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I’m convinced that the South Carolina Lowcountry is one of the most magical places in America. The coastal views, the Spanish moss, the sweeping plantations–everything about this part of the South makes it a true gem, and of course, an incredible wedding location. Although Frances and Joe live in Richmond, Laurel Spring plantation was the perfect place for their elegant, oh-so-Southern wedding–the plantation has been in Frances’ family for years. Beautiful and sentimental? Y’all know we love that!

Thank you kindly to Ashley Seawell for sharing Frances and Joe’s big day with us!

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? As a child, I would pull into the gates of our Laurel Spring and remember always feeling like I was home. I remember vividly the feeling of pulling into those gates being different that day. Not only was there the calming, home feeling, but I also had a feeling of excitement for what the day held for Joe, our families, and me. That feeling continued up until I rounded the corner and finally saw him for the first time. It was a double feeling of home that was pretty incredible.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The fact that the whole day could be spent in one of our most favorite places with our loved ones really was enough, but personally, I also really loved how the boutonnières turned out. They were perfect for the setting and really provided the right rustic elegant feel, as they were made of cotton, rice, and quail feathers: all aspects of the Laurel Spring experience and history.

Describe your wedding flowers: We used peonies, white roses, and some greenery for the bridal bouquet and hydrangeas for the bridesmaids. Lots of greenery, flowers, vines, and cotton were used throughout the reception, with some quail feathers involved too. All simple, but very beautiful and fitting for the rustic, elegant plantation setting.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We did not do a first look. It was not that we had anything against first looks, but we wanted to keep tradition of the bride and groom not seeing each other until the ceremony. The boys got dressed and waited in the sunroom while the girls got dressed and waited in one of the master bedrooms. It was fun to be with our closest friends right before and really helped maintain the sanctity of the event, rather than forgetting the biblical reasoning behind the ceremony and the representation of the bride, groom, bridesmaids, and groomsmen.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We did not write our own vows, but were married using the traditional Episcopalian order of service, and were married by my uncle, an Anglican minister. Being married by my uncle was such a special addition to the day, and he really did an amazing job of keeping the holiness of the service, even though we were not in a church.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We held the wedding at Laurel Spring Plantation, a home that has been in the my family for a very long time and was historically a rice plantation. We also included cotton, quail feathers, toile, and burlap for décor, a refreshment bar for when people arrived, including sweet tea made by Denita Simmons, the housekeeper and jack of all trades at Laurel Spring, a local, Lowcountry menu (shrimp, crab, duck, grits, candied bacon), and old dug-out canoes for holding the beer and water bottles. The setting included large live oaks draped in moss and a view of the old rice fields that are flooded with water–really beautiful. The ceremony was held under the live oaks with a large wooden altar adorned with a wooden cross made from wood of the Lowcountry.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert: I have quite the sweet tooth, so we had an assortment of about ten different delicious cakes and cupcakes in the following flavors: banana pudding, sour cream pound cake, key lime, red velvet, carrot, coconut, lemon blueberry, strawberry, caramel, and chocolate. We also had a birthday cake because our wedding was on my mother’s birthday. In addition, we had a candy bar and some late night passed sweets (ice cream in waffle bowls and cinnamon sugar pretzel bites).

