Taylor & Samuel | Wingate Plantation



Taylor and Sam may be from Virginia and live in Waco, Texas, but the Palmetto State holds a special place in their hearts. They met at the University of South Carolina when Sam, a freshman fraternity pledge at the time, had to serenade Taylor and her roommates while blindfolded as one of his pledge challenges. That encounter led to a close friendship (it didn’t hurt that Sam rescued a pup named Coach and Taylor had an excuse to go hang out at his place). Friendship turned into love, and the two dated throughout the rest of their college years. After graduation, Sam moved to Waco to attend law school at Baylor University, and Taylor followed once she had finished her physical therapy doctorate. Just before Sam left for Texas, though, he suggested they go to one last baseball game at their alma mater. Pre-game, they killed time walking around campus, and Sam pulled out his GoPro (which was not unusual for him), and then he proceeded to get down on one knee (which was unusual). They chose Charleston for their nuptials because they wanted beautiful scenery, live oaks, and Spanish moss. While touring venues, Taylor fell in love with Wingate Plantation on Johns Island, and she is just as smitten with it post-wedding as she was initially. “I think one of the most important reasons that I chose Wingate, other than being absolutely in love with its scenery, was that it is a family-owned and -run venue,” says Taylor. “Sarah, the venue coordinator, made me feel like we were family.” She also credits Willow Event Designs florist and coordinator Jessie with making the Big Day so special. “I told her my budget for flowers and she worked magic, y’all!” the newlywed exclaims. Add to all that a scrumptious chocolate cake from Thurston Southern Catering (a nod to Taylor’s sweet tooth), and it’s clear the stars aligned for this couple, the venue, and their vendors. Are there any better wedding goals than that?

Month-of Coordination and Florals: Willow Event Designs | Photography: Courtney Price Photography | Videography and DJ: EPIC Charleston | Venue: Wingate Plantation | Rentals: EventWorks | Lighting: Charleston Uplighting | Catering: Thurston Southern Catering | Bride’s Gown: Mikaella Bridal | Bridemaids’ Attire: Lulus | Beauty: Canary Rock Salon | Transportation: Carolina’s Executive Limo Line

The Wedding Row

March 4 2019
Even though Anna, a Wilmington native, and Bobby, who is from Mount Pleasant, dated for over four years after swiping right on each other, they never really talked about getting married … they just...

March 1 2019
Kitty and Kyle met during their freshman year at Clemson, but they didn’t begin dating until they got to know each other as study partners a few years later. After two years, a move to Charleston,...

February 28 2019
Bissell and Jack may live in Atlanta, but Charleston has played a large part in their relationship, from their dating days through their engagement and now with their wedding. Bissell’s mother is...

February 27 2019
Today’s styled shoot takes place on the patio of 5Church, a downtown church-turned-restaurant that doubles as a wedding venue. Nicki Paige, owner of wedding planning company Nicki Paige Collection,...

February 26 2019
Christa met Andrew when she first moved into the same Charlotte, North Carolina, townhome complex as him in 2013. For a while, they were just passing acquaintances, until he asked her out for drinks...

February 25 2019
We’ve got the world of modern dating to thank for this gorgeous celebration at Boone Hall Plantation. Christiana and Bud met on Tinder, and after chatting on the app for a while, they met up for a...

February 22 2019
Nadja and Ryan both grew up in Sarasota, Florida, but they didn’t meet until they were in college (and on her 21st birthday, no less). A decade of dating later, he surprised her with a 10th...

February 21 2019
We so want to be friends with these two Charleston high-school sweethearts. Ask when they met and Jackie will tell you it was went they were 15 years old, she was in braces, and neither could drive...