Dusty + Travis {California Wedding} Michelle Johnson Photography

Oh, hey Friday! I've been waiting for you to get here all week!  With the unseasonably warm winter we've been having, I felt like today would be the perfect day to share a vibrant California wedding.  Dusty + Travis became man and wife this past June and their photographer, Michelle Johnson, shared a few sweet details...

" Dusty and Travis have the sweetest love. They adore the country and they put the sweetest details into their do it yourself wedding day. From the rustic signs, to the sweet love cake display, this wedding was magical. The bride Dusty entered the private estate on a horse drawn carriage. The vintage dresser at the end of the aisle was filled with family photos and candles. The hand made seating chart was absolutely adorable. This country wedding was just beautiful."

Place Settings {Wedding Details}

Every Tuesday, we like to give all of our Charleston brides a healthy dose of some wedding day fabulous-ness.  Today, we're sharing some of our favorite images of place settings to hopefully inspire some of our brides-to-be while planning your big day.  Below, you'll see some brides went big with some bold colors and patterns, others kept it simple with a more neutral palette...but all of them made quite the statement.  Don't ya think!?!

Image via Style Me Pretty

Imae via Simply Hue

Image via Style Me Pretty

Image via Ritzy Bee

Image via Brooklyn Bride

Image via Ruffled

Images via Style Me Pretty and Once Wed

Image via This is Glamorous

Image via Once Wed

Image via Style Me Pretty

Image via Martha Stewart Weddings

Image via Style Me Pretty

Maggie + Mike {Burke Manor Inn Wedding}

Beautiful bride Maggie tied the knot to her handsome husband, Mike, this past summer in an intimate ceremony on the grounds of North Carolina's Burke Manor Inn where Faces in Focus Photography was on hand to capture the entire day.  Maggie was kind enough to fill us in on all the details of her darling Southern Wedding!

Tell us a little bit about how you met your husband... My husband and I met on Match.Com…. Yup it really does work. I feel in love with a picture where the sun was in his eyes. That bald head of his was really the magic ticket. Honestly it does help that he is a sexy man, but his words in the profile he wrote went straight to my heart.

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

Mike proposed to me at Winter Green Ski Resort this past January. Martin Luther’s King’s birthday. A year prior he took me there as my first time ever to ski. I broke my ring finger. This January as we started to get all of our gear on he told me to wait a minute.. He walked into the bedroom came around the corner bent down on one knee and asked me to marry him. And I quote this is his proposal “even know that you are a pain in my ass, I love you more than life itself and cannot imagine my life without by my side” Will you marry me? AS I stand there in my ski wear with face and head gear on and he could not see my face. Only my eyes I was floored. Yeah we spoke of rings etc…. but never did I expect that. We were engaged for 7 months before we said our dos. And keep in mind that on our wedding day of August 27^th we had a hurricane, Days prior a heart quake and one week to the day my father had a heart attack where he got two stints but in, but was still there to give me away and we had our very first dance EVER.

Your wedding was filled with gorgeous details. Did any have special meaning? What was your favorite? The flowers had special meaning. The girl who did them lived outside the box as I asked her to do. I gave her a clear canvas to show her talents but at the same time my touch. The flowers were done in Japanese lettering to match my shoulder tattoo. It means double happiness and love. And those are what we stood on when we said our own vows to each other. We did a sand ceremony as well that I wrote myself and the class that we poured our sand in matched the flowers and my tattoo.

How did you choose your venue? We choose the B&B to be sure that all of our family was together and not spread apart. As they come from far and in between we wanted our family close and to share memories and to make new ones.

Tell us a little bit about your menu... Well I am a very picky eater. And our family and friends all love meat and potatoes. So we had prime rib, salad, mixed garden veggies and a potato bar with all the fixings. It was delicious. There are still people talking about the food and it as over three months ago. We had wine imported in from our engagement night that we later found out that is not easy to find. We had NY wine sent to us as well. Each had a meaning and those were shared with everybody.

What’s your favorite picture from your wedding? My favorite pic is where my father and I are dancing. As I said that was the very first time I ever danced with him and considering he had a heart attack one week prior to that. Well I just about didn’t get that chance of a life time. My father raised me from 15 years old until the time I was 17 by himself. Until I gave him a shot of courage to ask someone out who now is my step mother. Yes, I hooked my dad up…

Out of the entire day, what was the most memorable moment? Out of the entire day... sitting here with tears in my eyes as I type this is that I shared special, priceless moments with my father. We danced to Britney Spears all the way to Pit Pull. His hands in the air and feet off the ground he never skipped a beat and told me that it was the best day of his life. My dreams weren’t just answered or my blessings didn’t stop when god gave me a guardian angel with Mike…. They continued when he spared my dad’s life to give me memories that only very few of us ever get a chance to have with their fathers. If you knew more about me you would clearly understand why my dad is my world. And the best memorable moment with Mike was when cake went down the front of my halter wedding dress between my cleavage and he went right in after it in front of god and everybody. That was a memory that I don’t just have it is also on DVD…..

