In need of some table inspiration? Possibly within the color palette of melon and cornflower blue? You’re in luck! We are excited about our recent feature on Martha Stewart Weddings blog: A Brides Guide. In collaboration with Kristin Newman Designs we took inspiration from the colors of the morning sunrise to create this fresh and simple brunch table setting.

Lindsey Nowak of KND arranged for us to shoot at The Ordinary. The Ordinary is a new “dining must!” The restaurant is no doubt a Charleston gem. During its pre-The Ordinary days it was a bank. You can only imagine the amount of character this place has! Go if you haven’t been!

Natural light streamed through the windows as we set up. If you don’t know this already… photographer Corbin Gurkin OWNS natural light. She is oh so talented! Really enjoyed working with her on this project! While Corbin was working her magic we were busy assembling props and making sure every detailed was accounted for.

Our behind the scenes action and contribution to the project is best illustrated by Kristin Newman in her recent blog post:

Heather chose mokara orchids and parrot tulips to bring cheer to the brunch setting. She pulled the lovely tinted juice glasses and bowls from her “private collection” of specialty pieces. Mary Ruth brought visual texture to the table with patterned place mats and delicately etched champagne flutes. Lots of fun was had behind the scenes while Mary Ruth perfected and taught us all the art of melon-balling, following a great demonstration from Heather! (not as easy as it looks!)

My favorite find of the season are these beautiful handmade copper boxes that I sashed with satin ribbon. They are perfect for holding a small, personal gift to guests! Thank you to Shira Savada, Real Weddings Editor for Martha Stewart Weddings, who invited us to create a table setting in this specific color palette! Shira has a special eye for bringing classic and current beauty to bridal! She’s a superstar in the world of Bridal Media and we are proud to call her a colleague and friend here at Barrie Newman! 

It was a pleasure working together on the project as always. Stay tuned for many more to come! Melon ball demonstrations are welcome at the next gig!

From the moment Lauren showed us and Kristin Newman Designs her wedding style file – full of rich jewel tones, texture, and composition – we were eager to get started! Lauren and John’s passion for one another, is evident in their photos. This dreamy couple was inspired by flavorful flood, a zest for life, and longed to celebrate with close family and friends, in an atmosphere that seemed warm and inviting. It is ALWAYS an honor exceeding our bride and grooms expectations, in bringing to life a wedding day they had always envisioned. We strive to get to know the bride and groom, to bring in personal touches here and there and really make the wedding their own. In this blog post we share a few inside details from the bride herself. After reading this post and viewing the video clip by Blink of an Eye Photography, we hope you too, get an idea of this special day that took place last April at the Daniel Island Club.

All flower arrangements had been carefully crafted – each its own design. All had been arranged in an array of silver vessels, collected from past generations from the brides family. Guests dined under hanging bell jar lanterns and 10-foot trees planted in one of a kind terra-cotta pots. The tables were set with a hammered glass charger outlined in a silver rim, and accompanied by a custom screen printed napkin.

From the words of Lauren:

“John and I met 2008 through a mutual friend at a birthday party. Over the years we pieced together that our paths had crossed multiple times before that day, but for one reason or another we had never met. From the moment we finally did, our conversation flowed so effortlessly and our love progressed so naturally that it seemed obvious we were meant to be. In each other, we found home and felt like the luckiest people in the world for it. These sentiments inspired every element of our wedding weekend.”

“When I define home, I immediately think of my mom. She has this way of mixing textures, patterns, colors, time periods, cultures, and price points in her decor. Despite the meticulousness that goes into creating her rooms, the ambiance is effortlessly warm, comfortable, and home-y. You still want to nap on the couch, which, while being beautiful and interesting, is beyond cozy. We wanted our wedding weekend to feel like this.”

“We come from colorful and diverse backgrounds, which encouraged many of our choices. From our Latin-themed rehearsal dinner inspired by John’s Puerto Rican heritage to our love letters recited at the wedding ceremony, each detail reflected our personal stories. Family heirlooms lined the tables at the reception. Cousins contributed hand calligraphy to the invitations and place cards and home-backed brownies to the dessert table.”

 For more photos see Lauren and John featured on The Wedding Row:

http://theweddingrow.com/lauren-john-daniel-island-club/

Also, be sure to watch Lauren and John’s wedding story by Blink of an Eye Photography:

https://blinkofaneyephotography.com/lauren_john_w/

Well folks its hard to believe it is already that time of year… Charleston’s central park, Marion Square, is BUZZING. After a successful Southeastern Wildlife Exposition in February, March is hot to trot with BB&T’s Charleston Wine and Food Festival. The official kick off took place last night at the South Carolina Aquarium. Today started with a breakfast at The Grocery followed by a number of exciting events happening throughout this weekend in restaurants, private homes, and other venues around Charleston.

Before we get ahead of ourselves first things first, BB&T’s Charleston Wine and Food: Festival After Hours PARTAY! We cannot WAIT to reveal our tricks for 2013. This is our second year as planners and designers for this event, which takes place tomorrow night at the Bus Shed. The Bus Shed is approximately 400 feet long, stretching across the block from John Street to Ann Street. Twenty-one food vendors, wine, liquor, and beer sponsors, as well as an entourage of performers will be there to entertain guests from start to finish. Jenny Broe, Executive Director at DanceFX of Charleston and The Charleston Dance Project, has been working side by side with Kristin Newman Designs to create a night chock-full of back to back choreographed dance routines, a deejay battle with DJ Rehab vs. DJ C. Nile, an aerial artist, and a drumming ensemble.

