Wedding Planning

Wedding Packing List: His & Hers

Items to Pack for Your Wedding Day Detail Photos

Some of our favorite wedding day pictures from our couples are their day of details that the photographer captures! These elements are so personal and its a true replresentation of their style and personalities.  To make sure our couples remember the items they need to bring we create a photography checklist for day of items. 

We normally tell them to pack all the necessary items in a box so that it is organized and we can make sure to deliver everything the photographer needs. 

Most of these items will (or should) be present already, but we have added a few more details. Something we also always recommend is having your planner or chat share your design board and color palette with your photographer so that they can plan their style matts and other details accordingly. 

Hers

  1. Dress and veil
  2. Invitation suite (2 copies of the full suite)
  3. Shoes
  4. Jewelry
  5. Perfume
  6. Something old, new, borrowed, blue
  7. ALL 3 rings – if all 3 are with you, your photo team will be able to photograph the full set. The planner will be able to give them to whoever will be holding them afterward.
  8. Bouquet and/or loose florals – many florists are great about including a few loose flowers/greenery for styled detail photos. Don’t assume that they will automatically do this if you don’t ask, though. It’s also important to coordinate that these florals arrive by the designated time that these detail photos will happen.
  9. Wedding Vow Book
  10. Any extra ribbon, accents, or items of significance that represent the day
  11. Guest Welcome Bags or Favors
  12. Any gifts or notes from one another

His

  1. Suit
  2. Tie
  3. Cuff links
  4. Watch
  5. Cologne
  6. Shoes and socks
  7. Handkerchief
  8. Belt/suspenders
  9. Invitation suite (2 copies of the full suite)
  10. Boutonniere
  11. Wedding Vow Book
  12. Any extra ribbon, accents, or items of significance that represent the day
  13. Guest Welcome Bags or Favors
  14. Any gifts or notes from one another

We love photographers who love styling details! 

Check out our free downloadable check lists and start planning out your wedding day details! 

His & Hers Wedding Detail Checklist

How to Disinvite Your Wedding Guests

Bells Will be Ringing, But You’re Not Invited

Couples around the world who dream of the perfect wedding are now forced into difficult decisions.  Because COVID-19 limits travel, closes wedding venues, and creates health concerns over large gatherings, many to-be’s have decided not to be for the moment. While some couples chose to postpone their nuptials, others decide to move forward with small ceremonies. This creates one particularly sticky problem. Invitations sent pre-COVID now have couples faced with the odious task of having to uninvite wedding guests to their smaller celebrations.

Intrigue is here to help you uninvited wedding guests this without causing offense!

Nobody wants to be on the cut list, but during a pandemic that continues to spread and threaten lives, people are likely to understand a couple’s need to create a small and safe celebration. In fact, there will be those who can not, or are unwilling to attend due to virus concerns.

That’s why your first step should be to check with the core wedding group (family, wedding party members) to see what their reaction is to a more intimate ceremony.  You may find that some are immunocompromised or can not travel due to restrictions. Some may simply be unwilling to take the risk.

Once You Make Initial Cuts..

The time has come to establish some sort of rule for cutting, such as family only.  To avoid hard feelings, the last thing you want is to make your decision seem arbitrary.  You might even consider a virtual option whereby disinvited guests are asked to participate via digital access.

When you decide on numbers and who you are cutting from the list, it is important to make personal connections with those you are uninviting.  A phone call is the best way to chat personally and explain your situation.  If not, then the best etiquette is to send a personalized card.

The message you convey will also go a long way toward saving hurt feelings. Begin by emphasizing how difficult your decision is and that it is made absolutely out of concern for the health of all involved.  A nice way to make the ex-guest feel important is to tell them there will be a full celebration at a later (post-COVID) date where you will be eager to see them.  Or, if a party is already part of your smaller plans, you might suggest that you would like to get together with them later one-on-one.

Finally, When the Wedding Day Arrives..

Consider what you put on social media.  Posts that include photos of attendees who are part of a group to which some of the uninvited belong are bound to generate ill-will.  For now, it might be best to stick to shots of the happy couple and maybe the wedding participants.

