Selected as one of the top destination wedding spots in the United States, the lowcountry has years of milestone matrimony vows in our history. We are forever connected to those who wed here and likewise we see wedding anniversary vacations where many revisit where their lives became one. Spring wedding trends are all encompassing to create lasting memories for all who attend, after all if you have asked your guests to travel to our sandy shores you want them to have mini vacation. We are seeing landscape artists hired to live paint the ceremony or reception. Décor can be described as boho-elegance meets the beach! Classical touches in the use of silver and china mixed with destressed wicker chairs and linen runners set the stage for a new kind obsession. No detail is left to chance with complete welcome amenities procured and left at guest accommodations such as VRBOs, Airbnbs, rentals, or hotels. These gift bags, boxes or baskets are uniquely matching the wedding theme and colors. Included are maps, itineraries, thank you notes, local snacks picked from "her" and from "him." Further customization this season included oyster shell branded ornaments with beaded hang ties. Coastal Curation is the hospitality gift venue of choice working tirelessly with brides to come up with that perfect gift. 

​Hilton Head Island's secret is out! Over the past few years, our lowcountry housing market have been surging like a king tide. We have seen an influx of new neighbors from all corners of the country, making it one of the fastest growing counties in the state. When you can play golf or tennis year-round and breathe salt air daily, it is a lifestyle many seek. At Coastal Curation, we work with top area realtors providing curating services to delight their new homeowners with destination gifts and goodies. Realtors relish in showing our new residents a dose of southern hospitality that is meaningful. Whether you are looking to congratulate a new homeowner with a curated housewarming package, or need provisions for an open house, we continue to source the finest local foods, wines, packages, gifts, and more that our county has to offer. Welcome home!

Humor us by closing your eyes and imagining yourself ten short minutes from your island vacation rental. You’ve just hopped off a stale smelling plane with a classic “lounger” occupying the seat in front of you (and more importantly, your seatback), or have been stuck in your vehicle for hours with a next to empty stomach and your progressively restless kiddos. In this moment, there is no doubt as to why the world “Travel” is derived from the old French word “travail," meaning to labor. However, upon opening the door to your weeklong getaway, all the stress and work from your day on the road dissipates. You’ve made it! You’re here. The perpetual “are we there yet?” has been answered, and nothing awaits you but whatever daily activity crosses your mind. And to welcome you, on the counter you find a bouquet of our famous yellow jessamine, a tasty bottle of South Carolina muscadine wine, and snacks hand-picked from our favorite local businesses. Take a load off mom and dad! After you enjoy your week in paradise, we always send you home with a lowcountry-crafted memento that you can look back on to remember your time here on Hilton Head Island, SC. Your vacation venue has us curating leaving you more time to create memories. Coastal Curation creates guest experiences for vacation rental owners and savvy travelers. 

Camellias are the royalty of the southern garden. They stand majestic, clothed in rich green and glossy leaves all summer, but then burst into bloom in winter.  Known as the winter Rose of the south, the blooms take on exotic almost origami like forms. Camellias come in a variety of wonderful colors ranging from snow white to deep red. By choosing a variety of these gorgeous plants it is possible to have Camellias in bloom from fall to early spring, bringing an ever changing kaleidoscope of lavishness. Grown in both gardens and containers, the plants have certain requirements like partial shade, soils rich in organic matter, and that are slightly acidic, but  as long as those needs are met, they are not hard to grow.  In fact, they are known to live for decades, even getting better as they age like a true “southern belle.”

​Holiday parties are back this year, giving the perfect opportunity to show some southern hospitality by bringing “a little something” to the host/hostess.  Wine is always  safe, but why not get a bit more creative and take a bottle of bourbon from a local distillery instead? Flowers are wonderful as well, but make sure to bring a vase (the south’s beloved mason jar fits the bill) so that your host/hostess doesn’t have to arrange them.  For around the home, cocktail napkins, soaps, or scented candles work well.  Always sure to please, homemade treats such as cheese straws,  jam, or flavored olive oil. If the stay is for more than one night, it is acceptable to send a thank you gift after the fact. The gift need not be elaborate or expensive, but a thoughtfully chosen and prettily wrapped one is a lovely gesture.  

Tradition is a word heard frequently around the holidays, and one of the greatest seasonal traditions in the Lowcountry is the oyster roast.  This favorite event is steeped in history as evidenced by Native American shell rings found throughout the region; a sure sign that even many hundreds of years ago, folks have been enjoying the sweet, briney goodness of oysters. In addition to copious amounts of paper towels, the classic condiments for an oyster roast include saltine crackers, cocktail sauce, mignonette sauce (a piquant sauce made of shallots and vinegar) , lemon wedges, and hot sauce.  Of course, purists will say they are best enjoyed slurped right out of the shell with nothing but their natural juices known as “liquor”.  Oyster season runs from September to April, click here ​for how to host your own oyster 
roast!

Sweetgrass Baskets were birthed by necessity dating back to the 1600s, beginning when bond slaves needed a way to separate the husk from the rice. Using a woven “fanner” workers threw the rice in the air causing the husk to blow away.  Today’s baskets evolved from this old Gullah tool.  When the tradition of weaving sweetgrass started, it was the men who were the artisans. As time went on the women learned the skill and kept the art form alive.  The now beautiful and intricate baskets woven from sweetgrass are an integral part of Lowcountry history. Each basket takes upwards of 40 hours to create. The complex designs are woven tightly enough to hold water.

No conversation about drinks in the South could possibly be complete without mentioning sweet tea - the official hospitality drink of South Carolina.  Sweet tea started as a luxury item, as at the time, all 3 ingredients (tea, ice, sugar) were rare and expensive. The oldest known recipe for sweet tea was published in the cookbook “Housekeeping in Old Virginia” in 1878. The original recipe called for green tea, the most popular tea of that time.  World War II brought about a shortage of green tea, so by the end of the war black tea had taken its place. Also, back in the day, sweet tea was sometimes enjoyed as a punch mixed with various spirits, mint and cream...the precursor to the modern Mint Julep!