Olivia & Sam | Magnolia Plantation & Gardens



After dating for three-and-a-half years, Olivia and Sam were visiting her family in Columbia, South Carolina, for the Fourth of July when the whole crew decided a day trip to Charleston was in order. “We ended up at the Charleston Marina,” says Olivia, “because my dad told us he had to meet a work client there to drop off some paperwork.” (Don’t you just love it when your sweetheart is in cahoots with your padre?) The couple wandered out onto the docks and suddenly there was a photographer, there were both sets of their parents, and there was Sam on bended knee, asking Olivia to marry him. For the next three hours, the newly affianced duo cruised the local waters on a sailboat, relishing the moment. Says Olivia: “Best day ever.” Indeed. The two, who met in college in Ohio and now live in Dallas, invited everyone to Charleston once again, this time for a wedding that was planned by Charleston Weddings with Allison at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. With invites and signage designed by the bride’s college pal, guests from 10 states, a ceremony officiated by and peppered with cousins, and a cake baked by a one-time neighbor, it was a community effort with a stylish bent. (As for the latter, check out that scrumptious palette of blush, raspberry, and green, and Olivia’s Hayley Paige gown … nice!) “I’m not a sappy, emotional person,” says Olivia, “but I couldn’t stop crying when I saw Sam for the first time. I happy-cried at least five to 10 times, which I still cannot believe.” Sounds like a day glorious enough to maybe rival their engagement, even?

Wedding Photography: Dana Cubbage Weddings | Venue: Magnolia Plantation & Gardens | Planning + Coordination: Charleston Weddings by Allison | Floral Design: Duvall Events | Cake: family friend | Wedding Dress: Hayley Paige from Kleinfeld Bridal | Hair + Makeup: Paper Dolls Wedding Hair + Makeup | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bride’s Jewelry: Kendra Scott | Bridesmaids Dresses: Watters | DJ: Melodic Entertainment | Men’s Attire: The Black Tux | Catering: Duvall Events  | Rentals: Duvall Events | Lounge: 428 Main | Stationery: BKay Kreative

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...