Secret Garden



WRITER CREDIT: 
PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT: 
Secret Garden |
Sophie Ritter & Adam Foster  
October 15, 2022 / Gibbes Museum of Art 
 
Sophie was a college student—21 and single—when she first fell for the Gibbes Museum. On a family trip to Charleston, she watched in wonder as the museum’s grounds were set up for an evening wedding. Little did she know, her own nuptials would take place in this very garden. 
 
Sophie and Adam met at work in 2018. It wasn’t long before their friendship and tennis partnership grew into something more, and in April 2021, Adam proposed in a peaceful garden in Charlotte, North Carolina. When planning began, Sophie couldn’t shake the memory of the Gibbes, and soon it was booked for a mid-October date. Letting the venue speak for itself, the event was a simple but breathtaking affair, with airy autumnal florals accenting the already lush gardens. The couple said their “I dos” in the museum’s majestic rotunda, proceeding outside for cocktails, dinner, and dancing. Before making their getaway, Sophie and Adam snuck in one final dance—alone under twinkling lights, to Adele’s “Make You Feel My Love,” the song that accompanied Sophie down the aisle. 
 
Top Tips
 
• Let the venue shine.
Between the Beaux Arts architecture and lush Lenhardt Garden, the Gibbes Museum of Art was stunning on its own. Simple, seasonal decor kept the space at center stage. 
 
• Take advantage of your tiers. 
Each layer in the three-tier cake was carefully chosen: classic vanilla for Sophie’s dad, chocolate with chocolate icing for the couple, and pumpkin with cream cheese icing in a nod to the season. 
 
• Snag a doggie bag. 
Ensuring the bride and groom had a chance to savor the food, Salthouse Catering had to-go boxes ready—which Sophie and Adam dug into in their hotel after the festivities.
 
Vendors
Planning & Design: Anderson Event Design
Photography: Lindsey Morgan Photography 
Venue: Gibbes Museum of Art
Florals: Festoon Charleston
Catering: Salthouse Catering
Bar: Spike Bar
Cake: Flowerchild
Bridal Attire: Monique Lhuillier (dress), Loeffler Randall (shoes)
Rentals: Snyder Events
Linens: Stradley Davidson
Beauty: Pampered and Pretty
Entertainment: Palmetto Strings (ceremony), Blaze The City (reception)
Stationery: Kate Eliza Creative
 

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...