Jess & Garrett | Private Home & College (ceremony) & Historic Rice Mill (reception)



One of the boons to hosting a destination wedding here in Charleston? Giving your guests a true taste of the city. So it went for Washington D.C. residents Jessica Friedes and Garrett Nichols, high school sweethearts who married this past March. The pair were clever enough to book a private historic site, an “unlisted” venue that has one of the most charming courtyard gardens downtown, that’s tucked between Broad and Chalmers streets for their nuptials. With St. Michael’s bells chiming in the distance and Washington Square Park just over a mossy brick wall, this spot is as local as it gets. Before the ceremony there (officiated by a pal in perhaps the best mustache this blog has ever seen), they shared a quietly humbling first look, then headed out to revel at the moment (and that Hayley Paige gown) with portraits snapped on the cobblestone street. Following their vows, they invited everyone to yet another Holy City gem, the Historic Rice Mill, which sits on the Ashley River and looks out upon the Charleston City Marina. So secret garden—check. Cobblestone lane—check. Drinks, dining, and dancing in a centuries-old building with water views—check. Yep, these two nailed it. Enjoy the insider’s tour of the town with all the lovely stylings by Samantha Anderson Events (and a newbie to us, Lux & Union florists).

Photographer: Ava Moore Photography | Planning & Design: Samantha Anderson Events | Ceremony Venue: Private Venue | Reception Venue:  Historic Rice Mill | Florist:  Lux & Union | Cake:  ABCD Cakes | Band:  Travis Allison Band | Hair & Makeup:  Lashes & Lace | Catering:  Good Food Catering | Invitation Suite:  Minted | Videographer:  Siegel Films | Gown: Hayley Paige found locally at  Lovely Bride. | Bridesmaids dresses: Dessy Group | Ring:  Vatche | Officiant: Chuck Waugh

The Wedding Row

May 9 2019
Morning, lovelies! Boy, do we have one for you today. But before we get into all the goodness, let’s get acquainted with the stars of the show … A meet-cute at a mutual friend’s birthday...

May 8 2019
Some brides just have such a knack for talking about their Big Day that we have to let you hear their own words on the matter. So it is with Angelia, who wed her now-husband Bobby at Old Wide Awake...

May 7 2019
We’ve heard our fair share of wedding day blooper stories here at The Wedding Row, but this may be the first time we’ve heard of the bride’s wedding band falling through the cracks of a rooftop deck...

May 7 2019
Amanda got an early gift the year Zach walked into her pre-birthday celebration with a couple of their mutual friends. The two Wilmington, North Carolina, dwellers hit it off immediately, and nearly...

May 3 2019
Spring is in full swing here in the Lowcountry—in fact, it feels more like summer outside—so we’re celebrating this first Friday in May by sharing an appropriately colorful shoot. Event planning...

May 2 2019
It’s not often that we get to talk about farm life here at The Wedding Row, so we’re especially excited to share the story behind today’s engagement shoot. Emma and Blake, who live in Nebraska but...

May 1 2019
When Mike swiped right on Ryan on OkCupid, he inadvertently created their future wedding hashtag: #MikeSwipedRy. And thank goodness these two found each other, because their wedding just goes to show...

April 30 2019
Good morning, Wedding Row-ers! Pour yourself a big cup of coffee (or is it Tea-day Tuesday?) and get ready to dive into one seriously gorgeous post, if we do say so ourselves. Cayleigh Hopkins of The...