Looking back on your engagement and wedding, is there any advice you would give to brides in the planning process?

Take one day at a time. Don’t let anybody talk you into something that you or your soon to be husband doesn’t want. And enjoy it. It goes by way to fast. Remember it is about both of you and nobody else. So do what makes you happy and what is meaningful to the both of you. After all this is the first party as husband and wife that you are giving so make a hell of day.

Vendor

Photographer:  Faces in Focus Photography  /  Ceremony and Reception Venue: Burke Manor Inn  /  Designer/Planner: The bride!  /  Invitations: Juliepatolies  /  Cake: Carolina Cake  /  Flowers: Eleventh Hour  /  Bridal Gown: David's Bridal  /  Hair & Makeup: Hair done by Jillian Cannon and Make up by Stacy Sharerrill  /  Entertainment: Island Sound  /  Transportation: My brand new 2011 JK. (Jeep) I bought it just so my gown wouldn’t get dirty….. Honest!!

　

Jena + Jamie {Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina Wedding}

If you're a Charleston bride who hopes to tie the knot with her toes in the sand, you've got to check out the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina.  This beautiful resort offers multiple ceremony options with waterfront views.  The property is in Mt. Pleasant, just over the Cooper River Bridge, and overlooks downtown.  Today's couple, Jena + Jamie, held their Charleston wedding at the resort this past summer and kindly told us all the details...

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

Jamie and I met at church.  He approached a mutual friend of ours and introduced himself to me.  It wasn’t but a couple of hours before he was calling his best friend to set up a BBQ for later that week.  Jamie had lost his wife unexpectedly several months before and wasn’t sure he was ready to start dating but was captivated by my smile so he and his friend conjured up this informal BBQ to feel out the waters.  They even had a secret code with each other to end the BBQ and cut the evening short, or keep me around a little longer.  Needless to say I got the approval handshake and the rest is history.  Jamie and I dated for 2 years almost to the day before tying the knot.

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

Jamie is a pilot and had planned to take me to Telluride for the day (Telluride is that one city for Jamie and I that holds many memorable moments).  However, on our way into the airport Jamie got the news that the flight was sold out so he had to quickly change his plans.  To cover his tracks he even suggested that we go look at rings as one of our fall back options.  Nonchalantly Jamie suggested that we break in our new jeep and take it up into the mountains to play in the snow.  Excited to hit the trails we headed for the mountains.  After playing around in the snow for a while Jamie adventured off on a trail and seemed very determined to get us past a very stubborn snow wall, so much so he used the winch get us on our merry way.  We finally reached a point where Jamie could not winch us any further so we decided to get out and admire God’s beautiful creation.  I began to take pictures of the scenery and realized that Jamie was no where in sight so I began to walk towards this opening.  When I turned the corner I saw Jamie standing on a small hill looking at the mountains.  He started pointing out different things, the mountains in one direction, an interesting shaped tree in the other direction and then a rock he found.  When I turned around to look at rock I was literally blinded by something super shinny.  It was at this point I realized that Jamie was down on his knee in the mud asking me to marry him.  I was in complete shock, here I was thinking I might get to go look at rings, I didn’t think I would be wearing one on my drive back down the mountains.  That beautiful day was Friday April 13^th, 2011 we would later be married on July 7^th, 2011.

Your wedding was filled with gorgeous details.  Did any have special meaning? What was your favorite?

In memory of my Nana, we had a blue geranium for the ceremony.  After my Nana passed away from breast cancer, I knew that I would have a blue geranium at my wedding for her since this way my favorite flower in her backyard when I was growing up. 

Another favorite detail of ours was the sand ceremony.  When Jamie and I got married we weren’t just joining two lives, but five.  We weren’t just becoming a husband and wife but a family and it was important to us and our children that we symbolize that we are all blending together to make a new family, one brought together by Christ. 

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

The most memorable moment was when I first saw Jamie.  We decided to do a photo session called the first look (which I highly recommend) before the actual ceremony.  This offered us some personal time to see each other and have time alone before joining the masses.  One thing I remember about the picture setting is that Jamie kept making fun of me because I would make this silly laugh while Sarah was taking our pictures.  He kept telling me to stop laughing like that but it must have put a perfect smile on my face because when we got our pictures back I was the one with the perfect smile and well he… not so much!

