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

November 14 2018
Just as you fall for your spouse-to-be, you can fall for the place where you’ll say “I do.” Need a little empirical evidence? Ask Kate Perry and Sabine Beaurain of Fabulous Fête about walking Chelsea...

November 13 2018
Getting a ring wasn’t top of mind for Lauren when she was trying to come up with New Year’s Eve 2017 plans with her boyfriend, Rick, but he sure had his own plan in the works. For the holiday, they...

November 12 2018
The Wedding Row: How did you and Ben meet? Jamie: Ben and I met when I was about to graduate law school from the University of Alabama and he was working in Birmingham. I was about to move back to...

November 9 2018
We admit we have a soft spot for Hannah Alyssa Photography (back when she was just out of school Hannah worked with us at Charleston Weddings), but it’s totally guilt-free because she’s just so darn...

November 8 2018
Everyone wants their Big Day to be memorable and Emily, a Seattle gal, and Robby, a machinist in the Navy, surely won’t forget theirs. It started off with the first look in Hampton Park, which was...

November 7 2018
What do you get when you combine an Emily Kotarski wedding gown with a gorgeous crown from Emma Katzka and a bouquet of eucalyptus, roses, and pink queen protea? The ultimate Boho look. For this...

November 6 2018
After a couple of rescheduled blind dates, Torrey and Ryan met for drinks; drinks turned to dinner, dinner turned into after-dinner drinks, and … well, let’s just say two years later they had moved...

November 5 2018
Ahhh, Boone Hall Plantation. While this spectacular venue is widely known for its infamous scenes in Nicholas Sparks’ film “The Notebook,” and as the setting of Hollywood hotshots Blake Lively and...