Hilton Head Weddings {Danny + Laura} Port Royal Golf Club

We're so happy to welcome the New Year here at A Lowcountry Wedding!   With the launch of our ALW mag (come check it out here!), 2013 was crazy (to say the least).  With the outpouring of support we received, we can't wait to see what's in store for 2014.   At the request of our Southern brides, we're expanding our vendor gallery to bring you ladies the best of the best that the Lowcountry has to offer.  Soooo, until Jan 10th, we're offering great rates for vendors interested in a listing or banner ad, so shoot us an email at hello{at}alowcountrywed.com to chat!  In the meantime, I've been dying to share this Port Royal Golf Club wedding from Scobey Photography.  You know how much we love Hilton Head weddings, so when this vibrant beauty rolled across our inbox, I squealed a bit.  The blue bridesmaids dresses and charming pink peony bouquets are totally my style.  It's the perfect Southern wedding!

Hilton Head Wedding Vendors

Photographer: Scobey Photography  //  Ceremony & Reception Location: Port Royal Golf Club  //  Bride’s Hair: Mark Goodman with Hair Designers  //  Bride’s Makeup: Diane Cook with Hair Designers   //  Dress Designer: Anjolique Bridal  //  Bridal Salon: Wedding Angels Bridal Boutique  //  Bride’s Shoes: TOMS  //  Groom’s Suit: King Tux  //  Cake Designer: Lowcountry Flour Girls   //  Florist: Henry Kretchmer at The Flower Garden //  DJ: DJ Wayne Byrd with Hilton Head Entertainment

Charleston Wedding {Aaron + Caroline} Creek Club at I'On

I get super excited when a killer team of wedding vendors team up to for a big ol' Lowcountry bash.  That's exactly what happened when Ashley Nicole Events joined forces with Richard Bell Photography for Aaron + Caroline's gorgeous Creek Club at I'On wedding this year.  During the wedding planning process, Bride Caroline was studying in Chile (yes, all the way in Chile!), so the mother-of-the-bride stepped up to the plate to design this beautiful Southern affair with the help of Ashley Nicole Events. The talented team of Wildflowers Inc. created  vibrant arrangements in shades of purple, orange and pink to accent the lovely Summer day.

Charleston Wedding Vendors

Event Designer & Planner: Ashley Nicole Events  /  Venue, Catering & Bar: Creek Club at I'On  /  Photography: Richard Bell Photography  /  Stationary: Dodeline Design  /  Rentals: Snyder  /  Florist: Wildflowers Inc.  /  Cakes: Charleston Cakes Etc.  /  Exit Boat: Geechee Girl  /  Music: DJ Wade - Other Brother Entertainment  /  Welcome bags & Favors: Ashley Nicole Events

Charleston {Kellie + Andrew} USS Yorktown Wedding

As you drive over the Cooper River Bridge from Downtown Charleston, on your way into Mount Pleasant, you'll see the majestic USS Yorktown docked in the Charleston Harbor.  As eye-catching as it is  from the Bridge, it's nothing compared to the view you'll see once you step foot on the massive ship.  It's ah-mazing.  You get a gorgeous view of the Holy City and as you look to your right, the Cooper is in the background.  It's unreal and makes for the perfect setting for a beautiful Charleston wedding.  Kellie + Andrew recently tied the knot on the flight deck for an unbelievable nautical-themed, military affair.  The couple's red, white and blue bash was planned by the talented crew over at Intrigue Design + Events while Monika Gauthier Photography captured all the details of this charming USS Yorktown wedding!

 Charleston Wedding Vendors

Photographer: Monika Gauthier Photography | Wedding Coordination and Design: Intrigue Design & Events | DJ: Creative Sound | Cake: Ashley Bakery | Rental: Snyder Events | Floral: Distinctive Events | Catering: Jim n’ Nicks | Bar: Spike Bar

Southern Weddings {Jaclyn} Asheville

We're off to celebrate the Holidays with our wonderful family and friends and while the weather here in Charleston has been a consistent 70-ish degrees for the past what feels like forever, I'm kind of dying for some cold weather to get a little more in the Christmas-y spirit, and if I could get some snow...well, that would just be about perfect.    So while I keep daydreaming about Southern Weddings and snow, y'all can check out Jillian's winter bridal session from Pasha Belman Photography.  It took place in Asheville, one of my favorite Southern cities, and it is so stinkin' beautiful I almost can't stand it.  So to all of our favorite ALW readers, we are so thankful for your support and we wish you the happiest of Holidays.  Here's to 2014!

