We don't do "gay" weddings | Charleston, Atlanta & destination nontraditional wedding planner & designer | LGBT wedding planner

I have a feeling this blog is going to ruffle a few feathers, but I'm ok with that. This has been on my mind for quite some time and I feel like I need to just go ahead and get it out in the open. I'll likely lose a few friends and a few likes on our Facebook page, but, again, I'm ok with that.  

we don’t do “gay” weddings.

Nope, we sure don’t. You know why? Because there is no such thing as a gay wedding. I can’t tell you where to buy gay presents off their gay registry, I don’t know what their song will be for their gay first dance. There ain’t no gay hymns being sung at the ceremony, there is no “straight” section to sit in and Neil Patrick Harris probably isn’t on the guest list. Why? Because those aren’t fucking things.

And before you troll me and decide to lose your shit on social media, guess what? We don't do "straight" weddings either. We don’t do "white" weddings, or "black" weddings, or "Oriental" weddings (srsly, you will get punched if you say that in my presence), or "Muslim" weddings or any other wedding you're tempted to label.

You know what we do?  

We do weddings!! Period.  

We do big weddings, and small weddings, and medium sized weddings. We do weddings with two grooms, a bride & a groom, two brides, and weddings for gender queer clients, too. We have hijabi brides (salaam, sis), we’ve learned ASL to communicate with deaf grooms, we’ve had the coolest trans bride covered in tattoos that wore a black velvet wedding gown (holy cannoli that was rad!), we’ve had clients in recovery that throw a dry wedding and still end up dancing til dawn. Absolutely everyone is welcome here and your traditions, culture, language and preferred pronouns will be respected and remembered.

We do pop up weddings and elopements. We do incredible, authentic, unique, breathtaking, heartfelt, swoon-worthy weddings. We do weddings so filled with love and heartfelt joy that our entire team straight up Ugly Cries as the couple exchanges their handwritten vows.  

We do super unique, weird, quirky weddings. We also do super traditional church weddings.  We do nikkahs at mosques.  We do fusion weddings combining time honored cultural traditions with the most important, meaningful pieces of their love story to create something entirely unique to our couples.  

We do weddings where the clients want to hang cakes from the ceiling with Cirque du Soleil performers swinging around it. We do backyard weddings with food trucks. We do ultra luxe ballroom weddings with seven course meals and French Service. We do weddings where instead of exchanging rings, they both get tattoos. We do weddings where the bride is escorted down the aisle by her children and they have a "family ceremony" where they all pledge to love one another and to go forth as more than just a husband and a wife, they begin a whole new life together as a family. We do weddings where it's just the couple, their officiant, me and a killer photographer on a cliff overlooking the sea.

We do weddings where the couple has their best friend in the entire world get ordained so he can legally marry them using a ceremony script the three of them wrote together. (That wedding hit us right in the feels.)

the couple's best friend, Alan, officiated the nuptials in this photo

the couple's best friend, Alan, officiated the nuptials in this photo

So, I guess my point is, yes, of course we do same-sex weddings (and all the other ones too)! I’ll even do a wedding if you’ve voted for Trump… And for us it's really about everything except the orientation of our couples, cuz let's be honest, that's none of our damn business anyway. #amiright?! 

We don't care how you love, the only thing we care about is that you love. (yeah, yeah, yeah, we already know like 40 other wedding planners have stolen that line from us, but we’re the originals, lol!)

We love loveWe love it in all its many forms. We love helping our couples celebrate their love for one another more than anything and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank the good Lord for allowing me to do what I love.

And speaking of Him, I believe with all my heart that the greatest commandment we were ever given was to love one another (Matthew 22:36-40) and that's exactly what I intend to do.  I'm confident that when I'm called to account for my life in front of my Creator, all He's really going to care about is that I did my best to love folks without judgement and helped them celebrate their love for one another.

