Even the normally sweltering South Carolina climate cooperated on the day of Pamela Laurent and Tom Holihan's gracious Southern wedding at the Rhett House Inn in Beaufort. Low temperatures and cool breezes helped contribute to the Southern hospitality at this charming, elegant wedding celebration that allowed guests from across the nation to fall in love with the South.
THE BRIDE Pamela Laurent, 32, sales manager
THE GROOM Tom Holihan, 36, marketing director
THE DATE June 8
THE SCENE Ceremony at St. Peter's Catholic Church on Lady's Island; reception at The Rhett House Inn in Beaufort
Once upon a time Pamela and Tom were set up on a blind date by their two best friends, who were dating at the time. Pamela reflects, "We worked out, they did not!" Years later, Pamela knew something was up when, during a quiet Saturday night at home, Tom cooked their whole dinner himself, all the while acting "very nervous." When it came time for dessert, Pamela's favorite part of every meal, Tom got down on one knee holding a very sweet surprise: an engagement ring tucked into a piece of cake.
Pamela knew where she wanted the reception and had picked out a few other key vendors but the Atlanta resident needed the help of a Low Country expert to help refine the details necessary to make their affair a true showing of Southern hospitality. Working with her planner, Katie Huebel, Pamela was able to stay involved in organizing every element, despite her distance from the site, and together they managed to mobilize creme de la creme vendors from both Georgia and South Carolina.
To fit the bill of timeless and traditional invitations, Pamela headed to Crane's where she chose crisp white invitations with black engraving in one of Crane's oldest type styles. For a personal touch, every envelope was hand calligraphed.
The day of the ceremony, Pamela and Tom headed over to St. Peter's Church -- she in a strapless, empire waist, A-line gown by Melissa Sweet; he in a navy blazer and khaki pants, to fit their summery, casual mood. Outside the church, tin containers were filled with flowers and tied to the wrought iron gates; inside, two urns were filled with calla lilies and placed near the altar while cones of flowers tied with ribbon graced each pew.
After Pamela's grandmother and the bride's and groom's mothers were seated, Pamela followed the wedding party accompanied by Clarke's "Trumpet Voluntary." During the traditional Catholic wedding, two friends read from the Old and New Testaments during the service, which included Communion, administered by Rev. Ronald Cellini, who was able to keep the anxious couple calm and at ease throughout the entire Mass.
A celebration unfolded at the Rhett House Inn, where garlands of greenery festooned the grand white columns of the inn, and crisp green and white linens set the tone of the "Southern Garden" theme. Centerpieces consisted of antique whitewashed urns with topiaries and white, lavender, and spring green flowers, which included freesia, lilies, sweet peas, iris, tulips, roses, and, of course gardenias that, by the end of the night, were in all of the girls' hair, perfuming the whole party. In fact, after the ceremony, Pamela shed her crown and veil and let her hair down -- literally! Her hairdresser pinned fresh gardenias, Pamela's favorite flower, into her locks.
Guests sampled what Pamela describes as a "pure Southern" menu from two bars, various food stations, and passed hors d'oeuvres. Ham biscuits, Parmesan cheese rounds, and tomato sandwiches preceded crab cakes with chutney and tarragon sauce, fried green tomatoes with tomato salsa, chipotle sauce and black eyed pea relish, pork tenderloin with homemade rolls, homemade mustard and asparagus, and an assortment of mashed potatoes topped with creamed chicken, shrimp tasso, and mushroom ragout. Perhaps the most talked about delights were the strawberry trees, set in urns near the cake table and surrounded by gourmet cheeses, berries, and chocolate dipping sauce -- the superb catering team of Susan Mason managed to keep both trees replenished the whole night.
"Since I live for dessert," says the bride, "the cake was very important to me." So she chose a sumptuous three-layer cake, with one layer of lemon pound cake, a second of almond-flavored cake, and a third of rich, flourless chocolate cake. The cake was covered in white icing in a Swiss dot pattern. Bunches of hydrangea separated each layer of the confection, which rested atop a bed of hydrangea on a table set on the beautifully manicured lawn. A friend who happens to be a local artist hand-painted a copy of their invitation with all of the flowers used in the wedding, and the framed masterpiece was set next to the cake alongside the toasting glasses.
Dancing took place under a tent, which covered most of the backyard. After hiding out for a while, avoiding the dance floor, the couple took a twirl to "At Last" by Etta James. The success of the reception was clear when everyone let loose on the dance floor -- even the groom who, according to his bride, "does not dance." Three hours of non-stop dancing to Frank Sinatra, oldies, and 70's tunes ensued during which every person, ages 6 to 86, got into the groove.
At the end of the evening, Tom and Pamela changed into their getaway outfits (hers a sexy black dress), ran through a sea of sparklers held by their guests, and climbed into a friend's convertible BMW. Once the newlyweds had driven around downtown for a while, they returned to the inn where they and their guests were staying. Instead of calling it a night, though, the two ended up walking back downtown to meet up with friends and family.
Pamela recalls, "We figured that we don't see these folks enough and while we have the whole gang together, we might as well enjoy the time we have." Eventually, however, Pamela and Tom said good night to their friends -- some of whom celebrated through the wee hours of the morning -- and retired to their romantically appointed room.
-- Lizzie Bailey
Photography © Marni Rothschild
For the ingredients that make up this wedding, see right-hand column of this page.
See More: Real Weddings: Purple , Real Weddings: Formal Affairs