Southern Wedding Vendors

Photographer:  Pasha Belman Photography 

Charleston Weddings {Jenna + Adam} Old Exchange Building

I know you ladies love your Southern weddings, but when it comes down to it, you're always craving Charleston weddings!  Lord knows we can't blame you and I have a feeling this Old Exchange Building stunner will do just the trick.  Carmen Ash Photography teamed up with the talented team at Southern Chic Weddings for this formal Lowcountry affair and we're loving every minute of it.  Thanks to Carmen for filling us in on all the details...

Adam and Jenna met in February 2008 after Duke played a rugby game at Elon. Covered in mud and sporting a fading black eye, Adam convinced Jenna to take him to her sorority party afterwards. At the end of the night, Adam went back to Duke and didn't call. Once Jenna made the first move, they met up a few weeks later. Adam spent the next five weeks wooing her before she would agree to go to his fraternity formal in Williamsburg. She finally agreed, and they had a great time.

Fast forward two years through rounds of parties, formals, homecomings, trips to Myrtle Beach, and graduations. Jenna went backpacking in New Zealand and Adam came to visit. Adam got sent on an assignment to China with his job, and came home for a wedding in July. On July 19, 2010, the morning after the wedding, Adam took Jenna for a picnic at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens on Duke's campus. Taking a walk to cool off, Adam stopped under a trellis and dropped to one knee. Jenna was all too happy to accept.

Both had moved around growing up, and neither had a home town to default to. The obvious choice was a wedding in Charleston, South Carolina- Jenna's favorite city . Jenna took several trips to Charleston in between trips to China, working with vendors from 12 time zones away. They chose the historic Old Exchange Building for the reception. They picked a florist, a planner, and a caterer with one meeting, then found other vendors strictly using the Internet. Jenna ordered the perfect wedding dress from Amsale- complete with a big bow and pockets. With a few local friends including another bride, everything started falling into place. Then Jenna and Adam moved from China to Colorado. Another quick trip to Charleston to solidify their plans brought them to choose the Confederate Home and College garden for their November ceremony. Little did they know that the weekend before their I Do's, Steven Spielberg would be sitting in the same garden at Susan Sarandon's daughter's wedding.

 Charleston Wedding Vendors

Photographer:  Carmen Ash Photography  //  Transportation: Absolutely Charleston  //  Hair Stylist: Affair Hair by...Tanesha  //  Makeup Artist: Bellelina  //  Caterer: Cafe Catering  //  DJ: Charlie Roberts Duo  //  Cinema and Video: Creekhouse Productions  //  Cake Designer: DeClare Cakes  //  DJ: Finger Snappin' Entertainment  //  Equipment Rentals: Snyder Event Rental  //  Event Planner: Southern Chic Weddings and Events  //  Event Venue: The Old Exchange //  Floral Designer: WildFlowers Inc.

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Southern Wedding {Jodi + Jack} Capital City Club

Y'all, I've been dying to feature this glamorous Southern wedding but all this 70 degree weather just hadn't allowed for it!  But today I just couldn't take it anymore and decided the time had come to bless you with this gorgeous Atlanta bash from Scobey Photography.  Bride Jodi wore a stunning strapless gown she topped with a luxurious fur while the men wore classic tuxedos.  After a traditional church ceremony, guests made their way to beautiful Capital City Club where guests dined and danced the night away!

Southern Wedding Vendors

Photographer:  Scobey Photography  //  Reception Venue: Capital City Club Brookhaven  //  Floral Designer: Design House of Flowers  //  Cake Designer: Frosted Pumpkin Gourmet Inc.  //  Band: Infinity Band  //  Dress Store: Wedding Angels Bridal Boutique

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Nautical Wedding {Sue + Brian} The Boathouse

It's time to dive in to Southern Wedding Sunday and it's only fair to kick things off with this nautical wedding from our friend and Charleston Wedding Vendor Dana Cubbage!  I'm quite certain it will have you daydreaming about the coast...and Sue's stunning gown!  Thanks to Dana for sharing all the dets...

