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Real Weddings:

Colleen and Dean’s wedding at Middleton Place

photography by Allison Kuhn

What’s black, white and gorgeous all over? Colleen and Dean’s stunning Charleston nuptials—duh! You guys—this one is the epitome of southern romance with a strong undertone of modern style that’s perfectly accentuated by the pared-back black and white color palette. Event planner and designer AA Events Design‘s stunning vision came to life with the help of florist Sweet Root Village  and calligrapher Delighted Calligraphy. The dream team decked out the grounds of Middleton Place with dreamy details and a greenery filled white tented reception. Photographer, Allison Kuhn, was behind the lens capturing all the magic in these dreamy film images.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

Our wedding was so special and unique because we had to completely build and design the reception space from scratch. We could truly do whatever we wanted! Alex (my wedding planner, sister-in-law, maid of honor, and best friend) and I worked really hard on coming up with a design that matched Dean’s and my personalities – the highlight being the massive custom square bar in the center of the tent! I was so lucky to have Alex by my side because I trusted her completely and knew she would be able to execute my dream wedding.  Also, Dean and I are HUGE animal lovers so it was super special to have Middleton’s sheep and horses greet guests as the arrived for the ceremony. Dean and I even got to feed the sheep!

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

The dress is a Sareh Nouri and we got it at Hayden Olivia Bridal in Charlotte, NC. I have always wanted a formal wedding but also really wanted it to be 100% outside; so the mission was to find a dress that fit that wedding vision. Something formal, classic and elegant but not too over the top so it didn’t look out of place in an outdoor garden setting. But most important was I wanted to feel comfortable and confident in it. When I tried my dress on for the first time I knew that it was the one! It checked all the boxes and I could just imagine walking down the floral run aisle in this dress!

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

Our sweet Labrador puppy, Aspen, was highlighted throughout the wedding including customized cookies in the welcome boxes, and the name of our signature drink.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

The most memorable part of the day was of course marrying my best friend! But besides that, I think a memorable moment was once we finally were able to sit down for dinner and really take in the tent and overlook our guests; it was truly stunning. The band was playing in the background and guests were already up dancing while drink and food was being served. It was such a great moment to see everyone relaxed (myself included!) and having a good time!

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Our story began in college at Elon University where we were introduced through a mutual friend. We quickly formed a bond and began dating; however, it almost came to a quick end when Dean transferred to Texas A&M to finish his degree. Two years, many FaceTimes and multiple flights later, we decided to try our best at picking a city where we could both start our careers in consulting and finance. This task was much harder than we ever imagined as we were already in two different cities trying to find jobs in Charlotte, North Carolina. As we were beginning to think our long distance would never end, on one afternoon, Dean received an offer from a consulting company for a job in Dallas, TX, but there was a glimmer of hope. A student in Tennessee had received an offer in Charlotte and was willing to switch locations with Dean and further, that same day I received an offer for a banking job in Charlotte. Since then, we’ve lived in Charlotte for three years and absolutely love it!

We have been vacationing in Charleston, SC for years as my parents have a house on Isle of Palms. Charleston is such an easy trip from Charlotte, the two of us frequently drive down on Friday nights after work for the weekend. The proposal was quite a surprise. My family was supposedly gathering at the family beach house for my Dad’s 60th birthday; however, it was all really a set up to get the entire family together to witness the proposal. I have two brothers and none of the siblings live in the same area, so to have everyone together was very special! As we got engaged in Charleston, we decided to return to the beautiful city to have our wedding at Middleton Place!