Why did you choose to have A Lowcountry Wedding? 

We weren’t originally planning to have a Lowcountry wedding especially since I grew up in Colorado and he in Minnesota.  Needless to say neither one of us had dreamed of a southern wedding, however we did know that we wanted to be married on the beach.  In our search to find the setting which would allow for a majority of our family to attend we decided to look into a Charleston, SC wedding spot.  After all the details were planned it ended up being what southerners refer to as “lowcountry” however, that was not our original plan.

How did you choose your venue?

Jamie and I knew that we wanted to be married on the water.  After doing some internet searching we had picked a couple of locations that we thought would work.  Our final decision to have it at the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina was confirmed after my parents visited the different venues.  While the resort wasn’t directly on the beach, it had a beach and pier option for our ceremony of which we ended up going with the pier.

Tell us a little bit about your menu.  Did you add any Lowcountry elements?

All the food items were lowcountry.  We had pulled pork, baked beans, coleslaw, and mac and cheese.  It doesn’t get any more lowcountry than that!

Looking back on your engagement and wedding, is there any advice you would give to brides in the planning process?

Remember that when all is said and done the most important thing is that you are sharing your special day with people who mean the most to you.  When all is said and done the flowers will wither, the food will be forgotten, but the thing that will not fade is the memories with the one’s who are there with you.  On the day of the wedding don’t stress about what isn’t done or what you might have missed…if it’s not taken care of yet then it’s not important.  Enjoy your day as the bride, don’t try to be the planner or the organizer, just enjoy your day with your future husband and remember that the party won’t go on without you.  Don’t stress about where you need to be when, I promise, they won’t start the festivities without you, the star of the party, the bride!

Charleston Wedding Vendors

photographer: d'attoma studios  /  dress store: david's bridal  /   cake:publix  / 

ceremony and reception venue: charleston harbor resort and marina  / 

 floral designer: country and lace  /  men's attire: dillard's

Brittani {Venue Selection)

Brittani is friend of A Lowcountry Wedding and we're so excited to have her gues!  Today, she's filling us in on how she selected her perfect Lowcountry Wedding Venue.  Sidenote: Brittani is also an extremely talented photographer.  Currently, she is giving away free wedding photography.  So, for all you newly engaged brides, check out Britt Croft Photography for all the exciting details!

Hey ALW! It’s so good to be back and I’m excited to use this second post in my guest blogging series to talk a lot more about Dustin and I’s actual wedding. In case you missed the first post about us and our story, you can find it here.

After we got engaged and I moved south, my mom came to visit and I knew it would be the perfect time to start the venue search. To me, the venue and the photographer were two of the most important parts of the wedding (besides saying “I Do” to the man of my dreams of course!).

Boone Hall Plantation - Cotton Dock via The Daniels

In the months between our engagement (March) and when my mom came to visit (August), I’d been scouring wedding blogs and using Pinterest  to put together lots of inspiration boards that gave a good feel for the colors, vibe, and “look” we wanted, and how we could use décor to really make our Charleston wedding feel like us. I knew it was really important to have a general theme decided on, and based off of who we are and what we like to do together we knew a “rustic lowcountry” wedding would suit us perfectly.

 

Boone Hall Plantation - Cotton Dock via Wedding Planner at Heart

It was important to nail down a way to describe our wedding before looking at venues because it’s key to make sure that the venue you choose will accommodate that style. For us, a church wedding and ballroom reception just wouldn’t fit. People would show up and say, “I thought we were coming to Dustin and Britt’s wedding?!” because that’s how not “us” that would be. When it really came down to what we couldn’t live without, this was our list: to get married outside, to have a semi-outdoors reception, to have the ceremony and reception at the same location, preferably to marry in the fall, and to have a lot of coastal and rustic South Carolina charm naturally at the venue location.