"Sue + Brian chose beautiful Beaufort, North Carolina for their destination wedding and it was the perfect place for them to celebrate their marriage with family + friends. In town early to get comfortable and relax before the big day, Sue + Brian had plenty of time to spend with everyone who traveled into town to celebrate with them. From sailing trips to beach days to a casual BBQ rehearsal dinner on the water, together with their friends + family, Sue + Brian had a week to remember leading up to their big day.

Rain threatened the area, but Mother Nature was surely looking out for them, as there was not a drop of rain on their wedding day. Everything about their day spoke to their amazing relationships with their family + friends. Sue's sister did everyone's hair + makeup as well as made custom necklaces for all of the bridesmaids. Brian's father acted as Best Man, while both of Sue's sisters served as bridesmaids. The relationship between them all was incredible to watch and so much fun to document

Sue's stunning Pronovias wedding gown stole the show and the bridesmaids looked amazing in their navy Monique Lhuillier dresses. Beautiful yellow + white flowers complimented the day's decor and the venue was simply decorated in navy, yellow + white hues. Their ceremony took place in a beautiful old church in Beaufort, which was filled with such charm. After the ceremony, the family + bridal party rode around town on a trolley for photos. It was a really fun time and everyone was thrilled to celebrate Sue + Brian's marriage!

Tear-inducing toasts, emotional parent dances, and the cutting of the cake - which was made by Sue's mom! - all helped round out this family-inspired celebration. It was a beautiful day that proved you don't have to spend a million bucks on decor and frills in order to have an amazing wedding. Family, friends, and genuine love reigned supreme for Sue + Brian, and I'm truly honored to have been chosen to document all of that for them!

Southern Wedding Vendors

Photographer:  Dana Cubbage Weddings  //  Reception Venue: The Boathouse at Front Street Village

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Myrtle Beach Wedding {Jennifer + Carl} Grande Dunes Ocean Club

I wanted to get back to sharing all of these beautiful weddings that graced the pages of our first online mag and this Grande Dunes Ocean Club bash is one heck of a stunner!  Jennifer + Carl hail from the great state of Michigan and decided the Lowcountry was the best place to host their destination wedding...and we're sure glad we did.  M. Gladden Designs took Jennifer's black and white color palette with pops of yellow and orange and translated it into some jaw dropping arrangements.  Thanks to Carolina Studios by Gillian Reinhardt for showering us with this beautiful Myrtle Beach wedding!  Even though we wanted to (and we sure did try!), we couldn’t include everything in the magazine, so to find out a little more about Jennifer’s big day, check out her answers below and to see all the details you can purchase a digital edition of the Mag here!

What made you choose your venue? What elements drew you to it? My family has been traveling to Myrtle Beach for the past 15+yrs for annual family vacations. A few years back, my parents purchased a second home in the area and decided to make Myrtle Beach their “winter home”; we are from MI. Over the years, Myrtle Beach became our family’s second home. My brother now lives there full-time; my parents live there about 6-7 months out of the year and Carl (my husband) and I both travel frequently throughout the year to visit.

We elected to host our destination wedding in Myrtle Beach, at the Ocean Club, over Memorial Weekend, for our friends and family (all from MI) because Myrtle Beach is considered a “home” to us and we wanted our friends and family to know and understand why we spend as much time as do in the area. We chose the Ocean Club because my family and I are members and it was also a perfect place for us to start our lives together – a venue that we (Carl and I) frequently visit.

Out of the entire day, what was the most memorable moment? LOL – my hair appointment, of all things! Horrible experience, but best attitude anyone could ask for! Keep in mind, this was a destination wedding – but the salon that I had booked my MOH and my hair appointments at months in advanced lost our appointments and refused to take us; another salon was willing to take us (probably feeling horrified for us!) last minute after my cousin explained the situation. Despite the moment .. it’s something that I will never forget. My cousin (MOH) couldn’t believe how calm and reserved I was about it. I had a “it’s ok to whatever happens today” attitude! And nothing was going to ruin it.

How many guests attended - 37 total (all from MI)

Color Palette – black, white, yellow, orange, cream colors

Tell us all about the details! Did any have special meaning? What was your favorite?

Tell us a little bit about your menu… We chose a cocktail and hors d'oeuvre wedding reception offered by the Ocean Club. It was the perfect choice for our small and intimate setting. We had approx.. 37 guests total (including ourselves) and wanted to mix & mingle with our guests who took the time to fly down and spend their holiday weekend with us. We absolutely did not want to separate anyone or exclude guests.