If you are on the receiving end of wedding guests disinvite, try not to take it personally.  COVID-19 is a serious threat and cutting a hundred person guest list down to a handful is no easy thing.  You were important enough to be invited and important enough for the couple to consider your health. And, yes, you should send a wedding gift even if you are uninvited.  It does not have to be the full Reed and Barton silver place setting you had considered.  Maybe something more modest.  Maybe a lovely pair of toasting flutes or an alloy wine chiller; something that says, “I understand.”

Written by, Megan Glenn

Charleston Bridal Suite at The Faber House

Faber Bridal Suite

The destination wedding dream for many newly engaged couples often includes historic streets, sandy beaches, and southern hospitality. Many come to fall in love with the traditional homes or unconventional settings to host the big day. This is why we wanted to create a beautiful bridal suite that represents all of what Charleston has to offer.

Intrigue is so excited to share our amazing bridal suite with all of the couples choosing Charleston as their wedding destination.  We have over 1200sqft of space that includes a private bridal dressing room, full kitchen, traditional Charleston Piazza, full furnished bridal suite, 52″ flat-screen TV, a beautiful outside courtyard, and much much more!

Our Charleston Bridal Suite has a full kitchen so have fun creating your own catering menu for your special day. If you don’t want to worry about the details reach out to our friends over at Caviar & Bananas and select one of their bridal menus.

In reality, Charleston may not be your home, but we will make sure the Faber Bridal House feels like that on your special day. Above all, you and your bridal party will want to savor every moment together and experience a wedding weekend to remember.

Our couples have the option of bringing in their own stylist or working with the amazing team at Silhouette on Site.

Located in the heart of Charleston at

635 East Bay Street

Charleston, SC

Why choose a hotel when you can have the full Charleston experience. 

 

Guide to Hiring a Destination Wedding Planner

Intrigue offers full-service destination wedding planning and design! Read and learn more about our years of destination wedding planning experience. Additionally, our complete guide to the befits of utilizing a destination wedding planner!

There is something special about getting married in the destination where your partner proposed. Whether against a backdrop of mountains or in the sand on a tropical getaway, the magic is there. As gorgeous as these locations are, do not forget the legwork that goes into planning a destination wedding. After all, there is more to take into account than the venue and location itself. Timing of your ceremony, the weather, and guest availability to travel are all concerns when destination wedding planning. But with a little help, you can plan memorable nuptials for you, your spouse, and your guests. Follow these tips to help you find the perfect destination wedding planner and pull off a destination wedding to remember.

It may come as no surprise that destination weddings require more coordination than staying close to home. Besides, paying attention to detail is crucial. Not only are you planning an event from a distance, but you are likely hosting multiple events over the course of the wedding weekend. Instead, there is the potential of developing weekend itineraries, not just your wedding ceremony and reception. The good news is, destination wedding planners like Intrigue can help you with just that.

Intrigue Design and Events Destination Wedding Planner Destination Wedding Planning imageIn addition to the comfort of knowing your wedding is in capable hands, destination wedding planners are here to ensure you have your dream wedding!

Set Your Mind at Ease 

Destination wedding planners ease your stress by answering difficult questions and providing solutions.  Regardless, we layout facts, and offer an unbiased, professional opinion. Planners are an invaluable asset when making hard decisions like rain contingency plans, postponing, or handling unwarranted surprises.

Expertise Where it Counts

Top destination wedding planners like Intrigue Design and Event, have years of experience, connections, and relationships. We handle every problem that arises with grace.

Locals Welcome

Select a planner who is familiar with your destination or has excellent resources there. Experience-based insight is not always available, by simply searching online. In addition to knowing the best vendors to work with and suggesting the months for optimal weather, we recommend hidden gem locations to visit and eat.

Intrigue Design and Events Why Destination Planners are Valuable

In addition to traditional wedding planning duties, here is a list of common tasks we are responsible for:

 
  • Provide guidance based on knowledge and local research on laws, permits needed, marriage license requirements, etc.
  • Offer you select vendors and a venue best suited to your guest count, budget, and vision.
  • Help produce a realistic budget based on your needs and desires.
  • Offer travel guidance and advice to help you and your guests plan the trip with confidence.
  • Create contingency plans for rain and other unforeseen road bumps.
  • Coordinate with vendors and the venue, timeline management, and family management.
  • Manage RSVPs and guestlists.
  • Catering negotiation, communication, and management.

