Written By Melissa Reardon
Photographs By Lucy Cuneo
A transplant from Virginia, Weston “Wes” McAfee vividly remembers the first time he saw his future bride-to-be. Charleston native Dana Elaine...
Peter Izzo & Marian Lapide
September 5, 2015
Lowndes Grove Plantation
Though Peter Izzo was smitten with fashion exec Marian Lapide from the get-go (“She was so passionate about everything—I could have listened to her talk for hours,” he says of their first date in 2009), four days of roughing it together at Bonnaroo sealed the deal. “When I saw she could have a blast in just about any environment, I was hooked.” That shared game-for-anything mentality led the couple on sundry excursions throughout their courtship: from Nashville and New Orleans to Paris, Portugal, Morocco, St. Barts (where Peter popped the question), and finally to Charleston, where Tara Guérard Soirée brought to life their wish for a Southern-charmed garden party at Lowndes Grove Plantation. With dueling pianos at the rehearsal dinner (a nod to their travels) and a first dance to Phish’s “If I Could,” their wedding weekend was as personal as it was polished. “All the unique details truly made it our wedding,” says Marian.
Take it from the Izzos ...
• Reinvent the photobooth. A wall of greenery and cascading blooms served as a stunning backdrop for the selfie-station-meets-photo booth.
• Pay tribute to your pop. Marian’s father works in the watermelon industry so ice sculptures filled with the fruit added a sentimental, summery touch to cocktail hour, during which guests sipped a drink dubbed the “Charleston Melon.”
• Embrace free spirits. One of the bride’s besties isn’t a fan of dresses, so she and Marian found a pale pink pantsuit that matched the other bridemaids’ frocks.
• Shrug off showers. Rain pushed cocktail hour inside the historic home and across its piazzas. “It was actually great with the bluegrass band playing there,” says the bride. “I was so caught up in the moment I barely noticed or cared!”
Vendor List:
Wedding design, florals: Tara Guérard Soirée, www.TaraGuerardSoiree.com
Photography: Elizabeth Messina, www.ElizabethMessina.com
Ceremony location: French Huguenot Church of Charleston, www.Huguenot-Church.org
Reception location, catering, bar service: Patrick Properties Hospitality Group, www.PPHGCharleston.com
Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals, www.SnyderEvents.com
Lighting, sound: Production Design Associates, www.PDAStage.com
Wine: Salvestrin Winery, www.SalvestrinWinery.com
Sweets: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal, www.WeddingCakesByJimSmeal.com
Stationery, signage: Lettered Olive, www.LetteredOlive.com
Bride’s attire: Monique Lhuillier, available in Charleston through Maddison Row, www.MaddisonRow.com (gown); Ben Amun, www.Ben-Amun.com (hair clips); Chanel, www.Chanel.com (shoes, bag); Cacky’s Bride + Aid, www.CackysBrideAid.com (day-of dresser)
Bridesmaid’ attire: Amsale, available in Charleston through Bella Bridesmaids, www.BellaBridesmaids.com (dresses); BCBG, www.BCBG.com (pantsuit); Michael Kors, www.MichaelKors.com (jewelry)
Beauty: Kristy Cuthbert, www.SolaSalongStudios.com/Salon-Professional/Kristy_Cuthbert (hair); Moore Makeup, www.MooreMakeup.com (makeup)
Groom’s attire: Michael Andrews, www.MichaelAndrewsBespoke.com (suit); Cole Haan, www.ColeHaan.com (shoes); The Tie Bar, www.TheTieBar.com (tie, pocket square)
Groomsmen’s attire: My.Suit, www.MySuit.com (suits), Cole Haan, www.ColeHaan.com (shoes); The Tie Bar, www.TheTieBar.com (tie, pocket square),Charles Tyrwhitt, www.CTShirts.com (socks)
Ring bearers’ attire: J.Crew, www.JCrew.com
Transportation: Absolutely Charleston, www.AbsolutelyCharleston.com
Music: Charleston Virtuosi, www.CharlestonVirtuosi.com, Voices of Deliverance, www.ArcherMusic.com (ceremony); George Del Porto bluegrass, www.Facebook.com/Southern-Flavor-Bluegrass (cocktail hour); Simply Irresistible, www.SimplyIrresistibleBand.com (reception)
