Romantic Lowcountry Engagement

We’re dreaming of warmer weather over here, and we have been served some wonderful wedding inspiration on a plate. It’s a unique one for sure, as it features a trés chic wedding gown from Emily Kotarski paired with some muted colors. Cayleigh Hopkins of The Petal Report jazzed up what we typically think of “summer shades” and used deep versions of reds, blues, and purples instead. Enjoy this shoot from Hannah Alyssa Photography to the fullest, especially those florals from Fresh Weddings and Events. That bouquet with the protea front and center is a dream!

Sugar, spice, and everything really nice sums up Jamie and Casey’s South Carolina shindig. The Charlotte couple wanted something more quintessentially southern, so they traveled a bit further south into Charleston and fell in love with The Governor Thomas Bennett House. They were spellbound by its classic look; white exterior with black shutters, and its all-in-one manicured garden perfect for the ceremony and reception. This accommodating setup can go with any style or color palette, but we are totally fawning over the soft pastel wedding aesthetic that Ashley Wenz with Boutique Planning made come to life. Reception tables were kept light and airy with dove gray and blush linens from Snyder Rentals. To add some oomph, weathered farmhouse tables sans linens were the ideal complement to add some texture to the space. Before we go on and on, we’re just going to let Ava Moore Photography do the rest of the storytelling about this beautiful day.

Cody and Abby’s vision of a classic Lowcountry wedding came to life when they said their vows beneath the majestic oaks of Charleston’s beautiful Boone Hall Plantation. Their outdoor ceremony gave way to a celebration inside the Cotton Dock, where Beautiful Brides Events and The Purple Magnolia created an elegant atmosphere with glimmering chandeliers and swaths of greenery. Their perfect blend of rustic elegance was beautifully captured by Ava Moore Photography!

We love the playful vibe of Nicole and Oscar’s engagement photos from Coney Island USA! A little bit of romance on the beach, flirting on amusement park rides, and laid-back fun all around makes these images from Cassi Claire just perfect for the couple, who built a relationship around laughter. “We met on my very first day of work at a new job, when he was assigned to do my orientation training. Within only a few minutes, we were cracking each other up, and as our relationship has evolved over the years, silliness and laughter has always been a really big part of it,” says Nicole. That makes their venue choice for the engagement session absolutely perfect. “Every part of it, from playing in the water, to the rides and games, to eating cotton candy that turned our tongues blue, was a blast. The pictures are so us,” says Nicole. We agree completely!

College cheerleader meets college football player and they fall in love–what could be more storybook? A romantic engagement session at Bok Tower Gardens, of course. We adore these fun, flirty photos of Kimberly and Caleb from Jennifer Blair Photography! The two University of Florida grads spent some time in the gardens to get these springy images–we love the laid-back vibe of them all!

To combat Olivia and Stefano’s longing for their summertime wedding in Italy, Lindsay Madden led the couple on an adventurous engagement shoot around West London, inspired by the Italian lifestyle. Besides making pasta and riding a vintage Vespa, Olivia and Stefano explored London’s infamous Portobello Road and the eclectic shop Phoenix on Golborne. Chic Weddings helped the couple style these images, which included romantic gowns by Jane Bourvis and fabulous headpieces, including a pheasant feather fascinator by Sarah Day and a lace headwrap from Lacielle Roselle. Stefano is dapper and sophisticated in an Armani suit and tie. Says Olivia of this gorgeous engagement shoot, “The best way to wait for our big day, and to share with the world the fun we are having while organizing it, was through this styled shoot that stereotyped the traditional Italian activities of playing cards, making pasta, riding a Vespa, eating gelato, and drinking Aperol.”

Sammi and Dan achieved the ultimate in engagement photos during their time around New York’s West Village and Hudson River Park with Lindsay Madden: effortless, romantic images that are chic and classic! With styling expertise from Roey Mizrahi Events, Sammi and Dan walked the city’s side streets and casually picnicked in the park to get these sweet reminders of their engagement. We could not adore Sammi’s red-hot Kate Spade New York dress and that vintage bicycle any more! We hope you enjoy all of the fabulous photos from this day!

