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

November 14 2018
Just as you fall for your spouse-to-be, you can fall for the place where you’ll say “I do.” Need a little empirical evidence? Ask Kate Perry and Sabine Beaurain of Fabulous Fête about walking Chelsea...

November 13 2018
Getting a ring wasn’t top of mind for Lauren when she was trying to come up with New Year’s Eve 2017 plans with her boyfriend, Rick, but he sure had his own plan in the works. For the holiday, they...

November 12 2018
The Wedding Row: How did you and Ben meet? Jamie: Ben and I met when I was about to graduate law school from the University of Alabama and he was working in Birmingham. I was about to move back to...

November 9 2018
We admit we have a soft spot for Hannah Alyssa Photography (back when she was just out of school Hannah worked with us at Charleston Weddings), but it’s totally guilt-free because she’s just so darn...

November 8 2018
Everyone wants their Big Day to be memorable and Emily, a Seattle gal, and Robby, a machinist in the Navy, surely won’t forget theirs. It started off with the first look in Hampton Park, which was...

November 7 2018
What do you get when you combine an Emily Kotarski wedding gown with a gorgeous crown from Emma Katzka and a bouquet of eucalyptus, roses, and pink queen protea? The ultimate Boho look. For this...

November 6 2018
After a couple of rescheduled blind dates, Torrey and Ryan met for drinks; drinks turned to dinner, dinner turned into after-dinner drinks, and … well, let’s just say two years later they had moved...

November 5 2018
Ahhh, Boone Hall Plantation. While this spectacular venue is widely known for its infamous scenes in Nicholas Sparks’ film “The Notebook,” and as the setting of Hollywood hotshots Blake Lively and...