Marissa & Chris | The William Aiken House



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. Clay Austin did a killer job of capturing these photos at The William Aiken House while Ooh! Events knocked it out of the ballpark as per usual. But before we get ahead of ourselves and stop praising all the talented vendors involved, we have to hear more from Marissa, the new wifey in this whole equation. And go!

The Wedding Row: How did you all meet?

Marissa: We’ve actually known each other since we were 11. We were friends through middle school and high school, but things never turned romantic until after college. I’d like to say that Chris very actively pursued me.

TWR: Well, we can’t blame him for knowing what he wants. We hear you all hail from up North. What drew you to our holiest of holy cities?

Marissa: We’re both from Warren, New Jersey, but now we’re based in Hoboken. We chose Charleston because we knew we wanted destination, but we got engaged right after hurricane Irma so the Caribbean was definitely off the table. Yikes. We had been to Charleston about six months prior to our engagement fell hard for every aspect. From the weather, to the people, to the bars, restaurants, and shopping, we knew it would be a great place for a wedding weekend.

TWR: The city really is poppin’. On to the actual Big Day. Was there a theme you were aiming to achieve?

Marissa: “Tropical elegance” was the theme I was going for. With that said, I wanted to keep the palette pretty neutral and clean because of the boldness of the The William Aiken House walls and all the colorful rooms. I always knew I wanted an outdoor wedding so I’m grateful that the weather was in our favor.

TWR: We heard there as a drive-by of sorts?

Marissa: Oh my goodness. We held the ceremony outside in front of the white pergola, and as luck would have it (kidding), a car drove by while blasting the loudest rap music I’ve ever heard in my life.

TWR: Well, that’s memorable for sure. Another thing memorable? The detail on your gown. So chic.

Marissa: This Marchesa gown was one the first dresses the bridal consultant pulled for me, and before trying it on, I said, “NO WAY.” I eventually put it on and fell in love immediately. It couldn’t have been more of a “Marissa” dress with the A-line and fuller skirt, the flower appliqués, and the hint of sexy with the illusions down the center and on the sides. It was so easy to wear … I never wanted to take it off! I wish i could wear it again.

Planning + Design + Rentals : Ooh! Events | Venue: William Aiken House | Images: Clay Austin Photography | Videography: Lowcountry Wedding Films | Catering + Cake + Bar: Patrick Properties Hospitality Group | Ceremony music: Palmetto Strings | Reception music: EastCoast Entertainment | Florals: Out of the Garden | Beauty: Slate Salon

The Wedding Row

September 19 2018
The sparks flew for Cole and Nick one fateful night at a mutual friend’s New Year’s Eve party. Truth be told, both admit to not wanting to attend the festivities, but the two tell us that when they...

September 18 2018
Two weeks before Mike graduated from Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts, he met fellow student Taylor, who was wrapping up her freshman year. After six years of dating, the two had a thriving...

September 17 2018
So we’re back to the offices after having evacuated Charleston due to Hurricane Florence. While we’re thankful that the Lowcountry was spared devastation, it’s obviously bittersweet relief given so...

September 12 2018
From a flying groom (you’ll see) to a floral installation of 875 tulips (yep, we’re totally serious), our Instagram page was certainly filled with excitement during the month of August. As a little...

September 11 2018
Hot times calls for haute trends. From custom newlywed crests to one cutie of a bar-on-wheels, here are our top five takeaways from the current issue of Charleston Weddings magazine. Click here to...

September 10 2018
The Wedding Row: Tell us about the beginning of you as an item. Emily: In 2014 I was home from grad school and I went to the gym. That’s where I met Justin–a new guy who had just moved from...

September 7 2018
A last-minute opening at Carlos Hernandez’s autumn photography workshop at Lowndes Grove Plantation led to today’s minimalist and moody post shot by Rachel Craig. Her big takeaway from the styling,...

September 6 2018
Lindsay and Andrew, who both grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, first met at the Charleston Animal Society’s Firefighter Calendar Debut party and auction. Yep, you read that right. A PG-version of a “Magic...