From the Red Letter Events Intern....Alyssa

As Summer quickly approaches, my internship at Red Letter Events sadly comes to a close. This weekend,  I graduate from the College of Charleston and move back to my hometown. During my six month internship with RLE I have learned more then I could have ever imagined! I now know that 'Shantung' is a type of silk linen, 'Chiavaris' are chairs, and linens weigh a lot more than you would think. But those are just the basics. In these past months, I have visited dozens of venues and have worked with a variety of vendors. I have helped plan all types of events... from an 800 person gala to a 70 person wedding. Every event I have been a part of at Red Letter has been unique and every client has had different expectations. This variety has been my favorite part of working at RLE! You never know what is next and every day brings a completely different experience.  

The most valuable part of my internship has been watching Stacey and Missie in action. I have learned from them that event planning is not an easy job, its not a 9 to 5 job either you have to be ready for the unexpected at all times. As an event planner, you need a certain intuition and ability to multi-task in high stress situations and Stacey and Missie have both! I am so grateful to have been a part of the RLE team it has been such a rewarding experience. 

............"Congratulations Alyssa on your Graduation, we will miss you!!
                                                                   ~ Stacey, Missie and The RLE Team
                                         

From L to R: Alyssa, Stacey, Missie, Krisha

Add a Little "Green" to Your Wedding

Having just celebrated Earth Day 2013, there is a lot of talk about the environment.  Weddings have a tendency to produce waste, just as any large event does.  Whether big or small, we believe it is important to make your difference where you can.  With this is mind, we want to share one of our tips on how to make less of an impact on the environment when being part of an event.  One of the major wastes that most might not think about at a wedding is fabric such as table cloths, table runners and napkins.  Sure, some of them might be reused, but over time where do they end up?

In 2010, Americans discarded 13.1 million tons of textiles.  Of that, only 15% of it was reclaimed and recycled leaving 11 million tons to be left in landfills around the country.  When fabric decomposes, it releases methane, which is a harmful greenhouse gas.  (TriplePundit, Mattias Wallander).  In our attempt to prevent such waste, we make a lot of our linens such as table runners and custom napkins.  Once we are finished with them, we donate them locally.  For the past 2 years, we have donated our used fabrics to MUSC Children’s Hospital.  After the fabric has been cleaned, it is sent to MUSC where they find another use for it such as: making bean bag chairs or using it for arts and crafts. 

Recycling fabrics prevents harmful gases from being released into the environment as well as gives back to the local community. 

Spring Flowers

One of the many reasons we are looking forward to the 2013 spring wedding season is the opportunity to use some beautiful flowers.  Some really popular choices that happen to be our favorites are hydrangeas, ranunculuses and peonies.  The variety of bright colors coincide with spring wedding color palettes.  We are excited to incorporate some of these flowers into our spring weddings and events!

photo credit: yvestown via photopin cc

Roper St. Francis Foundation Donor Appreciation

For the last 6 years, Red Letter Events has been honored to be a part of the Roper St. Francis Foundation Donor Appreciation Gala.  On February 2, 2013 Roper held the 8th annual Donor Appreciation Gala.  Guests enjoyed an American evening in Paris and were captured by special guest speaker Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State.  Thank you to all of the great vendors that helped make the event such a huge success- PDA, Sara York Grimshaw Designs, Snyder, Event Drs, Plants Alive, and BBJ Linens and Chargers.  Also, a huge thank you to Marni Rothschild for the wonderful photos!

Brackish Bow Ties

Looking for a way to style the men in your wedding?  We found something that might help. Send your groom and groomsmen down the aisle in true Lowcountry style with these unique Brackish Bow Ties.
Ranging between $89-$105,  these original handmade feather bow ties are a perfect complement to a Lowcountry wedding.

Spring 2013: Bright New Colors

It's beginning to look and feel like spring in Charleston.  With warmer temperatures in the forecast and flowers blooming, we are getting ready for the spring 2013 wedding season.  The change of season has brought about some fresh color schemes for our brides.  Take a peek at a few beautiful colors that we are excited to use in some of our upcoming weddings.

SEWE 2013

This year Marion Square, located in the heart of Downtown Charleston, hosted the 30th annual Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, and we were graciously asked to handle the decor and planning of the Garden & Gun tent. With dogs at every turn and families coming out to enjoy the entertainment - SEWE was the place to be this weekend! The G&G tent was adorned with perfectly themed trinkets, like a faux deerhead from White Faux Taxidermy. We had a little fun with our double dispenser of gumballs for the children and dog treats for our four-legged friends! We also had wood walls created for the event which helped provide a great backdrop for their "Good Dog" Photo Contest. If you missed the festivities, make sure to keep a look out for some more SEWE fun next Spring or subscribe to Garden & Gun's bi-monthly magazines: http://gardenandgun.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhiteFauxTaxidermy?ref=seller_info

Charleston Wine + Food Festival 2013

This weekend was the annual BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival ®. We were extremely proud to participate and design several of the exciting events along with Charleston Stems.