If you are not sure where to begin your search, here are helpful tips our team recommends!

 

Venue Insight

If you have your eye on a specific venue in your desired destination, ask them who their favorite destination wedding planners are. Ask questions pertaining to customer service, vendor management, organization, and professionalism.

 

Slide Into Their DMs

We know you save wedding inspiration pictures and now is the time to use them! Look to find the original designer, their location, and if they specialize in destination wedding planning.  Search hashtags, locations, and vendors located in your desired destination. Searching for wedding photographers on social media for your destination is a great resource to find like-minded planners.

 

True Testimonials

Read true testimonials from couples on platforms such as The KnotWedding Wire, or Google,  After reading, you will feel confident you can connect with your destination wedding planner and start to build trust.

 

Time For a Chat

Have an open conversation with your planner about your wedding day vision. Be completely transparent about expectations, and budget goals. You want a planner and team who mediate and solve problems on-the-spot. Additionally, those that make your aesthetic dreams come true. Ask about executed weddings and events. In fact, ask about when things went wrong and how a solution was reached.  Also, inquire about memorable wedding moments to get a feel for why we love what we do.

Anticipate Incurring Expenses

This includes transportation and lodging. If not station at the location, your destination planner will fly in a few days before to meet with your venue and vendors in advance. In some instances, location scouting may be necessary for the initial destination wedding planning process. Ask your planner to review these costs prior to receiving a proposal and signing a contract.

 

Utilize Modern-Day Technology

Some clients feel more comfortable traveling to their destination wedding location to tour potential venues. But it is not necessarily required. If flying out to your destination is not within budget or schedule, your planner can schedule a video chat with you and your vendors. By utilizing Facetime, Zoom, Skype, or any other realtime streaming platform, we virtually walk the venue space with you.

Organizing Your Wedding Inspiration

Guest Post from Aisle Planner

How to Clean up Your Wedding Inspiration Boards so You Can Find Your Perfect Wedding Style.

Wedding Inspiration and Planning

Oh to be an engaged couple freely pinning on Pinterest. Pinterest is this beautiful shiny black hole that you can easily enjoy getting sucked into. After all, long gone are the days where couples had to create wedding inspiration binders with clippings from magazines, now you can be flooded with grand and gorgeous images and with a click of a button. Regardless, you will find your Pinterest board full of a hodgepodge of color palettes and styles. For instance, having mint and coral beach wedding flowers found right next to the warm-colored cottage backdrop. Pinterest is your best friend until it is not.

With so much inspiration, it can be difficult to pinpoint the direction and focus you want for your wedding. However, this is confusing for you and your wedding planner. Wedding planners receive hundreds of photos and wedding inspiration boards. How will you or your wedding planner ever know exactly what you want? It’s time to clean up your inspiration boards and create style guides that will tie your wedding aesthetic into a pristine bow.

 

Getting Excited 

After all, you and your partner are complex humans with so many likes and sources of inspiration. However, it is common to have similar aesthetics or opposite ones that complement each other. Either way, most couples do not know exactly what they want for their wedding and that’s okay! Besides, there is so much to choose from and so many fun options. How can you only pick one!? Maybe you do not have to pick just one. You may be able to find a middle ground or blend styles to make a wedding uniquely yours. Think of a forest, rustic, rooftop wedding. It’s possible!

First Things First 

But first things first, at the beginning of the process, you are all bright-eyed and inspiration hungry. Nonetheless, everything looks so good and the world is full of possibilities, so it’s appropriate to go a little wild. See something you really like that definitely does not match your previous five pins? Save it! You are on a journey to finding the style that best represents your relationship. This is the first step to finding your wedding style. After all, every masterpiece had to begin somewhere and from a pool of ideas. Consider this your time to fill your wedding pool so you have ideas to work with.

Consider This 

But getting excited is such fun! First, there are no restraints, everything is good and all is imaginable. However, you realize that maybe you can not have it all and that having it all may not actually be what you want. In this case,  may feel overwhelmed with all of the options, but take a step back and take a deep breath…you got this. Now that the foundation is set, you can comb through your wedding inspiration and choose the ultimate favorites.