Photographer: Allison Kuhn // Event Planner & Designer/ Engagement Ring & Wedding Bands: AA Events Design // Florist: Sweet Root Village // Calligraphy & Paper Products: Delighted Calligraphy // Venue: Middleton Place // Videographer: Repeet Productions // Cake: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal // Wedding Dress/Veil: Sareh Nouri // Dress/Veil Boutique: Hayden Olivia Bridal // Hair & Makeup: Ash and Co Bridal // Rentals: Snyder Events / Cottage Luxe // Tent: Skyline Tent Company // Lighting: Technical Event Company // Dessert Caravan: Sweet Lulus Bakery // Band: The Rivertown Band  // Ceremony Music: Bob Williams Duo // Get Away Car/Buses: Low Country Valet // Bride Shoes: Jimmy Choos // Grooms Tux: Alton Lane // Bridesmaid Dresses: Katie May Collection // Groomsmen Tux: J. Crew

 

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Real Weddings:

Emily and Brian’s winter wedding in Phoenix

featuring Marisa Belle Photography

Emily and Brian met in Chemistry class during their freshman year of high school. Emily asked Brian to the movies and ten years later, Brian asked for Emily’s hand in marriage. The adorable couple celebrated their nuptials atThe Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix. Imoni Events and florist The Wildflower AZ  helped establish the gorgeous color palette of wine, blushes, and ivory—perfect for a December wedding!  Stationery is by Celebrations In Paper with a cake by Piece of Cake AZ and it’s all captured in these gorgeous images byMarisa Belle Photography.

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How did you meet?

Brian and I met freshman year of high school in Honors Chemistry and Physics class when we were 14.

Tell us about your first date!

I actually asked him!! Remember, we were only 14 so it is kind of funny how it happened. I asked him to go to the movies with me, and he said okay! We planned to go to the Game Plan with Dwayne THE ROCK Johnson at AMC theaters in Ahwatukee. So that day I got all ready with my friend. I was so excited. I decided to call him before the date to make sure everything was good. He was on his way home from soccer practice. I said, “Are you ready for our date?” He replied, “Oh, I still need to ask my dad first.” At first I got so mad because he wasn’t making our first date a priority!! Well, his dad said yes. We met each other at the movie theaters. Our parents drove each of us separately and dropped us off at the theaters. I think that’s funny. We watched the movie, held hands, and then went home. It was a great first date!

Share with us the moment you both knew you’d found THE ONE!

Every day freshman year Brian would walk me home from high school in the Arizona heat. My house was halfway between his house and school, so he could have easily taken the bus, but he continued to walk me home every single day. I thought that was pretty great. One day (October 25th, 2007 to be exact), Brian was waiting to be picked up from my house after school by his mom. We were sitting there in the front yard on my fake grass, and he said, “Do you want to be my girlfriend?” I replied, “Sure!” It was now official. We would text all the time and we really got to know one another. Brian would always stick up for me, and he was always on my side. I could trust him with anything. His loyalty is what really got me. One day over text I said, “I think I’m falling in love with you.” He replied, “I am feeling the same way.” From then on, our relationship grew stronger and stronger, and we would always talk about the day we would get married. This is when the song “Wouldn’t it be Nice” by The Beach Boys came into play. We wanted to get married so badly and we were only 15! We even talked about getting married right when we turned 18 and graduated high school. We decided to put school first and go to the University of Arizona for college. We made it through the 4 years of college, but still we weren’t engaged. It was the purchase of the ring that was holding us back. He always told me he didn’t want to get me a “temporary ring”, because he wanted the first ring to be THE ring. He wanted it to be special. Well I followed him to Florida so he could pursue his dream of becoming a pharmacist. Our second year living in Florida, he took me to our favorite pumpkin patch, got down on one knee, professed his love for me, I cried, and said YES!

What inspired the design for your wedding?

Brian and I dated for 10 years before he proposed, so you would think I would have what I wanted in mind, but I made myself wait until he proposed to start thinking about what we wanted for our wedding. This made the engagement so much more special, and allowed us to choose things that we were feeling in the moment. I really wanted a moody rustic theme, but still with traditional elements. This led to colors of wine, blushes, and ivory with lots of eucalyptus in the floral arrangements. As for the venue, we were looking for a residential feeling, so we chose the Wrigley Mansion. It is a fun and cozy feeling when you’re all getting ready in the same house. In order to elevate that party atmosphere and marry it with rustic traditional theme, we sprung for a neon sign with our last name and EST. date to hang on a hedge wall behind the head table. To me it just said “Let’s have fun!!” while still being a moment to we can hang in our house for years to come.

