Southern Wedding {Ashley + Brian}

We just love when Chris Isham's camera graces a Southern wedding with it's presence.  This time, the South Carolina based photographer headed to Augusta, Georgia to capture Ashley + Brian's darling, April affair at the Marbury Center.  Ashley dazzled in a structured gown that she accessorized with a whimsical flower in her hair, while the men sported blue suits and assorted ties to compliment the vintage blue and yellow color palette.

Southern Wedding Vendors

Photographer:  Chris Isham Photography  /  Hair Stylist:  Rachel Biestman  /  Reception Venue:  The Marbury Center  /  Bakery:  Cupcakes by Britani

Dannon + Josh {McCrady's Wedding}

Go ahead and prepare yourself for some serious Charleston wedding fabulousness today.  Coming to us from the Myrtle Beach wedding design team of Stunning & Brilliant Events, you are going to swoon over every detail of Dannon + Josh's dreamy, Downtown wedding.  Dannon has got some serious style, starting with her form fitting gown, striking birdcage veil and impressive DIY decor.  The couple said 'I do' in a traditional ceremony at the historic St. John the Baptist Cathedral, off Broad Street, before heading to Waterfront Park with photographer Callie Frances Alexander to capture some timeless, newlywed portraits.  They continued the evening at McCrady's where they dazzled their guests with exquisite Lowcountry cuisine, a stunning cake designed by Declare Cakes, and a whole lot of celebrating!

Charleston Wedding Vendors

 Wedding Coordinator: Stunning & Brilliant Events  /  Ceremony: St. John the Baptist Cathedral  /  Photography: Callie Frances Alexander  /  Music: Jay Maxwell Music by Request  /  Cake: Declare Cakes  /  Reception Venue: McCrady’s Restaurant  /  Videography: Michael Parks  /  Make-up: Dannon K. Collard

Downtown Charleston {Sarah + Ryan}

Things have been a little crazy over here at A Lowcountry Wedding the past few weeks...and we couldn't be happier!  We're counting down the days until we launch the brand, spanking new vendor section of ALW.  We know planning a wedding can be, well, kinda crazy and it's hard to know where to turn for an honest vendor recommendation.  No worries!  We'll be bringing you a complete Lowcountry guide of all of our talented wedding vendors in Hilton Head, Charleston and Myrtle Beach and you can rest easy knowing they've got our stamp of approval!  So, in honor of our new addition, we''re celebrating with Sarah + Ryan's charming Downtown Charleston engagement session from the one-of-a-kind, Emily Horton Photography!

Niccole + John {William Aiken House Wedding}

There's no doubt Charleston is blessed with a wealth of talented vendors that, luckily for you and I, execute dreamy, Lowcountry weddings on a weekly basis, and today's Southern stunner is no different.  Niccole + John selected one of Charleston's most-sought after venues, the timeless William Aiken House, as the backdrop for their beautiful, Spring affair and the crew at Richard Bell Photography was on hand to capture it all.  The couple married in an intimate, outdoor ceremony before treating their guests to refreshing libations and delicious, Lowcountry cuisine from Fish.  The lively celebration continued with the sounds of East Coast Entertainment as everyone enjoyed a gorgeous evening under the Charleston stars.

 Charleston Wedding Vendors

Photographer:  Richard Bell Photography  /  Caterer:   Fish  /  Event Planner:   Ooh! Events  /  Floral Designer:   The Blossom Shop of Summerville  /  Musicians:   christopher teves  /  Reception Venue:   The William Aiken House  /  Band:   East Coast Entertainment  /  Makeup Artist:   Kelly Martuscello

Lowcountry Weddings {Emotions}

I know everyone loves to see the wedding day details (and who can blame them!), I can swoon over some whimsical Charleston lighting, fall head over heels for a fabulous, Hilton Head floral arrangement and go ga-ga over some dreamy, Myrtle Beach drapes with the best of them...what's not to love.  But do you know what my favorite part of blogging about beautiful Lowcountry weddings is?  Hands down, the raw emotions.  Your wedding day is this crazy mix of happy emotions and since there's a good chance that some of it might feel like a bit of a blur, it's always clutch to have a talented photographer on hand to capture these timeless, special moments.

Fourth of July!

