Fairy-tale Romance



WRITER CREDIT: 
PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT: 

June 22, 2025 / Legare Waring House & Founders Hall

When Caitlann Arant and Josh Belflower met at Mercer University, the undergrads shared an undeniable connection grounded in faith, friendship, and the rare trait that both are twins. “We could talk for hours about anything and everything,” she remembers. These adorable birds of a feather took to calling one another “silly goose.” When the couple learned that geese mate for life, the playful nickname evolved into something more meaningful. 

Three years into their courtship, Josh curated a perfect engagement that unfolded with a handwritten letter, Caitlann’s dream ring with a hidden pink heart diamond, and a magical proposal along the Avenue of Oaks at The Lodge at Sea Island. Charmed by the Spanish moss-draped trees, the Georgia natives found themselves drawn to the Holy City for their nuptials. “Charleston offered the romantic, historic, fairy-tale setting we had always envisioned,” says the bride. 

On a glorious evening in June, surrounded by blush-toned florals and 200 loved ones, Caitlann and Josh exchanged vows at the elegant Legare Waring House. With the help of planner Alexandra Woodlief of Alexandra Madison Weddings, the intentional pair added meaningful touches to the polished celebration, from having guests highlight their favorite verses in the couple’s personal Bible to weaving bellflowers into every bouquet and centerpiece. The couple also gently embraced a goose theme, incorporating antique decorative geese into their decor and customizing the groom’s tie with pink goose feathers. His ring even boasted a goose engraving. In keeping with their fairy-tale romance, Caitlann and Josh departed the ceremony in a horse-drawn carriage, marking the beginning of their happily ever after. 

Top Tips

  • Prioritize personal.
    “Trends come and go, but the details that reflect your story will never feel out of style,” says Caitlann. The pair included sentimental details like a goose theme that honored a shared nickname, bellflowers as a nod to their surname, custom-scented candles, and a personal Bible for their guest book. 
  • Carve out private time.
    A carriage ride offered the pair a welcome opportunity to quietly soak up their first moments as husband and wife. Slipping away after their ceremony became “one of our most cherished moments of the day,” she recalls.
  • Trust your vendors.
    The couple hired pros who understood their style and vision. Of the stationer who created their custom wedding crest, Caitlann says, “Abbie Thielke perfectly captured the romantic color palette and timeless feel we envisioned. That crest became a unifying detail throughout the entire celebration.”

Vendors

  • Venues: Legare Waring House (ceremony), Founders Hall (reception)
  • Planning & Design: Alexandra Madison Weddings
  • Photography: Hayley Foster Photography
  • Florals: Bliss in Bloom
  • Catering and Bar Service: Duvall
  • Cake: Ashley Bakery
  • Stationery & Signage: Monarch Paper Co.
  • Rentals: Curated Events
  • Entertainment: Emerald Empire Band
  • Lighting: Ambient Media
  • Transportation: Lowcountry Trolley
  • Favors: Candlefish
  • Bridal Attire: Augusta Jones (gown), Carriage House (boutique), Jimmy Choo (shoes), Mikimoto (earrings)
  • Bridesmaids’ Attire: Dessy Group
  • Groom’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse, Brackish (bow tie)
  • Beauty: Brianna B Adams (hair), Cheryl Quinn (makeup)

The Wedding Row

April 29 2019
If you’ve ever walked down King Street on a Saturday evening, you know Charleston’s the “It City” for bachelorette parties. So when North Carolina native and bride-to-be Cristen decided to hold her...

April 26 2019
The latest Charleston Weddings magazine features the journey of Kaitlin and her hubby Allan, who defied the odds and overcame a traumatic brain injury to join his bride at the altar on their Big Day...

April 25 2019
When Morgan and her family attended Folly Gras 2015 (a Mardi Gras celebration held annually on Folly Beach), she had no inclination she’d meet her future husband. But when she caught up with her best...

April 24 2019
Few things get us through a hump day better than fantasizing about fantastic food and lip-smacking libations. So we thought it was a good time to reach out to Graham Ervin, director of sales at The...

April 23 2019
We profiled Hannah and Jonathan’s super lovely wedding in the spring issue of Charleston Weddings, but we weren’t able to include all they had to say, and we had a ton of bonus images to share with...

April 22 2019
Samantha Anderson Events teamed up with Lyndi and Jason Photography to turn a no-fun subject—your wedding budget—on its head. The trick? Samantha dressed three tables at three different price points...

April 19 2019
Blake, a wedding planner for Pure Luxe Bride, recently had the chance to plan her own Big Day. She and now-husband Charles met in an accounting class at College of Charleston, and a few years later...

April 18 2019
Here’s a rare wedding bird these days: A Charleston-raised couple prepping to say “I do” here in their own backyard. As Elizabeth and James keep on with the planning, here’s a little about the...