Engagement: Jeff and Mary

Our latest couple, Jeff and Mary, are Ohio natives, but will be traveling south to Charleston for their wedding.



Mary was introduced to Jeff by her best friend, Joy. What are best friends for, if not to introduce us to our one-and-onlys? After their first encounter, Mary couldn't stop talking about how cute Jeff was and made sure to make an appearance out on the town whenever she knew Jeff would be there. The duo had their first date on New Year's Eve and there must have been something magical in the air that night because they've since shared 6 New Year's kisses! We are absolutely delighted to be working with this gorgeous couple and can't wait to see them walk down the aisle at the Creek Club at I'on.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's day is just around the corner and why not celebrate with some delicious delectables!

This gorgeous dessert table comes from Amy Atlas.

Valentine's day is a great excuse for a spread of girly barbie and ballerina pink hues, but these desserts could be made to fit any color scheme! We especially love the macaron tree.

Speaking of macarons, they seem to be everywhere. Don't you just love how effortlessly elegant they look? These Parisian delights can be created in a multitude of flavors and colors and they're perfect for parties- or as a special snack for your sweetheart. If you're adventurous enough to make them, Bakerella offers a great tutorial on making macarons with the French mastermind behind Tartelette.


If you'd rather have someone else do the dirty work- check out Williams Sonoma...


With flavors like pistachio, raspberry and espresso- they're bound to make a hit! How sweet would these be at a bridal or baby shower?

Of course, it wouldn't be Valentine's day without some chocolate. Chocolate covered strawberries are the way to every woman's heart... probably because we all know that chocolate calories don't count when you're eating fruit. How festive do these look?


You can make these ahead of time or make it a party and let your guests create their own! If you're really serious about your chocolate, you can get a fountain. We found this one on Amazon.

Chocolate fountains have been frequenting wedding receptions, but who says you need a party to smother your favorite foods in chocolate?

No matter what you do (or eat) this Valentine's day, we hope that you find yourself in the company of the ones you love.

Creature Comforts

You want your family and friends to feel comfortable at your wedding. Why not incorporate the comfort of home into your reception? Sure, when cousin Carl's not hitting up the open bar, he'll be dancing the night away... but Great Aunt Millie might need a place to rest her feet. A lounge provides the perfect ambiance for your guests to mingle and relax. These couch-laden areas are becoming more and more popular and we absolutely LOVE the idea! They're a fantastic way to both personalize and cozy-up the area for your special day.

Dubbed "cozy chic" by Brides.com, an assortment of candles adds subtle sophistication to this seating area.


The Knot features a twist on traditional seating.



Displaying photos and wine bottles add a personal touch to this area from Martha Stewart Weddings.

Indoor lounge areas are fabulous, but outdoor lounge areas seem to be all the more romantic. Imagine your guests lounging on a chaise while sipping champagne under the moonlit sky. Sounds perfect, right?

Strung lights make this evening reception from The Knot sparkle and the addition of blankets assures that guests will be warm as the sun goes down.


Brightly colored bouquets really freshen up this look from The Knot.



Sea foam green pillows accent this beach wedding from Martha Stewart Weddings perfectly.

This monochromatic white color scheme really stands out against the beautiful backdrop of this reception from Charleston Wedding magazine.



The bonus? Lounge areas make for a fantastic photo shoot!

Another great way to make your reception more home-y is to display photos. You can have childhood pictures of the bride and groom or even photos with friends and family. Why not offer a slide show or have picture frames depicting the moments in which you and your one-and-only fell in love? Remember those engagement photos? Perhaps you could scatter those throughout the reception area as well. Photos are inexpensive to print and chances are you already have some frames lying around that would be the perfect accompaniment to your wedding decor.

Check out this cool photo vase from Beaucoup.