What’s your favorite picture from your wedding? My absolute favorite picture was the very last photo that Carolina Studios’ captured of Carl and me as they were headed out for the evening. It was an amazing shot that captured a very special moment for us.

Myrtle Beach Wedding Vendors

Photographer:  Carolina Studios by Gillian Reinhardt  //  Cake Designer: buttercream cakes and catering  //  DJ: DJ Scott & Company  //  Floral Designer: M. Gladden Designs  //  Officiant: Simple Wedding Day, LLC  //  Reception Venue: Grande Dunes Ocean Club

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Lowcountry Wedding {Morgan + Austin}

Thanks to our beautiful new online magazine, we are SEVERELY behind when it comes to blogging all of our favorite Lowcountry weddings which may have been a bad thing the past few months, but you’re all in for a treat now!  Over the next few weeks prepared to be thoroughly spoiled with some serious Southern wedding inspiration starting with Morgan + Austin’s amazing Lowcountry wedding from the talented Jeanne Mitchum Photography.  This South Carolina stunner is the epitome of everything we love about the coastal South.  It’s effortlessly dreamy, wonderfully charming and makes us wish we were right there to enjoy that Lowcountry breeze.  We can’t get enough of this earthy green and brown color palette and rustic details, not to mention the burlap-laced vases, that amazing anemone-filled bouquet and all of that natural sunlight!

From the Bride:  We got married at my husband's parents' house off Abapoopa Creek on Johns Island. I made every decoration and all the favors by hand with ideas from pinterest and etsy. I spent hours googling free printable templates for heart shaped fans, gift basket tags etc. I have to say that the pictures are so beautiful due to the the amazing light we had and our amazing photographer. We were also very lucky in the weather department. 

Charleston Wedding Vendors

Photographer:  Jeanne Mitchum Photography  //  Musicians: Charleston Virtuosi  //  Equipment Rentals: Snyder Rental Company  //  Floral Designer:Tiger Lily Florist  //  Cake: D'lish  //  Programs: Darling Girl Paper  //  Guest signing tree: Harvey Grey  //  Headpiece: Virginia Geiger Jewles  //  Groomsmen ties: Me and Matilda  //  Sign: AndtheSignSays  // Hair: Stuart Laurence Salon

Alhambra Hall Wedding {Meghan + Brendan}

Oh happy day!  With the help of that talented crew over at Southern Protocol, Meghan + Brenden tied the knot this May in an Alhambra Hall wedding that is bound to have you pinning away!   Well, at least that's what it made me want to do because this Lowcountry bash is right up my Charleston-wedding-obsessed alley!  I'm not sure what I love more, maybe it's the pale pink LulaKate bridesmaids dresses, the astilbe and dusty miller-laced bouquets or maybe even those amazing cakes from Twenty Six Divine, regardless I'm smitten with every gosh darn detail!  Thanks to my favorites over at Riverland Studios for sharing such a treat!

 Charleston Wedding Vendors

Photographer:  Riverland Studios  //  Event Planner: Southern Protocol  //  Transportation: Absolutely Charleston  //  Reception Venue: Alhambra Hall  //  Floral Designer: Branch Design Studio  //  Caterer: Brick Lane Catering  //  Transportation: Lowcountry Valet & Shuttle Co.  //  Bridesmaid Dresses: LulaKate  //  Dress Store: M. Dumas & Sons  //  Event Planner: Southern Protocol  //  Cake Designer: Twenty Six Divine  //  Dress Designer: White  //  Hair Stylist: Willow Salon

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Charleston Wedding {Erin + Steve} The Island House

I went weak-in-the-knees for every single Lowcountry wedding that has graced the pages of our premier issue!  They're all stunning!  But I have a special place in my heart for Erin + Steve's Island House bash.  I'm not sure if it's how their amazing photographer Virgil Bunao captured all the details, or maybe  how Ooh! Events dreamed up this eclectic color palette with eye catching flower arrangements, or what sounds like the perfect menu of libations and Southern dishes from Cru Catering that the duo treated their guests to, but I adore every last detail of this Charleston wedding.  Thanks to Erin and her talented mother for adding all the personal touches to their big Southern wedding day!  Even though we tried, we couldn’t include everything in the magazine, so to find out a little more about Erin’s big day you can read her answers below, but to see ALL the details check out the Mag here! How did he propose? How long were you engaged for?

