Another perk of a shorter guest list? Custom calligraphy becomes an option for even modest budgets. Here, copper foil ink marks handmade envelopes.
Real-life couple Venita Aspen and Alex Saunders exude chemistry, not to mention style. Their understated looks—her sheath gown and his open-collar shirt and suit—epitomize the easy elegance of smaller weddings at staid locations.
The fewer the tables you set, the more options you have for placing them in extra-special corners of historic properties. Eloping or planning a proposal? “We can set a table for two at the bottom of The Mill Pond for couples to celebrate with an intimate dinner in an unbelievable setting,” says Middleton’s Sam Wrigglesworth.
Middleton Restaurant specializes in Lowcountry classics like shrimp ‘n’ grits, which they serve in personal cast-iron skillets.
Look to your surroundings for floral cake accents. For this cocoa-dusted treat, fresh, in-season camellias paid tribute to those on Middleton’s grounds, where the shrub first thrived outdoors in America.
A snaking garland of peach roses and leafy greens woven into the trellis in the restaurant’s courtyard imparts a clever idea: Set up a floral installation like this for your ceremony backdrop, then let it serve as a selfie station during your the reception.
Always dreamt of a blockbuster bouquet? Don’t skip that even if you skip the big wedding.
Images by Jimmy Bishop of Gideon Photography