What was the most important thing you wanted your guest to feel/enjoy from your wedding?

We wanted them to feel the unconditional love Brian and I have for each other and a rustic romantic feeling. During the reception we wanted them to enjoy a great party with good music and drinks.

Photography: Marisa Belle Photography // Planner: Imoni Events // Florist: The Wildflower AZ // Stationery: Celebrations In Paper // Venue: The Wrigley Mansion // Brides Gown: Maggie Sottero // Hair and Makeup: Makeup Artistry by Natalie // Cake: Piece of Cake AZ // Rentals: The Event Co // Groom’s Tux: Express // Videography: White Locket Films

 

Real Weddings:

Derek and Meredith’s wedding at Middleton Plantation

photography by Stephen Atohi

Meredith always dreamt of a small intimate wedding—one close to the water with homemade flowers and food. However, coming from a very large family, the couple quickly realized that would be impossible. With the help of Ooh! Events, they were able to create an intimate feel, but included all the important people they love. The celebration in dusty burgundy with abundant greenery took place at Middleton Plantation with florals by Ooh! Events and Out of the Garden and Stephen Atohi was on hand to capture it all.

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What did you envision your wedding being prior to planning?

I always wanted a small intimate wedding. A wedding close to the water with homemade flowers and food. However, coming from a very large family, I quickly realized that would be impossible. With the help of Erin Altman we were able to create an intimate feel, but included all the people that were important Derek and me.

What was your color palette and your style vision?

Our color palette consisted burgundy and navy with hints of mauve and light gray.

Derek and I wanted to get married at Middleton Plantation because that is where he proposed. We envisioned utilizing the farmhouse/industrial look of Middleton Plantation while incorporating elegant details.

What was your favorite moment? Favorite crafted detail?

Meredith: My favorite moment of the night was dancing! Our first dance, the father daughter dance, dancing with my grandparents, and dancing with my new in-laws was so incredibly special to me. I will never forget those moments. I had so many favorite details it is hard to choose. My top three were my mothers DIY lanterns that adorned the entrance to the pavilion. My mother- in- law’s beautifully decorated cake for the bride and groom. And Holly Stiles’ simple but elegant industrial chandelier and string lights.

Derek: My favorite moment was when I took a step back during the reception and saw how much fun all of our guests were having. It was such an enjoyable moment for my bride and I, but made even better to see the joy being shared with those closest to us!

Tell us about your flowers, your gown, your favors, your cake, etc.

Flowers: The three things I wanted in my bouquet were burgundy Calla Lillies, mauve Roses, and Succulents. Hints of greenery included Bay Laurel and Eucalyptus. Holly did a great job of composing cohesive flower arrangements throughout the venue.

The bird bath was special because it was a memorial for passed loved ones who we wished were able to be present with us. It consisted of Italian Rustus, mauve and ivory garden Roses, Dahlias, and Vermeer Calla Lillies, Bay Laurel and Eucalyptus.

My gown: My gown ended up being completely opposite of what I had originally envisioned. I strongly encourage brides to go try on a variety of stiles and fabrics, you may be pleasantly surprised with what you like! When trying on dresses, I had a hard time choosing between modern/edgy and classic styles. At Southern Protocol, I found the perfect mixture of the two. A classic style and fabric with modern neckline and waistline detailing.

Favors: Alison Bland of Boldfish Cookie Company made the cutest (and delicious!) bulldog cookies that resembled our two Bulldogs (Poe and Tater).

Cake: The cake was made by Carmella’s. Our cake was decorated, in part, by Derek’s mother Judi Morningstar (she is an amazing baker and cake decorator in Pennsylvania, but was unable to bake our cake due to traveling logistics).

What is one piece of advice that you could give brides-to-be?

My first piece of advice would be to remember why you are there. Do not worry about small details that are not going as planned; no one is going to notice that a table is in the wrong place, or that flowers are missing on a table. It is a rare moment to have all of your loved ones (especially parents and grandparents) in one place, and it may be the last time. Cherish this special opportunity, enjoy your day with your new husband, and make memories that will last you a lifetime.