Pavilion at Pepper Plantation via U Designs Events

After tons of research, two days of my mom and I driving around the lowcountry, and a Twitpic of each stop, the top venues were: Boone Hall Cotton Dock in Charleston, The Pavilion at Pepper Plantation in Charleston, and Honey Horn Plantation on Hilton Head Island. Before long Dustin and I had narrowed it down to Honey Horn and Pepper Plantation and I just knew we couldn’t go wrong either way. They are both such amazing locations that offered exactly what we wanted, but on a whim I decided to take Dustin and his mom to see the Pavilion at Pepper Plantation because I just had a feeling he would love how masculine and rustic the Pavilion is. To see how excited he was about it – that was it! He’d had the “you handle it honey, I’ll love whatever you love” approach to the wedding so far, so to see how much he loved this location, I knew that was the one. We are so excited about how PERFECT this location is for us! We’ll get married on the back side of the pavilion by the small lake, and our reception will be in the Pavilion, but guests will easily be able to spend tons of time outside on the lawn, in the gazebo on the lake, on the amazing deep lowcountry porches, or in front of one of the giant rustic fireplaces! It’s going to be beautiful!

Pavilion at Pepper Plantation via The Schultzes

When it was time to nail down a date, the Pavilion was already mostly booked up for fall 2012, but we had about three openings to choose from – one in late August, one in September, and one in November. When choosing a date, there’s many other important factors to consider, such as what is going on in town that time of the year, what will the weather be like (especially important for us getting married outside!), and if other vendors that you really want will be available for that date. The weather was a big concern for us, but after doing checking out trusty Weather.com, we saw that the average temperature in Charleston in September is 82 degrees…which is perfect! Of course I still fear it will be scorching hot or raining that day, but that’s what tents are for and there’s really only but so much we can control – so it will be what it will be!

Pavilion at Pepper Plantationvia The Schultzes

Pavilion at Pepper Plantation via Chris and Cami Photography

Along with the weather, another concern was the photographer – obviously since photography is what I do, this was one of the most important, if not the most important decision for us, and a great photographer will often book more than a year out! We were pretty sure which date we wanted at Pepper Plantation, but…you’ll have to wait until my next post to find out which date it is and what photographer sealed the deal for us!

Kelly Sauer {Wedding Photography Giveaway}

So, our talented photographer friend Mrs. Kelly Sauer just launched The Girl in the White Dress and to celebrate this more personal, wedding-specific branch of Kelly Sauer Ltd, she has decide to bless Lowcountry brides with not one, but TWO free weddings!   Kelly has a knack for catching the perfect light and if you're hoping for some truly romantic images on your Charleston wedding day then she's your girl!  Check out the guidelines below and don't forget to visit Kelly's post for additional details.

 Each wedding will include an engagement session, 6-8 hours of wedding coverage, 300-350 images, a one-of-a-kind proof book, a web album, and a DVD with the digital proofs. ($3600 value)

A Few Portfolio-Wedding Rules – So You Know EXACTLY What I’m Looking For:

• You must be planning an outdoor wedding or a beach wedding. I will be giving away one of each. • Your desired photography coverage must be between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. • You must be willing/able to allot at least an hour on your wedding day for photos of the couple and the full wedding party. (If we do this pre-ceremony, we will walk you down an aisle to your groom for an uber-romantic, utterly tender first look at one another.) • I must be available on your wedding date.

To enter, just fill out the following questionnaire. Once you have completed it, please email your responses to kelly@thegirlinthewhitedress.com:

1. What is the Groom’s Name/Bride’s Name? 2. What is your wedding date? 3. What is your venue/location? 4. What priority do you place on photography for your wedding day? 5. What feeling are you trying to create for your day? 6. Where are you drawing inspiration for your wedding? 7. How do you feel my work would help you capture that feeling? 8. Do you have a proposed ceremony start time? 9. What is your planned reception end time? 10. How many guests are you expecting? 11. What is your wedding budget? 12. What is your photography budget? 13. What cake flavor are you having? 14. Tell me about your wedding. What makes your wedding different from every other wedding? What details are you incorporating to tell your love story? What is your very favorite thing about the wedding? Be creative. I want to know you. I want to know your story. 15. What is your favorite image from The Girl in the White Dress slideshow, and why? 16. How did you hear about Kelly Sauer, Ltd. Co. and The Girl in the White Dress?

A Lowcountry Wedding Vendor Giveaway Winners!

I hope everyone had a chance to celebrate the holiday season with their family and friends.  I'm still a little shocked that 2011 is over!  At A Lowcountry Wedding, we were blessed with a fabulous and exciting year and truly can't wait to see what 2012 has in store for us. 

We're in the home stretch of finishing up our new website which looks amazing and it is KILLING me not being able to share it with anyone.  Not only does it look like a million bucks, but it will be loaded up with tons of wedding inspiration...perfect for any bride planning in the Lowcountry.  Seriously, it's awesome :)  A few weeks ago we held a contest for any Lowcountry Wedding Professional for not one but {3} blog tiles on our newly updated site and we're happy to announce the winners...

