Sometimes, you make your own luck. When William Drinkwater spotted Elisa Woodward at a fellow West Point grad’s Big Day, he slyly adjusted the seating chart to cozy up next to her for dinner. Three years later, he found another spot by her side—this time, at the sweetheart table of their wedding reception at Boone Hall Plantation, where chandeliers and candles filled the site’s Cotton Dock with a glow and magnolia accents dotted the décor. “When I close my eyes and think of Charleston, one of the first things to come to mind are magnolias,” explains Elisa. Thanks to planning by Rebecca Woodland Weddings and help from Mama Woodward (who collected the verdant touches from her own yard here in the Holy City), the day was sentimental, chic, and brimming with love.
Words from the wise ...
• Forage when you can. Elisa’s mother, who lives downtown, gathered 250 magnolia pods and leaves from her yard, which Out of the Garden worked into the floral plan.
• Juxtapose your venue’s aesthetic. Grand chandeliers, gilded décor, sophisticated draping, and traditional tablescapes added formality to the
rustic space.
• Be thoughtful about fashion accessories. The maids’ multicolored BHLDN pumps brought a pop of color to the day’s mostly muted palette.
• Play with texture. Subtle, monochromatic patterns—like on dinner plates and the buttercream confection by Jim Smeal—added intrigue to the day’s design.
• Don’t hide the bride! Clear umbrellas are fashion-friendly (and photo-ready) amid spring showers.
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