The Sunny Side



PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT: 
The Sunny Side | A Southern garden party-inspired Big Day
Brittany Jordan & Thomas Robbins
April 27, 2024 / Residence on Clouter Creek
 
A drawn-out first date—“the longest either of us has ever been on”—quickly sparked a comfortable connection between Charlestonians Brittany Jordan and Thomas Robbins. “Being with her felt effortless, as if I had known her forever,” he recalls. Both valued a good sense of humor and strong family ties, which helped them fit right in with their future in-laws. So when Thomas popped the question two and a half years later, they could think of no better place to marry than her parent’s house on Clouter Creek. “Their home is where everyone gathers to have a great time,” says Brittany. “We joke that our friends come over to hang out with my parents just as much as, if not more than, us.”
 
The bride wished for an elegant Southern garden party, so Ash Events planner Ashley Pate Newkirk and Willow florist Jessie Johnson played up the springtime vibe. Bright white and sunny yellow blooms appeared in dainty bud vases and woven baskets while magnolia leaf garlands graced the tables and “Charleston Green” joggling board, which doubled as a guest book. Inverted umbrellas and patterned linens lent a whimsical touch inside the tent.
 
In true Lowcountry fashion, the backyard reception also included a raw oyster bar and custom bourbon bar built by the bride’s father. Brittany and Thomas even followed the Southern tradition of burying a bourbon bottle upside down—here, a rare special release of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. 18-Year Marriage—one month prior to their nuptials to ensure good weather. And thanks to clear skies, guests were treated to a breathtaking drone light show prior to the couple’s sparker-led departure. But with the pool-turned-dance floor still rocking, “we just took a quick ride around the block and came right back to the party,” laughs Brittany. The night was simply too good to end.
 
Tips
 
  1. Lean on experts. The bride has a gluten allergy, so she turned to Rosemary & Rye for a menu that was both gluten-free and delicious. “Their pecan-encrusted chicken was an absolute standout,” raves Brittany. “When your grandmother goes back for thirds, you know it’s a hit!” 
  2. Hire a dog nanny. The couple’s fur baby, Ollie, was not to be missed at their nuptials. So they hired a helper to stay with Ollie when she wasn’t in pictures and take her to a boarding facility following the ceremony. 
  3. Bury the bottle. Bourbon is a beloved spirit for this duo. Exactly one month before the big day, they buried a full bottle (upside down for good weather), then dug it up at the reception to share with their wedding party and family. Her advice: bury it in a bag to avoid a mess. 
 
Vendors
Planning & Design: Caluna Event Design Collective, Ash Events
Photography: Magnolia Photography
Florals: Willow
Garland: SweetMagnoliaBliss Etsy shop
Catering & Bar: Rosemary & Rye
Rentals: CRUSH by EventWorks
Linens: Stradley Davidson Linen Collective
Lighting: LIT Charleston
Drone Light Show: Sky Elements Drones
Dance Floor: Pleat Systems
Calligraphy & Signage: Bree Moore Design & Calligraphy
Entertainment: The Midnight City Band
Bridal Attire: Essense of Australia (gown), Gown Boutique of Charleston (boutique)
Beauty: Galya Makeup Artistry
Groom’s Attire: The Black Tux, Brackish (tie)
Bridesmaids’ Attire: Azazie

The Wedding Row

March 27 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads, the majority of us are anxious and overwhelmed. And when you’re engulfed in worry, you often dig further and further down that hole and forget to take in the beauty...

March 26 2020
Maybe you’ve been planning your dream wedding for months. Maybe you just got engaged and cannot wait to start booking vendors. Either way, you weren’t expecting a pandemic like the COVID-19...

March 19 2020
For anyone who doubts that chemistry trumps all, meet Ashlyn and Tommy. The two Charlestonians were struck super shy when they first bumped into one another at a party in 2013, but thanks to a little...

March 18 2020
Charlotte, North Carolina, residents Drew and Annie were introduced at a birthday party in a local brewery. He heard she was a physical therapist and asked her lots of questions about his “hurt”...

March 17 2020
Five years ago, Anna just happened to sit right behind Ian while both were in Savannah, Georgia, at pharmacy school. Soon after, he asked her to a wedding as his plus-one, and they had a grand old...

March 12 2020
When bridal boutique owner Christina was struggling to lug a new desk into her East Greenwich, Rhode Island, condo, her neighbor Daniel (Dan), on a business call, saw her plight … and kept on walking...

March 11 2020
Today we have two local lovebirds, Mallory and Brian, who were introduced through Bumble. Their first-date stops were Charleston favorites: Home Team Barbecue on Sullivan’s Island for ’cue and The...

March 10 2020
This one brings a whole new luxe-wedding vibe to “painting the town red!” Charleston native Annie moved to Nashville on a whim, where her new home just happened to be down the road from Music City...