Duvall Events

Chi Photography of Charleston

Carol Hannah

Congratulations!  We'll be emailing you with all the details. 

Once again, thank you for all of your support and here's to 2012! 

Katherine + Jon {Charleston Engagement}

We hope everyone has been enjoying this holiday season!  Sorry it's taken us a few days to get back into the swing of things but the relaxing break was much needed!  We wanted to kick off your weekend with Katherine + Jon's Engagement Session from Charleston wedding vendor, Lauren Jonas Photography.  As the sun was setting, the adorable couple toured the streets of the historic downtown area with a stop alongside the picturesque Battery.  Don't you just love that last shot?

Megan + Joel {Tennessee Wedding}

My out-of-office message is officially up, my car is packed and (almost) all my gifts are purchased and wrapped but before I head to Florida for the long Christmas weekend, I just had to share Megan's dreamy Southern wedding with you.  This past September, Megan and her groom, Joel, tied the knot in Knoxville, Tennessee at the stunning Pavillion at Hunter Valley Farms.  For the big day, she selected a fabulous preppy color palette of navy, green and pink.  The couple lucked out with perfect weather for their outdoor ceremony where Kristin from KLP Photography was on hand to capture all of the memorable moments.  After some gorgeous shots of the newly married couple, they joined their guests for a lively reception!

Vendors

photographer: klp photography  /  the pavillion at hunter valley farms

Valla + David {Charleston Wedding}

Valla + David's Charleston wedding took place this past November overlooking the water at the stunning Renaissance on Charleston Harbor.  This venue is every Lowcountry bride's dream.  Not only are you surrounded by  the relaxing atmosphere of the marsh, a perfect coastal breeze and unmatched sunsets, but you'll also get amazing views of the statuesque Cooper River Bridge.  Not bad, eh?  Valla donned a beautiful Alfred Angelo gown that she accessorized with a rustic bouquet from the talented team at Horst Wholesale as she walked down the aisle.  Surrounded by their closest friends and family, the couple's 'I do's' took place just steps from David's childhood home.  After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their photographer, Mikkel Paige, captured some frame-able shots out by the docks.  They continued their celebration at the Renaissance on Charleston Harbor where guests were treated to Lowcountry cuisine from Cafe Catering and a fabulous Publix that matched Valla's gown.

Charleston Wedding Vendors

 photographer: mikkel page photography  /  reception venue: renaissance on charleston harbor  /  hair stylist: grace salon spa  /  caterer: cafe catering  /  floral designer: horst wholesale  /  dress designer:  alfred angelo bridal  /  cake designer: publix

Britt Croft Wedding Photography Giveaway!

Our friend Brittani, of Britt Croft Photography, is in the midst of a huge wedding photography giveaway, and boy do I mean huge! (First place wins 8 hours of wedding day coverage, DVD, an online gallery AND an engagement session...yes,please!)  Entering is simple, just send Brittani an email telling her a little bit about yourself (see complete details here) and a sweet story about why you two deserve to win.  Myself and Sarah of Dodeline Design have been dealt the challenging task of helping Brittani determine the winner (and we couldn't be more excited)...so show us what you've got!

So here’s the nitty gritty:

To enter: Between December 19th and January 5th, send an email to britt@brittcroft.com with the subject: 2012 Wedding Giveaway and include the following information…

- You and your fiance’s name (or a friend and his/her fiance’s name! You can absolutely enter on a friend’s behalf so long as they are getting married in 2012! - A short but sweet story about you two as a couple, something that makes you unique, something funny or special, or just flat out why you deserve to win - Up to 3 photos of the two of you together - Wedding date & venue/location(s) - Just for fun: Your favorite way to spend your time together on the weekends? - Contact information (email and phone)

How it works: Up to five finalists may be chosen by Brittani, Erin from A Lowcountry Wedding, and Sarah from Dodeline Design based off of their story submitted. A blurb from each story accompanied by an image will be put into The 2012 Wedding Giveaway album on the Britt Croft Photography Facebook page, and you send your friends to “like” your image between January 10th and January 24th. Remember they must first “like” the Britt Croft Photography page! The picture with the most likes by 6 p.m. on January 24th wins, the picture with the second-most likes wins 25% savings, and the following morning, one finalist couple will be chosen for a free engagement session!