Whether you'll be spending your 4th of July in Hilton Head, Charleston or Myrtle Beach (or somewhere in between!), the crew from A Lowcountry Wedding wants to wish you a happy (and safe!) holiday week/weekend.  I'll be kicking it on Shem Creek tonight, sipping on something cold and watching some fireworks, which means you won't hear from us until Monday.  I know, how will you ever survive, right?  Don't worry, we'll be back at it with a beautiful Charleston wedding to kick off next week....so until then, enjoy the sunshine, this crazy heat, and good times with friends and family.

Charleston Bridals {Shannae}

We are counting down the minutes until our Fourth of July celebrations get started and to kick off this extra long, holiday weekend here in the Lowcountry, we're sharing Shannae's Downtown Charleston bridal session from Nadean of Gene Ho Photography.  She donned a breathtaking, Maggie Sottero gown from Bridal House of Charleston that boasted a timeless silhouette and gorgeous, lace sleeves...that we just can't get enough of!  The talented duo of Affair Hair by Tanesha and Jonny Cosmetics made sure this Southern Belle looked her best with the perfect combination of hair and make up.

Charleston Engagement {Rebecca + Joseph}

If there is ever a time when I’m particularly happy that I’m a girl, it’s when it comes to the act of proposing. I am sooo glad that responsibility falls on the guys. Lord knows I would be a complete disaster: splotches, sweaty palms, shaky voice…oh, it would just be a mess. So, I’m always particularly impressed when I hear a guy has gone out of his way to surprise his soon-to-be fiance with a truly, thoughtful engagement. One of my favorite compliments to the perfect Lowcountry engagement is hiding a talented photographer (cue Kelly Sauer Photography) in the bushes to document the moment…and surprisingly, very few guys think to incorporate this key element, Joseph being one of them! Rebecca and Joseph met during their junior year of college and have always enjoyed traveling the world together. So, when Joseph suggested a trip to Charleston, she thought nothing of spending a few days in the Holy City. He treated her to a day at the spa (lucky gal!) and told her to get all dolled up for an intimate, formal dinner later that evening...to which she kindly obliged. They took a relaxing carriage ride before stopping at Waterfront Park to take in the scenery where Joseph popped the question with the fountain as the backdrop!  Thanks to Kelly Sauer for capturing this darling Southern couple and their perfect Charleston engagement!

Charleston Wedding {Buffie + Jay}

Now, there's something about Buffie + Jay's wedding, in the heart of the Holy City, that just sets my heart a-flutter.  I'm guessing it's the backdrop of charming carriage houses, historic churches and the cobblestone streets, captured by the talented Krista Lee Photography, that makes me go weak in the knees, but I'll let you be the judge.   Buffie looked stunning in a breathtaking gown with sheer cap sleeves from White, while her bridesmaids sported floor-length, one shoulder LulaKate gowns in a vibrant, spring blue.  The ceremony took place at the First Baptist Church of Charleston where the choir sang as Buffy and her father made their way down the aisle.  After saying 'I do,' the newlyweds took an intimate carriage ride through downtown before heading to the Daniel Island Country Club to celebrate with family and friends!

 Charleston Wedding Vendors

Photographer: Krista Lee Photography  /  Floral Designer:  A Floral Affair  /  Ceremony Venue:First Baptist Church of Charleston  /  Reception Venue:  Daniel Island Country Club  /  Dress Designer:  White  /  Bridesmaids Dresses: LulaKate  /  Carriage: Charleston Coach

Charleston Bride {Brittani}

One thing we love to share with our Lowcountry Brides (well, besides stunning, jaw-dropping wedding inspiration, of course!), is tried and true tips straight from our horses, I mean, brides' mouths.  Our gal, Brittani, is back today to give us a few pointers about what she's learned thus far as she navigates her way to her big, Charleston wedding day!

Yay it’s time for another ALW update! Last time I dropped by, I updated the fantastic ALW readers on my DRESS! That was such an unexpectedly exciting part of the process and I actually go for my first fitting in just a few weeks! I cannot WAIT to get back into my beautiful wedding dress, cowboy boots and all!  The last few months since making that big decision have been CRAZY! I have been blown away by how quickly the time has gone, and I’ve learned a lot about wedding planning. Phew! I’d love to share some of the things I’ve learned you probably want to do, and some of the things you probably don’t want to do…

DO:

• Do hire a wedding planner! Ugh, what a mistake it was thinking wedding planners aren’t always necessary. As a wedding photographer, I of all people should know how important it is to have someone running the show. Oops! If I could do-over, that definitely would have been the FIRST vendor I would have hired!

