Turquoise and Brown Lowcountry Rehearsal Dinner
When a mutual friend introduced them while they were out and about one night, Deanna and Joe were amazed to discover they lived right across the street from each other and instantly became an inseparable pair. After an amazing surprise proposal while sailing on a yacht around the Statue of Liberty, the lovebirds, with the aid of the talented Sebrell Smith, began planning a spectacular wedding weekend in and around the Lowcountry of South Carolina! The festivities all began on a late summer day in September. After settling into their lodgings in Palmetto Bluff and Savannah, the couple’s family and wedding party traveled by trolley to the heart of Savannah’s historic district for an outdoor rehearsal dinner at Harper Fowlkes House. The event’s unofficial theme? Southern elegance and hospitality. Long estate tables were draped in silk linens of turquoise and brown, bright green arrangements of flowers, fruits, and vegetables overflowing from silver trophies down each table’s center. Following a meet-and-greet cocktail hour in the garden, everyone helped themselves to an array of sensational Southern cuisine from the buffet, including shrimp ‘n’ grits, fried chicken, turnip greens and corn muffins. After a sweet time of toasts, memories, laughter and tears beneath the glow of twinkling lights, the intimate gathering drew to a close as Thursday faded into Friday — the day of Deanna and Joe’s wedding welcome event! Photos brought to you by Chia and Hon Photography!
Please give us an overview of the event.
Our family and the wedding party joined us in Savannah on Thursday night to kick off the four-day wedding weekend. Guests were transported by trolley to the beautiful Harper-Fowlkes House, a historic museum located in the heart of Savannah’s historic district. We had a cocktail hour in the garden followed by a buffet dinner of all of my favorite southern foods. The evening was finished off by a Haunted Pub Crawl.
Was there a specific theme or style?
The unofficial theme for the evening was Savannah and Southern hospitality. The décor was understated and elegant with a Southern/Lowcountry flair.
What were your playful twists that made the event unique?
Custom bobble heads were made for each member of the wedding party and served as place cards. These were a big hit!
Tell us about the food.
We wanted our guests to experience some Southern food while they were in town. During the cocktail hour guests enjoyed butler passed fried green tomatoes paired with a cucumber dressing and crab cakes with a Creole Remoulade sauce. For dinner, guests were seated and served a mixed green salad topped with pears, cranberries and goat cheese fritters. After the salad course guests enjoyed a buffet of beef tenderloin medallions, shrimp and grits, fried chicken, grilled and roasted vegetables, roasted new potatoes, turnip greens, black-eyed peas and sweet corn muffins.
What was the most memorable moment?
The speeches that night were very touching with some hilarious parts added in of course! The presentation of the groom’s cake was special since it was in honor of Joe’s grandfather, his best friend, who passed away the year before.
Wedding Professionals
Event Planning, Coordination & Decor: Sebrell Smith Designer Events | Photography: Chia and Hon Photography | Venue: Harper Fowlkes House | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Linens: Cloth Connection | Entertainment: Melonbelly | Catering: Straton Hall Events | Transportation: Old Savannah Tours | Bobbleheads: We Bobble | Videography: Savannah Wedding Films