It is impossible for a wedding at Charleston, South Carolina’s Lowndes Grove Plantation to not be gorgeous Lowcountry perfection. Laura and Thomas chose the gorgeous setting for their entire affair, starting with a ceremony beneath moss-draped trees and ending with an outdoor reception that highlighted the jaw-dropping sunset. We are stunned by these images from Richard Ellis Photographer! Laura’s amazing Jordan gown is a fitted silhouette that gives way to a full ruffled skirt, and we adore the look! One-shoulder silvery blue Siri bridesmaids dresses are shimmery like the sea and paired with simple baby’s breath bouquets by Branch Design Studio. Laura’s bouquet of white orchids is spiked with bright yellow blooms that also grace the elegant reception tables, details that Southern Protocol helped her plan. We also love the textured icing detail on the couple’s cake from renowned Charleston restaurant and catering company Fish. There’s not a single detail Laura and Thomas overlooked—visit the gallery to see them all!

How lovely is Allison and David’s Lowcountry wedding, held outdoors at Lowndes Grove Plantation in Charleston, South Carolina? Classic style rules the day, with fresh white flowers like anemone, hydrangeas, and roses from Out of Hand, and timeless details implemented by the team of Hannah Grogan and Lisa Thomas of Ohh! Events. The backdrop of the water and sunset was a gorgeous scene for the ceremony, with bridesmaids wearing preppy dresses from J.Crew and Allison in a stunning Martina Liana gown. The ruffled skirt detailing is to die for! The amazing team at Fish created the buttercream cake, which resembled a hydrangea kissing ball atop a bed of roses and was the perfect complement to the crisp blue and white color palette of the tent reception decor. Don’t miss any of the beautiful images from Amelia + Dan!

The first word that comes to mind when scrolling through the images from Kelly Sauer, Photographer of Rebecca and Joseph’s Charleston wedding is “lush.” Everything, from pink and white florals by Gayla Harvey of Tiger Lily to gold glitter and sequin details and filmy bows on ceremony chairs, is so sophisticated and perfectly done. Rebecca and Joseph held the entire affair, indoors and out, at the beautiful historic William Aiken House. To complement the pink and gold touches, bridesmaids wore elegant blush-colored gowns from Nordstrom. We can’t even talk about Rebecca’s Allure Bridals gown without our jaws dropping open; it’s that fabulous! We love that she paired such a dramatic gown with simple glitter ballet flats from J.Crew! We’re just enamored with every single part of this soiree that Lindsey Shanks of A Charleston Bride helped plan and style. Rebecca wanted to incorporate the color scheme into every element, including the cake from Fish, which is accented with gold leaf and fresh blooms. This is simply a delicious day filled with romance and sophistication!

The heart of Ellen and Tom’s engagement session with Jordan Brittley—and their dog, Rocky—is a sweet and romantic picnic set in Forest Park in St. Louis. We love the pretty, low-key arrangement of tulips and hydrangeas, purchased at Trader Joe’s and hand-tied by Ellen’s mom. The gold leaf monogram topper by Crosswire Design adds an elegant touch to the Derby Day Pie Ellen made; the first taste of this dessert is what won Tom over in the beginning! We’re big fans of the vintage feel of these photos, aided in part by floral Ralph Lauren china—real plates on a picnic, swoon!—and linens from Cake Vintage Table & Home. Enjoy these lovely images!

Classical Southern style with a heavy emphasis on chic and sophisticated is what Charleston is all about, and it was no different for Amy and Trent’s wedding weekend! After a ceremony at one of the oldest churches in town, the couple and guests headed to Lowndes Grove Plantation for a reception that looks straight out of a movie, thanks to direction from Southern Protocol. Orange and pink florals by Charleston Stems dot the tables and surrounding areas, with coral bridesmaids dresses complementing the juicy colors. Amy’s gown and the couple’s cake have the same beautiful fan pattern—a detail we love! Visit the gallery to enjoy all of the images from this gorgeous wedding captured by Paige Winn Photo!

Lowcountry weddings don’t get more sophisticated than Suzanne and Stephen’s! The Southern setting of Lowndes Grove Plantation is perfect for an outdoor ceremony and elegant tent reception, with pink and cream florals by Stems and styling by A Charleston Bride. Suzanne’s lace Allure Couture gown, with a satin-and-rhinestone sash and V-cut back, is chic with a slight vintage feel. A pretty but neutral color scheme, like blush Wtoo bridesmaids dresses and gold and cream ceremony details, are beautiful in these images from Richard Ellis Photographer. The placement of a lovely confection from Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal is just right at the front of the tent swathed in blush and cream linens and adorned with luxe gold chandeliers. This affair is breathtaking—view all of the classic Southern charm in the gallery!

