Bride Lindsey shares her daytime wedding in the Old Village of Mount Pleasant.
Today’s wedding is so darling it seems too good to be true, like something straight out of a Hallmark movie. A wedding planner living in the Old Village of Mount Pleasant has her meet-cute with the boy next door when they keep bumping into each other at their mailboxes. A few shy waves and potentially-planned escapes by her dog later, he finally asks her out on a first date at the dog park off the coast of Charleston. They are inseparable, enjoying dates on the patio of the Old Village Post House Inn in the neighborhood where they fell in love. So one Christmas when her family is all gathered around for a toast, she reveals her new sparkly engagement ring at the perfect moment. In a whirlwind five-month engagement, the bride plans an old-fashioned wedding with the help of her sister, a custom paper goods designer. The couple is married on a June morning in their local little white church and the whole party processes the two blocks to celebrate at one of their favorite spots, the Old Village Post House Inn, of course!
I’m so excited for you to hear the rest of the details from Lindsey, who also shared what’s next for them as a couple: “learning our way around marriage, getting a larger crop from our tomato plant and garden, and continued adventures.” Cut to the final scene of newlywed bliss and hijinks in their garden by the sea…
Thank you to Sean Money + Elizabeth Fay for sending this charmer our way!
To me, I think the event and overall style was perfectly conveyed in the very first piece: the invitations! My sister and I designed the invitations together (yes, a professional planner and stationery designer sister duo). First, we created the monogram. We combined vintage letters and details of custom heraldry that I love so much with inspiration from a 1920’s store sign I saw once. Keeping that one tone helped it stay somewhat light, despite the elaborate lines. The letterpress suite was perfectly stacked to reveal the transition of colors from blue, lavender, and then a light mauve. The invitation also had our custom logo/monogram on the back.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. The criteria I had going into the process was something not entirely white, some interesting detail, nothing strapless that I would tug on, and lighter material for the time of year. My rule of thumb was to allow anyone who accompanied me to the appointment one dress to suggest. I think that helped me get more comfortable with different styles. When I finally put the dress on, it had an elegant structure, hints of romance and whimsy, champagne coloring, and intricate cotton lace details with sleeves. It was so beautiful!
Describe your bridesmaids’ dresses. My thought was to stay in the cool tones of the color palette, but give them range to find what they felt most comfortable in. Nerd alert…I sent a survey monkey to have them rank the colors in order of what they wanted to wear to make sure everyone was happy!
Who was one of the most special guests at your wedding? My 92-year-old grandmother traveled for two days from a small town in Kansas to get to Charleston. For the wedding, she wore her actual wedding dress, which is 69 years old this year! She and my grandfather were an exceptional example of love and marriage. When he passed, they had been married 63 years.
Tell us about your wedding flowers. June is amazing for floral! I love a lot of texture and a mix of different shapes, sizes, and color. When Lisa and Kaitlyn and I met to talk through everything, they not only understood my vision, but encouraged all the vibrant and unique touches. My bouquet was a lush romantic loose floral and soft greenery slightly cascading. It included white parrot tulips, blush peonies, jasmine, lavender lilac and sweet peas, caramel and peach garden roses, ranunculus, white clematis, queen Anne’s lace, mock orange, tuberose, green hellebores, California bay, jasmine vine, sage, and seeded eucalyptus. It was wrapped with a silk ribbon in sky blue.
Originally from Texas, I never thought I would end up with a Cowboy outside of Dallas, but got very lucky. My gift to Mark was a pair of black ostrich Luchese boots, which he loved enough to wear that day.
What was the most memorable or touching moment of your wedding day? Mark and I both lost our fathers in during our college years and unbeknownst to the two of us until later, we had booked our wedding date over Father’s Day weekend. It felt like they were a part of the day. Walking in with Robert was also very important. To ask him to walk me down the aisle in place of my father meant a lot to him and I can’t think of anyone who is more admirable and supportive. He is like a brother and I am incredibly proud of his character. Walking in the church and seeing Mark for the first time was the perfect mix of nerves, adulation, and ease.
Having a daytime wedding first came into play during initial thoughts on overall spending. Just as I tell my clients, you must strike a balance between your most important aspects and places you can bend. In our case, the time worked a little better for the Post House, being that it was a restaurant and could reopen later in the night. Once that idea had time to steep, I really loved it! The process from there was very organic. A June daytime wedding meant a lighter dress material, simplified menu, relaxed bar, and great varieties in floral.
Tell us about a date you’ll always remember. I distinctly remember a dinner on the patio at the Old Village Post House early into dating when I knew this meant something very special just by the way he talked with such confidence.
