Oyster Themed Destination Wedding in Charleston

Maggie and Chase’s destination wedding in Charleston was beyond dreamy and timeless… just absolutely dripping in classic, southern charm.  Everything from the venue, to the perfectly curated seating area and DIY touches made for a classy, but unique day. The story behind many of the details is really sweet too! When Chase proposed to Maggie, he did so on the beach with a ring that was inside an oyster shell. She was so excited that she knocked the shell out of his hands and were it not for his quick reflexes, that story could have ended a lot differently!  I’m so glad Chris kept that gorgeous ring out of the sand and that they integrated that personal story into so much of their wedding day décor – from their centerpieces to the cake to the chandeliers – oysters were a huge theme at this wedding.

I also loved the subtle blue accents throughout the attire and décor, but my favorite was in her bouquet. The teeny baby blue flowers played well with the wedding party’s look and popped against Maggie’s beautiful lace dress. Shout out to Ava Moore Photography for doing an amazing job capturing all the details of this sweet southern destination wedding.

Q&A with the Bride:

How did you meet?

Aat a dive bar! Maggie won a bet with her sorority sisters by going up to a stranger and dropping a very cheesy pickup line “Did I see yall in Trader Joe’s earlier today?” That stranger is now her husband!

What is your proposal story?

Chase proposed on a beach in RI with their puppy Lucy at their side. Maggie thought he was hiding a sea critter in her hand, so she went to swat it into the ocean…. good thing Chase held on tight to that ring in his hand!

Tell us a little a bit about your destination wedding details.

Subtle southern style with lots of creative and personal touches! Shades of blue and white, lots of hanging lights and oyster chandeliers.  The bride also handmade oyster table centerpieces to signify the couple’s shared love of oysters (eaten on their first date!) while “golden pineapples” spread across the venue to celebrate the Charleston location.  Don’t forget the 1931 Bentley for the “Bentleys to be!”, and a custom Bentley themed photo booth! And of course, handmade “FINALLY” light up letters — after a three-year engagement, this homemade decoration was the perfect touch and looked amazing against the sunset and River background.

Tell us about your destination wedding attire.

A custom dress from Martina Liana and royal blue tux for the groom!

Was there anything that you chose to splurge on or skip?

We splurged on a black and white dance floor, and an epic band (Steel Toe Stilettos).  We skipped the seated dinner– it’s time to dance!

Please describe any DIY, handmade, or personal details.

Handmade FINALLY light up letters, handmade Oyster decorations for flower displays, handmade cornhole “BENTLEY” photo booth, backdrop custom “movie posters” of the couple for the rehearsal dinner at the American Theater, hand embroidered bridesmaid robes (done by the bride’s mother!) custom made invitations– by Tessa Pompa.

Do you have any advice for couples planning their destination weddings now?

Soak it up and ENJOY the planning process!

What was the best part of having a destination wedding in Charleston?

We loved sharing one of our favorite places with our family and friends. Many guests were more than happy to make a Charleston vacation out of our wedding!

What was the biggest challenge of planning a destination wedding in Charleston?

Of course, the Charleston heat caught a few of our Northern guests by surprise!

Vendors:

Photography: Ava Moore Photography
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Lowndes Grove
Event Planning: elm events
Floral: Branch Design Studio
Wedding Cake: Patrick Properties Hospitality Group
Rentals: EventHaus
Hair & Makeup: Lashes and Lace Bridal Hair and Makeup
Wedding Dress: Gown Boutique of Charleston
Bride’s Shoes: Louise Blouin Foundation
Bridesmaid Dresses: Joanna August
Submitted via: Matchology