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Joe had just graduated from Hampden Sydney College and I had just finished my junior year at Wofford College. We both headed out West to work on a guest ranch, A Bar A, for the summer. We met soon after arriving and began hanging out with each other, riding horses together, fishing, and just enjoying what Wyoming has to offer. When the fall came close, we decided to continue dating, but to see where life took us. He was considering living out West, and even thought about moving to Australia (thankfully, that did not happen!). I knew I would be at school. Five years later, after going back and forth from Charleston, SC, Spartanburg, SC, and Richmond, VA, we settled on Richmond.
Describe the proposal. In November 2012, Joe had been sitting on the ring for several weeks, though I did not even know he was thinking about proposing! Joe had been hunting all day, but since he thankfully did not kill a deer that day, he came home in time for dinner. He told me to pick a place to eat, so I chose a quaint little sushi restaurant we like, which is casual, but always delicious. We enjoyed a nice supper and went to go to a local wine and beer shoppe afterwards to listen to live music and enjoy some drinks. After staying there for a while, we went to my house so Joe could pick up our dog, Platte. While we were there, Joe pulled Platte into the room with us and started talking about things that were pretty deep for a Saturday night. Well, one thing led to another, and before I knew it, he was down on one knee asking me to marry him. I was so excited that I forgot to say yes! When I finally looked at the ring, I realized it was very similar to my mother’s (which I loved, because I had mentioned long ago in passing how much I loved her ring). We then proceeded to call our families, who were very surprised and excited to hear the good news. Two neat things about this though: Joe had actually asked my dad if he had his blessing way back in August while we were vacationing with them at Pawleys Island, but my dad had not said anything to anyone else, so it was a surprise to my mom and family. Also, our first date was at a sushi restaurant, so it was pretty amazing that we ended up at a sushi place for the night of our engagement.
In what month did you get married? June 8, 2013
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I have never been the girl to dream about my perfect wedding dress, or even wedding, for that matter. I just figured that when the time came, I would know what I wanted and it would be great. Well, that’s pretty much exactly what happened. My mom had come up to Richmond during my grad school Christmas break and we went to a dress shop in Richmond. At the first shop we went to, I tried on maybe six dresses. One I loved for the top portion and another I loved for the bottom portion and the lace. Fariba, the seamstress, said she could easily add the sweetheart neckline and two straps to the second dress, so we decided to go with that! It worked out perfectly for me to have the features of the first dress translated onto the second dress. It was the most comfortable thing ever, too!
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? Joe’s cousin read Genesis 2:18-24 and my good friend from college read 1 John 4:7-16. Both were meaningful and powerful verses that we thought applied well to the wedding ceremony.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. We had a friend’s bluegrass band play for the ceremony and for a cocktail hour following the wedding. During the ceremony, the band played a beautiful assortment of bluegrass music and hymnals.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? The distance between Richmond (where we were both living) and South Carolina, where my family, Laurel Spring, and so many of our amazing vendors were, was really hard. It made things a little difficult to manage, being so scattered all over the place, but having Jimmilib and my mother as the ladies in charge really made it so much better! I really wish there had been a way to do more planning in person, but thankfully the internet and phone calls made things easier!
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? We made sure that we hired a band that really delivered–and they did! I do not think anyone left the reception not smiling from the performance that the band put on! Also, I really loved the gifts that I gave to my bridesmaids. They were handmade earrings or necklaces by one of the bridesmaids, Gabe Bratton for Gabrielle Jewelry. They were beautiful and delicate, and had the perfect amount of femininity for an outdoor wedding. I also had an artist friend, Claire Wall, create a print of a hydrangea to be given to all of the hosts/hostesses of parties, bridesmaids, readers, greeters, and helpers, as a symbol of our appreciation for their help and service. They turned out beautifully!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Enjoy each minute that you are in and don’t rush the process. The engagement, the wedding, and the honeymoon will seem like a blur in hindsight if you do not take the time to enjoy right where you are. Also, a word for the girls, as this was advice given to me by a very dear friend: make sure that everything that you talk about as a couple during the months of your engagement is not just the wedding. Remember that you have dated this person before there was talk of a wedding and it is possible (though it may not feel like it at times) to have conversations that don’t include anything about the wedding. I know from my experience that Joe did not want to talk about napkins, flowers, and serving pieces every night, so we made sure to pay attention to limiting the wedding conversation.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are currently living in Richmond, VA and are enjoying getting settled into our new home. I am in graduate school and Joe is working with BB&T Scott & Stringfellow as a financial advisor. While life seems to be a little hectic right now, we are trying to make sure we make time for each other, our precious lab Platte, and being with our family and friends. Life is good!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
9 Comments
  1. avatar Kat reply

    I’m loving the bridesmaids dresses! And I love how thoughtful she was to have a print crafted, too… so sweet, and very meaningful!!

