine from Irvin-House Vineyards, Charleston’s only domestic winery!

These seashell coasters from Crate & Barrel would add a great coastal flair to a guest welcome basket!

Finally, send your guests home with the ability to bring some of that southern flavor into their kitchen at home. The Junior League of Charleston’s cookbooks include some of the finest and most exclusively southern recipes!! They are currently celebrating their 60th year in print and all the delicious recipes were contributed by Charleston natives throughout the years. Your guests will be sure to fall in love with our southern food while visiting local restaurants in Charleston, so why not send them home with some of the best of southern recipes!

How Sweetgrass Social can help you!

With the summer nearing to an end, we're gearing up for a busy fall season packed with lots weddings and parties. At Sweetgrass Social, we strive to create extraordinary events that reflect our clients' vision, personality and style. If you see a wedding in your future, we'd love to help with your big day.

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Top 3 Reasons to colloborate with a Wedding Coordinator:

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Time

We know that y'all are busy people! Between work priorities, social gatherings and hanging out with family, you may not have a lot of time to devote to creating seating charts, planning a menu or handling flower arrangements. Working with an event coordinator takes a lot of responsibility off of your shoulders and allows you to relax and enjoy your engagement. We're there for you every step of the way and always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that your event exceeds your expectations.

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Money

Many brides and grooms-to-be see planning their wedding themselves as a way to make the event more affordable. While hiring an event planner may seem extravagant, it can actually save you money in the long run. We're always on the look-out for the best deals and we know how to cut costs. Because we've established relationships with our favorite vendors, we're able to help you create the event of your dreams, while keeping the costs within budget.

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Knowledge

Event coordinators have a vast knowledge of weddings, etiquette and local resources. Whether you're trying to decide when to send out your save-the-dates, how to address your invitations, or where to find the best bakery in town, we can assist with every detail it takes to make your day perfect. We have preferred vendors and a firm grasp on what the Charleston area has to offer. We've scoured the city for the very best and we'd love nothing more than to share our knowledge with you!

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If you or someone you know is planning a Charleston wedding, please visit our Web site and don't hesitate to contact us at sweetgrasssocial@gmail.com. We can't wait to hear from you!

The Charm of Charleston: There's Always Room for Brunch!

In Charleston, brunch isn't just another meal, it's a way of living. Some Charelstonians spend hours enjoying leisurely brunches each and every Saturday or Sunday morning. In fact, many of Charleston's restaurants offer Sunday brunch specials.

We've spent many-a-morning enjoying scrumptious food and good company and wanted to share some of our favorite spots with y'all.

If you're planning a wedding in Charleston, brunch is the perfect setting for a bridal shower, bridal luncheon or post-wedding get-together. There are tons of places to get a delicious brunch. We've done some research (it's a tough job, but someone's got to do it!) and here is a sampling of our favorites:

Charleston's Cafe

Formerly on King Street, this Mount Pleasant locale offers huge portions and low country specialties- fried green tomato eggs benedict, anyone? If you go, you must try the cinnamon-infused sweet tea!

Virginia's on King

This local favorite offers up bottomless mimosas for brunch. It always has a quiche special and the she crab soup is a Charleston must!

Tristan

Along with an array of gourmet dishes and an impressive list of brunch cocktails, Tristan offers live jazz music every Sunday for brunch.

Old Village Post House

Located in the quaint old Mount Pleasant, Old Village Post House is the place to dine for the ultimate low country feast. The bonus? It also offers six rooms above the restaurant that you can rent to stay in. Talk about bed and breakfast... this would be a great place for guests to stay during your wedding weekend.

Hominy Grill

Hominy Grill is another local favorite offering up a slue of southern specialties. With freshly baked breads and biscuits, It's always packed for brunch and the outdoor seating is a summer must!

Among our other favorites are High Cotton, Morgan Creek Grill, and Marina Variety Store.

Save the Date

Save the Dates are great ways for a couple to show off their creative side! Whether you choose the traditional route of sending a card with a picture of yourselves or do something a little more modern like creating a magnet for the fridge, there are plenty of ways to let your guests know about your big day!

We’re huge fans of some of these Save the Dates from Etsy:

　

If you want to spice things up a bit and take a non-traditional approach for your Save the Dates, we have just the thing for you! Save the Date Films, located right here in Charleston, creates save the date videos for couples to send out as dvds and post on their wedding website. How cute is that?! We absolutely love this because it really gives couples a chance to show off who they are in their own unique way!

Check out The Knot for more Save the Date tips!