We couldn’t think of any better way to start out a week than this positively gorgeous inspiration shoot from Easton Events and Jose Villa! Inspired by the old world allure of their Charleston setting, Fenwick Hall, the elegant tabletop was set beneath the canopy of a stunning oak tree with dripping Spanish moss. Soft blush and champagne flowers by Southern Blooms by Pat’s Floral Design set atop a beautiful table with fine heirloom china, perfectly polished silver, and flowing linens. An oriental rug and classic calligraphy invitations completed the picturesque scene. We are utterly in love with each and every detail, especially the perfect blush Carol Hannah gown! See all of the stunning images in the gallery!

This shoot, created for V4 of the fabulous Southern Weddings magazine, has just about every fabulously preppy detail you can imagine: Seersucker, monograms, magnolia leaves, a green and white color palette, and it was even all inspired by a polo match! While the impeccably styled tablescape by Calder Clark Designs has us craving a mint julep, it’s the fun, striped bridesmaids’ outfits that make us do a double-take! They are so cute and definitely something your ladies could wear again. We can’t say enough how much we love this amazing styled shoot, but be warned: these images by A Bryan Photo could quite possibly make you to stop whatever you’re doing and search for the nearest polo club!

There’s not much better in our books than a fabulous Lowcountry wedding in Charleston, South Carolina! The talented Buffy Dekmar captured these fabulous images of Sydney and Stalle’s wedding at the gorgeous and iconic Charleston Place Hotel. From Sydney’s elegant Judd Wadell gown to the simple white bridesmaids dresses from Bridals by Lori, the entire event whispers understated sophistication. BLOOM at Charleston Place handled the floral arrangements, which were nothing short of amazing—especially those white rose and lily bouquets! We adore the white cake from DeClare Cakes, featuring a different design on each of the three layers, including the couple’s monogram at the top. We are completely in love!

To visit gorgeous Charleston, SC is to enjoy classic Southern charm at its best! Susan and Charlie—who attended medical school in the charming town—chose Charleston’s historic Lowndes Grove Plantation for their elegant soirée, which featured lush lavender details, including beautiful arrangements from Gathering Floral + Event Design. Susan and Charlie are adventurous eaters who wanted an unexpected element in their reception dining, so they chose Fish restaurant to prepare favorite dishes. Their cake—a modern square shaped confection topped with lavender flowers—was created by Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal. Susan’s Vera Wang gown, simple and elegant, looks so fabulous with her flowing cathedral-length veil, and blue silk bridesmaids dresses from J.Crew are the perfect complement to the Lowcountry setting! We can’t get enough of these stunning images from A Bryan Photo!

As soon as they began to plan, Rachel and Brian gave their wedding both a slogan and a mission statement: Deep-fried southern merriment. The big city couple was holding a Deep South affair in Charleston, South Carolina, for their guests “to show ’em some good old-fashioned Southern hospitality,” the bride said. From “Hominy Ever After” bags filled with crushed grits in lieu of rice to a tailgate vintage truck filled with buckets of beer, this wedding, photographed by Juliet Elizabeth Photography, was filled with gold ‘ol Southern fun. But the couple also included some classic details. “I didn’t want a bold palette to compete with the setting,” Rachel said, “so we predominantly went with a palette of ivory and pops of green in a lot of organic details. I loved the lush feel of the table runners—it was one of my favorite details by Ooh! Events.” It may be ours, too!

Charleston, South Carolina is one of the most beautiful and charming places on this planet and we get so very excited when we get to share a wedding from there with you! Annlizbeth and Nathan’s wedding absolutely did not disappoint. Held at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, the couple and their guests were surrounded by natural Southern charm and stately trees dripping with Spanish moss. A beautiful and cool palette of pink, ivory, and grey complemented the beautiful green of the gardens, and the floral arrangements did not overshadow the beauty of the venue. A huge thank you to the wonderful Julia Wade Photography for sharing these gorgeous photos with us today!

Anna and Eric met while working on the musical RENT, so along with all the personal touches they included in their dreamy Charleston wedding, they were also sure to include a nod to their love of Broadway. Flower girls tossed small hearts punched from sheet music, and guests were given CDs covered with the sheet music of “Seasons of Love” from RENT. Their whole color palette was inspired by a sapphire and diamond pendant Eric gave Anna their first Christmas together and the vibrant blue of the bridesmaids dresses worked beautifully with the pops of color in their beautiful bouquets by Stems. Oh, and I could go on for days talking about the beauty of Charleston and the Legare Waring House, but I’ll let these wonderful photos by Paige Winn Photography do it for me!