  2. avatar Jadzia reply

    Stunning all around!

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  5. avatar Dana reply

    such an amazing, stunning venue. i cant even imagine how gorgeous it is in real life.

  6. avatar Southern Weddings Weekly Round-Up – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] Frances and Joe’s wedding has me dreaming of a trip to the South Carolina Lowcountry. What a breathtaking place for a wedding! See it here. […]

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  8. avatar P J reply

    Where were the bridesmaids dresses purchased from? Gorgeous.

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    […] hydrangea – Jessica Watson Photography | light blue –  | Ashley Seawell via southernweddings | hydrangea with berries –  photo by Trentième […]

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Alrighty, y’all. It’s group swoon time. Alaina + Ryan’s wedding was a classic Southern fete filled with some of my favorite things: a gorgeous one-shoulder dress, a lush bouquet with lamb’s ear, an outdoor ceremony underneath the trees, chalkboard signs and good eats galore. What really takes the cake for me, though, is that when Alaina met Ryan in college, she bet her friend $20 that they would marry! Big thanks to Q Weddings for sharing this lovely one with us.

What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? The location. The gorgeous plantation house, Avenue of Oaks, and lagoon are stunning. It is what allowed for us to leave everything simple. We knew having the wedding near our town would be less expensive, but if it had been anywhere else, it wouldn’t have been the idea we both fell in love with. Ryan always wanted to get married at the beach and I wanted to get married under a tree. Charleston is the only place we could make that happen for us both.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Before we cut the cake, we gathered most people inside and toasted. The toasts were stellar. To see and hear everyone who we care about share stories from different parts of our lives and to wish us well on our new adventure was beautiful. It was really intimate and something that we will never forget.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Ryan and I met in college when he was a freshman and I was a junior. We quickly became friends when we discovered we were from the same hometown and had mutual connections. Before long, we were the best of friends and nearly inseparable. I can remember doing class projects together and spending weekends and school breaks together with our group of friends. What Ryan didn’t know is that the week that I met him, I bet my friend $20 that this was going to be the guy I would marry.
Describe the proposal. Ryan and I had been dating for about three years when we decided to take a trip to California. We were staying in a beautiful lakeside resort on top of a mountain in San Bernardino and we decided to go to Sequoia National Forrest. The nearly six-hour drive was hardly close enough for a day trip, but Ryan knew that I absolutely love trees and wanted to take me to see the most amazing trees in the world. He made the trip into a whole fun day’s adventure. When we got there, he found a picnic table and we had a quick lunch and then it was time to explore. It had been a perfect day already, but as soon as we entered the forest, I was awestruck. We were in a gorgeous meadow when Ryan decided to pull me off the path to explore a small clearing. I was still so excited and looking around that I hadn’t noticed what Ryan was doing. I remember standing between two giant Sequoia trees looking up and not being able to see their tops when I looked back and saw Ryan on one knee with the ring. I don’t even remember saying yes but I do remember the tears. To keep my mind off the fact that I missed my family and couldn’t share the moment with them, Ryan planned a special breakfast on the terrace for the next morning and when I walked up to our table, I realized that my parents and his mom were sitting there waiting for us! Being able to hug our parents and spend the weekend calling our families together was the perfect way to end the best trip of my life.
In what month did you get married? April
How many guests attended your wedding? 80
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? My grandmother’s wedding dress was one that her mother made and that my mother wore. It was beautiful and had such sentimental value to it, but it was not well enough preserved for me to wear. Instead, I found my dress and in the pocket, I carried a handkerchief that my mom hand-stitched from a small patch of lace from the dress.
Describe your wedding flowers: I liked the look of all white flowers and almost had all the girl’s bouquets pure white as well, just because it looks so classy. I was happy to find those little yellow billy balls which added a splash of color and a bit of fun to their bouquets. My bouquet was solid white with garden roses, white hydrangea, and dusty millers. The stem was wrapped in twine and ribbon with small opalescent buttons sewn on. Like everything else, I wanted it to feel effortless, a little rustic, but still classic.
Describe your wedding cake or dessert: A friend of ours bakes cakes for weddings and honestly, that was the easiest decision we made. We knew we wanted a simple and rustic design which would be easy to achieve and still look elegant. She did a four-tier cake with layers of yellow cake with black raspberry jam and layers of spice cake. It was decorated with a brushed buttercream and a few small flowers on top. Simple. Delicious. And it was moist! Oh, and we didn’t spend a dime!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? Currently, we are looking to move to Denver just for a change of scenery. We only have a few friends there and will be visiting in the middle of February to see if it’s a good fit for us. We both have jobs that are flexible and willing to lets us move, so why not?

