Natalie & William | Magnolia Plantation and Gardens



These two Terps Alumni (that’s the University of Maryland, for those fans only familiar with the SEC) Natalie and Will dated for six whopping years before getting engaged. Over their stint of time as BF and GF, Natalie was off getting her Doctorate from Gallaudet University, and Will, his Masters from Maryland. Throw in bringing home a pup, moving twice, and a lovely Sunday sunrise proposal in Middlebury, Virginia, and it soon came time to plan a Chucktown wedding. (The bride’s mom and sister reside in Mount Pleasant.) Magnolia Plantation & Gardens fit the bill for both the couple and their now three-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer, River, as the site is home to many a roaming peacock. and River just happens to be a bird dog. “He started stalking a gaggle of them and once they opened their tails he booked it in the other direction,” says Natalie. Their modern reception embraced the natural beauty of the venue and was rife with small, yet important details like these precious silver turtle napkin holders. Now, for the most humorous part of their whole shebang? That would be when Will’s father, their officiant, glanced at his wife in the first row after asking if anyone had any objections to their son’s marriage. (In reality, he was gesturing for her to come forward and give the Irish blessing.) Startled, she said, “No, I am good. I am very happy for them,” which as you can imagine, elicited chuckles all-around. The Washington, DC, residents concluded their ga-ga-gorgeous alfresco day with a cake-cutting of sorts. Instead of cake, the couple cut into a peach cobbler, and swapped what no doubt, were delicious bites. Now, can we have a piece, please?

Planning + Design: Ooh! Events | Venue: Magnolia Plantation & Gardens | Images: Sara Bee Photography | Catering + Bar + Desserts: Cru Catering | Florals: Out of the Garden | Beauty: Blo Blow Dry Bar | Transportation: Carolina Executive Limo Line | Music: 19th Street Band

The Wedding Row

January 4 2019
Now, we’ve run our fair share of gorgeous weddings at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, but we swear we think this wins the award for most gorgeous to date. It makes sense, though, considering...

January 2 2019
On the heels of New Year’s we needed a classic wedding with black-tie panache to carry us through the rest of this holiday-wind-down week. Enter Vera and Brien’s dreamy day, lovingly designed by A...

December 31 2018
We searched high and low for a wedding to close out the New Year, and what better pick than Annie and Matt, whose ceremony ended with the officiant (the bride’s brother-in-law, or in this case, we’re...

December 28 2018
Here’s a little discussed fact: A great DJ can make (or break) a wedding. And the difference between a first dance that has everyone sighing and posting (instead of cringing) and a party that...

December 27 2018
Here’s the thing: Charleston’s in the tropics, more or less. And here in the jungle, it rains from time to time, which can put a damper on a portrait sesh out and about if you don’t plan well. The...

December 26 2018
Ok, people. Yes, you’re gonna love Jesse and Will’s wedding photos (al fresco reception in the Old Village? Yes, please!). But their proposal story? It might even beat the pretty out for best in show...

December 21 2018
Lindsey and José didn’t start off on the right foot (he didn’t do a double-take when he first met her at Boston College, so she gave him the same indifferent treatment, and sparks didn’t fly for...