Jenna and Matt based their romantic, Charleston wedding at the Historic Aiken House on the surroundings of the old Southern estate and gardens. The day’s styling was classic and feminine, in shades of plum and lavender with gold accents which complimented the house and grounds of the William Aiken House, a National Historical Landmark built in 1810.
“The outside ceremony was held beneath a white arbor, complimented by romantic drapery and an array of fall floral designs,” shares Riverland Studios photography. “After tying the knot underneath an ornate chandelier, Jenna and Matt strolled along the streets of historic downtown for photos. We love the fun nature of these portraits, especially the one where they are playing in the leaves.”
Decorated in gorgeous purples and gold accents, the William Aiken House was transformed inside and out for the reception by event planner and stylist Loluma. Beautiful centerpieces that mirrored those at the ceremony awaited guests, along with a macaroon treat to excite the palate before dinner. “The reception was a classy yet incredibly fun affair, beginning with a human archway for Jenna and Matt’s arrival. As the night wound down, Matt took another opportunity for a dipped kiss with his new bride, this time on top of shimmering pond.”
From personalized food choices to Pop-A-Shot and cornhole games for those who needed a break from the dance floor, the couple wanted their wedding to be beautiful, delicious and fun. “It was the best day of our lives! We’re still pinching ourselves months later,” recalls bride, Jenna. “Having our friends and family with us in one, beautiful place was probably the most memorable aspect of the wedding for us!”
Before departing in a vintage black car, the newlyweds were all smiles underneath a sparkler arch. What a beautiful end to such a wonderful day!
Charleston Wedding at Historic Aiken House
After unsuccessfully trying on countless dresses in the bridal shop, I saw an attendant carrying this sparkly, champagne-tinted beauty from the fitting rooms back to the floor and I said, “I need to try that one.” Until that point, I was trying on mostly strapless, white dresses and wasn’t having any luck. When I put on this dress, I felt something click. It was classic but still different – it felt special.
It was a ball gown, so I had it altered to reduce some of the poof, and I lowered the back into a “V” shape, so that took a little extra time. On my wedding day, when I put it on, I felt like a modern-day princess. I was comfortable while still feeling elegant!
Bride’s Bouquet Recipe: Here classic, Victorian inspired bridal bouquet contained quicksand & Vendela roses, ivory freesia, bursting cream ranunculus, calla lilies, lisianthus, italian ruscus, imperial lady garden rose.
Bridal Party: The bridesmaids wore elegant in floor length, plum, one shoulder, chiffon dresses with hair swept back in sophisticated chignon buns. Their bouquet’s contained lavender stock, deep burgundy mini calla, purple status, midnight garden hydrangea, purple lisianthus, blue bird roses. The groomsmen wore classic in black tuxedos.
The seating chart was created by The Silver Starfish to coordinate with all of our other printed materials. A beautiful printed board displayed on a wrought iron easel.
The ceremony was a showstopper in the main garden area under the pergola! Romantic and alluring with a soft draped backdrop, and large elegant crystal chandelier bracketed by two large alter pieces in silver urns.
An overflow of garden style flowers top the urns including purple larkspur, raspia, lavender stock, lavender graden roses, white hydrangea, petty point ivy, purple callas, & low country foliages. The aisle was further dramatized, lined by mounds of similar flowers leading over the reflecting pool.
Center pieces inside the antique, ornate ballroom were a mix of three different types including mounded gold fluted urns, oblong pedestal bowls, and mercury candlesticks with crystal urns. The flowers including hydrangea in 3 shades, white open garden roses and bluebird roses, status & ranunculus.
Romantic Charleston Wedding at Historic Aiken House
Love Story: We were classmates in grad school at Northwestern University and we’ve been inseparable ever since. When I had to move to North Carolina for a job, I think we both realized that we couldn’t, and wouldn’t, be apart again. He moved down several months later, and the rest is history!
Wedding Planning Advice:
- Love your rain plan as much as you love your perfect-weather plan. We always planned to get married outside on the beautiful grounds of our venue and heard time and time again how October in Charleston has the most perfect weather.
Well, the week before our wedding, the city saw historic floods, and the forecast for our wedding day was a total wash-out. To prepare for the rain, the day before the wedding, we added a clear-top tent to the ceremony area, with a little extra decor (flowers, chandeliers) we did not originally plan.
On the wedding day, it poured – right until we left the hotel for the venue. Then, the skies opened up and the sun shined for the rest of the day. Good thing we liked the rain plan because we were stuck with it! -
Hire a wedding planner! I know a lot of brides aren’t sure whether it’s worth it to hire a wedding planner, but after working with Loluma, I can’t recommend it enough! The team at Loluma got to know us – our likes, our dislikes, our style – and narrowed down the endless, overhwhelming field of possibilities to fit us, to make our decision-making a little easier. We took several trips to Charleston to plan with them, and it was always like a mini-vacation because it was so much fun.
It’s such a wonderful feeling to wake up on your wedding day, filled with nerves, knowing that you don’t have to worry about any detail of the ceremony or reception. I never had any doubt our wedding would be the wedding of our dreams because I trusted Loluma’s expertise, and they exceeded our expectations!
Wedding Vendors:
- Venue William Aiken House
- Photographer Riverland Studios
- Dress Justin Alexander
- Brides Hair Stuart Laurence
- Brides Make-up Bellelina
- Planning, Flowers, Decor + Design: Loluma
- Bridesmaid Dresses Misses Dressy
- Cake Dulce
- DJ / Music Classical Charleston (ceremony) ; Kathleen Wilson, harpist (dinner music)
- Favors Christophe Artisan Chocolatier (macaroons)
- Stationery Silver Starfish
- Shoes Badgley Mishka
- Tux Vera Wang, rented at Men’s Warehouse
- Videographer AJ Chodora