Bride Kelly drew inspiration from favorite movies and television shows—like Little Women and Downton Abbey—for the styling of her wedding her wedding to groom Matthew. So, the couple enlisted Cibi Events to turn Legare Warring House into an English garden and with the help of floral genius The Purple Magnolia, the result was spectacular. Every last detail is filled to the brim with roses and we’re loving it. Kelly’s minimalist gown is by Theia, letterpress invitations are by Aerialist Press and beautiful photographs are by Caroline Ro.
What made the wedding special and unique?
It was important to Matthew and me that our wedding reflect our individual personalities and our interests as a couple. I drew a lot of inspiration from my childhood and favorite movies and television shows (including Little Women and Downton Abbey.) I wanted the wedding to feel as if our guests were strolling through an English garden, and I felt as if our ceremony and reception space perfectly reflected that! (All thanks to the fabulous CiBi Events and Purple Magnolia)
Another aspect of the wedding that was important to us was our dinner. Both Matthew and I enjoy sharing meals with our families and friends. Our family style dinner allowed us to recreate the feeling of a huge family dinner made even more special among candlelight, flowers, and drapery. It was so special to look out from the head table and watch our families laugh, chat, and mingle.
Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!
I was so excited to go shopping for my dress, and I had in mind a bohemian/loose fitting style dress. Everyone tells you that your wedding dress will never be what you initially have in mind, and it’s very true! I shopped at two stores in Charleston, SC, and I found my dress at the second store we visited.
After trying on multiple dresses, my sister picked a classic style dress with a sweetheart neckline. I was shocked at how much I liked the clean silhouette. The bridal consultant then pulled the unassuming Theia gown I chose. As soon as I slipped on the dress, I loved how elegant and sophisticated I felt. I felt like myself but older and more mature – in a good way. The very next day, I returned to the shop to ensure my first reaction held true, and it did! I would suggest to other brides that they have an open mind when trying on dresses. Also – don’t forget the ability to customize! I love that I wore a lace topper for the ceremony which made the dress feel even more bridal to me.
What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?
Matthew and I are lucky that so many women in our families are creative and artistically talented! My mom embroidered pillows with forget-me-nots to recognize my grandmother who battled Alzheimer’s disease. Matthew’s sister custom made two signs that were both showcase pieces for our ceremony and reception. Matthew’s mother painted and hand-drew many smaller signs for our wedding and rehearsal dinner. We also included family photos inside Legare Waring House which allowed us to remember our entire families. Now we are able to showcase these signs and photos in our home, and they will always remind us of our wedding day.
Additionally, Matthew and I love music, and it was important that our music choices reflected our personal interests. The song I walked down the aisle to (“For the Beauty of the Earth”) was one of my favorite church hymns and was also featured in Little Women. We also used the same DJ that our friends had used in their weddings, so it was great to relive those memories!
Another feature that became personal was the first layer of our wedding cake! Matthew’s parents also had Italian Creme Cake as their wedding cake.
What was the most memorable part of the day?
There were so many memorable parts! However, one sticks out in my mind. As soon as we finished family photos, Matthew and I sneaked back inside the house and went into the library which overlooked the courtyard. It was very special to peek out through the window and watch as our family and friends visited with each other and enjoyed cocktail hour. We loved having a quiet moment to ourselves prior to joining everyone. Our caterer spoiled us with some of our passed hors d’oeuvres which made the moment even better.
Tell us how you met and became engaged.
Matthew and I met through Matthew’s sister SaraBeth. Matthew attended Clemson University, but he had an internship in Columbia, South Carolina my freshman year at the University of South Carolina. One night a few of my friends headed over to Matthew’s apartment to celebrate the end of the year, and the rest is history! We dated for seven years (many of those long distance) prior to becoming engaged.
Our engagement seemed like a dream to me! Matthew planned a date night in August during the middle of the week. He suggested we walk along Sullivan’s Island, SC (a place we frequented while we dated), and then afterwards we would get a drink at one of our favorite restaurants. The day he planned to ask me, my cat became seriously ill (he’s now recovered), and Matthew almost backed off his plan, but I’m glad he didn’t!
As we walked down the beach, I noticed a photographer taking photos of three young girls dancing. I mentioned to Matthew that my sister and I had our photographs taken on the beach as a Father’s Day gift when we were young. As we walked closer to the girls, I noticed a huge heart drawn in the sand with white flowers and three signs that said “Kelly, will you?” Just moments before Matthew proposed, his mom and dad set up everything for the surprise.
Everything around me disappeared, and I had a hard time paying attention to what he was saying! The photographer was actually for us, and the young girls dancing were visiting from France. I’ll never forget that moment.
kelly and matty from Gabrielle Powell on Vimeo.
Planning & Design: Cibi Events // Photographer: Caroline Ro // Flowers: The Purple Magnolia // Invitations: Aerialist Press // Venue: Legare Warring House // Dress Designer: Theia // Dress: Gown Collective (Formerly Fabulous Frocks) // Hair & Makeup: Ash & Co // Escort Cards: Candlefish // Cake: Cakes by Kasarda // Catering & Bar: Cru Catering // DJ: Dragon Entertainment // Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals // Rentals: Ooh Events // Ceremony Musicians: Charleston Virtuosi