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

December 11 2019
Pittsburgh residents Natalie and Matthew met the old-school way—sans dating apps. They instead met in person, a rarity these days. While playing darts at a local watering hole, Matt’s friend was...

December 10 2019
Although Elliott and Melissa met each other in an MBA fellowship program, their relationship wouldn’t take off until a few years later. Being in the same program, they had naturally amassed a lot of...

December 9 2019
Dating etiquette has told us that guys should make the first move, right? Well, in the case of Brittany and Kyle, she was the one that made the first official move and we couldn’t be any prouder. The...

December 6 2019
Friday at last, my friends. And with that, we thought we’d share a super sweet wedding with you featuring a bride (duh!), a groom (of course), and their wee little boy named Bear. You may have seen a...

December 5 2019
Charleston’s hotshot lawyers Meg and Richard chose Bowens Island Restaurant to exchange vows and party the night away this past April. “There is something so beautifully simple and genuine about...

December 4 2019
If you’re as excited for the holidays as us, then you’ll love this winter-wonderland inspired wedding where pine boughs, branches with red berries, and tree ornament butler cards brought seasonal...

December 3 2019
Sighhhh … was that loud enough for you? We are trying to convey to you in any and every which way possible how truly marvelous Elise and Mike’s rooftop Dewberry wedding was. As soon as...

December 2 2019
It’s always a special, special day when we get to feature one of our own, or in today’s bride Cayleigh’s case, one of our formers. Cayleigh, the lead planner and owner of Charleston...