A lovely spring day brought all of Diane and Mike’s loved ones together to celebrate their marriage. They had a gorgeous Charleston spring wedding at The Veranda at Magnolia!
Mike and Diane met online through Match. They started communicating back and forth and set up their first date. Since they are both dog lovers and have Labradors, they decided to meet at a dog park, and they all had a good time, including the pups! Their dogs came along with them to their favorite pizza place one night. While their dog Fido started barking, Mike kneeled down to stop him, pulled out a ring, and proposed to Diane!
You can bring your wedding vision to life at the Charleston wedding venue, regardless of whether it’s a small elopement or a wedding with 300+ guests. The Magnolia Plantation site has four different venues to choose from, including the Veranda, the Pavilion, the Carriage House, and the Conservatory. Diane and Mike chose The Veranda at Magnolia as their wedding venue because of the romantic, whimsical vibes.
This spot on Magnolia’s grounds is all-outdoors and suitable all year long. The Veranda offers plenty of space to accommodate your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. It is important to note that your wedding ceremony cannot begin before 5:00 PM at The Veranda. If you’re planning a classic southern wedding at Magnolia Plantation, you must hire a licensed and insured wedding planner.
The grounds around Magnolia Gardens are breathtaking. One of my favorite aspects of this Charleston wedding venue is the long white bridge with the large oak trees dripping with Spanish moss that make for an idyllic backdrop. We got lucky, and all the flowers bloomed, giving the venue an even more romantic vibe.
Due to their Catholic faith, Diane and Mike chose to get married in a lovely church ceremony. Some of the guests included Mike’s players from the team he coaches at the College of Charleston. Of course, we had to get a photo with all of them together afterward! When Diane and Mike were ready to leave the church and head to The Veranda at Magnolia, they had a vintage white getaway car with a “just married” sign on the back. A getaway car is a great idea to get you and your spouse a few minutes of alone time, and several rental options are available for your Charleston wedding.
When we arrived at Magnolia, we grabbed photos of Mike and Diane with their sweet dog Sully. As a tribute to their late dog, they had a specialty drink called “Fido’s Favorite.” Diane and Mike chose to share a few unique traditions with their guests. On each guest’s plate was a Palmetto Rose. A Palmetto Rose is a keepsake of a couple’s everlasting love. It was a common tradition during the Civil War for ladies to gift their love a Palmetto Rose to keep him safe during wartime. A special touch they included at their reception was putting shawls on the backs of the chairs for all the women. Providing your guests with blankets or shawls to keep warm is a good idea if you have an outdoor wedding. They had a simple three-tiered wedding cake adorned with flowers, and their cake topper was her parents’ cake topper.
During the celebration of the newlyweds, everyone enjoyed dancing the night away. Once the evening ended, guests lined up for a sparkler exit. The bagpiper who played before Diane and Mike left made an even more memorable exit.
My job is made so much easier when I can photograph best friends who are also madly in love! I’m happy their videographers, Palmetto Wedding Films, recommended me to this sweet couple. At each wedding, I ensure my couples have a stress-free day and brings a positive, upbeat, and calm demeanor.
Check out my favorites from Mike and Diane’s Charleston spring wedding at The Veranda at Magnolia!
Ceremony venue: Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Reception venue: Magnolia Plantation and Garden
Photographer: Emma Allen, Emma Lili Photography
Wedding planner: Ooh! Events
DJ: Bunn DJ Company
Florist: Justin Wham Weddings and Events, Out of the Garden
Hair stylist: Paper Dolls
Makeup artist: Paper Dolls
Bridal dress shop: White on Daniel Island
Bridal dress designer: Anne Barge
Bridal shoes: Amazon
Jewelry: Etsy
Bridesmaids dresses: Azazie
Groom’s attire: Men’s Warehouse
Dessert: Publix Cake, Lowes Foods Flavored Pies
Catering: CRU Catering
Bar service: Brand Bars
Videographer: Palmetto Wedding Films
Invitations: Minted
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