Charleston charm, personalization inspiration at every turn and gorgeous organic arrangements from Roadside Blooms. This my friends is the perfect blueprint for a romantic garden wedding done right – all thanks to We Do! Charleston. Head on over to the full gallery to pin your favorite details, all captured by Samantha Jean Becker!
From Love, Samantha Jean… Historic wedding venues in Charleston hold a special charm in which garden party vignettes are most at home. For this editorial wedding shoot, we wanted to create specific moments in various spots of the Governor Thomas Bennett House and surrounding property that marry lush, organic floral arrangements and manicured landscaping to modern lines of physical structure and design. Since launching We Do! Charleston, our wedding planning and design company, last summer, this shoot served as sort of a branding debut for us. We incorporated the shade of blue from our company color palette as well as a WD monogram for the bride and groom, Whitney and Declan, that also represents We Do!
As you enter the ceremony location on the crescent lawn, you’re greeted by an ornate fountain, that begets an Old World sophistication. Transparent ghost chairs from Eventworks added modern lines while still allowing you to blend seamlessly into the grounds as you waited for the lovebirds to enter. Roadside Blooms perfectly executed a floral archway sprouting with natural woody textures and pastel blossoms that served as the backdrop for ‘We Do’. To introduce the ‘something blue’ color palette of the day, we designed double-sided custom program fans, die cut in the outline of our couple’s WD monogram on the front and the ceremony information on the back. Leaving the ceremony, you enter cocktail hour on the oyster tabby with french striped linens from La Tavola on high tops. There was a beautifully handmade bar from The French Eclectic, framed with W and D marquee lights from Alpha Lit Charleston. Lawler Beverage Co.
Just finished pouring the champagne tower and had begun serving the couple’s signature drink, a white cosmopolitan. The French Eclectic also provided beautifully upholstered velvet lounge furniture that invited guests after snacking on savory hors d’oeuvres from Thurston Southern Catering, displayed on a vintage mahogany sideboard that is part of We Do! Charleston’s rental inventory. A pink velvet tablecloth with lace overlay holds the wedding cake from Dessert Designs by Gisela, complete with cakesicles and sugar cookies stamped with “We Do”. Entering the reception, two handmade pine farm tables stood end-to-end beneath a large wooden arbor adorned with two capiz chandeliers and smilax greenery. Roadside Blooms planted an entire garden on the tabletop with a greenery table runner amongst the glass plates and gray stoneware. The stems of pink goblets were tied with hand-dyed gray silk ribbon with white lettering on blue handmade paper for place cards. To further customize this dinner party, the WD monogram was embroidered in blue on white napkins, displayed beneath the glass salad plates. Prism pillar candle holders were placed amongst the greenery and florals as focal points to catch light and reflect the pastel color scheme of the tableware. A white backdrop from SomethingoodCHS held the seating chart, bringing in more blue and modern lines on the table cards of guest names. WD monogram motifs persisted throughout this event in the decal on the dance floor, in the wedding invitations themselves, and welcome bags for traveling guests. Inside the Governor Thomas Bennett House, circa 1825, Bridal Portraits took place on the cantilevered staircase in the foyer that extends, with no visible means of support, to the second floor–one of only two in the entire city of Charleston. Hair and makeup by local artists, Contours and Curls, began in the stucco-over-brick basement on the ground floor. Lowcountry Valet brought in a 1950 Packard, in dove gray, adorned with a cloth banner on the trunk that was hand-lettered with “It was always you” for our lovely couple’s grand exit to their happily ever after.
Photographer: Love, Samantha Jean | Florals: Roadside Blooms | Stationery: Tiny Shindigs | Bridesmaids Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Caterer: Thurston Southern Catering | Suits: Charleston Tuxedo | Bar Service: Lawler Beverage Co. | Chairs: Somethin' Good | Crowns: Emma Katzka Bridal | Desserts: Dessert Designs by Gisela | Gowns: Gown Boutique of Charleston | HMUA: Contours and Curls | House: The Governor Thomas Bennett House | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Lounge: The French Eclectic | Marquee Lighting: Alpha-Lit New Orleans | Planning + Coordination: We Do | Rentals: Eventworks