Charleston State Of Mind

Charleston is my favorite city in SC. Along with its amazing history, architecture and true Southern charm, Charleston is filled with fantastic venues for events! Tuesday I went to do some research so I could update my list of preferred venues in Charleston. Although the internet is a fantastic resource, with http://www.discovercharleston.com/weddings/event-venues.htm as one of my favorites for Charleston, I really enjoy going to the Visitors Center and flipping through the pamphlets and brochures they have. I do this for two reasons 1) Most websites don't include the little known places. They typically list the most popular. If you want an event that is just a little different or unique you're going to want one of those hidden gems that not everyone knows about. 2) I'm a very visual person. I want pictures to put with the names of the venues. I also like that the general information for the venue (hours, address, contact info) is all in one place. (Go ahead...call me old fashioned...it's ok.)
Anyways, I found some great little places plus I learned of locations that I didn't know would accomodate events.

Magnolia Plantation  


This historic and elegant location defines quintessential Charleston and is the premier backdrop for any southern event. Offering expansive views of grand Live Oaks, manicured gardens and an open pasture from the beautiful Plantation House Veranda, this site is rich with history and tradition. Located in the heart of Magnolia’s garden, the Veranda provides an unforgettable setting for your special day.
http://www.magnoliaplantation.com/events/veranda_events_weddings.html

The River House



Perfect for fewer than 100 guests, the River House is a waterfront space overlooking the Ashley River. The venue is a private building on the lush grounds of Lowndes Grove Plantation, the last of its kind on the Charleston peninsula. The space is perfect for everything from a peaceful retreat, a business meeting, a luncheon, or a quiet wedding ceremony with a gathering of close relatives and friends.

http://www.pphgcharleston.com/venues/view/river_house

Gibbes Museum of Art



The Gibbes’ Beaux Arts-style building offers a wide variety of spaces that can be tailored to your function, from a collection of galleries with intimate spaces to a 12,460 square foot urban courtyard. The museum’s unique spaces and rich art collection bring an artistic flair and an added dimension to
your special event.
http://www.gibbesmuseum.org/visit/calendar.php

South Carolina Aquarium



When the South Carolina Aquarium closes for the day, a unique event site opens. As your guests arrive on our Riverside Terrace, they will experience Charleston from an entirely different perspective. Gorgeous views abound at the South Carolina Aquarium – both inside and out.
http://scaquarium.org/Events/default.html

So these are just a few of the great places I came across during my trip to Charleston. I can't wait to go back and hopefully do an event there soon!

Why So Early?

The other day Andrea asked me a good question. "Why are we starting to plan the wedding so early? It's over a year away!" The "one year out" mark is the most commonly used starting point for the majority of wedding planning. Most DIY wedding planning checklists start at 12 months out which gives the impression that there is nothing you can do before then. But getting a jump on the planning can be fun as well as beneficial to the entire planning process. Take the energy and excitement of getting engaged and use it as momentum to start brainstorming. With all the visual media and creative online resources it's really easy to start putting together a picture of what you want your big day to look like. Pinterest and TheKnot.com are two of my favorites.

 Pinterest is a great place for inspiration. There are literally thousands of pictures you can click through. Different wedding sites and magazines such as Southern Weddings Magazine and Belle have Pinterest boards that you can "follow" to regularly get new images that they post.  Creating an account and using different boards of your own for individual colors, dresses, or  is the perfect way to stay organized.
   I like to use The Knot.com as a more practical resource. You can search for venues and vendors by location and price. They have everything from photographers to caterers to DJs. And of course they have pages for wedding attire and beauty tips. Marking pages as your "favorites" is a great way to compare vendors side by side so see which ones would be a best fit for you and your budget.
When it comes to all the details involved in the planning and execution of a wedding, the last thing you was to do is leave it all to the last minute. The more you leave to the final months before the wedding the more stressed out you will be and the more hectic things have the potential to get. So my response to Andrea was "Ten months from now you will be glad we did."