I think I may have the best proposal story ever.  In August 2011, we'd planned to spend a weeklong vacation with Steve's parents in New Hampshire.  The night before we were supposed to leave, Steve handed me a piece of paper.  It took me a minute to realize that it was an itinerary for a surprise trip to Madrid - leaving the next day!!  He'd planned everything - and had even done my laundry so I would have plenty of clothes for the trip!  During our first day in Madrid, we roamed around the city and even went back to the place where we had our first kiss.  The next day, he took me a private Spanish cooking class, and then to the Retiro park.  He proposed in the park, and then told me we were going to spend the rest of the week on an engagement-moon in the Basque Country!  It was like a dream.

What made you choose your Charleston wedding venue? What elements drew you to it?

I grew up in Chesterfield, SC and Steve is from New York, but we currently live in San Francisco.  We knew we wanted to get married in South Carolina as a nod to my childhood, and we chose Charleston because we'd traveled there together and made some amazing memories.  We looked at a ton of venues, and we really wanted to find a place that celebrated the natural beauty of the lowcountry.  When we saw the Island House for the first time, we both knew it was where we wanted to get married.  The proximity to the water, the wide open outdoor space, and the simple beauty of it all took our breath away.

Specialty Drinks?

Steve and I are cocktail aficionados, and the team at IceBox exceeded all our expectations (plus they let us do a really fun cocktail tasting ahead of time!).   Our specialty cocktails were: Holiday in Spain (nod to our engagement and where we met - it was a jalapeno and cilantro margarita with macerated red peppers for a reddish tint) and the Johns Island Cider (Rum, Spiced Apple Cider, Mint, Ginger Beer).

What’s your favorite picture from your wedding and why?

That's really tough - mainly because Virgil is incredible.  There's a picture of Steve and me holding hands out on the dock that I really adore, and then a party shot with us in front and all our friends behind us rocking out (and wearing neon glasses!).

Tell us all about the details! Did any have special meaning? What was your favorite?

-My mother handmade a lot of my favorite details from the wedding - homemade peach bourbon jam for the wedding favors, travel-themed placecards, and homemade pralines and benne wafers for our welcome bags.  She worked so hard on everything, and it was so beautiful (and delicious!) so her creations were some of my favorite details.

-I really loved using table names instead of numbers.  Steve and I love to travel, so I used chalkboard signs to write the names of places Steve and I have traveled together.  People really got a kick out of sitting at the Reykjavik, Iceland or Zanzibar, Tanzania table

-The brooch that I pinned to my bouquet was particularly special to me.  It's from a set of jewelry made by Tiffany's in the 1800s as a replica of the jewelry designed by Abraham Lincoln for Mary Todd to wear on her wedding day.  I was the 5th generation in my family to wear this jewelry on my wedding day.

Tell us a little bit about your Charleston wedding menu…We are obsessed with good food, and Cru Catering made the wedding dinner of our dreams.  For appetizers, we had a yellow tomato gazpacho shooter with habanero crema, collard green wontons, and a raw bar.  We served a tomato and muskmelon salad with candied pecans, and a choice of ginger seared wreck fish or pomegranate glazed cornish hen.  Objectively (or maybe not), this was one of the best meals of my life.

We did wedding pies instead of a wedding cake, and I couldn't have been happier with how it turned out!  Lauren from Wild Flour Pastry blew us away with bourbon pecan pie, key lime pie with gingersnap crust, walnut derby pie, triple berry pie with oat streusel, and a banoffee (banana-toffee) pie!  I heard that one older lady went back to the pie table five times to try all the varieties!

Something old: The family heirloom brooch I put on my bouquet.

Something new: My parents gave me diamond earrings, and my gorgeous Badgley Mischka shoes!!

Something borrowed: A sapphire and diamond bracelet from my grandmother

Something blue:  Lots!  My sapphire engagement ring and the sapphire/diamond necklace Steve gave me as a wedding day present.