• Do be realistic about what weddings cost. I LOVE weddings, trust me…there’s nothing more exciting and special and exhilarating than a wedding day. BUT, having said that, there is SO much that goes into a wedding. I was the bride that wanted to be able to spend big on the things that were most important to Dustin and I (photography, the venue, and food), and DIY and save as much as possible elsewhere. I’ve learned that’s not really realistic, at least for me and my lifestyle. When you have a full-time job, wedding planning is a whole other full-time job. That’s why planners are so important! There were so many “great big ideas” we had to save money but there’s just no TIME to make these things a reality. Life happens, and you have to be realistic about how much time you can really put aside to manage, create, and plan all of these things that seem so easy to do yourself.

• Do start whatever DIY projects you are doing early. In my mind, August was going to be wide open (the hot summers are usually my slower time work-wise), so I could do sooooo much DIYing then. Wrong. August is already halfway crazy for me. I’ve started tackling some projects now but honestly at the end of the workday, I just want to relax! I know some brides are so into crafting for their weddings and it is their way to relax at the end of the day, but between taking care of my dogs and horses, trying to work out (gotta look good for the big day!), cooking dinner, cleaning, regular household and farm chores…there never seems to be enough time at the end of the day.

DON'T:

• Don’t get too caught up in Pinterest. Used the right way, Pinterest can be such a great tool for planning your wedding and coming up with fun projects. BUT, the trick with Pinterest is to not feel like your wedding has to look like someone elses’s. The whole point of getting really creative with your wedding is to make it a true representation of you and your fiancé and the things that are most special in your relationship. It’s so easy to look at pin after pin and think “that’s perfect!” but you should really start with a list of unique traits or themes you want to include in your wedding and search out inspiration from there. For us, since we were long distance for so long and spent a LOT of time flying and driving, travel is going to be a big theme. We’re also super dedicated to our farm and both grew up with horses, so that’s a big shared passion. We love our dogs like kids, so of course the dogs and being a blended family (Dustin has a 5-year-old son) are also very “us.”

• Maybe this is just me, but if I had to do it again, I would not try DIYing invitations. I work with a really good print lab because of my business, so I totally thought I could handle this on my own. Invitations are important, but to me they weren’t one of the biggest priorities. In reality, invitations are basically the first impression you are giving your guests. It’s worth it to invest in a talented designer (I love Sarah at Dodeline Design) who gets what you’re going for and can handle this for you. Invitations have Stressed. Me. Out. You can even find TONS of great invitation suites on Etsy, if going through a designer isn't for you. At the end of the day, by weighing the pros and cons, spending another $200 or so on invitations would have been totally worth it, rather than dealing with the headache I’ve caused myself.

• Don’t lose sight of what your wedding is really about. There are going to be things you want to do but won’t get done. There are things that aren’t going to go as planned. Don’t forget what the day is really about…you and your new husband, your new life together, and the opportunity to have all of the people you love the most in one place at the same time, celebrating together. What will be, will be.

Hopefully those little tips are helpful in some way or another. There are definitely some things I wish I could re-do but we’re this far in and we’ve just got to roll with the punches! I know the next three months are going to FLY, and although I can’t wait for the day to be here, I don’t want the days to fly by too fast because I don’t want our actual wedding day to fly by too fast! I know that no matter what happens, the day will be wonderful and I really look forward to the celebration!

What’s going on next? I’ll be back pretty soon with some insight into the vendors we chose and some other fun details like bridal portraits and what we’re doing for bachelor/bachelorette parties! See ya soon ALW!

