Southern Weddings

There are so many nuggets of inspiration tucked away inside Michelle + Brian’s wedding, photographed by Charleston extraordinaire Heather Forsythe, that I almost don’t know where to start.  For one, I love that the woven look of the chargers at the Magnolia Plantation and Garden reception was carried through to the cake, crafted by Ashley Bakery. Heather and her bridesmaids’ bold look (their dresses by J. Crew) were a nice complement to the soft hydrangea florals, put together by Karen Powell of O.K. Florists.  The vintage postcard seating arrangement and Southern locale table names?  Love.  The custom napkins and hand-painted map of the wedding events?  Love.  The rain boots? LOVE!  See more on Heather’s blog here!

Tell us your story:  When Brian and I met, he was living in Nashville and I in Charleston.  Thus began our long-distance relationship.  Friday evening marked remote “date night:” we played Yahtzee, watched episodes of Lost and even rented the same movies to watch together – all by phone!  After three years and miles apart, Brian took a job in Atlanta and I soon followed.  On a beautiful summer morning, over a cup of coffee, Brian looked over and said, “I just want to stay right here and be with you forever.”  This announcement was followed by a ring, a “Will you marry me” and a happy “Yes!”
Describe the vision for your wedding: Brian and I knew from the start exactly what we wanted our wedding to be: a small, intimate, relaxed and joyful celebration.  Our 100 guests traveled from Maine, Colorado and everywhere in-between to mark the occasion.  Many had never been to Charleston and we wanted to treat them to a special low-country weekend in the South, which soon became the theme for everything.    We began with classic white Crane invitations engraved with a pineapple, the symbol of Southern hospitality.  Guests received welcome bags that my mother had filled with Charleston treats:  Sticky Fingers sauce, benne wafers, spiced pecans, Charleston Tea, a pineapple sugar cookie and maps and schedules for the weekend.  We chose the small chapel at my church, and decided on Magnolia Plantation Carriage House, which is rustic and filled with character.  At the receptions, guests were treated to Southern favorites like shrimp and grits and she-crab soup.   A fireside coffee bar complete with s’mores served as an after-dinner treat.  At the end of the night, everyone left with a white porcelain pineapple ornament created by Hooven and Hooven.
How was your wedding different than the way you’d always imagined?  It rained in Charleston – in December!  Sometimes the most unexpected events can make a day the most memorable.  I bought wellies to wear, we made a playlist with every rain song and, because no one could go outside, we spent the evening inside enjoying the music.  One of my favorite photographs from the day is of my father and I laughing under the umbrella right before we entered the church.  So, my advice to brides-to-be is to take what the day brings, embrace it, enjoy it, laugh at the unexpected and be creative, even at the last minute!
Tell us about your wedding dress:  I loved that dress!  I opted for a fun, fuss-free dress that was perfect for walking around the plantation, had an amazing twirl factor and – best of all – had pockets!
Describe your wedding cake:  We loved the design that Ashley Bakery came up with.  They combined the sweetgrass look with a huge sugared magnolia on the side.  The guests could not believe the decoration was icing and not part of a basket – it looked that real!
Tell us a bit about the music played at your reception. We were so blessed to have our musical friends share their talents at our reception.  One of the highlights was when Brian and my brothers performed a special song.  
Any DIY projects in your wedding?  My mother and I had so much fun planning and designing in the year leading up to the wedding.  We knew the look we wanted and hoped to make everything personalized, but also had a budget to keep in mind. I really love making decorated sugar cookies whenever I get the chance, so my wedding was the perfect excuse for me to make pineapple and wedding cake cookies to share with our guests.  Brian painted our custom wedding map that was included in our welcome bags, and also painted our table names with Charleston locations very dear to us.  The menu was written on an old plantation shutter and painted with chalkboard paint.
What’s next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future?  Our wedding was a wonderful start to the rest of our life together, but what we look forward to most is cherishing the small moments: a cup of coffee in the morning and a game of Yahtzee on Friday night!

Congratulations, Michelle + Brian!  We hope Friday game nights will be even more fun as newlyweds!