We designed This Little Piggy: Pop-Up Market presented by Rachel Ray, which took place at the beautiful Lowndes Grove Plantation on the Ashley River.  This Little Piggy is an event that brings in some of the country’s greatest chefs to prepare dishes using different parts of a pig.  Check out some of the gorgeous décor that we put together for this fun, country theme event.

We were also happy to be in charge of the design for the Lowcountry Jazz Brunch presented by Motley Rice LLC and The Post & Courier.  Some of Charleston’s best restaurants and caterers served three course meals as a guests enjoyed live entertainment by The Mark Sturbank Group, featuring Quiana Parlor and Quentin Baxter.  Guests were greeted with bright spring colors for this Sunday morning brunch.

Valentine's Date Night Ideas

It's that lovely time of year again, but don't stress over the perfect date - we've got some great ideas to help create a night you won't forget! Avoid the restaurant rush and take your favorite food to-go, drive over to a local park or near the waterfront for a romantic pic-nic under the stars. When was the last time you went to the bars with just your special someone? Head out on the town for a night of fun to celebrate with reckless abandon! Pull out the old photo album and go through pictures of your wedding day to reminisce on those wonderful memories. Set aside some time in your day for activities to do as a couple, go horseback riding on a beautiful plantation or book a couples massage for some relaxing time together! No matter what you decide, remember it's all about getting to spend some quality time with your loved ones!

We hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day from Red Letter Events!

Wedding Tips & Tricks

We've compiled some simple tips and tricks to help make your event a little more special! Make a public restroom a little more personal by adding a childhood picture of the bride on the women's  restroom door and a picture of groom on the mens'! You can even set up baskets with refreshers such as gum, hairspray, lotion and perfume in the restrooms for a touch your guests will really appreciate! For an outdoor ceremony provide your guests with a few necessary supplies like water bottles, bug spray or wipes. Give the men in your wedding a little more incentive to catch the garter by attaching it to a football during the toss - because no man ever drops a football! Once the festivities have ended, place your veil, garter and a wedding program in a shadow box to always preserve your extraordinary day!

                                                                                                           Pinterest 

Wedding Favors

Wedding favors are a popular way for a bride and groom to thank their guests for celebrating their big day. Pick a gender neutral gift that can be given in a unique way. Many couples opt for a creative keepsake or edibles that reflects the theme of their wedding. Whether you are giving cookies, candles, or coozies its all about matching colors and innovative wrapping. Favors don't have to break your budget either, making and wrapping baked goods can be a fun bridal party activity! Take a look at these wedding gifts our clients gave their guests.

Welcome Baskets

Welcome baskets are a great way to make your out-of-town wedding guests feel at home. There are so many options when it comes to content and design, including a bottle of water, a map of the area, and some snacks! Include something personal like your favorite coffee or tea - we love adding a taste of Charleston, like Market Street's famous pralines or sweetgrass flowers. And don't forget to include an itinerary for your perfect wedding weekend!

                                                                                                   Pinterest

                                   Pinterest

Wedding Dessert Tables

Is it really a wedding without some sweets? We think not! In addition to the wedding cake, more and more couples are offering dessert tables at their receptions. Some couples just want to satisfy their sweet tooth while others share a selection of their families traditional after-dinner treats. No matter your reason for having a dessert buffet there are so many options to help create a presentation that looks just as delicious as it tastes! Here are a few pictures of dessert tables from our recent weddings:

Unique Escort Cards

Escort cards come in all shapes and sizes so what’s the best way to create one that really stands out? Escort cards are one of the first decorative displays that your guests will see, so make sure to create a presentation that will help set the theme for the rest of the night. For a rustic look, place your escort cards on a log or with a toothpick in a grape bunch to add a festive feel. You can also get creative by using household items like clothespins and ribbons for a beautiful yet inexpensive display. Here are a few great ideas from some of our weddings:

 
                                        Red Letter Events / Photo By: Jennifer Bearden

    
                                            Red Letter Events / Photo By: Leigh Webber


                                        
                                       
                              Red Letter Events / Photo By: Andrew Stephen Cebulka

                                               Red Letter Events / Photo By: Jen Fariello