Matt Minor & Andra Sipols
June 16, 2017 • Legare Waring House
Binge-watching television has likely never been more fruitful than in the case of Matt Minor. To prep for his first date with Andra Sipols—a mega-fan of Criminal Minds whom he’d met weeks prior via mutual friends—he watched every single episode of the series so he’d be caught up when the two tuned into the latest season together. His investment paid off, and within months, the Pennsylvania residents were inseparable. “I knew that our future was going to be spent together,” says Andra, “when I began thinking of my life in two stages—before Matt and with Matt.”
Still, there were two pretty significant speed bumps on their path to happily ever after: their beloved pups didn’t take kindly to one other—at all. So, in what turned out to be great prep for a marriage, the couple put in “months of work,” says Andra, until the dogs’ affections turned. With that hurdle thankfully cleared (some three and a half years after their first date), Matt proposed during—you guessed it—a dog walk.
That fateful stroll—she gushed “Yes,” by the way—was on Kiawah Island, where Andra grew up vacationing at her family beach house. “No matter where we moved when I was growing up, Kiawah was always a constant in my life,” says the bride. Given the Lowcountry’s significance to the two, they booked a warm-weather date at the Legare Waring House, ideal because it could accommodate their 230 guests and would introduce friends and family (who traveled mostly from the North and, on the bride’s side, the northern European nation Latvia) to verdant Charleston.
Wanting to merge the bride’s family’s Latvian traditions with a Southern aesthetic in a way that would appeal to folks from the North (simple, right?), they turned to Stacey Fraunfelter of RLE Charleston. In addition to nailing all those points, Stacey devised a progressive color palette for the various stages of the day: whites and pastels colored the spiritual ceremony; bold hues and pops of pattern enlivened the cocktail hour; and pale pinks, greens, and neutrals filled the elegant reception tent.
When the Big Day arrived, Andra met Matt at the “marriage tree,” a sprawling, classically Southern live oak on the lush grounds, to exchange vows. (“In Latvian culture,” explains the bride, “the oak tree symbolizes strength and endurance, elements we hope for in our marriage.”) From there, the newlyweds recessed into a reception where Andra’s uncles emceed the crowd through Latvian chants, traditions, and jigs. “We will never forget our dance party,” says Andra of the epic evening. “The floor was packed from start to finish.” No crime in that, for sure.
Vendors
Wedding design, planning, coordination: RLE Charleston, www.RLECcharleston.com
Photography: Dana Cubbage Weddings, www.DanaCubbageWeddings.com
Videography: Anchor Films, www.AnchorFilmsSC.com
Florals: Sara York Grimshaw Designs, www.SYGDesigns.com
Rentals: Snyder Events, www.SnyderEvents.com
Linens: BBJ Linen, www.bbjlinen.com; Nüage Designs, www.NuageDesigns.com; Snyder Events, www.SnyderEvents.com
Stationery: Joyce Whitman of Twist Creative Group, www.TwistCG.com/Twist/Home.html
Catering, bar service, sweets: Cru Catering, www.CruCatering.com
Lighting: Technical Event Company, www.TechnicalEventCompany.com
Bride’s attire: Modern Trousseau from Modern Trousseau Charleston (gown), www.ModernTrousseau.com/Charleston; Badgley Mischka (shoes), www.BadgleyMischka.com; Calhoun Street Cleaners (cleaning), www.CalhounStreetCleaners.com
Bridesmaids’ attire: Sorella Vita, www.EssenseDesigns.com/Sorella-Vita
Beauty: Ash and Co., www.AshandCoBridalHair.com
Menswear: JOs. A. Bank, www.JosBank.com (suits, shoes); Dillard’s (bow ties), www.Dillards.com; NFL shop (socks), www.NFLShop.com; Brass and Chain (Etsy, groom’s cufflinks), www.Etsy.com/shop/BrassAndChain
Bridesmaids’ robes: LeRose Gifts (Etsy), www.Etsy.com/shop/LeRoseGifts
Flower girl’s attire: LePetite Posh (Etsy), www.Etsy.com/shop/lePetitePosh
Music: Classical Charleston (ceremony), www.ClassicalCharleston.com; D&M Productions (reception), www.ALowcountryEvent.com
Koozies: SipHipHooray (Etsy), www.etsy.com/shop/SipHipHooray
Day-of stationery: Paper Song Studio (Etsy), www.Etsy.com/shop/PaperSongStudio
