ASHLEY & ADAM
A Boone Hall Plantation wedding
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Ashley Adams was preparing to move to Los Angeles, but not before her brother introduced her to the man that she’d spend the rest of her life with. Ashley and Adam Russell immediately hit it off. “I’m not sure I had ever laughed so hard as I did that first weekend,” remembers Ashley, but the timing was off. A few months later, she made another trip to San Fran and the rest, as they say, is history. After spending some time dating long distance, the couple eventually settled together in Los Angeles when Adam began crafting his proposal. When his original date night plans to watch the sunset while riding beach cruisers in Santa Monica fell through, thanks to Southern California’s “June Gloom”, he regrouped and decided to grab a drink by the water before hitting the Santa Monica Pier. After a ride on the roller coaster, the couple boarded the Ferris Wheel just as the sun began to set and after a commemorative selfie at the top, Adam popped the question perched above the pier.
While their relationship had started on the West Coast, Ashley was determined to have an East Coast celebration for their September wedding and made a beeline for Charleston, South Carolina. When Ashley was in high school, a family friend tied the knot at Boone Hall Plantation and the breathtaking Lowcountry scenery had made a lasting impression on her. Luckily, when she ran the idea by Adam he was instantly on board. With the help of Marianne Caldwell RiverOaks, the couple set their plans in motion for a late fall wedding on the grounds of the historic plantation.
They kept the décor minimal with a candle-lined aisle and white florals for their traditional ceremony at First Baptist Church in downtown Charleston. Ashley made her entrance to the sounds of “Rigaudon” — the same song her mother used at her wedding years before — meeting Adam on the altar to recite their vows.
Ashley envisioned an autumnal color palette of wine, navy and ocean teal with soft blush accents, and since the Cotton Dock is decidedly rustic, she wanted to add romantic touches with flowing draping, string lights, and soft candlelight. To set the tone, Ashley tasked her brother with designing their invitation suite, which featured navy accents and a floral watercolor envelope liner. The elegant vibe carried over to Ashley’s one-shoulder, Legends by Romona Keveza gown she found at Maddison Row. Her A-line skirt and trailing veil stood up to the sprawling plantation, making a statement against the coastal backdrop. Her six bridesmaids wore long Amsale dresses in a deep shade of ocean teal, complementing the groomsmen in navy tuxedos. The men wore Southern-inspired, cotton boutonnières which were personally harvested by Ashley’s 96-year old grandfather.
All 230 guests made the trek over the Ravenel Bridge to Mount Pleasant as string lights hung from the palmetto trees above the entrance to the Cotton Dock. Inside, organic-style arrangements of tulips, roses, ranunculus, and anemones — Ashley’s favorite — were finished off with Fall foliage and flanked by blue candles that sat atop luxurious ivory linens.
On the dock, a cowhide rug was placed under a gold, floral-encrusted chandelier — a perfect mix of feminine and masculine touches — and two cozy couches creating a unique outdoor lounge area on the water. Guests dined on a Southern-style menu from Cru Catering that included their signature mac-n-cheese, ham biscuits, and watermelon salad before diving into a dessert spread of banana pudding, pecan pie, and miniature chocolate cakes. As a nod to Ashley’s grandparents who were celebrating their 68th wedding anniversary the following day, the newlyweds surprised them with a personal cake of their own followed by a congratulatory champagne toast. The party turned to the dance floor where Men of Distinction took the stage and kept the crowd dancing throughout the evening. Guests were surprised with a late-night snack of Chick-fil-A nuggets — divvied out by the cow himself — and paired with truffle fries. At the end of the evening, guests created a tunnel of sparklers that led to the couple’s getaway ride— a ’55 Chevy BelAir Convertible.
CHARLESTON WEDDING VENDORS - Ceremony Venue: First Baptist Church ll Reception Venue: Boone Hall Plantation ll Photographer: Landon Jacob Productions ll Event Planning & Design: Marianne Caldwell of RiverOaks Charleston ll Gown: Legends by Romona Keveza ll Dress Boutique: Maddison Row ll Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale ll Hair & Makeup: Lashes & Lace Bridal Hair and Makeup ll Men’s Attire: Joseph Abboud ll Floral Design: Jenni Gray Hewitt ll Catering, Cake & Bar: Cru Catering ll Rentals: Ooh! Events, EventWorks, EventHaus ll Videographer: Cinema843 ll Invitations: Chris Adams ll Pianist: Cindy Burn ll Vocalist: Bill Jordan ll Organist: Beverly Bradley ll Band: Men of Distinction ll Rehearsal Dinner: Charleston Harbor Fish House ll Officiant: Dr. Ed Carney
