Another beautiful wedding at Lowndes Grove in South Carolina! It’s easy to see why Sarah and Phil chose this historic venue to celebrate their big day, from its waterfront views to the grand lawn. We especially love the gorgeous garland ceremony backdrop, the chicken wire escort card display, and the dramatic four tier wedding cake. And that they included their pup in the day!
SEE THE GALLERY FOR MORE IMAGES OF THIS SOUTH CAROLINA WEDDING FROM VIRGIL BUNAO.
Sarah’s dress was a hybrid: “I combined an Anne Barge dress with Amsale sleeves!” She also had a very special something old: “My father gave me the most beautiful sapphire and diamond ring the week of the wedding – a family heirloom.”
The Ceremony
“We had our ceremony on the front lawn at Lowndes Grove. We knew we wanted to have our ceremony in front of their amazing trees, and it was an almost surreal scene. The sun was directly behind us and in pictures looked like it was shining between us. We could not have dreamed up a more perfect setting.”
Your ceremony in three words. Modern, Playful, Idyllic.
How did you go about planning your ceremony? We knew we wanted our ceremony to reflect us as a couple. Our officiant, Christy Loftin, was so helpful in helping us craft a ceremony that was reflective of our personalities. She provided us with a number of templates and we ended up using a combination of the templates.
Did you include any traditions in your ceremony? We kept our music traditional and had traditional vows.
Ceremony music:
Family – Sheep May Safely Graze, Bach
Processional – Canon in D, Pachelbel
Bride Processional – Trumpet Voluntary, Jeremiah Clarke
Recessional – I’m Yours, Jason Mraz
What were your ceremony readings? ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’ by Louis de Bernieres.
What was your favorite thing about your wedding ceremony? We were able to include our golden retriever, Jack! He walked down the aisle beside one of the groomsmen. He was such a trooper and had the cutest floral wreath (which we were thrilled he didn’t attempt to eat!).
The Reception
“We wanted our reception to be classic and fun, and for everyone to have a great time. The sun was setting right over the water as we sat down to eat dinner, and it was utterly dreamlike – the best first dinner we could have asked for as husband and wife.”
What inspired you when you were planning your wedding? We knew we wanted to focus on the setting and have lots of soft lighting and greenery. We chose a clear top tent and bistro lights so that we could still see the beautiful trees.
Please tell us about any other special details or moments from your reception. I love Jo Malone candles and adore the Peonies and Blush Suede scent. We scattered the candles throughout the venue and now whenever I smell that fragrance I’m reminded of our wedding day!
What was the best advice you received as a bride? One of my best friend’s husbands stopped us right before we were introduced at our reception and told us to try and take mental snapshots of everything we wanted to remember. It was such sweet advice and really helped us to stop and be thankful for each moment – it helped us slow everything down, and we don’t feel like the night went by too fast at all.
What advice do you have for other couples in the midst of planning a wedding? Don’t get swept up in looking at thousands of blogs in the month or two leading up to your wedding. It’s so fun to look at blogs throughout the planning process, but once you have a vision and an understanding of what you want your day to look like, stop looking!
Is there anything else that helps tell the story of your wedding? We used Dog Tired as a wedding nanny for our dog. They were amazing – they took care of Jack all weekend. They took him to the rehearsal and then made sure he was tired (she played with him all morning!) so he would be calm for the wedding. They watched him while we took pictures, then we were able to have him in some pictures, and then they took him home after the wedding. Definitely worth the investment – even if just for the peace of mind.
What was your signature cocktail? We had champagne and St. Germain with lavender sprigs. It was perfect!
What was your wedding menu? We had a three-course seated meal that we wanted to reflect our transition from the North to the South. We were both raised in New England (we met at boarding school in New Hampshire) and both went to college and graduate school in the South. Our first course was a lobster duo of lobster bisque and a mini lobster roll. Our second course was an arugula salad with cranberries and walnuts. Our third course was filet and grilled shrimp with gouda grits, cognac cream, maque choux, and chorizo gravy. We also had the most amazing late night snacks – mini chocolate shakes, chicken sandwiches, and the cutest chicken and waffles!
What type of cake or dessert did you serve? Our cake was white chocolate and chocolate. We also had a layer with chocolate and peanut butter. We actually didn’t get to eat our cake other than when we fed it to each other – our one regret!
What was your first dance song? Our first dance was “Crazy Love” by Van Morrison. Our father/daughter dance was to “Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding. My father and I used to sing this song all the time growing up. It was just perfect. Phil and his mother danced to James Taylor’s “How Sweet It Is”.
What was your favorite moment or part of the reception? There were so many great moments, it’s tough to pick one. I think our favorites would be the fathers’ toast, cutting the cake, then dancing with all our friends and family the rest of the night. The band was terrific and played songs that had the whole reception having a great time dancing. I think most people will remember Phil’s performance to AC/DC’s You Shook Me All Night Long. The band got him up on stage and he went wild, lip synching the entire song.
Photography: Virgil Bunao / Venue: Lowndes Grove Plantation in Charleston, South Carolina, / Event Planning & Design: Easton Events / Officiant: Christy Loftin / Dress: Anne Barge via White on Daniel Island / Sleeves: Amsale / Shoes: YSL / Bridesmaid Dresses: Wtoo / Suit, Tie, Shirt, Shoes, Groomsmen Attire: Black Tux / Floral Design: Charleston Stems / Stationery: Mac and Murphy / Calligraphy: Blue Glass Design / Hair, Makeup: Charlotte Belk / Groom's Hair: Clubhouse for Men / Rentals: Snyder Events / Ceremony Music: Classical Charleston / Reception Music: The Dickens / Catering, Cake: Fish / Transportation: Absolutely Charleston / Nanny: Dog Tired / Honeymoon Planning: Ever After Honeymoons /
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