One of my favorite parts of a wedding is the passed hors d’oeuvres. They can be playful and imaginative, and I tend to think people enjoy the delicate approach of a quick bite that keeps them engaged in their conversation. We had two-three passed every hour at the reception, and they were progressive from cold to hot, and then savory to sweet. Every item we chose was either something we enjoy a couple, have experienced on trips, or a family favorite ingredient reimagined.
Our reception was immediately following at Old Village Post House & Inn, in the Old Village of Mount Pleasant. The house itself has three stories. The first two floors have seven separate mixed-use spaces for dining, bar and outdoor seating, and the top has inn rooms. Designing each room with different colors, chairs, linens, and floral compositions was such a treat. The house itself has a coastal, somewhat masculine feel, so the additional layers were extremely soft and feminine.
What was the design inspiration for your wedding? I was so happy with the way the colors conveyed the energy and feel for the day. I stumbled on a photo of Tono and Co. Ribbon that was a full color pinwheel of gathered silk samples. The pastel-based colors of cream, honey, champagne, blush rose, and mauve, then to emerald, seafoam, stone, and finally sea and sky blue. I just kept going back to it! I love vintage details and antique finds. I also love so many elements of the floral botanicals, but had to find a way to keep light and airy.
Tell us your story. As cliché as this will sound, Mark and I met at the mailbox, so I truly ended up with the boy next door. It began with a few casual waves from the car, my dog “accidently escaping” to say hello, and questions on plans for the weekend with carefully calculated responses. It took him about a month or so to ask me out on a “dog park date” in the old village.
Describe the proposal. We got engaged right before Christmas. I was tucked away upstairs wrapping, and then heard him knock. When I opened the door, he was on one knee. I’m certain I blacked out and then immediately kept asking if he was sure. I finally said yes, and then we kept that night for just the two of us. No texts or calls. My family flew into town the next day. Once everyone was gathered, I secretly left the room just long enough to put the ring on, and we had a holiday toast that ended in a few screams and happy tears! Perfect holiday week!
Tell us about your beautiful engagement ring. It was a total surprise to me, and I absolutely love it! It’s a classic round setting, four-prong brilliant cut center diamond and a thin yellow gold band with pave stones on the sides. It is has a delicate feel in the band that perfectly accents the diamond. I feel beautiful when I wear it, even in a t-shirt and jeans!
How did you prepare for marriage while planning your wedding? We did premarital counseling with our church and read “The Meaning of Marriage” by Timothy Keller.
How many guests attended your wedding? 175
How did you spend the morning before your ceremony? With an 11am ceremony, you don’t have much time to sit and ponder! I spent the night at the Inn with my family, and it was a rise and shine early kind of morning! My hair and makeup was done by Ashley of Ash & Co, who is extremely talented and a truly trusted friend. She tucked me in a quiet room with coffee, my sister brought me a chicken biscuit (of course) and we just had tunes to keeping everything calm . I loved that time feeling not chaotic, but familiar.
Tell us a bit about the wedding ceremony. For the readings, instead of choosing verses specifically about marriage, I chose verses that were meaningful to me throughout my faith. They are a guide to all our lives, that would in turn, help our marriage.
What was Southern about your wedding? Being Southern to me is about being family-oriented and grounded in traditions, opting for the relaxed and real, and staying grateful. I’d like to think we did our best to accomplish those things in the wedding weekend with a little glimpse into a unique part of history in a city we love.
What advice would you give to someone currently planning his or her wedding? Keep perspective on what this is all about. How lucky to marry your best friend?! After that, the rest is just extra.
Planning and Design: A Charleston Bride | Photography: Sean Money + Elizabeth Fay | Videographer: Life in Rewind | Calligraphy and Paper Goods: Sweet Magnolia Paper | Custom Paper Liner: Arabella June | Vintage Stamps: Etsy | Ceremony Venue: Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church | Reception Venue and Caterer: Old Village Post House & Inn | Florals: Out of the Garden | Wedding Cake: Ashley Brown Cake Design | Ribbons: Tono & Co. | Welcome Baskets: A Signature Welcome | Bride’s Gown: “Fox Gown” by Rue de Seine | Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman | Bride’s Veil: Kelly’s Closet | Bride’s Jewelry: Hyla Dewitt | Groom’s Tux: Tom James | Groom’s Cowboy Boots: Lucchese | Music: Ear for Music | Rentals: Ooh! Events, Snyder, and Pressed Fine Linens | Hair and Makeup: Ash & Co. and Charlotte Belk | Getaway Car: Carolina Executive
A lovely story. Congartulations on your marriage! The details are beautiful and everything looks great. I love the Post House Inn. Very southern indeed.