Charleston Wedding Vendors

Photographer: Virgil Bunao  /  Flowers, Décor & Design: Ooh! Events  /  Coordination: Ooh! Event, Emily Miller  /  Venue: The Island House  /  Ceremony Music: Classical Charleston  /  Reception Music: Atlanta Party Band  /  Catering: Cru Catering  /  Bar: IceBox  /  Wedding Pies: WildFlour Pastry  /  Tent & Rentals: Atlantic Tent  /  Photo Booth: Oh Snap!  /  Hair & Makeup: Jennifer Fernandez

Charleston Wedding {Ashley + Brian} Creek Club at I'On

I adore Ashley + Brian's Creek Club at I'On bash.  Not only did it take place at one my favorite Charleston wedding venues, but the navy color palette with pops of emerald is bound to make any seafaring lady swoon!  The Burlap Elephant designed an effortless Lowcountry evening complete with farm tables, patterned table runners and vibrant arrangements from Charleston Flower Market that set the tone for one helluva evening as The Boomers took the stage!  Even though we tried, we couldn’t include everything in the magazine, so to find out a little more about Ashley’s big day you can read her answers below, but to see ALL the details you can purchase a digital edition of the Mag here!

Tell us a little bit about how you met your husband…

Brian and I met in an alley behind a pizza place in Washington, DC. (Explaining that one to my mother was fun!) We were in a running club that met up around the city.

How did he propose?  How long were you engaged for?

Last summer I traveled to Costa Rica to become a yoga teacher. Brian surprised me in the jungle on my 30th birthday and proposed 2 days later on our favorite beach, right where the ocean crashes into the rocks to create a stunning spray. We were engaged for 8 months.

Out of the entire day, what was the most memorable moment?

For me, it was walking down the aisle with my dad towards Brian. The sun was shining, I had my dad supporting me and I was walking towards my best friend.

When the band announced last song, I wasn't quite ready for the party to end. But our guests started chanting for "one more song," formed a dance circle, and the band obliged--it was exactly what I needed. One more all out crazy moment to celebrate. And then I was ready to get on the boat and start our married life...

What made you choose your venue? What elements drew you to it?

We loved the Creek Club because it felt rustic yet refined. We knew we wanted our wedding to be outside, and the lawn offered a beautiful space right on the water. I fell in love with the big, wide porch on the Club and the exposed beams inside. It was an intimate space that connected our guests to us and each other. It was so naturally elegant.

Tell us all about the details!  Did any have special meaning? What was your favorite?

I included special details for my grandmothers. On my bouquet, I pinned a brooch from my dad's mother, Mary, of two swans, which partner for life. I also borrowed a fur stole from my mother's mother, Betty (my Grammy!), which was embroidered inside with her initials. 

For the Groom's cake, I had The Cake Stand recreate the Patagonia logo. Brian and I love being outdoors and have collected more than our share of rock climbing, camping, hiking, rain, etc. gear. Brian has at least 4 different brown fleeces from Patagonia, so it was a nod to our adventures. 

We left the reception in boat, headed out towards to the Charleston harbor because we decided to move to Charleston after the wedding. It was a stunning way to end the night and start our new life here in Charleston!

At the Creek Club, we displayed pictures of our grandparents' and parent's weddings. It was important to us to share our family, especially those who are no longer with us, with our guests (and fun to see how wedding styles have changed!)

What’s your favorite picture from your wedding and why?

Our first kiss. The wind caught my veil as Brian kissed me--the image captures the joy we both felt on our wedding day. We were thrilled to be married, surrounded by our best friends and family and blessed with a bright blue sky and sunshine.

Tell us a little bit about your menu…

Lowcountry flavors and favorites (Cheddar Biscuit with Caramelized Onion Jam!) The best part was the amouse bouche-shrimp and grits! It was two bites of seared local shrimp and andouille sausage over stone ground grits with tasso cream.

How many guests attended: 120

Color Palette:Classic Navy Blue and White, accented with Bright Emerald Green

Something old: Grandmother's Swan Pin

Something new: Handkerchief with my new initials

Something borrowed: Grandmother's fur stole

Something blue: Kate Spade Shoes

Most valuable piece of advice you’d give to a newly engaged bride...

Brian reminded me throughout the planning process: "Keep the main thing the main thing." It didn't matter if we had the right flowers or the best band, at the end of the day, we would be married. That perspective helped me remember what I was really planning and kept me sane when I ran into struggle.