The costumes the performers are wearing will knock your socks off! BUT let’s not forget the amazing decor planned by Gathering Floral + Event Design. Last night Heather and I operated a boom lift to reach the rafters, installing flags of all nations from one end to the other. Specialty lounges, representing three different countries, will be housed under 10×20 tent structures and adorned with customized lighting and decor.  Production Design Associates will start their rig manning all lighting, sound duties, and backdrops to create a good time for us all.This year we are bringing “international love” to a whole new level! All this talk about global warming… you’re really going to feel the heat tomorrow night!

Photos from 2012′s TAKING IT TO THE STREETS! : 

http://www.gatheringevents.com/wp/events/food-wine-fest/

http://charlestonwineandfood.com/about-the-festival/photo-gallery/?id=72157629227978402

See what Charleston Wine + Food has to say about our event:

“If you thought the 2012 Festival After Hours was a great party, you haven’t seen anything yet! This year’s event will return to the expansive Bus Shed and will feature a new international twist to bring an even wider variety of food, drinks, performers and music. Experience cuisine and beverages representing a variety of countries for an evening that’s sure to be a party in every language! Guests are encouraged to dress in attire inspired by their favorite feature country.” – Wine + Food Festival

If you are unfamiliar with this exciting weekend please do enlighten yourself… 

“The annual BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival celebrates the best that the city of Charleston, SC has to offer: a local food culture rich in tradition, James Beard award-winning chefs, and the top U.S. city and top destination in the world, according to Conde Nast Traveler’s 2012 Readers’ Choice Awards. The four-day event, praised as one of the top five food and wine festivals in the U.S. by Forbes Traveler, infuses home-grown flavor with the most celebrated chefs, culinary professionals, and winemakers in the world. The Festival, a non-profit organization, benefits local culinary scholarship programs aimed at producing our future culinary workforce.” – Wine + Food Festival

 We could not be more excited to see Kristen and Matt’s wedding featured on The Wedding Row! They were such a wonderful couple to work with. No doubt they will have a happy marriage for years to come! See their September wedding featured here: http://theweddingrow.com/kristen-matt-william-aiken-house/

Photos by: Jennifer Bearden

Happy Tuesday! Excited to start the day off with a post by Shira Savada, Real Weddings Editor, on Martha Stewart Weddings: The Brides Guide. We were thrilled when Caitlin and Aaron showed up on the Barrie Newman doorstep. Kristin Newman Designs was enlisted as the planner and we all worked hand in hand on most all aspects of the wedding design. The most inspiring part was how Caitlin and Aaron met…

The couple met in a teaching program (offered by their college) at a women’s federal prison in California. We LOVE a new and different Charleston venue to work in, so what could be more perfect then the Old Charleston Jail? Their budding romance in jail became the overall wedding concept. From printed materials by Stitch Design Company and Sideshow Press, to the amazing avant-garde florals carefully crafted by Heather, this wedding was a one of a kind beauty. Chrisman Studios captured the moments and details shared on this special evening in late May.

More photos and details: http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/326242/real-weddings-caitlin-and-aaron-charleston-south-carolina/@center/272506/destination-weddings#319290

In early May, Eleanor and I loaded the Penske truck and hit the road with specialty furniture in tow. We had the pleasure of working with the gals at Kristin Newman Designs on Laura and Preston’s wedding in Atlanta, Georgia. Our furniture was used to create a Vanity Fair spin to the bridal party portraits, as well as lounge alongside the dance floor.

Just as Reagan Barnes mentioned in a recent post on the KND blog, “the furniture was tucked between the towering columns lining both sides of the room. The vignettes were designed to create quaint intimacy in such a stately ballroom.” Recently this wedding has been featured in Southern Living Weddings Magazine as well as the blog: Grey Likes Weddings and we are thrilled!

To see more photos by the talented Ali Harper visit the Grey Likes Weddings post: http://www.greylikesweddings.com/real-weddings/color/grey-weddings/piedmont-driving-club/ OR pickup a copy of the Southern Living Weddings Magazine on newsstands now!

Today we were in full on assembly mode! We couldn’t be happier with how well Colleen and John Paul’s Save the Date turned out. This Save the Date is a product of William Arthur from The RSVP Shoppe with a few personal elements designed by Oscar & Emma Design Studio. Looking forward to hearing guests buzzing once they receive this lovely piece of mail.

We are THRILLED to start the new year with a post on Style Me Pretty! Caroline and Vic were married in April at The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. A formal seated dinner closely followed at Hibernian Hall. Between the ceremony and reception Caroline and Vic had some time to wonder the streets of Charleston with their bridal party and family. Billy and Rachel Hyer of Hyer Images were documenting every move! See a gallery of photos from the recent feature… Congratulations to the Brandts!

http://www.stylemepretty.com/2013/01/10/charleston-wedding-from-hyer-images-gathering-floral-event-design/

Tickets are available for the Charleston’s Weddings Magazine’s Spring Bridal Show presented by Gathering Floral + Event Design. The models walk the runway on March 23rd, 2013. Be sure to get your tickets soon… you don’t want to miss what we have in store for 2013′s tent transformation!

Tickets for all Baker Motor Company Charleston Fashion Week events are available for purchase here: http://charlestonmag.com/fashionweektickets/tickets

Confetti System transforms simple materials such as tissue paper, cardboard, and silk into interactive objects that create a point of focus, where memories are made and a spontaneous collaboration with the viewer is sparked. 

- Confetti System

We have had a creative crush on Confetti System for quite awhile! Their products and installations have a fun, vibrant feel. They combine craft and party in one statement piece. Most all of their designs are carefully constructed from paper. Very clever and very unique collection. It was a joyous moment discovering Confetti System has collaborated with West Elm this holiday season. The specialty made ornaments and garland were just too good to pass up this year… Happy decorating!