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Elegant Charleston Destination Wedding

You are here: Home / Real Destination Weddings / Elegant Charleston Destination Wedding
by Erin McDermott

My good Lord, this wedding about knocked me on my behind. Charleston in general has that effect on me – this city is known for its devastating charm, historic and quaint architecture and lovely nature. This wedding encapsulated all of the above, and much more! Sharon and Tony’s self-proclaimed, “casually classy” affair was full of colorful flowers, gold vintage details, and a timeless venue to die for. I mean, look at it! Thankfully, the folks at Jennings King Photography captured every beautiful moment for us to enjoy.

The ceremony itself was held in a garden full of 200-year-old magnolia trees outside the William Aiken House, a historic mansion built in 1810. The indoor-outdoor reception incorporated the wrap-around porch into the elegant dining areas where Sharon and Tony’s guests dined like kings and queens. How do I know that? Because their cake sounds like the most delicious thing ever made: Espresso Buttercream on Hazelnut Almond with Salted Caramel Buttercream… what!? Congrats to the happy couple!

Real Q&A with the Bride & Groom

How did you two meet?

We met on OK Cupid, a dating app. For our first date, we went to a great little seafood place in DC, and hit if off right away. Thanks, OK Cupid!

Tell us about your proposal story!

We designed the ring together and used a family diamond, so it wasn’t a total surprise. We were at home, both getting over colds. Sharon asked Tony how he was feeling, and he said, “Not great, but I can think of something that will make me feel better.” He got down on one knee and proposed. After we celebrated with some champagne at home, we called our families to tell them the good news. And then we went out to dinner at one of our favorite Thai restaurants. It was a great night!

Tell us a little a bit about the vision for you Charleston Destination Wedding.

We knew we wanted our wedding to be elegant, but not so formal. We chose Charleston because it is a special place for us — it’s where Tony first met Sharon’s family during an annual beach trip. And because our friends and family are scattered all over the country, we wanted to pick a place people would be excited to come to. The William Aiken House was the perfect location! For many of our guests, this was their first trip to Charleston, so it was nice to have everything in one location close to the hotels.

What were your attire choices for your Charleston Destination Wedding?

Sharon knew she wanted a vintage feel for her dress, so the lace Pronovias was perfect. It was the second dress she tried on, and she never looked back! We didn’t want a black tie wedding, so Tony knew he wanted a nice suit to celebrate the occasion. He chose a beautiful navy suit, and then used bold accessories to pops of color that would complement the flowers, bridesmaid dresses, and decor of the venue.

Tell us about your wedding cake.

Espresso buttercream on hazelnut almond with salted caramel buttercream with killer flowers!

Vendors

Photography: Jennings King Photography
Reception Venue: The William Aiken House
Event Planning: Mac and B. Events
Floral: Ooh! Events
Wedding Cake & Catering: Patrick Properties Hospitality Group
Rentals: Ooh! Events  |  Lowcountry Entertainment | EventHaus
Stationery: Studio R Design
Wedding Dress: Pronovias
Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale
Bridal Salon: Nitsa’s Apparel
Beauty: Paper Dolls
Groom’s Attire: Hickey Freeman  | The Tie Bar
Engagement Ring: sohn and mcclure
Submitted via: Matchology

Related

About Erin McDermott

Erin is a New England native living in Cincinnati, OH. For the last six years she has served as Communications Manager for a large home service franchise, working as a freelance writer in her spare time. She has been a contributing editor for Destination Wedding Details since early 2017. Inspired by a desire to plan a uniquely personal destination wedding herself, Erin draws on experience to bring relatability and humor to her writing.

Category: Real Destination WeddingsTag: Gazebo Venue, The CarolinasLocation: Destination Weddings in the US (Continental)
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