Photographer: Suzi Q // Venue: Legare Waring House // Florist: Tiger Lily // Wedding Cake Baker: Amanda Taylor // Caterer: Cafe Catering // Bride’s Dress: Modern Trousseau // Bride’s Hair: Affair Hair by Tanesha // Bride’s Shoes: Nina // Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Sarah Seven // Accessories: J. Crew

Love this wedding? Check these out:
Melissa + Eric’s green, gray and peach wedding here and here
Beverly + Curtis’ green and white outdoor wedding here and here

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
18 Comments
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  2. avatar Ruth @ My Love Wedding Ring reply

    Love the gray and yellow color palette – so calming but so beautiful!! A lovely set of wedding photographs!

  3. avatar amanda noel reply

    OK, I just can’t get over how much I love this post. I must have stared at it a dozen times yesterday and now I’m back for more. They just look SO HAPPY AND IN LOVE! the simplicity puts the focus on their love and that is totally inspiring and totally Southern. It’s about the people, right y’all?!

  4. avatar martha barden reply

    This was my niece’s wedding and it was magical!! The love they have for each other really shows in these photos and the setting was beautiful. Fun times were had by all.

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  6. avatar Candice reply

    I am in love with her invitations and her color combo! Does anyone know where she ordered her invites from?

  7. avatar Legare-Waring House wedding in Charleston | Q blog | Wedding Photographer Austin, TX reply

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  9. avatar Kelly reply

    Southern Wedding ladies…help! My groom and I are trying to find fun socks like these two did for the groomsmen but we are having the hardest time! Our colors are navy and light pink, the ties are light pink navy poka dot…any suggestions of where we could find some?!

    • avatar Emily reply

      Hi Kelly! So fun! My best suggestions are searching at Macy’s, Nordstrom, and J.Crew – they usually have some fun, multi-color pattern options. Best of luck with your search!!

  10. avatar Summer Wildflowers – Something Pretty reply

    […] Kellan Studios via Style Me Pretty| Invitations: Minted| Groom’s attire: Q Weddings via Southern Weddings| Flower girl and ring bearer: Beane & Company| Floral bridesmaid dresses: Veil and Bow via […]

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    […] Sources:I Love SW Mag, Amy Atlas, Martha Stewart, Eat Drink Chic, Bridal Guide, Boutwell Studio, Centsational Girl, The […]

  12. avatar dianna strassburger reply

    Who made these bridesmaid dresses? Know a website I can look them up on? Love them!

    • avatar Nicole reply

      Hi Dianna! Alaina got the bridesmaid dresses through Sarah Seven. We love them!

  13. avatar Decoración de cestas para bodas. Ideas para tu boda reply

    […] labor of love via the loveliest day; 14: Elizabeth Messina; 15,17: Martha Stewart ; 16: Suzi Q via Southern Weddings Magazine; 18: Pinterest; 19: Mathew David Celebrations; 20: Kate Headley Photography; 21: Angela Wilson […]

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  16. avatar zack reply

    We’re looking for the dress shirt (5th picture down, under the close up of the Groom’s bow tie). Does anyone have any information on it (Brand, where to buy, etc.)? Any help is appreciated. Thank you, Zack

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