Love & Charleston



WRITER CREDIT: 
PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT: 
Love & Charleston | A historic Broad Street home was transformed into a floral-filled oasis for this couple’s springtime soirée
Anne Flanigan & George Matelich
May 6, 2023 • South Carolina Society Hall & private residence
 
Anne Flanigan and George Matelich met while living in San Francisco, and both felt an instant and undeniable spark on their first date. For Anne, a Missouri native, and George, who grew up in New York, finding each other in the City by the Bay via a dating app might have seemed like sheer luck. But they’d soon find out that they weren’t the first in their families to cross paths: their fathers had worked together long before the two were born!
 
Over the next two years, the couple’s love bloomed, and George set about planning the perfect proposal. He popped the question along the oceanfront at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida, where their families had gathered to meet “for the first time” and celebrate Anne’s birthday. She said yes—and the joy-filled group toasted to their love with a bottle of bubbles.
 
Anne and George decided their dream wedding could only be set in one city: Charleston. Anne’s parents had recently bought a house on Broad Street, and the couple was eager to introduce their out-of-state guests to the Lowcountry’s charms. They swiftly enlisted the expertise of Christina Baxter to deliver their vision of an elegant ceremony followed by a reception at the historic home. 
 
On May 6, 2023, the two exchanged handwritten vows surrounded by loved ones and the storied, portrait-clad walls of South Carolina Society Hall. A jazz band beckoned guests back outside, where they boarded buses bound for the house. After entering through the wrought-iron gate and double-oak doors festooned in white flowers and greenery, all enjoyed a cocktail hour that spilled across the yard, along the piazza, and into the circa-1873 home. 
 
And that was just the beginning of a reception to remember. Dinner was hosted in a dramatic fabric-draped tent bedecked in abundant blooms, creating the illusion of a luscious garden growing throughout the space. Along the tables, each place setting included a custom illustrated menu booklet by Hatch Cove Designs previewing a Lowcountry-inspired meal by Cru Catering of warm biscuits, pan-seared fresh catch, and other delights. After dinner, Anne and George’s guests brought the party as they danced the night away.  
 
Vendors
Planning & Design: Christina Baxter Weddings & Events
Photography: Nirav Patel Photography
Venues: South Carolina Society Hall (ceremony), private home (reception)
Florals: August Floral Design
Caterer & Bar: Cru Catering
Cake: Peninsula Grill
Rentals: Snyder Events
Linens: Stradley Davidson
Drapery: Veil
Entertainment: Charleston Virtuosi (ceremony), New South Jazzmen (reception)
Stationery: Studio R and Hatch Cove Designs
Bridal Attire: Oscar de La Renta (dress), Manolo Blahnik (shoes)
Bridesmaid Attire: Maria Lucia Hohan
Beauty: Bellelina Charleston (makeup), Patrick Navarro (hair)

The Wedding Row

March 26 2019
Houston-born Jaclyn and North Carolina-native Dustin were both living in Charlotte, North Carolina, when they were set up on a blind date. Jaclyn had very recently moved to the Queen City, and says...

March 25 2019
TWR: How and when did you meet? Jessie: This is a tough one. We both took a job with a technology company right out of college, which relocated us to Utah. Jared says he remembers meeting me the day...

March 22 2019
It’s hard to keep tabs on these two. See if you can follow: New Jersey native Lisa met Maine-born Caleb in Vail, Colorado. Moves (throughout the United States and, in her case, even to London) led to...

March 21 2019
One of the most preliminary steps in wedding planning involves the “B” word—budget. (Which, if we’re being honest, can be the other “B” word.) But we’ve got a way for flower lovers, those who need to...

March 20 2019
Y’all. Deajsha is a TRIP. We honestly don’t think we’ve ever gotten such over-the-moon descriptions of a romance, proposal, or wedding as we did with hers. Trust us, you have got to read her...

March 19 2019
We feature plenty of weddings and engagement shoots here on The Wedding Row, but it’s not very often that we get to share the story of a couple who’s been married for years. Today, though, we’re...

March 18 2019
When your first date lasts for six hours, you know there’s something good going. Such was the case for Chicagoans Stephanie and Brandon, who met on Bumble and headed out for happy hour drinks-turned-...

March 15 2019
Although weddings are about the bride and groom trading vows and transforming into Mr. and Mrs., they’re also a great time for everyone to come together. That’s why Vande and Nate, who met when she...