Tell us a bit about yourself! 

I’m the Principal & Creative Director of Calder Clark, with more than 25 years of experience in the wedding and event planning industry. While an eye for detail, deep creativity, and obsession with logistics have earned us a place among the top planners in the field, the relationships we build with my couples and their families mean the most.

My design perspective leans heavily residential—I always want a wedding to feel like an extension of a couple’s personal taste, as if you stepped into the most elevated version of their home. That lens helps us create celebrations that feel layered, intimate, and totally unique to each client.

I live in Charleston with my husband, Chaunce, and my proudest accomplishments are our two children, Campbell and Walton. When I’m not dreaming up design details for our clients, you can usually find me stitching a new needlepoint canvas, on the croquet court, or trying some new-fangled Italian recipe from TikTok. 

Calder wears the Tamara Top & Blake Pant in green

What is the biggest risk you have advised your couples to take over your time in the industry, and how did it turn out?

Nowadays, it’s not as hard to get our couples to take risks. They come to us expecting something fresh—something their guests have never seen before. That’s why they hire us, and honestly, it’s where the industry is headed. A decade ago, convincing a bride to take a real risk wasn’t so easy . . . example: a custom dance floor wrap. That might not sound groundbreaking today, but back then, we were among the first to do a black-and-white Oscar-de-la-Renta-runway-inspired  dancefloor that went viral in Pinterest’s heyday. On another occasion, we convinced our couple to go with a cobalt blue splatter-paint dancefloor—both had guests’ jaws on the floor. Those bold choices open the door for bigger risks and more unforgettable moments.

What rituals–whether that is reading a book a week, a hike, or afternoon cocktails–keep you grounded creatively when you are among the madness of peak wedding season?

Easy: needlepoint. I call it yoga for the mind. I picked up my first canvas during Covid and absolutely fell in love. I stitched over 150 ornaments that first year... unhinged, I know. (Busy hands, quiet mind?) These days, I don’t have quite as much time to stitch during peak wedding season, but I’m always on a plane, and it’s the perfect thing to keep me grounded en route to a site visit or install. It’s the calm before the creative storm.

You are constantly juggling guest lists, gowns, floral installs, and multiple different timelines at once–what is your secret to staying organized (and sane!) with so many moving pieces at play?

I live and die by the Pomodoro method, which is a workday flow of 25 minutes on, 5 minutes off. During the breaks, I stretch on a yoga mat, listen to a podcast, take a loop around the studio, track down an iced coffee, or phone a friend. Also, my entire life lives in Google Calendar. My team (and family) know: if it’s not in there, it’s not happening.

You balance form and function so beautifully–what is one design rule you love breaking, and one you never bend?

I love breaking the rule that formality equals stiff. For black-tie weddings, we’ve brought in scalloped awnings, party crackers, even passed Miller High Life ponies during cocktail hour—anything to keep things elegant but playful, and deeply true to the couple.

One rule I never bend? Flow. No matter how beautiful a space looks on paper, if guests can’t move through it easily and comfortably, it’s a miss. Design has to serve the experience, not the other way around.

You have said you avoid “falling prey to the one-size-fits-all-ness” of today’s typical weddings. How do you keep each celebration feeling fresh and deeply personal?

We get to know our clients really well—and that’s always our starting point. When you design with a couple’s story, taste, and lifestyle in mind, no two celebrations ever feel the same. Our approach leans residential in style; their wedding might feel more like a reflection of their home or personal interiors than a typical event. That’s when it starts to feel truly intentional and wildly personal.

You make weddings look effortless, but we know there is always a plot twist or two behind the scenes. What is your approach when something unexpected happens, and how do you stay calm and keep the magic going?

There are definitely temperaments suited to this business, and those that are intrinsically not. I am nearly impossible to ruffle; perhaps born inflappable? I can actually feel the tension turning up and just shoulder it for the pyramid of vendor partners so that they never feel adrift when the ish hits the fan . . .  it is a gift that has landed me in the therapist’s chair and on the surgeon’s operating table for sure, but I continued to adore what I do.

If you could choose any Mestiza dress to wear to the latest wedding you are planning, which one would you pick, and what about it feels just right for the celebration?

I am eyeing the Luzon Gown for a Virginia wedding project this fall. It looks easy to move in, effortless, elegant, and I’m never afraid of pattern play. 

From the engagement shoot, to bridal shower, and rehearsal dinner - if you were dressing a bride for all the pre-wedding fun, which Mestiza pieces would you pick for each?

I love anything that looks like it could be archival vintage, so the Carolina Pearl Capelet really does it for me. It’s adorable layered over any of the Mestiza bridal dresses—perfect for a bridal shower, engagement party or even a civil ceremony before jetting off to your destination weekend.

I’m also loving this party mini moment we’re having in the industry right now, but call me crazy—I have a hunch that brides will start switching things up soon and bringing back the more formal “leaving outfit,” à la the ’90s and early 2000s. What goes around always comes back around. The Blake Crop Pant nails that vibe.

One thing I always tell my brides: don’t be afraid of color. That’s why I’m obsessed with the Victoria Convertible Gown Skirt in watercolor blue, paired with the Scallopini Shell Top. It’s such an epic welcome party or rehearsal dinner look—think Cabo, Greece, anywhere tropical.

Your weddings are layered, textured, and timeless–does that same design magic show up in your closet, too?

Well, I certainly try! Layered is key. Like I always say, I’m constantly on a plane. Within the same month, I could be out west in Jackson Hole, overseas in Greece, and then back home in Charleston. No matter the season, my wardrobe has to keep up. So yes—texture, layers, and timeless staples are always part of the equation, just like in our weddings. I’m a big believer in the “three pieces styling” theory (perhaps a nod to a Ralph Lauren rule?) so I’m always trying to walk out of the house with a rakish little scarf, a neck full of necklaces, and maybe a matching set (pant/top) so that I look and feel pulled together.

What do you love most about the Mestiza brand? How do you feel when you wear Mestiza?

What I love most is how versatile the pieces are. My wardrobe has to keep up—one week I might be at a black-tie industry event, and the next I’m on a site visit in another time zone. The Convertible™ styles make it easy to shift gears without sacrificing style. But what really keeps me coming back is how polished I feel when I wear Mestiza. The fabrics are beautiful, the tailoring is thoughtful, and even after being tossed in a suitcase a dozen times, they still show up looking elegant and elevated—just like I hope to. I’m also mildly obsessed with Mestiza accessories, and have had my eye on the Torres Beaded Clutch  Bag in gold for WAY too long.