Written By Melissa Reardon
Photographs By Lucy Cuneo
A transplant from Virginia, Weston “Wes” McAfee vividly remembers the first time he saw his future bride-to-be. Charleston native Dana Elaine...
May 10, 2025 | Lowndes Grove
A kismet meeting leads to an unforgettable big day marked by a lush design and plush details
You could say that the stars aligned when MacKenna O’Hara met Kollin Moore. MacKenna, then an interior design student at Ohio State University, had been perusing social media in search of an off-campus gym when she stumbled upon a strength-training facility for wrestlers. “Niche,” she thought. But it was the handsome head coach and former USA National Team wrestler who really caught her attention. So she followed him. A day later, he asked her out. And the rest is history.
After a two-year courtship and surprise proposal at Asheville’s Biltmore Estate, the Ohio-based couple settled on a destination wedding in Charleston, a place they had come to love when her parents retired to Daniel Island. MacKenna and Kollin enlisted Fox Events to help execute a May soirée infused with their vision of “classic Charleston” charm.
Despite the rainy day, the team transformed Lowndes Grove into a pastel oasis beneath clear tents. A custom aisle and circular altar, color-matched umbrellas, and bountiful blooms graced the ceremony space. Cocktail hour featured a custom martini bar serving her signature sipper and a mobile bourbon bar pouring his favorite spirit. The drinks were even delivered with personalized cocktail napkins bearing the profile of their Weimaraner, Chief. Sheer pink draping and raffia chandeliers hung throughout the reception tent, with lush tropical foliage and plush lounge areas setting the scene for celebration.
At their planner’s recommendation, the couple opted for food stations and skipped assigned seating, which allowed guests to leisurely eat, drink, dance, and socialize. The showpiece of the party was a toss-up between the central banquet area with its towering jungle-esque foliage and the 32-foot custom bar, which held four prodigious floral arrangements featuring birds of paradise, foxgloves, peonies, ranunculi, king proteas, monsteras, and palms. MacKenna chose a statement floral print by Thibaut to be woven throughout the space—from wallpaper inlays on the bars and stage backdrop to custom pillows.
As a nod to their home state, Ohio State University flags hung at the venue entrance, and guests enjoyed chocolate-peanut butter Buckeyes for dessert along with the pair’s favorite carrot cake. A beautiful monogram by Meg Morrow was also “scattered like a treasure hunt,” says the bride. The design, with its intertwined initials and blue herons, appeared on appetizer trays, orange peels, matchbooks, and the dance floor. The couple also set out playing cards for attendees to inscribe in lieu of a guest book and shared keepsake trucker hats emblazoned with “The Moores.”
Though the day had begun with downpours, conditions cleared just before the ceremony commenced, leading into a momentous night of celebration—yet another serendipitous beginning for MacKenna and Kollin.
Planning & Design: Fox Events
Venue: Lowndes Grove
Photography: Clay Austin Photography
Florals: Blossom Bay
Catering & Bar Service: Patrick Properties Hospitality Group
Mobile Bar: Direct My Bar
Cake: Laney Cowan
Stationery & Signage: Meg Morrow
Linens: Stradley Davidson, BBJ La Tavola, Nuage Designs, Reverie Social
Rentals: Snyder, Curated Events, CRUSH by EventWorks
Draping: The Social Spool Co.
Custom Builds: LIT Charleston
Entertainment: Christie Bates & string quartet from Other Brother Entertainment (ceremony), Darius Starks (cocktail hour), Atlanta Showstoppers from EastCoast Entertainment (reception)
Dance Floor: Charleston Wraps
Bridal Attire: Nicole + Felicia (designer), Paris by Debra Moreland (headpiece)
Beauty: Meg McMillion Beauty
Bridesmaids’ Attire: Lula Kate
Day-of Coordinator: Cacky’s Bride Aid
Groom’s Attire: Generation Tux