 Charleston Wedding Vendors

Vendors: Event Planner:  The Burlap Elephant  /  Floral Designer:  Charleston Flower Market  /  Reception Venue:  The Creek Club At I'on  /  Rentals & Decor: Ooh! Events  /  Photographer: Jennings King Photography  /  Ceremony Music: The Palmetto Strings  /  Reception Music: The Boomers  /   Dress: Jim Hjelm From Hayden Olivia Bridal  /  Bridesmaids: J. Crew  /  Groomsmen Ties: Collard Greens  /  Invitations: My Personal Artist  /  Cake: Publix  /  Groom's Cake: The Cake Stand Charleston  /  Hair & Makeup: Vanity Salon

Charleston Wedding {Kathryn + Bob} Charleston Place Hotel

Shannon Noel Photography sent this beauty over and the intimacy and color palette of Kathryn + Bob's Charleston wedding quickly caught my eye.  These two sweethearts decided on a Downtown affair starting with an outdoor ceremony at Washington Square Park.  Here the duo invited their guests to enjoy the garden vibe and intimate setting Washington Square Park provided.  After a beautiful ceremony, the couple and their guests made their way over to Charleston Place Hotel to celebrate over dinner!  Did I mention how much I adore Kathryn's bouquet!?!  To enjoy the rest of the details, you can see  A Lowcountry Wedding Mag here!

ATTIRE Kathryn wore a short, white, silk crepe dress by Thakoon topped with an Alexis woven white jacket, while Robert sported a classic black tuxedo JEWELRY She donned strands of pearls she borrowed from her family members and a pearl bracelet her mother gifted her as a wedding present. Kathryn’s wore a pair of beautiful Dannijo earrings SHOES For a splash of color, the bride wore a fabulous pair of blue Manolo Blahniks CEREMONY Washington Square Park provided the private setting for their intimate garden wedding as the couple exchanged vows in front of close family members.

BOUTONNIERE Robert’s traditional tuxedo was accented with a pink peony boutonniere and crisp white pocket square BOUQUET Keeping with the English Garden atmosphere, the Bride carried a lovely bouquet of soft and bright pink peonies, peach garden roses, light pink spray roses with pops of blue and purple TRANSPORTATION The newlyweds rode in true Charleston-style as they arrived to their Charleston Place reception by horse and carriage

Charleston Wedding Vendors

Photographer: Shannon Noel Photography  /  Dress:  Thakoon  / Bride's Shoes: Manolo Blahniks  / Bride's Jacket: Alexis  /  Ceremony Venue: Washington Square Park  /  Bride's Earrings: Dannijo   /   Reception: Charleston Place Hotel - Charleston Grill  /  Favors: Godiva

Charleston Wedding {Tamika + Juan} Legare Waring House

 The minute I laid my eyes on Tamika, I knew I need to share her joy and happiness with the World, not to mention her romantic Charleston wedding! This gal totally understands the importance of friends and family and with the help of her sweet husband Juan, the duo perfectly incorporated those they love throughout their Lowcountry wedding at the beautiful Legare Waring House.  With the help of Cafe Catering's Lauren Miller and the talented Branch Design Studios, they created a dreamy evening under the Oaks for all to enjoy.  Lucky for us, Fia Forever Photography was there to capture it!  Since we couldn't include every last detail in the magazine (even though we wanted to!), I couldn't not share the rest of Tamika's details with you!  If you're dying to see more of the images (and trust me, you need to!), you can purchase the issue here!

What made you choose your venue? I split my time between Maryland and Charleston and I wanted to show off my home state (I'm from Summerville) My parents are deceased and I wanted a place where I could feel their presence. Growing up we spent a lot of time at Charles Town Landing, but I never toured the Legare Waring house. What elements drew you to it? The resilent oak trees with the spanish moss and the lagoon. I wanted a place that had water and the oak trees with spanish moss. To me, those things are quintessntial Charleston. The avenue of the oaks is breathtaking.

How did he propose? It was very low key but I wouldn't change it for the world. I had just got in from Vegas where I was speaking at a cancer conference. I was catching up on all my shows that I missed that were in the DC. I don't like to be interrupted when I watch my shows (I know, crazy, but it's my thing and everyone has a "thing" and that's mine) I noticed that he was up and down the stairs like he wanted something but he never said anything to me. Finally, I paused the DVR and asked him what was up. He was behaving so weirdly. He said, "If I asked you to marry me, would you say yes" and of course my response was "Duh" of course I would. Again, I didn't think anything of it. Then he walked away and said, "Ok, I will be right back" He came right back got down on one knee. He spoke about how much he loved me, everything that we had gone through and what he dreamed for our future and asked me to be his wife. Of course, I said yes and I started planning immediately. It happened at about 10pm. He totally caught me off guard and no, I didn't finish watching my shows.