Secondly, do not let fear preclude your dream wedding. I originally wanted a small wedding because I am intimidated by being in front of crowds and being the center of attention. However, it is a truly special moment when you get to commit yourself to the person you love, and have the support and attention of everyone who is important to you.

A little about the couple:

Derek and I met at Sullivans Island beach playing volleyball. Luckily we were both on the same team, because we are both fierce competitors and may not have gotten along if playing against each other. Ever since, our love has grown. I now love him more than Uber Eats and Ice cream, and he loves me more than Fantasy Football. I’d say we are doing pretty well!

Photography: Stephen Atohi // Planner: Ooh! Events // Flowers: Ooh! Events / Out of the Garden // Venue: Middleton Plantation // Dress & Bracelet: Southern Protocol/Maddison Row South
// Makeup: WeddinghairbyCharlotte // Bride’s Makeup and Hair: Stefanie Simpson // Entertainment: Other Brothers Entertainment // Ceremony Strings: Carolina Trio // Officiant: Pastor Mike Gaskins// Transportation: Uber // Rentals: Ooh! Events // Rings: Diamond Direct (wedding rings) / Blue Nile (engagement ring) // Bride’s Earrings: Etsy // Bride’s Necklace: Modern Bride // Shoes: Brides: Badgley Mischka // Groom: Johnston and Murphy // Suits: Joseph A Banks // Tent: Skyline Tents // Bar Service & Catering: Middleton Place // Ring Box: The Mrs. Box

 

Real Weddings:

Clizia and Lukas’s Tuscan Wedding

featuring Stefano Santucci Studio

Clizia and Lukas’s Tuscan nuptials are what destination wedding dreams are made of. Gorgeous rolling hills and vineyards set the scene and a classic cathedral ceremony is followed by an all white al fresco reception at Conti di San Bonifacio. Wedding Planners in Tuscany by Luccaorganizza added subtle boho touches to the elegant event design which was accented with romantic floral design by Flowers Living. The always-amazing Stefano Santucci Studio captured all the joy, delight and beauty of the day in these STUNNING film photographs.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

from the planners: Clizia and Lukas were interested in finding a magical place to host all their family and friends and enjoy together the time before the wedding. During the year they work a lot and they wished to stay all together for this important occasion. They were looking for a place that seemed like home, in an idyllic area with a stunning view.

They fell in love with Conti di San Bonifacio, and as soon as they found their ideal venue everything started to take shape. Also the floral arrangements were designed to respect the country chic mood of the place and to celebrate the great Tuscan beauty.

What also made this wedding unique and special this wedding is, above all, the emotion and the feeling of union among guests.

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

Clizia was looking for something not too fancy, but simple, elegant, in a precious fabric with a boho touch. She decided to contact a trusted seamstress from her city who created the wedding dress of her dreams.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

Clizia decided to manage many of the details of the wedding on her own, preparing favors and many little things in the months before the wedding with the help of the groom to be. She prepared customized olive oil bottles, little jars with confetti, and prepared the seating plan using a huge vintage mirror. Together with us, she spent lot of time in deciding the ideal arrangement for tables to create a perfect Tuscan Wedding, also adding fairy lights to create a really nice atmosphere in the dinner area when the sun went down.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

The day was amazing, from the moment of the ceremony in the stunning church in Massa Marittima, to the wedding dinner and party with the magic Fabio Dex Dj at Conti di San Bonifacio. When Clizia and Lukas reached the venue after the ceremony, with their lovely vintage car, all guests were waiting for them and they welcomed the newlyweds with white balloons, and a romantic song as background. Such a sweet moment.