Find Your Wedding Style 

  • First, you will begin to notice a trend in your pins. Follow that trend and you will find that you and your partner are likely leaning towards a theme already.
  • Then, gain some perspective by thinking about the fact that all of the glamorous shots you are looking at were all staged to look perfect to engage couples like yourself. That delectable five-tier cake is probably not budget-friendly. Additionally, neither is the glass covering every inch of the table and chandeliers. Most of these images are not the most realistic and there is comfort in knowing that you can emulate parts that you like without feeling the pressure to have perfection.
  • In fact, trust each other and trust your instinct. Choose whatever brings you the most happiness and is a reflection of your love.
  • Finally, create specific boards and captions. This is the time to organize and clean the aftermath of the wild. You have your style chosen, stick to it, and organize by creating boards for every aspect of your wedding: favors, bridesmaid dresses, linens, flowers, etc.

 

We Have Your Back!

Now, you can organize on your own but having assistance from a wedding planner can go such a long way. Intrigue Events offers virtual planning so you can plan wherever you are and at any stage in the planning process. By giving you access to virtual consultants that walk you through the planning process, along with access to the Planning Tools, you can find the guidance you need. Also, as a helpful alternative to hiring a full-time planner, they can assist you in using and organizing your inspiration while incorporating both you and your partner’s personalities and styles into your wedding design.

We love using these tools to teach you how to focus your thoughts and ideas. Uniquely, you can use multiple boards, comment on photos, and even add other vendors! We are proud to be able to provide this service and guidance so that you can have your dream wedding style.

Reeling in your inspiration is a very doable and very satisfactory step that will get you closer to having a wedding that feels uniquely true to your love story.

Navigate Our Virtual Wedding Planning Program

Intrigue offers full-service wedding planning and has thoughtfully designed a virtual wedding planning program to help you navigate wedding planning.  Since 2008, Intrigue has planned destination weddings all over the world. As destination wedding designers, our norm is assisting our couples from afar. Now we extend our services to assist more couples by creating customized virtual design & planning packages.  

Our packages are here to help couples that may be working with a full-service venue, hired a Month-of Planner, looking for design assistance, or planning a small elopement.

Our Virtual Wedding Planning  Program Design Consultants are here to get to know you. We come to recognize your personalities, assess your needs, budget requirements, and bringing together your overall wedding vision. However, not only do we offer guidance, but we also offer the necessary tools through our wedding planning software. This allows you to organize your thoughts, designs, and vendors. Ultimately, creating a fun stress-free planning experience. 

Virtual Wedding Planning Program

It may feel like one notebook is not going to be enough as you start your wedding checklist.  Especially, for the next 12-months, 6-months, 3-month, or even the next 30 days. Our virtual wedding planning program consulting packages include access to our planners and the amazing wedding planning tools you need. Virtually Wed has you covered. We walk you through how to organize your budget, review vendor contracts, and customize your checklist. Not to forget, working through your wedding weekend timeline.

When working through the initial design process, we find our couples are overwhelmed by Pinterest. If you are one of these couples then our design consulting package is the perfect fit for you. Pinterest is a great resource for gathering inspiration, but can also seem like a wedding rabbit hole. 1 am Pinterest pinning, the uncertainty of not knowing which direction to go can cause of some overwhelming stress. However, this is what our Virtual Design Consults are here for. We will assist you through this process to organize your thoughts in order to create a cohesive design.

Virtually Wed Design Studio 

This is something we can not live without. We love this tool because we can take all of your ideas and separate them out by categories! This is great because it allows us to separate your ideas and concentrate on each individually. Additionally, there is a comment section to leave us a little note about what you like about the picture. We can share your design board with vendors to make your meetings with them more efficient. 

What is next? How to get started? How much time is needed with a Virtual Consultant? 

These are questions that we receive all the time. Your time and investment mean the world to us. We do not want to waste any time before we get down to the details. We are happy to set up a  FREE 30-minute consultation with you and your fiance. During the consultation, we will ask you a series of questions in order to get to know your personalities. Such as, where you are in the planning process and your planning stressors. From there we will determine which packages fit your needs best. 