Tell us all about the details!  Did any have special meaning? What was your favorite?Gosh there were so many. My favorite was probably my family bible. It is was one of the oldest items in our family (my Mother's fathers bible). Its very worn and tattered so I had my sister tie an orange cord from my mothers sewing things around it so my great nephew could easily hold on it. Because it's exteremly fragile. I was worried about using it because I thought something would happen to it but I knew I made the right choice when I saw my photos. My great nephew Ty is a bit of a rascal. But there is the great photo of him holding the bible during the ceremony and he is looking up into the trees. He's the only one looking up. I believe that he felt the precense of my mother. They had a very special relationship. I tear up every time I look at the photo. It gives me chills. It's such a special moment that was captured.  We also had a spiked Italian Ice cart (and non spiked for the few children and non drinkers) that was a huge hit. People are still talking about that sweet treat. We had a photo booth. We had a Mr. & Mrs. Lounge.

Tell us a little bit about how you met your husband… I smile just thinking about him. He is so romantic. We met on the steps of a DC Nightclub back in the '90's. I was walking out and he was walking in. I lost my footing on the step and he reached out his hand to steady me. It was love at first sight, but we would only date briefly and ended up parting  ways as I was really focused on my career and he really wanted to get married. We were just at two different places. But as fate would have it. The stars and heaven aligned and we had a second chance to live happily ever after and we did.

I wanted a romantic evening but not too stuffy. Gorgeous long farm tables. Lots of candles and flowers. We had crystal chandeliers hanging from the oaks. Oh, and I wanted to get married under the oaks because of their resilience. We even had an oak tree planting ceremony. We had lots of family heirlooms on the tables. For example, a silver tea set that we used for the centerpiece and add flowers in the tea pot and candles on the tray. I placed it on the table of my friend who loaned it to me for the wedding. I also had a beautiful silver candelabra that my aunt loaned me and I placed it on her table. Our favor was a recipe card for an American Apple Pie (our first date was to see the movie American Pie and we ironically, love apple pie) We did a photo shoot of us making the pie and included it on the card with heart-shaped measuring spoons attached

Tell us a little bit about your menu… Our menu was everything lowcountry except for one thing and I thing it had a lowcountry spin (the crabcakes, the only thing my Maryland raised husband requested) for the cocktail hour along with ham bisquits. For dinner we had shrimp and grits (of course!), Pan Fried Chicken Breast with gravy, Lowcountry Mac and cheese topped with lobster, Dirty Rice, string beans, cornbread/biscuits/sweet potato biscuits with an assortment of butters and jams, mixed green salad with candied pecans. Can you say carb overload! LOL

Out of the entire day, what was the most memorable moment? My fiance's nickname is Rocky. His co-workers are the only ones who call him Juan. I wanted to find a way to use "Rocky' at the ceremony. So, I had the theme song from the movie Rocky play as soon as we kissed as we were pronounced husband and wife. It was a priceless moment that is beautiful captured. It took are guest a minute to get it because the very beginning of the song sounds like a wedding march. It's a recessional that we will never forget.

Most valuable piece of advice you’d give to a newly engaged bride? Just be in the moment and enjoy it. Several people told me how fast it goes and just to enjoy it. You spend all this time planning what will be the most important event of your life and in truth it only lasts about 20 minutes. It doesn't matter what went wrong. At the end of the day none of that stuff matters. I was so happy and in the moment that nothing else mattered. It took me months to come down from my cloud of bliss and in truth I'm still on it. It was magical.

Charleston Wedding Vendors

Vendors: Venue: Legare Waring House  /  Event Planner:  Lauren Miller, Cafe Catering  /  Caterer:  Cafe Catering  /  Event Design: Branch Design Studios  /  Flowers: The Bride  /  Stylist: Adrin 'Seven' Washington  /  Rentals: Event DRS  /  Tent: Haus Tents  /  Makeup: Meshia Davis  /  Nails: Karen Cobin  /  Cake: Publix  /  DJ: DJ Wildman, Karlton Sanders  /  Dress: Curvy Girl Bridal  /  Suits: Jos. A. Bank  /  Cinematography: Fia Forever & Low Country Wedding Films  /  Photography: Fia Forever Wedding Photography