Southern Weddings

I always love to read what our darling brides tell us about the Southern details and traditions they included in their big day. Sometimes it’s the decor, sometimes it’s a piece of their mother’s dress and for others, it’s the food. But today’s bride, Angela replied with what makes the South the best (in my humble opinion): heart. She said the Southern hearts, hospitality and the love are just a few of the Southern details that made their Charleston nuptials special. That, along with the horse and buggy getaway that their fabulous planner Katherine Miller pulled out of her hat, of course!

Special thanks to Juliet Elizabeth Photography for capturing all the love this day evoked!

I tried on about 20 wedding dresses with just my mom and Katherine. Terri and Krista at the Gown Boutique of Charleston were a dream team. They helped me to find my dream dress on my first and only day shopping for my dress. Everything about my Augusta Jones silk organza Tina dress was beyond perfect for me!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. 
We fell in love when I was playing the wingwoman for my friend and Tobi playing the wingman for his friend at a bar lounge in New York City. They became deeply engaged in a conversation and sent us away to the bar to get drinks. We went and waited for drinks to arrive for us to carry back. We started to talk to each other to be polite. Then, a very long time passed and we didn’t even realize that we had gotten no drinks, our friends were looking for us and the bar was closing! Tobi called me two days later and asked if I would like to grab dinner sometime. I gladly said yes and the rest is history! Our friends are both happily dating others and were the bridesmaid and groomsman at our wedding.

Oh my stars – that ceiling is everything!

What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? 
I John 4:7-8 “Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.”

The most memorable moment of the day was when we got to Lowndes Grove for our reception immediately after the ceremony. Tobi and I got off our trolley first — about 10 minutes before the rest of our guests did. The first trolley had already dropped off a batch of guests 20 minutes earlier. The minute Tobi and I stepped off our trolley, we just stood on the gravel, several feet away from our guests, and just watched everything from a distance: from the jazz band his dad surprised us with and all the beautiful shades of pinks, peaches and golds surrounding the plantation, to our closest family and friends chatting away over Pimm’s Cups and Arnold Palmers. Knowing that everyone came to this one place from all over the place just for us made us so amazed and we felt so much joy in our hearts. It was also the only 10 minutes we got to take it all in, just by ourselves, before being swept back into the storybook night again! I will never forget those 10 minutes and the beautiful mental snapshot.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? 
So many things! In summary: Charleston, Arnold Palmers served in mason jars, a low country menu and dance cards, Southern hearts, hospitality and the love we all shared that day!

I wanted the wedding cake to resemble the top part of my wedding dress. It had a soft and beautiful layered petals look to it. We also tinted the cake to a very subtle blush. Other than the beautiful design, the flavors were the best and everyone loved it — even those who weren’t cake fans! Th bottom tier was spiced cake with ginger butter cream icing, the next tier was a lemon cake with almond butter cream icing, the next tier was a hazelnut cake with spiced butter cream and the top tier was a hazelnut cake with spiced butter cream.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? 
I had always dreamed of my wedding sendoff to be me waving goodbye to our loved ones from a white horse carriage with my husband. When my wedding planner told me that regulations and traffic in the plantation’s neighborhood made this vision nearly impossible, I was devastated and could not believe that this would be not become a reality in Charleston! Then, the following morning, Katherine pulled the rabbit out of her hat and found me the white horse carriage that I’d imagined since I was 6!

Describe the proposal. 
Tobi proposed over a home-cooked meal the weekend after the weekend he planned to propose! Here is the short version of the story/original plan: We were taking a day trip to Richmond on a beautiful summer day because I had always talked about wanting to visit. He planned the entire day and was going to propose over a champagne dinner at the Jefferson Hotel except I had gotten into an argument with him while on our way to dinner because I was wondering if and when he would ever propose! I had no idea that was supposed to be the day!

In what month did you get married? 
September

How many guests attended your wedding? 
86

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. 
Our first dance was Let’s Stay Together by Al Greene

Describe your wedding flowers. 
The flowers were AMAZING and I cannot do them justice by trying to describe them here!

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: 
The kissing bells that everyone also used as sendoff bells with pink, peach and lavender ribbons!

What range did your wedding budget fall into? 
$75,000-$100,000

What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? 
Definitely the gold flatware!

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? 
1. Know that you have every right in the universe to get everything you’ve ever dreamed of for your wedding day! It IS about your vision. Also know that the “perfect” wedding, like the “perfect” man, is one that is perfect for you, who you are, and what you stand for. Don’t let the pursuit of “perfection” get in the way of progress! 2. Stress as much as your body and mind can tolerate as long as you’re still having fun! 3. Do ask for your dude’s thoughts on things that he probably does have an opinion on, like music/entertainment and food. Definitely do the tasting together as a fun date — especially if y’all love to eat! It’s his big day, too, and he’ll love you more for caring about what he thinks.

What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? 
We are just feeling happy and grateful for where we are in life at this moment, and really cherish all the bliss, memories and faith that our love, family and friends have gifted us. In the immediate future, we are very much excited about building our life and creating wonderful memories, together, one day at a time. We also hope to welcome our first puppy to the family by our one year anniversary!

Written with love by Marissa