What you could win:

1. First Place: 8 hours of wedding day coverage with Brittani, an online gallery for sharing with friends and family, a DVD of all final high-res images (500-800) with a personal print release, a complimentary engagement session

2. Second Place: 25% savings on wedding day coverage and add on’s if booked within 3 months

3. All finalists: 10% savings on wedding day coverage if booked within 3 months and one free engagement session given away to a randomly chosen (using random.org) finalist couple

Charleston Weddings {Statement Necklaces}

We've been loving how our Charleston brides are pairing their swanky designer dresses with fabulous statement necklaces.  Our Lowcountry ladies have been incorporating these bold pieces into their Southern wedding day attire and their personalities have really been shining through! Whether it's a little touch of vintage, a colorful chunky geometric piece, a fantastic strand of pearls or some serious bling, you'll be sure to be the belle of the ball!

Image via Style Me Pretty

      

Images via Style Me Pretty 

Image by Stay Forever Photography

 

Images via Neiman Marcus

 

Image by Erich McVey via Style Me Pretty

 

Images via Juliet & Company and Style Me Pretty

Image by Tec Petaja via Once Wed

Image by Juliet Elizabeth Photography via WED

Images via Adia Kibur and Kenneth Jay Lane

Image by Brooke Courtney Photography via Postcards and Pretties

Images Tamiz Photography and Style Me Pretty Image via Luxe Finds

 

Images via Style Me Pretty and Cameron Ingalls

Elisabeth + Joseph {Charleston Wedding}

With Christmas less than a week away, it can only mean one thing...Engagement Season is in full force!  We're looking forward to hearing about the countless holiday proposals taking place over the next few weeks and we can't wait to hear from all the newly engaged ladies as they dive into some serious wedding planning.  To kick off this festive week, we're excited to share with you Elisabeth + Joseph's beautiful Fall wedding.  The couple, who has recently relocated to the area, decided on an intimate October fete on the grounds of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.  As one of Charleston's favorite venues, The Carriage House offered photographer Christina Watkins stunning views of the Ashley River, ancient Live Oaks and a wealth of Spanish moss. Basically, it's Lowcountry Heaven.

With a dress from the Gown Boutique of Charleston, hair by Whispers at Wentworth, Elisabeth's entire look was flawlessly styled by Alexandra Styles.  Down to the very last detail, the talented team at WED effortlessly executed this classic Charleston affair.  The flowers from Sara York Grimshaw Designs were rustically chic and truly complimented the couple and venue.  Cru Catering treated the couple's guests to delicious Lowcountry cuisine (crabcakes & all!) and The Cake Stand was responsible for that AMAZING cake!

Charleston Wedding Vendors

photographer: christina watkins photography  /  hair stylist: whispers at wentworth  /  caterer: cru catering  /  event planner/designer: WED - wedding event design  /  floral designer: sara york grimshaw designs  /  ceremony and reception venue: magnolia plantation and gardens  /  dress store: gown boutique of charleston  /  cake designer: the cake stand  /  fashion designer: alexandra styles

Charleston Welcome Guide {Wedding Details}

When planning a Charleston wedding, more often than not, you'll probably be expecting quite a few out-of-town guests who aren't too familiar with the area.  To assist your wedding travelers, it's important to make sure they are aware of all the best attractions: restaurants, historical sites, shopping...you name it!  They can google the Holy City all day long but it's important to hear your recommendations to ensure they really get to experience everything Charleston has to offer.  It's your chance to show them why Charleston was your city of choice! Kristie from Say LULLOW Creative assisted Meghan + Jon in creating the perfect Charleston guide to welcome their guests.  The couple compiled some of their favorite places to "eat, drink and be merry" in varying price ranges that they thought their guests would enjoy.  Kristie has kindly offered our A Lowcountry Wedding readers a 10% discount on their very own Charleston guide.  To receive the discount, enter the coupon code SAYLULLOWLOWCOUNTRY at the Say LULLOW Creative Etsy Shop and make sure to contact Kristie for any custom products.

All images via Say LULLOW Creative

Meghan + Jon {Charleston Wedding}

 This past Labor Day weekend, Meghan + Jon invited 60 of their closest friends and family to the Lowcountry to join them in a big celebration.  After much research, the destination couple selected Old Wide Awake Plantation to host their laid back Southern affair.  This stunning Antebellum plantation sits on the banks of the Stono River and offers a picturesque backdrop for a classic Charleston wedding.  Kristie of Say LULLOW Creative was on hand to capture all of the details and some emotional moments between the bride and groom.  Meghan's sister is the talent behind Local Root Wildflower and designed a gorgeous array of Fall flowers to compliment the bride's rustic color palette.

 Tell us a little bit about how you met your husband. How long have you known each other?  

