On the Road



WRITER CREDIT: 
PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT: 
On the Road | Two Upcountry natives migrate to the coast for a celebration replete with personal traditions and touches

Jennifer Stuart & Bradley Cantrell
November 16, 2013
Old Wide Awake Plantation

Last November, Jennifer Stuart and Bradley Cantrell lead a caravan of five—yes, five—SUVs from Greer, South Carolina, to the couple’s Big Day celebration here in the Lowcountry.  “They were packed to the brim with flowers, cake, clothing, and décor,” laughs DIY bride Jennifer.

As wild as that ride may seem, it was just another piece of the puzzle that adds up to the romance of Jennifer, a wedding photographer, and Bradley, an engineer. The two, who didn’t cross paths growing up in the same small neck of the woods in the Upstate, nor at their alma mater, Clemson University, first laid eyes on each other at a wedding Jennifer was hired to capture for a friend of Bradley’s.

Three years of dating later, the two were heading home after a road trip with Jennifer grouchy from the early start and sporting car-ride PJs because their only planned stop was Sheldon Church Ruins. After she’d snapped a few photos there, Bradley challenged her to a picnic table game of Scrabble under the oaks—odd for some but not unheard of for these two board-game fans. As Jennifer scrounged for a way to keep score, Bradley set the tiles to read “Will you marry me J?”

Six months afterward, the two plus 85 guests headed to Old Wide Awake Plantation, where Jennifer had once photographed a wedding. Their mothers had baked, their siblings had arranged flowers, Jennifer’s dad had built an arbor, and everyone pitched in to hang café lights, pale blue and gold ribbons, and planters.

“We didn’t make our clothes, my bouquet, or dinner,” Jennifer says, “but knowing that we and our loved ones worked on every other aspect of our day was very special to us.”

 

Vendor List

Bridal Gown: Allure Bridals, available in Charleston through Bridals by Jodi, www.BridalsbyJodi.com

Bridal Jewelry: J.Crew, www.JCrew.com

Bridal Robe: Plum Pretty Sugar, www.PlumPrettySugar.com

Bridal Veil: Bella Bridal Veils, www.etsy.com/shop/BellaBridalVeils

Cake: Kathy and Company, www.KathyandCompany.com

Caterer: Gourmet Bay Catering, www.GourmetBay.net

Ceremony & Reception Location: Old Wide Awake Plantation, www.OldWideAwakePlantation.com

Florals: (bouquet) Branch Design Studio, www.BranchDesignStudio.com; (tabletop and bridesmaids) FiftyFlowers, FiftyFlowers.com

Getaway Vehicle: Charleston Black Cab Company, www.CharlestonBlackCabCompany.com

Groom’s Attire: Express, www.Express.com

Groom’s Vest: J.Crew, www.JCrew.com

Hair and Makeup: Holly McGuire, Ash and Co., www.AshandCoBridalHair.com

Musicians: Eklipse Productions, www.EklipseProductions.com 

Photographer: Amy Arrington Photography, www.AmyArrington.com

Stationery: Wedding Paper Divas.com

Rentals & Linens: Snyder Events, www.SnyderEvents.com  

Wedding Design & Coordination: Jennifer Stuart (bride)

 


 

The Wedding Row

September 19 2018
The sparks flew for Cole and Nick one fateful night at a mutual friend’s New Year’s Eve party. Truth be told, both admit to not wanting to attend the festivities, but the two tell us that when they...

September 18 2018
Two weeks before Mike graduated from Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts, he met fellow student Taylor, who was wrapping up her freshman year. After six years of dating, the two had a thriving...

September 17 2018
So we’re back to the offices after having evacuated Charleston due to Hurricane Florence. While we’re thankful that the Lowcountry was spared devastation, it’s obviously bittersweet relief given so...

September 12 2018
From a flying groom (you’ll see) to a floral installation of 875 tulips (yep, we’re totally serious), our Instagram page was certainly filled with excitement during the month of August. As a little...

September 11 2018
Hot times calls for haute trends. From custom newlywed crests to one cutie of a bar-on-wheels, here are our top five takeaways from the current issue of Charleston Weddings magazine. Click here to...

September 10 2018
The Wedding Row: Tell us about the beginning of you as an item. Emily: In 2014 I was home from grad school and I went to the gym. That’s where I met Justin–a new guy who had just moved from...

September 7 2018
A last-minute opening at Carlos Hernandez’s autumn photography workshop at Lowndes Grove Plantation led to today’s minimalist and moody post shot by Rachel Craig. Her big takeaway from the styling,...

September 6 2018
Lindsay and Andrew, who both grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, first met at the Charleston Animal Society’s Firefighter Calendar Debut party and auction. Yep, you read that right. A PG-version of a “Magic...