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.

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!