Erin & Matthew | Lowndes Grove Plantation



When a gal can name how many days she’s dated her beau (“One thousand and nine, but who’s counting?” laughs Erin), you know she’s ready for him to put a ring on it. When Matthew obliged, he and his betrothed invited nearly 380 guests to a celebration that properly introduced the Massachusetts residents’ mostly New England friend-base to Southern traditions and the Lowcountry landscape alike. Why Charleston? “It’s a big part of our story,” says Erin, who, as a Charlotte, North Carolina, native, grew up vacationing here. “We visited countless times while we were dating,” she says.

Since the couple couldn’t shake their craving for a barn-style wedding, planner Tara of Soirée by Tara Guérard by met them in the middle with a reception featuring a first for her and her crew , who are known more for over-the-top finished looks: a custom rustic wooden wall that rose up behind the band and a framework of timbers that spanned overhead. Add roped chandeliers hanging hither and yon, lawn games, and a family-style dinner and the chill couple and their 378 guests got just what they hoped for: a marriage of laid-back, free-spirits (“Just like me and Matt,” beams Erin) in a like-minded setting.

As you browse the images, check out some of our favorite pretty and posh ideas:

  •     the ombré hues on the bar fabric and escort card backdrop;
  •     that gorgeous limo (love the lettering in the window) that took them from the ceremony to the reception site…and how the couple left the reception in a VW bus;
  •     using copper julep cups for floral vessels and colored candles and blue glassware on the tablescapes;
  •     installing wooden backdrops in the tented area;
  •     lining the invitations with gorgeous papers;
  •     patterning the cake after the bridesmaids’ gowns;

printing the menu on cloth napkins.

Design, florals, linens, speciality decor: Tara Guerard Soiree | Images: Corbin Gurkin | Venue, catering, bar: Patrick Properties Hospitality Group | Rentals: Snyder Events | Cake: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal | Stationery, signage: Lettered Olive | Gown: Anne Barge | Dresser: Cacky’s Bride + Aid | Beauty: Meg Workman + Deidre Outlaw | Transportation: Lowcountry Valet

The Wedding Row

June 5 2019
Hey Mon! We have some serious tropical vibes happenin’ on the blog today and seeing that the official start of summer is just a few weeks away, we thought it only fair to share it with you all cuties...

June 4 2019
Wakey wakey, all you sleepyheads. It’s a beautiful day and us gals over here at The Wedding Row office are here to make sure you roll out on the right side of the bed. How now? Well, once you lay...

June 3 2019
If Kelly and Jeff’s relationship beginning was to have a theme song, it would have to be “With a Little Help by My Friends” by The Beatles. The two were introduced by way of mutual friends (hint,...

May 30 2019
Just one more workday separates us from our beloved weekend and in the spirit of such, we wanted to set the mood and get you all primed and ready for what is to come. So let’s drink happy thoughts...

May 29 2019
Bridgitt and Hayden met and became fast friends during their sophomore year of college at Wake Forest University. More than five years later, the duo got engaged on its campus which is sweeter than...

May 28 2019
Shelby and Len owe a big thank you, really and truly, to Len’s father. How now? After finishing a round of golf together at the Country Club of Charleston, Len’s dad noticed a pretty blonde across...

May 23 2019
Likely you’ve heard the phrase before, “There are plenty of fish in the sea.” You’ve probably heard it from a consoling girlfriend, trying to bolster your confidence in the fact that you are sure to...

May 22 2019
Talk about one cool and cultured couple. From New York City to St. Thomas, Amsterdam, and France, Sophia and Alex have seen it all. So, it comes as little surprise that their Big Day was pretty...