Where did you meet? I met my husband, Jon, through a mutual friend. My girlfriend told me that she had this guy in my mind for me and he was going to be at this party that weekend. She had sent out a group email on the details for the upcoming party. There was some group banter going around and then he started just emailing me. We emailed each other back and forth over the next couple of days. When I first saw the tall green eyed, blonde hair boy – I was super nervous which I don’t normally get. Since we were in a group setting there wasn’t much alone time but we managed to get in some small talk. He was a little shy at first but, my outgoing personality helped break the ice and ever since then we’ve been attached at the hip. We’ve known each other for a little over two years.

What was your color palette: 

Purple, yellow, brown, green (I really didn’t have a set color palette; I let my flowers speak for my color palette and used more natural colors throughout the décor. I had burlap pieces on the table and they were also used as ties for the taller tables. Mason jars and old kraft wooden cheese boxes were used to hold the flower centerpieces. )

 

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

It kind of worked out for him because I did all the planning. Ha. I planned a winter weekend getaway in small town called, Hocking Hills. Once we got to the cabin, we went on hike and then decided to try out the hot tub. I was pulling clothes out of our suitcase and he sat me down on the bed and started to tell me how much he loved me. I had no clue what he was doing. I replied, “I love you too.” Jon dropped to one knee and I started freaking out. He popped the question and I screamed, “YES! YES!” We were engaged for 8 months before our big day.

Why did you choose to have A Lowcountry Wedding?  

I knew I wanted to get married in South Carolina but it was going to take some convincing with our parents. I knew that Charleston would get a great spot for family and friends to vacation and hopefully find a very southern venue.

 

 How did you choose your venue?

One of my sisters lives on Wadalmaw Island so she was able to do all the leg work in finding a venue. There were a couple of venues that she had visited for me but they didn’t leave a lasting impression. I was talking to a couple of vendors for the wedding and one had mentioned Old Wide Awake Plantation. Just from the photos on the website – I was sold. My sister went to visit the venue and she fell in love with the place. The venue had a great dance area, interesting bar area and just a beautiful backdrop for a wedding.

 

What’s your favorite picture from your wedding?

I have a ton of favorites. My photographer was amazing and caught some really great moments. One of my favorites is our first kiss as husband and wife and our bridal party celebrating us in the background. My other favorite would be us with the Thank you sign. I love the fact that we were both laughing (not sure at what) and it’s such a natural photo of us. 

 

Your wedding was filled with gorgeous details. Did any have special meaning? What was your favorite?  

One of my favorite details were the flowers – my sister, Erin, started her own flower business (Local Roots Wildflowers) and she grew the flowers herself. Erin and her boyfriend also made the guest book table which was AMAZING! I had one of my talented musician friends play the ceremony music. A neighbor created card holders for our food cards and photos that we were displayed throughout the tables. They were made out of wine corks and stained glass. They added just a bit more color to the simply center pieces. Last but not least, my dad had brought with him the cake topper that was used at his mom’s wedding. I could go on and on about the little touches. Throughout the planning process, I wanted to include family and friends with certain details of the wedding. I would have an idea and I would call on a family or friend to see if they would be able to create my vision. It worked out so organically.

 Tell us a little bit about your menu. Did you add any Lowcountry elements? 

The menu was heavy appetizers. I’m a vegetarian so I wanted to incorporate that into our menu but make sure that the meat-eaters weren’t starving. Some of the menu items were: tomato bruschetta

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

During the reception, Jon and I snuck off to take a breather. We just told each other how happy we were and how excited we were about spending the rest of our lives together. I will always remember that moment.

Looking back on your engagement and wedding, is there any advice you would give to brides in the planning process? 

If you aren’t going to be at the wedding venue getting ready – go and take 30 minutes in the morning to make sure everything is set. Also, make sure you give yourself enough time to take photos. Our transportation was late and we missed out on hour and half of taking photos which ate into our time for the reception.

 Vendors

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Old Wide Awake Plantation  /  Photographer: Say LULLOW Creative  /  Invitations: Tiny Prints  /  Cake: Three Little Birds  /  Flowers: Local Roots Wildflowers  /  Hair & Makeup: Urban Nirvana  /  DJ /Band : Other Brother Entertainment – DJ josh  /  

Caterer: Three Little Birds

Meghan + Jon's Charleston Rehearsal Dinner at Brick House Kitchen

Today we're sharing Meghan + Jon's Wedding Weekend from Kristie of Say LULLOW Creative!  Over the weekend, the couple hosted some fabulous Lowcountry events at two of Charleston's favorite venues to celebrate their big day.  They kicked off the wedding events with a rehearsal dinner at the James Island's Brick House Kitchen.  The Brick House Kitchen is the perfect low-key venue if you're thinking of treating your guest to a Lowcountry boil or an Oyster Roast in a relaxed atmosphere.  Isn't it perfect?!  Later this afternoon, we'll be sharing their nuptials at Old Wide Awake Plantation.