Love is not canceled, and we are here to make sure you have the day you have always envisioned. 

The Best Charleston Wedding Vendors

Intrigue is here to help you find the best Charleston wedding vendors. We thoughtfully curated a list of the finest wedding vendors in Charleston, South Carolina who share the love for timeless designs, and stylish details. Our Charleston Vendors commit to providing you and your family with the service you deserve. We did the work for you, so start wedding planning with our trusted Charleston wedding resources.

Charleston Venues

You said yes to your fiancé and to Charleston, now it is time to look at wedding dates and charleston wedding venues.  Charleston has consistently ranked one of the most desirable destination wedding locations. With the plethora of dreamy historic properties, outdoor venues, and waterfront options, deciding on the best venue for your wedding day is no easy task. In the meantime, take a look at our picks for Charleston’s top wedding venues to help you narrow down your selection. 

Charleston Rehearsal Venues

You said I Do to Charleston, now it is time to look at Charleston rehearsal dinner venues. Along with planning your dream wedding day, you want a rehearsal dinner venue to match your wedding day charm. Charleston is consistently ranked as one of the country’s food capitals. Given the abundance of prime bars and breweries, restaurants, and unique rehearsal dinner locations, deciding on the best venue for the day before your Charleston wedding can be a feat. Take a look at our picks for Charleston’s top rehearsal dinner venues to guide you in the right direction.

Charleston Photographers

With the excitement of planning your wedding, you should savor each moment. Of course, moments like the engagement shoot, rehearsal dinner, and finally, the wedding day! One thing is for sure, you want to relive your wedding day forever with tangible memories. When it comes to photography, find what appeals to you, and look beyond trends to discover your true taste. Whether your style is editorial, impressionistic, moody, or light and airy, you want to walk away with images that are timeless. Intrigue works with and vets the best photographers Charleston has to offer. Take a peek and discover what style resonates with you.

Charleston Videography 

Photography captures most of your wedding day, however, a videographer ensures you do not miss a thing. Just like photographers, videographers take different approaches to their craft. While Documentary-style videos present the events chronologically, a cinematic film is generally more dramatic. Additionally, a cinematic film using interesting angles for a movie-like feel. Figuring out where to start and how to narrow down the selection of Charleston videographers can be overwhelming. Thankfully, we have done the work for you. Browse our top Charleston Videographers, and see which appeals to you.

Charleston Catering 

Intrigue knows your wedding day is a big deal, and nothing is too small of a detail. A major consideration for your wedding reception is your food and drink selections. Whether you hope for a full-service, sit-down dinner, or a cocktail hour with passed appetizers, the possibilities are endless. From traditional Southern fare to one-of-a-kind dishes, finding your perfect wedding caterer is a key.  Hiring a wedding caterer can be complicated, especially as you calculate budget, guest count, and menu. If your wedding venue does not have in-house caterers or preferred vendors, start the search by narrowing down your choices with our list of caterers we absolutely love. 

 

Charleston Florist 

Your wedding flowers might be one of the most important elements of your wedding day. Not only do they provide color and decoration, but they are an expression of your personality. From organic and free-flowing to bold and traditional, the right wedding florist helps make wedding planning a breeze. Here are some of our top Charleston wedding florists, to bring your creativity to life.

Charleston Wedding Entertainment

Selecting the right mix of entertainment on your wedding day will not only help set the overall tone but ensure your guests have a night to remember. It is important for your entertainment to reflect your style and music taste. However, it is equally important to host entertainment that is appropriate for your wedding venue and guest count. From innovative musicality to elaborate 15 piece ensembles, Intrigue knows how to get the party started.

 

Charleston Hair & Makeup 

Of all your nuptial decisions, choosing your wedding day look might be one of the most daunting. After all, you are taking thousands of photos celebrating, laughing, kissing, and dancing the night away. You want to make sure you nail your wedding day do. When choosing, consider your Charleston venue or the silhouette of your gown. Do not fret if you feel completely lost in a sea of pictures on Pinterest and Instagram. Intrigue is here to help you narrow down your beauty look, with these fabulous Charleston beauty experts.