Now how about we all enjoy some photos of a few weddings that just make us happy, happy, happy?! You can't tell me that seeing people this happy makes you do anything but smile!

mike allebach, the creative genius behind the lens for this photo, is available for travel to all 50 states and abroad

mike allebach, the creative genius behind the lens for this photo, is available for travel to all 50 states and abroad

mazel tov!

mazel tov!

a ceremony filled with love and the promise to go forth as a family was just perfect for this couple

a ceremony filled with love and the promise to go forth as a family was just perfect for this couple

who says you can't wear a tuxedo with flip flops?

who says you can't wear a tuxedo with flip flops?

a traditional church wedding with 11 bridesmaids and 9 groomsmen at peachtree road united methodist church in atlanta

a traditional church wedding with 11 bridesmaids and 9 groomsmen at peachtree road united methodist church in atlanta

jumping for joy!

jumping for joy!

matching boat shoes? i looooove!!

matching boat shoes? i looooove!!

scarlet plan & design boone hall plantation wedding

photos courtesy of the click chick photography, allebach photography, dana cubbage weddings, VUE photography, creative wedding photography, achor & eden, style me pretty, you are raven photography

this blog was originally published September 2015 and updated November 2019

Mom-Couture Rent the Runway Style | Dressing the Mothers of the Bride and Groom | Charleston Wedding Design | Atlanta Wedding Design | New York Wedding Design

I adore helping the sweet moms of my clients dress for the wedding day!  I love when they want to compliment the wedding party with their attire but want to look their best at the same time.  I mean, your mom has to look amazing, right?

But sometimes its really hard to find a gown or dress suit that looks appropriate for a wedding without looking like a performer in a casino.  Avoid the dreaded bling, mamas!  If it's covered in sequins and sparkles, you're running the risk of looking like one of Beyonce's backup singers and that's not really the most appropriate for your child's wedding.  A little bit of sparkle can go a very long way, loves!

Also note that unless you're attending a brunch wedding, there is no need to wear something as boring as a day suit, ladies.  You're a person of honor at the wedding and as such you must look the part.

One of my favorite places to find amazing gowns is Rent The Runway.  There is no shortage of incredible couture gowns appropriate for every type of wedding!  Here are just a few of my favorites perfect for nighttime events!

dressing the mothers of the bride and groom, scarlet plan & design

For only $135, this incredible Monique Lhuiller would be stunning at a formal but fun wedding!

dressing the mothers of the bride and groom, scarlet plan & design

This low-backed, black and gold Theia is just beyond incredible!

dressing the mothers of the bride and groom, scarlet plan & design

Color blocking is huge right now and has taken runways and the red carpet by storm all over the planet.  Go bold with this black and white confection by Milly for only $150.

dressing the mothers of the bride and groom, scarlet plan & design

Another Monique Lhuiller gown, this one in glittering gold, would be perfect for any wedding where gold is being featured.

dressing the mothers of the bride and groom, scarlet plan & design

This modest black lace Anna Scholz gown is just incredible!

dressing the mothers of the bride and groom, scarlet plan & design

Is the event at a fabulous art gallery or perhaps have a more casual, but still elegant, feel?  This black jumpsuit by Cushnie Et Ochs is the perfect fit!

dressing the mothers of the bride and groom, scarlet plan & design

This playful high/low gown by Monique Lhuillier would be perfect for a daytime or evening event.

dressing the mothers of the bride and groom, scarlet plan & design

Whimsical garden wedding?  Look no further than this Badgley Mischka for only $165!

dressing the mothers of the bride and groom, scarlet plan & design

This one shouldered, floor-length Badgley Mischka with the flattering peplum waist would be just as at home in an ultra formal setting as a semi-formal one.  And for only $150, who could say no?

dressing the mothers of the bride and groom, scarlet plan & design

Yes, I know, I'm obsessed with Badgley Mischka, but who isn't?  This royal blue and black peplum/ruffled gown is just killer!

Friendor Friday | Firefly Vodka | Scarlet Wedding Tour | Charleston Wedding Design & Planning | Scarlet Plan & Design

It's Friendor Friday again and we're over the moon to announce and feature the newest sponsor of the Scarlet Wedding Tour (read all about it on the blog if you missed it!), Firefly Vodka!  That's right, y'all.  We just got my favorite vodka distilled and bottled right here in the Lowcountry.  If you haven't had a chance to check them out in person, I strongly urge anyone over the age of 21 (sorry, Liza) to head over to Wadmalaw Island for a tasting!  With 6 flavors of vodka to choose from, several options for liquor, wine and new rhums (that's how they spell rum), the options for tasty concoctions are just endless!

Whether you want to serve your guests spiked Arnold Palmers, banana pudding shots, or peach cobbler cocktails (yep, that's a thing!), the folks over at Firefly can create the perfect concoction to wow everyone invited!  We simply cannot wait to see what they've created for guests of the Scarlet Wedding Tour!!!

scarlet wedding tour firefly vodka
what a "sweet" idea for wedding favors!

what a "sweet" idea for wedding favors!

the perfect addition to any welcome basket!

the perfect addition to any welcome basket!