My parents had strict rules about dating ... i.e., I couldn’t,” laughs Manasa Reddy. In keeping with Indian tradition (her parents moved from India to the States before she was born), the New Jersey native was expected to hold out for an arranged marriage. But Manasa knew that once mom and dad met Will Thayer—a fellow student at Seton Hall University School of Law—they’d rule in her favor. And right she was: “They were thrilled with what a kind, respectful, and intelligent man Will is, and we started dating.”
One of said dates was a night out to see The Hobbit followed by cuddles on the couch. Suddenly, Will turned to Manasa, pulled out a diamond ring (which he’d been toting around for months and held his great-grandmother’s diamond), and proposed. “Apparently, the sight of me in fuzzy onesie pajamas made him realize he couldn’t wait any longer!” Manasa laughs.
The Jersey residents began scouring venues in New York City but weren’t sold. “We realized it wouldn’t be much of a celebration if our guests took the subway home at the end of the night,” Manasa says. So, they pulled a 180, bought plane tickets to Charleston (one of their favorite cities), and promptly fell in love with Middleton Place, which ticked every box on their must-list: outdoor, capable of seating 200, open to outside catering, and within view of a fireworks-friendly area. “They were flexible and willing to work with us to create the day we envisioned,” says Manasa. And planner Luke Wilson was no different. “If you are lucky enough to have a creative genius like Luke on your team, save yourself the stress and give him free reign.”
The Big Day embraced their blended traditions. After a priestess from the Hindu Temple of Charleston blessed the couple’s union, Will’s father delivered a Christian sermon. Fried chicken was served in waffle cones at cocktail hour, while supper included Indian classics like chicken tikka masala. Afterward, guests flooded the dance floor. “My family from India—who never dance—were breaking it down to Michael Jackson,” laughs Manasa. Not to be outdone, Will’s family threw down to some Indian tunes, as well.
In a word, it was magical. Speaking of magic ... before the ceremony, Will gave Manasa the password to an email address with her new last name, where reservations for a “mini-moon” to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter awaited (the real deal was an island getaway to Mauritius and Seychelles). As the night drew to a close, the newlyweds were Hogwarts-bound—and nobody took the subway home.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
