CHRIS & JENN
Historic Rice Mill Building Wedding
Charleston, South Carolina
Q: How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.
A: We meet 7 years ago working at the local watering hole and restaurant. After many long bartending shifts and late-night breakfasts at Denny's, we began dating in the fall of 2012. Before we knew it, we moved in together, and have been inseparable since. Our love of all things Disney has been a keen aspect of our relationship with multiple trips to Disney World (including our engagement & honeymoon!!) How did Chris propose? He surprised me on a Friday after work (the day after Thanksgiving). I had a feeling he was proposing soon, because he had asked my sister to find out my ring size like two weeks before, but thought it would not happen since he didn't propose at our family Thanksgiving gathering. I came home to a house filled with navy & silver balloons, rose petals scattered throughout the living room, "When you wish upon a Star" playing in the background, and him on one knee holding a hand-made Mickey & Minnie wedding ring box. He swept me away to Walt Disney World that day to celebrate our engagement. Guess he's glad I said "Yes!" :) Funny Story! Chris and I worked at a restaurant in Columbia. When I went to apply to work at the restaurant , we met briefly and exchanged a few jokes. He reached out to his mother that same day to tell her he'd "Met a girl. She has a boyfriend, but not to worry....because he was going to win her over." I concede, he was right!
Q: Let's talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look? Describe the looks in detail.
A: We wanted our attire to have a timeless & elegant feel, while still being able to 'get down' on the dance floor. Modern Trousseau of Charleston helped me create the perfect Classic Southern look! My custom gown was an elegant lace top reminiscent of Charleston wrought-iron gates with a sleek elegant gown underneath, a perfect party dress... It was two dresses in one! The Bridesmaids wore serenity blue Chiffon Jenny Yoo gowns with rose gold accessories. The Groom, groomsmen, and bridesmen wore the southern in-vogue navy suit with navy ties and brown leather shoes from the Black Tux. The Groom shook it up a bit with a Floral accent tie.
Q: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?
A: The most anticipated moment of the day was seeing Chris down the aisle for the first time. I did an awesome and emotional first look with my father, but I was so excited to see the look on Chris' face as I walked down the aisle to become his wife. However, my favorite moment of the night was when we sneaked out of the reception and sat alone by the marina in a wicker chair. It was just us and the stars!
Q: Let's talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?
A: We lined the walkway into the Historic Rice Mill with lanterns. Our color palette was navy, light blue, and white. We added in generous pops of greenery to tables & chairs. We wanted our decor to play off of the natural beauty of the large mahogany bar and tin-plated ceilings, and not take away from its prohibition-style vibe. We added small & large candle pillars throughout the venue's antique window panes to light up the rooms. The wedding favors were semi- DIY! We created mini bottle Bloody Mary sets featuring Charleston Bloody Mary mix & Dixie vodka, as well as mini packs of Old Colony bakery benne wafers. We wanted our guests to enjoy great local products from the Lowcountry!
Q: What were the florals like in your wedding? Did you use flowers in any of your design elements like the bridal bouquets, centerpieces or ceremony backdrop? Did they play an important part in the overall style of your wedding?
A: We used mostly greenery to highlight the natural wood of the venue. The windows on the side of the Rice Mill and ceremony chairs were draped with Silver-dollar eucalyptus. The reception tables alternated between small arrangements of blue flowers & greenery in milk-glass vases and greenery embracing multiple sized candle pillars & votives. We had a large centerpiece dripping with light blue Delphinium, white Alabaster garden roses, white Peonies, white Ranunculouss, silver dollar Eucalyptus, & Italian Ruscus as you walked into the front foyer. The bridal bouquet was a rounded bouquet with White Alabaster Garden roses, white Peonies, White Lisianhus, silver dollar eucalyptus,& Italian Ruscus. The bridesmaids had smaller versions with heavier greenery. The Groom, groomsmen, & Bridesmen donned Charleston Sweetgrass rose boutonnieres.
Q: Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment, etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?
A: Surprisingly, we loved the photo booth at our reception! I hesitated at first to have a photo booth because I wasn't sure if it would take up too much space in the venue or take away from the environment. It was a hit! We had so many wonderful photos of our friends having a blast, and Complete Weddings even created a book with all of our guests photos and signatures. It is a great keepsake! Also, we had a light-up sign for the bar that read my new last name Fitz. It looked great on the bar!
Q: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?
A: The most anticipated moment of the day was seeing Chris down the aisle for the first time. I did an awesome and emotional first look with my father, but I was so excited to see the look on Chris' face as I walked down the aisle to become his wife. However, my favorite moment of the night was when we sneaked out of the reception and sat alone by the marina in a wicker chair. It was just us and the stars!
Q: Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you'd like to share with other couples planning their day?
A: Breathe! Take your time throughout the day to enjoy every moment. I was a very hands-on bride, and I found myself worrying about not having control of how everything would turn out the day of. My wedding coordinator Caroline Bean with Engaging Events did a phenomenal job. Everything went by smoothly without any problems. Even if something doesn't go exactly how you thought it would, it doesn't matter... the wedding will still be amazing!
Equipment Rentals: Event Works // Photo Booth Equipment: Complete Charleston Photo Booth // DJ: Complete Charleston // Ceremony Location: The Historic Rice Mill // Reception Venue: The Historic Rice Mill // Caterer: The Historic Rice Mill // Event Venue: John Rutledge House Inn // Makeup Artist: Vanity Salon // Hair Stylist: Vanity Salon // Invitation Designer: Minted // Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid // Dress Store: Modern Trousseau // Event Planner & Floral Designer: Engaging Events // Photographer: Leigh Hayward Photography //
Submitted via Two Bright Lights
