Unique Experiences

Item Description

Charleston Destination Wedding for LGBT Couple

Come exchange your wedding vows in historic Charleston, South Carolina, one of the South’s most awarded cities for romance, beauty, and exquisite taste. The Alliance For Full Acceptance, a social justice organization achieving equality and acceptance for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people has coordinated with Charleston’s premier wedding vendors to present an LGBT wedding package for auction on Bidding For Good.

Wedding Timeline:

Enjoy a seamlessly planned destination wedding in January 2015. Coordination services will be provided by The Event Cooperative to directly assist the couple with all necessary planning details. 

Thursday, January 22, 2015

The winning couple will receive complimentary airfare for two from a JetBlue destination city to Charleston, South Carolina. Private transportation will be offered to the city’s downtown historic district where the couple will enjoy a wedding suite at the upscale Francis Marion Hotel. 

Friday, January 23, 2015

Uniquely Charleston Tours invites guests to embark on a historic walking tour during their first afternoon in town. Led by Paul Garbarini, the group will find themselves winding through downtown’s historic streets and reveling in the city’s most interesting past. 

Returning to the hotel to freshen up after touring, the guests will soon depart for the rehearsal dinner. Held at Crosby’s Dock, up to fifty guests will enjoy a casual lowcountry dinner in this bucolic setting. The event venue is represented by JMC Charleston and group transportation will be provided by Limos for Less. 

Saturday, January 24, 2015

The couple’s vows will commence at the Unitarian Church with the company of up to fifty of the couple’s dearest family and friends. Reverend Danny Reed will lead the service. Wedding bands will be provided by Croghan’s Jewel Box. The couple should plan to obtain a marriage license from their home state in advance. 

Arriving at the entrance to the church, a private horse drawn carriage will bring the couple to the American Theater, where the theater’s marquee will greet them in flashing lights. Friends and family will be offered group transportation to the ceremony and reception.

Upon arrival to the cocktail hour, guests will enjoy open bar service provided by MIX Premier Bartending. A signature cocktail will be named in honor of the couple, and hors d’Oeuvres will be passed by professional waitstaff. 

Lavish art deco appointments decorate the halls of the American Theater. All guests will slowly make their way through the gallery to the ballroom for a seated three course dinner. Hors d’Oeuvres and Dinner will be prepared by Executive Chef Todd Mazurek of Salthouse Catering. Wine service will be offered throughout dinner and cocktail service will be available upon request. 

The ballroom will be accented with specialty lighting and the room will be set for a swanky, winter affair. A floral credit has been provided by Lotus Flower for the couple to use at their discretion. 

Candlelight and the soulful voice of Leah Suarez, backed by a jazz ensemble, will serenade guests throughout dinner. DJ Trevor Donovan of D&M Productions will later take the stage to kick off the dance party for the remainder of the wedding celebration. 

Sugar Bakeshop will present a decadent display of petite sweets, and Patrick Properties Hotel Group will provide a wedding cake to celebrate the cake cutting. 

Ending the wedding with a glamorous send-off, the couple will once again take to the red carpet, as they make their way off as a happily, married couple. 

Photography coverage for the wedding day will be provided by Rick Dean Photography. 

Wedding Invitations will be provided by The RSVP Shoppe. Additional services have been provided by GoCo Events and  David’s Tuxedos. 

Item Special Note

American Theater | Patrick Properties Hotel Group | www.pphgcharleston.com

Berlns for Women | $75.00 Gift Certificate | www.berlinswomenclothing.com/

Croghan’s Jewel Box | Wedding Bands | www.croghansjewelbox.com 

Crosby’s Dock | Rehearsal Dinner | www.crosbysdock.com 

D&M Productions | Audio/Sound/DJ | www.alowcountryevent.com 

David’s Tuxedos | www.davidstuxedos.com 

Flight Vouchers for Two on JetBlue | Private Gift

Francis Marion Hotel | Wedding Suite and Group Room Rate | www.francismarionhotel.com 

GoCo Events | www.gocoevents.com 

JMC Charleston | www.jmccharleston.com 

Leigh Webber Photography | Photography for the Rehearsal Dinner | www.leighwebberphotography.com

Leah Suarez & Jazz Ensemble | www.leahsuarez.com 

Limos For Less | Group Transportation | ww2.limosforlesscharleston.com

Lotus Flower | $1,000 Floral Credit | www.lotusflowercharleston.com

MIX Premier Bartending | Beverage Service for Wedding Reception | www.mixcharleston.com 

Palmetto Carriage | Private Carriage for Two | www.palmettocarriage.com

Rick Dean Photography | Photography for the Wedding Reception | www.rickdeanphotography.com

The Event Cooperative | Wedding Coordination | www.TheEventCooperative.com 

The RSVP Shoppe | Wedding Invitations

Salthouse Catering | Wedding Reception | www.salthousecatering.com 

Sugar Bakeshop | Gourmet Sweet Display | www.sugarbake.com 

Uniquely Charleston Tours | Historic Walking Tour | www.uniquelycharlestontours.com 

Unitarian Church of Charleston | Wedding Vows | www.charlestonuu.org 

Vo Don Custom Framing | Framed Wedding Portrait and 'Guest Matt' | www.vodoncustomframing.com

Commonly Asked Questions:

But it’s not legal yet for an LGBT Couple to wed in South Carolina...?

• Our point exactly! Despite South Carolina’s ban on gay marriage and with polite irreverence, we want to convey that Charleston is a welcoming, affirming community and we’re open for LGBT celebration and business. We invite our guest couple to obtain their marriage license at home or elsewhere, but come to Charleston to tie the knot and help promote marriage equality in the South. 

We would like to commit to buying the "Say a Gay "I Do" in Charleston", but unable to travel that weekend in January. Are there any alternative dates this package would be available?

• Vendors have committed to providing services for the timeline of January 23-24, 2015, as listed above. Special considerations may be given to host this event on an alternative date; should the event occur within one year of the purchase date, and also within the months of January-February and July-August 2015. Should a date change be accommodated, some restrictions may apply to the selection of vendors and venue availability, 

Would it be possible to invite more than fifty guests?

• It is expected with destination weddings to have a response rate of about 80% of your invited group in attendance. Complimentary services have been included for up to fifty guests with the "Say a Gay "I Do" in Charleston" package. Additional fees may apply for a larger event. 

My partner and I had hoped to personalize some areas of our wedding day. Would we be allowed to incorporate our own style and vision? 

• The Alliance for Full Acceptance has created this destination wedding package, with flexibility in mind. The framework for a well coordinated wedding weekend has been provided. From the first dance to floral selections, the linen colors, menu selections and cake flavors - we understand wedding planning is personal to you.

We are a straight couple and we support LGBT marriage equality.  Can we bid on the package?

• Of course!  However, our hope is to marry an LGBT couple as a way to change hearts, minds, and laws one wedding at a time!  We want to advocate marriage equality in the South and within the context of it being an economic issue.  Charleston being one of the most popular wedding destinations in the world gives us the perfect stage.

For more information about the Wedding Package and the Alliance For Full Acceptance, please go to www.affa-sc.org.

Touchpoint Communications | Kerry Welch | 808-429-0548 | kerry@touchptcom.com

The Event Cooperative | Maryann Hoyt | 843-729-2593 | maryann@theeventcooperative.com

Alliance For Full Acceptance | Susie Prueter | 843-367-3525 | suzanneprueter@comcast.net | www.affa-sc.org