Dying for more Lowcountry Wedding Inspiration!?  Check out these beauties…

• Coastal Rice Mill Wedding from Shannon Noel Photography in shades of cranberry and peach
• Laid back, DIY Lowcountry Wedding from Jeanne Mitchum Photography with burlap and anemones
• Sequins and Peony Wedding Inspiration from the ladies at Ivory + Beau and Rach Lea Photography
• A Lowcountry Wedding Magazine filled with 13 real weddings from Charleston, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach

Marsae + Matthew {Charleston Engagement}

Every girl hopes, wait...dreams, that when she's proposed to her husband-to-be will make sure it's a story worth re-telling, and that's exactly what Marsae's man Matthew did.  He made it an engagement any Lowcountry bride would revel in.  Marsae had her heart set on a Christmas engagement and when the holiday season passed without a proposal she had all but given up hope....which was the perfect opportunity for Matthew!  He contacted the talented Kelly Sauer in early January and revealed his plans to invite Marsae to join him for a "business trip" to Charleston.  The scheming twosome decided Kelly would hide out at Charleston's picturesque Waterfront Park to catch Matthew's emotional proposal and Marsae's priceless reaction.  After seeing these images, I think hiring a photographer should be a must for any guy planning an engagement...I mean, who wouldn't want to have this moment forever captured on film?

 

Say hi to Kelly!

Southern Weddings {Boutonnieres}

I consider myself a decent speller, but the word 'boutonniere' throws me every time...so, I usually just stick with the term 'bouts'.  A 'bout' is simple and cute (it comes from the French term 'buttonhole') and doesn't put my spelling ability to the test...problem solved!  You'll usually find them as a single bud, sometimes a gathering of 2-3, adorned with leaves or foliage and secured by a simple ribbon.  The color scheme of a bout ties in seamlessly with the rest of the wedding and tends to match the bride's bouquet.  We've collected Part II (see Part I here!) of our favorites that range from modern to vintage and simple to ornate.  Don't you just love how these little guys perfectly accessorize our Southern fellas.

Image via Once Wed

Image via Paige Winn 

 

Image via Ruffled and Style Me Pretty

Image via Inspired Bride

 

Image via Honey and Poppies 

Images via Ruffled and Style Me Pretty

Image via Style Me Pretty

Images via Desi Baytan Photography and Melissa Schollaert Photography

 

Image via Tara Guerard

 

Image via Anna Be Bridal Boutique

Images via Style Me Pretty

 

Image via The Knot

Image via Honey and Poppies 

 

Images via Style Me Pretty Boutonniere from Sara York Grimshaw via Leigh Webber 

 

Images by Jose Villa via Style Me Pretty

 

Lindsey + Adam {Florida Engagement}

Lindsey + Adam's Tallahassee Engagement Session is so awesome that it took two days to complete!  Dressed in their stylish vintages duds, the soon-to-be-newlyweds met up with Florida photographer, Shutter Pop Photo, for part one at the Train Station. Throughout the day, Adam kept the crew laughing and his darling bride smiling as they explored the tracks.  St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge and lighthouse set the stage for the second portion of the session.  With their blanket and picnic basket in tow, Lindsey + Adam were able to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery and gorgeous sunset.

A Lowcountry Wedding Blog featuring Charleston Weddings, Hilton Head Weddings, Myrtle Beach Weddings and Southern Weddings

Jess + Zach {Minnesota Wedding}

I'm in love with Jess + Zach's effortless Minnesota wedding from Shea Christine Photography.  The couple wed had perfect weather this past September as their recited their vows under a beautiful gazebo along the banks of the Mississippi River.  Afterwards, the newlyweds hosted their 100 guests in an intimate reception at Riedel Farm Estate in Fridley, Minnesota.  Their theme of simplicity ran throughout the wedding by using a mix of hydrangeas and burlap for decor.  Shea put it best when she said, "This wedding was simple & beautiful. It goes to show how the right venue & simplicity can go a long way."  

Wedding Vendors

photographer:shea christine photography /  ceremony and reception venue: riedel farm estate 

A Lowcountry Wedding Blog featuring Charleston Weddings, Southern Weddings, HIlton Head Weddings, Myrtle Beach Weddings