Rain Couldn’t Stop This Charming Garden Party Wedding In Charleston, South Carolina

Kelsey + Lance’s garden party wedding day in Charleston, South Carolina was nonstop rainy day romance. 

A little rainfall couldn’t possibly stop this magical tented outdoor celebration under the mossy live oak trees at sprawling estate venue Wingate Place. With umbrellas and parasols at the ready, Kelsey + Lance didn’t mind getting a little damp.

The couple teamed up with event designers and planners from Parte Events & Design to bring their dreamy, old-word, springtime wedding to life. The couple’s excitement was built into all of the day’s countless thoughtful details. Bridesmaid bouquets and escort cards and accessories and reception table decor—everything creatively and meaningfully chosen.

And photographer Peyton Byford was snapping away all day, capturing Kelsey + Lance’s totally contagious joy!!

Three Strands Stationary was behind all of the events charming garden party paper goods and hand-drawn calligraphy details.

We spy a pair of Bella Belle wedding heels! One of our fave wedding shoe brands to buy online!

The florals that Festoon Charleston created for Kelsey + Lance’s day were packed with springy color.

Cheers to the bride!! How adorable are those butterfly wine glass charms!?

Matching pajama sets make some of the best bridesmaid gifts! Also, loving Kelsey’s playful pink gingham feather trim PJs! Shop this set from Moda Operandi!

Circling back to these “Abigail” Ivory Block Heel from Bella Belle cause we are in love. The embroidered details on the toe are everything.

A groom and his groomsmen in classic tuxedos is such an elegant sight to see! There’s a whole tux section in our collection of the 43 best unique suit ideas for grooms if you’re weighing the pros and cons of a classic tux look.

One of our fave floral details? Each bridesmaid’s bouquet featured a different flower found in the bride’s bouquet!

Take a look through our list of the most stunning rose gold bridesmaid dresses in every style if you’re liking the idea of a soft pink bridal party palette like this one.

The First Look

Okay, how precious are all of these white paper parasols?!

Kelsey’s low bun with piecey fave framing waves was the work of Brianna B. Adams and her classic makeup look was created by Cheryl Quinn.

 “I probably tried on close to 100 dresses, and the dress I chose was one of the last ones I saw,” says bride Kelsey.

“I had actually given my verbal “yes to the dress” at one store and popped champagne for the big moment, and had every intention of calling the store that week to put the payment down for it, but something in my gut told me that I should go to just one more place. Sure enough, we went to the final store, and everyone in the room was in tears when I came out in the dress I chose.”

We love a last-minute twist in a wedding dress search story!! Especially when it leads to this dreamy gown with its airy tulle skirt and floral appliqué details. A perfect mix of modern bride and garden party fairytale princess.

A little rain can’t stop this crew! Check out our guide to handling a rainy wedding day to be prepared for any weather!

The Ceremony

LOVE that Kelsey’s full-length veil features floral appliqués just like her wedding gown’s bodice! Take a look through the best wedding veils for every bridal style!

Our Musical Choices
			
Processional: "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles (acoustic version played by Logan Thomas)
			
			
Recessional: "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" by Natalie Cole
			
			
First Dance: "Sweet Symphony" by Joy Oladokun and Chris Stapleton
			
		

So glad Kelsey + Lance had some super cute clear wedding umbrellas on hand!

One of many thoughtful details: the sheer gloves from Kerry Parker Atelier that Kelsey added to her look for cocktail hour featured a phrase from a quote that’s super meaningful to her and Lance as a couple.

Explore our collection of 21 wedding gloves for the fashionable bride if you’re liking the look of an elbow-length accessory moment.

The Reception

“We spent an entire year writing personal letters for every single wedding guest as their escort
cards for the reception,” say Kelsey + Lance. “The seating chart wall featured envelopes with every guest/couple’s names and tables on them with letters inside. This is probably the most talked about detail from the wedding day because guests were so surprised, and while it took a lot of time and effort, it’s one detail we would choose to do over and over again.”

Check out 36 unique seating chart ideas we’re obsessed with to start dreaming up your own unforgettable way to get your guests to their seats at the reception.

So into the old world charm of the ornate cut glass details and floral candlestick holders that Simply Elegant brought to the reception tabletops.

Custom hand painted taper candles like the ones Kelsey + Lance chose are such a sweet way to personalize a tablescape!

Salthouse Catering were the culinary minds behind Kelsey + Lance’s reception meal. Also, very into the texture that these tablecloths from Stradley Davidson add to the delicate garden party design vision.

Specialty rentals from Curated Events and furniture from Eventworks took the tented outdoor event space and created magical decor moments like this romantic vintage-inspired seating banquette!

This chic all-white two-tier wedding cake from Ashley Bakery was absolutely exploding with floral accents!

Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding
A million incredible moments come to mind, but together we both agree that the moment we entered into the reception after we both changed into our second looks was something we absolutely will never forget and could not have been more perfect! We chose to do a champagne tower, and our planners decided to put the tower in the middle of the dance floor and have all of our guests surround us while we do it. We will never forget the energy, love, excitement, and support we felt in this moment, just completely surrounded by our closest friends and family. After this moment, we transitioned right into the dance party, and I think the energy from this moment is a huge reason the dance floor was packed all night!

Chug A Lug Wagon provided bubbles and drinks for Kelsey + Lance’s guests all night long.

Is there anything cuter or more festive than a pale pink ribbed champagne coupe?! Shop the Esme Fluted Champagne Glass Set from West Elm.

Kelsey’s tulle sleeve reception dress from BCBG was a chic and playful way to end the night. “I highly recommend getting the second dress for anyone who’s main dress is a bit heavy,” says Kelsey, “because it was very important to me that I’m able to kill it on the dance floor that night and not be held down!”

Our Advice To Those Planning Now
Be prepared for anything, and if you are prepared, you are going to be the best version of yourselves and able to fully enjoy the day no matter what! We did so much scenario planning, which ultimately is how we ended up so well prepared for a very rainy weekend. Bad weather or changes in plans can easily shake up a couple if they feel unprepared, so you have to have a plan and do your very best to think through every scenario possible. For example, we talked for hours with one another, our families, and our planners about how/where to set up the rain tent, how many umbrellas we should get, etc. to make sure we had every basis covered. Ultimately, because of all of that planning, Lance and I knew that everything was going to be perfectly fine and we could just relax and have the best day ever. Something we were constantly complimented on was the attitude we had the whole weekend because we were just so full of life and our best selves, which is what guests want to see and how you want to remember your wedding day!!!

Congratulations, Kelsey + Lance! So glad the rain couldn’t stop your charming Charleston garden party wedding!! All the best form GWS!