Photographer: Stefano Santucci Studio // Wedding Planner: Wedding Planners in Tuscany by Luccaorganizza // Flower Design: Flowers Living // Venue & Catering: Conti di San Bonifacio // Music Ceremony: Elisa Veschi, Alchimia // Band: Enola Grey Trio// DJ: Fabiodex Wedding Dj

 

Real Weddings:

New England Fall Wedding

featuring Emily Delamater

Hurricane Willa was the surprise character in this gorgeous fall wedding planned by Glass Planning, but not even extreme weather could spoil this stunning soiree. The bride and groom knew there were weather-related risks to planning a New-England wedding in the fall, but a tropical storm raged trough the day moving the entire event inside.  Luckily, the historic Glen Manor House, is a vision of beauty inside-and-out, and the couple celebrated with their closest friends and family in the cozy, intimate candle-lit setting while thunder and lightning lit up the sky outdoors. Floral, tabletop design and chuppah by Greenlion Design with invitations by Underwood Letterpress and it’s all captured beautifully in these photographs by the amazing Emily Delamater.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

I should probably say Hurricane Willa! Planning an outdoor wedding in late October in New England necessarily involves certain weather-related risks, but we didn’t expect the weather to be quite so bad. A tropical storm-turned hurricane hurtled up the coast in the days before our wedding, which left us with a 100% chance of rain on our wedding day. And rain it did — in addition to having to move our outdoor ceremony inside, we also had to rearrange where at least 50 guests sat for dinner due to an unexpected leak in a roof at the venue. Despite the chaos, all of our guests told us that the hurricane made the wedding incredibly intimate and unique. And I have to agree — exchanging vows and dancing the night away while a hurricane raged on outside was super fun. It was amazing to hear the thunder and see the lightning while we were cozy inside our own candlelit wonderland.

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

My gown was designed by an emerging Israeli designer, Lihi Hod, and I found it at a boutique in San Francisco during the designer’s trunk show. Although I had originally gone to try on another one of her dresses, I knew the minute I tried this one on that it would be special. I also had the incredible fortune of trying the dress on in front of Lihi herself, who was there for the trunk show. She loved the dress on me almost more than I loved it on myself! Watching her reaction to the dress on me was so fun, and gave me the conviction I needed to choose it.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

Since we are both very much into music, we had a lot of fun deciding what music we would walk down the aisle to, and what music we would leave the ceremony to. Rather than choosing a traditional wedding march, we walked down the aisle to songs by Odesza and Rhye, and we left the ceremony to a song by Duke Dumont. I had several guests tell me that they loved how the non-traditional music added a unique and personal touch to the ceremony.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

Since we got married on my birthday, we decided to host an entirely separate birthday-themed afterparty at the hotel we had rented out for the weekend in downtown Newport. The staff of the hotel was wonderful, and so accommodating. They didn’t even blink when I told them I wanted to hire a DJ to play 90s hiphop music from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., and have a vendor bring in 1200 balloons to create a balloon ceiling. The DJ and the balloons turned out even better than I imagined, and the afterparty was easily my favorite part of the day. After a day of weather-related chaos, it was the first moment we were finally able to relax and celebrate being married.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

We had actually known one another for close to 10 years before we started dating. M went to high school with a friend of mine, so we had gotten to know each other casually over the years. About three years ago, we reconnected at our mutual friend’s wedding and began dating immediately. Although we had known each other for close to a decade, we were surprised to learn that we lived just a few blocks away from one another in San Francisco, and that we shared many of the same hobbies (music; backcountry skiing). We were pretty much inseparable from the start, and got engaged after about two years of dating.

Photographer: Emily Delamater // Planner: Elizabeth Lutz, Glass Planning // Floral / Tabletop Design / Chuppah: Greenlion Design // Invitations: Underwood Letterpress // Venue: Glen Manor House // Video: Stop Go Love // Bride’s Dress: Lihi Hod // Bride’s Shoes: Alexandre Birman // Makeup: Jennie Kay // Decor (outdoor porch draping): Ormonde Productions // Bridesmaids’ dresses: BHLDN // Groom’s tuxedo: Ralph Lauren // Groom’s shoes: Brooks Brothers // Catering: Blackstone Catering // Band and Uplighting: Wilson Stevens Eye 2 Eye // Dress / Tuxedo steaming: Bridal Finery