Nicole & Alex’s Spring Wedding at Magnolia in Charleston SC
I don’t make the rules but…Spring time in Charleston is just pure magic!! The colorful azaleas transform the entire city into a colorful wonderland so its no wonder Spring is the busiest time of year for weddings here!
Nicole & Alex wanted Magnolia to shine on its own so they kept their details pretty simple & minimal (except for the big ass light up letters spelling out their last name on the dance floor which was bomb and everyone should do that for forever now)
Getting Ready on Folly Beach
Nicole & Alex rented a giant beach house on Folly Beach for everyone to spend the week together so thats where they ended up getting ready at too! Nicole had an AMAZING view of the Atlantic ocean while getting her hair and makeup done. We waited until we got to Magnolia though for her to get dressed – no point sitting in a shuttle for an hour just for your outfit to get wrinkly!
Wedding Photos with Azaleas in Bloom
Im in love with Alex’s outfit. No tie, no socks, cool sunglasses & a customized suit interior with a blue polka dot pattern & Chinese lettering. He said he wanted to feel comfortable and like himself and I have to say he nailed it!
We did the first look in front of a blooming azalea bush before boarding our chariot for the day (aka a golf cart) and being whisked around the property!
Oak Tree Ceremony
The oak trees dripping in Spanish moss are quite possibly the biggest reason why people from all over the world choose Charleston for their wedding! Alex & Nicole had a friend marry them and he was hilarious and had everyone cracking up for most of the ceremony! Theres no need to make your ceremony a super serious affair, especially if that doesn’t fit your vibe!
Magnolia Carriage House Wedding Reception
Any wedding that has a gelato cart in attendance gets 5 gold stars in my book! If you have to serve dessert you might as well make it fun!
What was the most special moment of the day for you?
First look – finally able to see each other dressed up. It made the day finally feel real. It also just showed how far we came from two teenagers in our early 20’s who didn’t have life figured out (still kind of don’t) but have grown up together as a couple.
What was something quirky or crazy that happened on the wedding day?
The bus ride home was hilarious – I was so happy that we didn’t do a gateway car just the two of us. We rode the bus home with our friends and one of our friends decided to sit up front with the bus driver and the entire time share and crack jokes on the speaker. It just added to the fun memories of our wedding.
If you did a First Look, talk about it here! What made it special, how were you both feeling before & after it, would you recommend it to a friend, etc
I would 100% recommend doing first looks because it allows for the moment to be even more special because it is just the two of you getting to see each other for the first time without any pressure. We were so excited to see each other for the first time fully dressed up after waiting months and wondering what each other will look like. To finally be in that moment it really hits you like “wow I am finally marrying my best friend” since normally he is not in a suit and I’m not in a big white wedding dress. Seeing his reaction to seeing me for the first time will always be something I always remember and was my favorite moment on the wedding day.
What did you splurge on & what did you save on?
I wish I could say we saved on somethings but I don’t really think we did? We knew if we were having a wedding we wanted to do everything the right way especially since we were having our friends and families travel from New York to come here. Our biggest focus was what they would want and that was Food, Drinks, and Music. The other stuff was just added to it.
What made your wedding day special, unique or personalized to you as a couple?
One of our close friends that was there the day we met was our officiant. By having someone who knows us marry us made it even more special. It also allowed for us to both feel comfortable standing up there saying our vows.
Whats the best advice you have for future couples planning their big day?
Don’t sweat the little details – your wedding will be perfect if you are surrounded by people you love. That is what truly matters on the day of the wedding to be able to share it with your friends and family.
What did you love most about working with us?
We cannot say enough about how much we loved working with you guys. We were two people so incredibly scared and awkward going to our engagement shoot and left feeling so comfortable and had so much fun with you both. If you would’ve asked us when we first started planning our wedding, what we were the most scared / dreading it would’ve been photos. Leading up to the wedding that was the last thing on our mind and were so excited to take the photos and see the photos. You made us feel so comfortable and excited. We love how natural the photos feel and that comes with the fact that you didn’t make us feel like cheesy people just standing there on a photoshoot. Thank you again for that :)
The Charleston wedding vendors who brought this magical spring wedding at Magnolia Carriage House to life:
Planner: Mod Events / Venue: Magnolia Gardens / Band: Emerald Empire Band / Cake: Cakes by Kasarda / Caterer & Bar: Rosemary & Rye / Florals: Mod Events / Hair & makeup: Lashes & Lace / Photobooth: Little White Box / Rentals: Snyder / Videographer: Jeff Bush Videography
Katie + Jay of Catherine Ann Photography are Charleston SC Based Wedding & Elopement Photographers specializing in candid & fun wedding photos that feel like you!
Ready to book your Magnolia Carriage House wedding with us? Get in touch here!
