Destination Wedding: Southern Chic Blonde Ambition Events:

Lindsay Stroda, Tracie Johnson, Stephanie Sykora

Saturday, October 11th, 2014 at 4pm

Meet the Couple

Jesse Hall and Jordan Dent are both from Houston, Texas and met at the University of Alabama and fell in love. They both were born and raised in the the South. Jesse and Jordan embrace southern hospitality and love to travel. They decided to have their wedding in Charleston because of its’ history and beautiful venues. They wanted their wedding theme to immerse their guests into the complete Charleston experience. The bride chose light peach and earth tones to set the mood for this wedding, as well as southern elements like mason jars and having a bluegrass band.

Wedding Date: Saturday, October 11th 2014 at 4pm

● Keep in budget of $100,000● Provide out of town guests a

taste of Charleston through different aspects of the wedding

● Satisfy bride and groom’s wants and needs for their special day

● Minimize waste and be as eco-friendly as possible

Event Goals and Objectives

● The planners want to incorporate the natural beauty and southern charm of Charleston at a historic plantation.

● The planners will create a strategy that emphasizes natural elements with elegant touches to create a unique southern feel.

● Supporting the environment by using different ways to minimize the waste from the event

Event Design and Strategy

Mini Bottles of Firefly for Party Favors

Burlap TouchesUsing wine barrels under

wooden boards

The Altar with white drapery, lanterns, and florals

Chandelier made out of branches and string lights

Mason Jars for drinks and keg to cut back on waste

Corks for place holders Floral Arrangements draped along the back of ceremony

chairs

“get away” car

Venue Site Middleton Place Plantation

○ Price: Saturday: $13,000○ This venue is located on the Ashley River and is a beautiful location.

It would fit the theme of the wedding because it is at a historic Charleston Plantation.

○ The ceremony will take place under the large oak trees of the Octagonal Sunken Garden

○ The cocktail hour will also be held around the beautiful Octagonal Garden directly after the ceremony.

○ The reception will be held at the Parterre, located right alongside the Ashley River

Middleton Place Plantation

The Octagonal Sunken Garden The Parterre

The Octagonal Sunken Garden is directly next to the Parterre, making it an easy walk for guests to get to the reception after the

ceremony

Vendor ListSnyder Rentals : Tents, chairs, tables, linens, small wares

Distinctive Events : Decor, floral, lighting

Catering: Middleton Plantation

Entertainment : Charleston Virtousi, Creative Sound Entertainment, Yeehaw Junction

Transportation: Charleston Black Cab Company

Photography: Caroline Ro

Cake: Ashley Bakery

Officiant: Doug Farmer

Paper Material: Delphine Press

Needs Assessment ● Creating a Budget ● Booking the venue● Creating a timeline ● Contacting vendors and developing contracts ● Site visits and tastings with client ● Rentals: tables, chairs, linens, plates, mason jars ● Photobooth ● Decor: Centerpieces, candles, place cards, table numbers, lanterns, wine barrels● Lighting: Lanterns, string lighting, chandeliers, candles● Menu from Middleton Catering● Hair and Makeup ● Cake

Bar Service

● The bride and groom want to have a keg at their wedding with mason jars, to reduce the waste from beer bottles.

● Azalea Bar: $25/person○ 3 Hours + $8/person

each additional hour○ Liquor, wine, and

beer (keg)

The Cake

Marbled Cake with White Chocolate

Mousse and Tiramisu Layers

Menu ● Cocktail Hour: Passed Hors D'oeuvres

○ Green Tomato Bruschetta ○ Southern Cornbread with Braised Pork Shoulder, Blue Cheese Slaw, and

Mustard Sauce○ Shrimp wrapped in Applewood Smoked Bacon

● Reception: Chef Attended Stations ○ Low Country Boil○ Mac and Cheese Bar○ Shrimp and Grits ○ Slow Roasted Prime Rib

● Reception: Passed Late Night Snacks ○ Pecan Smoked BBQ Pork Sliders with Mustard Sauce○ Red Velvet Cake Bites

Timeline

Saturday, October 11th, 2014 at 4pm● One year will give Blonde Ambition Events the time to plan a

destination wedding● Gives guests enough time to make travel plans● This date was chosen because autumn in Charleston has the

most predictable weather and will best complement the theme of the wedding

Detailed Timeline1 Year Client NegotiationsContract with Client Negotiations with Potential Vendors

9 MonthsBook All Vendors

6 Months Get Contracts from VendorsInvitations Meeting with Client

3 Months Confirm VendorsTastings for Catering Meetings with Florist Tastings for Cake Meeting with Client Get Fitted for Wedding Dress and Tuxedos

1 MonthCreate Day-Of Timeline Finalize Vendor Set-up Time Meeting with Client to go over wedding day

1 WeekCall All Vendors to Finalize Timeline

Day OfVendor Set Up Ceremony/ReceptionVendor Break Down

Number of Guests

200 people invited to the wedding● Rather than a large group, the 200 invited guests will be able

to enjoy and interact with each other, creating an intimate atmosphere.

● Because it is a destination wedding, we predict that about 165 guests will be in attendance. We have updated our count to fit that number.

Marketing Plan

● Wedding invitations will be chosen to help set the tone of the event

● Invitations are important because it is the first things guest see and communicate the type of wedding it will be (casual, formal, black tie, etc.)

● The invitations will have thermography lettering and soft watercolor bordering.

● Use of the # symbol at the wedding for when guests take pictures, groups the pictures together on Instagram

Risk Management Plan Weather:● Client wanted their wedding to be in October because of the moderate temperatures

● Checking the weather days before the event

● Rain and wind: guests will move inside the tent with the glass/plastic sides tied or zipped down

● Warm temps: have multiple fans around the tent area.

● Cold temps: have heaters throughout tent, with some fireplaces provided by Snyder Rentals. The bride and

groom could also provide shawls for guests without jackets or sweaters.

Oak Tree: ● Old Oak trees have large roots: possible for many people to trip and fall, especially when the sun sets

● We will provide visible signs around the tree for people to watch out for large roots.

Bathrooms: ● Have two large trailers of bathrooms rented from Nature’s Calling at either side of the wedding reception

to reduce the lines for the bathroom, so guests can go back to enjoying the wedding.

Alcohol: ● Bartenders are aware of keeping an eye on guests who might be too intoxicated or underage, and to not

serve them any more alcohol

● The planners will book a large van to transport guests back downtown if they are too intoxicated to drive

We were able to stay in our budget of $100,000.

Our total costs were $90,652.50

Budget

Post Event EvaluationDid You Enjoy Yourself?

1. Did you think the theme of this wedding was portrayed well?

2. Which decor stood out the most to you, and why?

3. Would you reuse the recycled mason jars at one of your events to help the environment?

4. Do you think this wedding demonstrated Charleston’s famous culture and hospitality?

5. Did you like that the venue was outside? Why or why not?

6. Did you enjoy the local bluegrass band?7. What was your favorite part of this

event? Please explain further.8. What was your least favorite part of this

event? Please give details.9. Was the dinner and cake to your liking?

What could be improved?10. What were some problems you saw

before, during, or after this event that we could fix/improve?

After the wedding a thank you note will be sent to the bride and groom thanking them for allowing us to be a part of their special day. Additionally, we will ask

for feedback on their experience working with us.