Adding dashes of Southern charm to your wedding celebration is easy to do when you pull on threads of Charleston magic. What makes a Charleston wedding most memorable and extra special are the traditions and intentional sprinklings. Wow your guests with these timeless and tasteful notions.
Host a Bridesmaid’s Luncheon
Thank your closest friends and family members for their love and support with a classic long, lingering lunch full of bonding time and delicious food and drinks. Book your favorite Charleston restaurant and crown the event with hand-picked gifts for each of your bridesmaids.
Bury a Bottle of Bourbon
Legend has it, a buried bottle of bourbon at your wedding venue staves off rain on your wedding day and ushers in years of good luck. Follow this Southern tradition and dig a hole a month in advance and then grab a shovel on your big day and pass it around with your wedding party post-ceremony.
Serve a Groom’s Cake
A sweet addition to the wedding cake, groom’s cake pays homage to your partner by celebrating something they love and giving them something that’s made just for them. Have the cake professionally made and decorated in their favorite sports team’s colors or shaped to tell the story of a cherished hobby.
Wear Seersucker Suits
Groomsmen look sleek and stay cooler in this traditional Southern attire. Add these tailored suits to the mix for standout style, class and charm. Not ready to go full seersucker? Incorporate the fabric into table linens or handkerchiefs to catch those happy tears.
Bring in a Big Band
Tap into Charleston’s legendary music scene and hire a live band to add vibrant flair to reception festivities. Keep guests partying through the night with Southern big band sound built around string, brass and contemporary instruments.
Decorate with Sweetgrass Baskets
These hand-coiled Gullah artisan baskets are a Charleston cultural icon and make for beautiful wedding day decor. Add them to table centerpieces or wedding guest favors for an authentic Southern touch.
Serve Sweet Tea
Set up a pre-ceremony sweet tea station for a summertime cool down or craft a signature cocktail around the classic Charleston refresher. Serve it during cocktail hour with time-honored dishes like shrimp and grit or honey butter chicken and biscuit bites.
Fan Out
Provide guests with hand-held fans to keep cool during outdoor ceremonies or receptions. Bonus points for personalized monogrammed fan designs.
Customize Guest Favors
Give your loved ones a taste of Southern charm to take home. Build parting gift bags or Southern-themed wedding favors around homemade jams and biscuits, local bourbon and sweetgrass baskets filled with pralines.
A Friend in the Industry
Working with Novela is like having a trusted friend — one with copious insider knowledge and industry connections — by your side every step of the way. We’ll match you with an expert wedding concierge to customize your wedding day plan, including venue and vendor recommendations, detailed pricing options, a high-level budget framework, and a customized checklist just for you.
Find your perfect Charleston venue, book all your vendors, and finance your wedding at 0% interest — all in one place. Novela is the first transactional one-and-done wedding planning company.