Erica + Toby {Charleston National Golf Club Wedding}

I've been slaving away this week as I work on adding a whole new vendor section to A Lowcountry Wedding (keep your eyes peeled, it will be launching at the beginning of July!), so needless to say, I'm really looking forward to taking it easy this weekend!  So, to kick off this gorgeous Lowcountry weekend, we're sharing a touching, Charleston National Golf Club affair from the crew at Richard Bell Photography, that was coordinated by Charleston Wedding Design.  The beautiful Bride, Erica, walked down the aisle to the sounds of Charleston Virtuosi before meeting her Groom at the altar to say 'I do' in front of their closest friends and family.  Thanks to the sweet couple for giving us a peek inside their fairytale wedding... "We feel our story is unique and our relationship has transcended an ocean, time zones and united two cultures. This has been a huge commitment of love, time, patience and unswerving determination to be together. The trials and tribulations of our relationship together with our faith have been a stern test, which we're certain will help our marriage stand the test of time. Erica and I have become passionate travelers (we've had to because we are from different countries!) and we've weaved our love of travel into the fabric of our wedding. Each table is personalized to represent an important milestone in our relationship. Bahamas - our first holiday together, London, England and Westerville, Ohio - our hometowns, Las Vegas - where we met and our journey together began, San Francisco - our future home and of course Charleston - where we fell in love and will be married. We have a vision for our wedding which is to make it feel personal and each small detail is important to us. We will have strings to play Vivaldi four seasons, which we listened to in an outdoor concert in Somerset, England on Erica's first visit to the UK. Our Wedding colors of purple and green are inspired by Wimbledon (Toby's town of birth), where we were fortunate enough to spend a day at the Championships in 2011. We will be sipping on PIMM'S at our cocktail hour, which is a popular English cocktail filled with fresh fruits perfect for a springtime affair. At the end of the night a black cab will be driving us from the reception, which we think is fitting because we currently live in London and regularly use these cabs to get around. Charleston National Golf course is a fitting location for our Wedding as Erica's father, Ken, who sadly passed away in February 2011 was a keen golfer. He would of been delighted to have known that the happiest day of his daughters life would be spent in the beautiful setting, one which brought him so much joy in his life."

 Charleston Wedding Vendors

Photographer: Richard Bell Photography  /  Caterer:  Hamby Catering & Events  /  Event Planner:  Charleston Wedding Design /  Musicians: Charleston Virtuosi  /  DJ:  The Music Maker DJ  /  Event Venue:  Charleston National Golf Club

Lowcountry Weddings {Oyster Roast}

Because all of your guests will jump at the chance to head to the Lowcountry for a wedding (I mean, who doesn't want to spend a weekend in Charleston, Hilton Head or Myrtle Beach!?!), more often than not, it turns into a weekend long wedding celebration…which is all kinds of fantastic.  You may consider having a welcome party on Thursday, a bridal luncheon Friday, rehearsal dinner that evening and, possibly, a Bon Voyage brunch on Sunday morning..and you know I'll encourage you to have every, last one of them!  One thing that your guests will be expecting when coming to town for your big bash, is to experience and revel in the spirit of the Lowcountry.   They want to put their toes in the sand, smell the salt water, enjoy the atmosphere and indulge in our one-of-a-kind, Southern cuisine…so you better give ‘em just that!  One of my favorite staples of the South Carolina coastline is a big ol’ oyster roast which, luckily, works perfectly for a laid back, rehearsal dinner, and since Fall is right around the corner, you might as well get to planning...

First thing’s first, you’ll need to pick the perfect venue that offers picturesque views and exudes that relaxed, Lowcountry vibe (and lord knows we've got plenty of them in Charleston, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach!):

Besides a stunning, Lowcountry view, you'll need to make sure you have a few key elements...

1) Some trusty oyster roast tables, with trash cans (of course!)

2) Oysters (duh!), gloves, saltines, cocktail sauce, horseradish and some Tabasco, for those that like it spicy.

3) Plenty of shuckers!

4) Last but not least, a bucket full of beer and some of your favorite koozies to keep 'em cold!

5)...and if you really feel like celebrating, maybe a few Oyster Shooters!

Get to shuckin'!

Maddison Row {Sample Sale}

Hopefully, you don't have plans this weekend because what I'm about to tell you will make you clear your sched...for real.  The ladies at Maddison Row are hosting a huge sample sale this weekend that will feature swoon-worthy, couture wedding gowns discounted up to 70% off!  You'll find gowns from top wedding designers like Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier, Carolina Herrera, Ramona Keveza Legenda, Anna Maier and Fancy New York!  So, pick your jaw up off the ground, and head down to the Charleston Wedding District this weekend to scoop up your perfect Lowcountry gown!

No appointment necessary!

Maddison Row

171 Spring Street

Charleston, SC 29403

843.720.7979

info@maddisonrow.com

Emily + Jeff {Morris Island Wedding}

I'm certain it's something every girl daydreams about...getting married with your toes in the sand, waves crashing on the shore, the perfect September weather and that salty, coastal breeze.  Heaven, right?  Adorable couple Emily + Jeff tied the knot in a laid back, Lowcountry wedding, just outside of Charleston, on charming Morris Island.  Barefoot on the beach, the couple said 'I do' as the Morris Island lighthouse sat in the background as Kayla Jones Photography captured the entire afternoon.

Charleston Wedding Vendors

photography: kayla jones photography  /  catering: regal catering