Gold and blush is such an elegant color combination and it looks so fresh and sweet in this Charleston destination wedding captured by Catherine Ann Photography. The couple incorporated lots of heirloom and handmade details, including their barbecue sauce favors made by the bride’s parents. They also saved on their floral budget by repurposing ceremony decor and bouquets for the reception. Chic and smart!
Our wedding was a destination wedding, and we chose Charleston because we grew up vacationing there with our families, so there was some sentimental value for both of us. Plus, Charleston is just so charming and romantic! We chose the Historic Rice Mill because of its waterfront location, but also because of the beauty of the building. There are exposed brick walls, lots of windows, and unique details all throughout. We knew we wouldn’t need to add a whole lot to make the space beautiful! We also chose to do the majority of our bridal party photos at White Point Gardens with all the big oak trees, and our portraits in downtown Charleston, just to make sure our photos reflected the classic southern charm that is so Charleston!
For our colors, we chose a neutral palette with blush, champagne, and gold. We also wanted a little sparkle, so we used a touch of diamonds and sequins throughout. I really wanted to make sure my bridesmaids felt comfortable in their dresses, so I picked the colors, but I let them pick their own style. I’m a big fan of the mismatched bridesmaids dresses, and I loved that each bridesmaid didn’t feel like she had to fit a certain mold. The groomsmen all wore black tuxedos with black ties, but Brad wore a black tuxedo with a blush tie…just to separate himself as the groom. We thought our colors created a soft, romantic, natural tone, which is what we wanted!
Brad’s ring was actually his grandfathers, so that was really special. His grandfather passed away when Brad was in high school, but he was someone who really impacted Brad and the man he is today. It meant so much for Brad’s grandmother to give him that ring, and we were thrilled that we were able to include him in that way.
A favorite moment would be our wedding ceremony. We were just so happy, and it was so neat to walk down the aisle and see so many people who we love and care about it one place. We were able to be ourselves, and there was lots of laughter and happy tears. I just remember feeling at ease and so joyful!
I think something that was really important to us as we were planning was keeping our guests perspective in mind. Since it was our wedding, we obviously weren’t going to plan something we didn’t love, but we also didn’t want to disregard the guest experience. We’ve been to a lot of weddings together, so we know what we like and dislike as guests. We really wanted everyone present to feel like family, and to let loose and have a good time.
As far as style goes, we knew we wanted our wedding to be fun and laid back. Something super formal and fancy just wasn’t going to reflect who we are as a couple. The ceremony was sweet, simple, and lighthearted, and the reception was a TON of fun! We had an awesome band that kept the dance floor full, delicious food stations including a gourmet macaroni and cheese bar, lounge furniture for guests to relax on, and a couple polaroid cameras for people to fill our guest book with notes and photos throughout the evening!
I am not the most crafty person in the world (although I wish I was!), but I love the idea of having something completely unique. That being said, I actually relied a lot on Etsy as I was planning, and so several items were handmade, although not by me :) My bracelet, hair pins, getting ready robes, and the cake stand were all handmade and unique! I loved the touch that each item added to the look of the day.
Our wedding favors were DIY! My mom and dad absolutely love to cook and are quite creative in the kitchen. They actually came up with their own barbecue sauce recipe, put it in mason jars, and named it South Carolina Sizzle. I think it was really fun for them to create it, and it was another unique detail that was really special!
Photography | Catherine Ann Photography | Venue | The Historic Rice Mill | Planning | Charleston Weddings by Allison | Florals | Pretty Petals of Charleston | Cake | Bakehouse Charleston | Cake Stand | Wedding Fads | Rentals | EventHaus Rentals | Catering | Good Food Catering | Invitations | Wedding Paper Divas | Gown | Madison James from Wedding Angels | Headpiece | Powder Blue Bijoux | Jewelry | Kash Love Designs and Pink Chemistry | Bridesmaid Dresses | Dessy | Hair & Makeup | Lashes and Lace Bridal Hair and Makeup | Ceremony Musicians | Palmetto Strings | Band | Travis Allison Band
