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...
The Wedding Row: Tell us about how you two met.
Kathryn: Hunter and I met through mutual friends in the fall of 2011 at a bar called Town Hall in Washington D.C. It was the “Clemson bar” for watching football, so naturally, as alumni, we gathered there to watch games. We became friends and eventually started dating months later.
TWR: We’d love to hear about how Hunter popped the question.
Kathryn: Saturday evening, during my class reunion party at Ashley Hall back in Charleston, Hunter said to me that he left his wallet at my house, which is so unlike him. I didn’t believe him at first, but sure enough he did. He left the party, went back to my house (my parents were out of town), and then called me saying he was locked out and needed me to come let him in. When I got there, he was sitting on the porch waiting for me, with my dog barking in the background. I asked for the keys to try the door myself, but he grabbed my hands and stopped me. He began to tell me how much he loved me. I kept asking, “What are you doing?” and “Is this happening?” and he asked me to marry him there on the front porch of my childhood home.
TWR: What a clever guy. What were you envisioning for your wedding day?
Kathryn: Hunter and I had three important things we wanted to make sure we did right at our wedding: food, booze, and the band. We wanted our guests to be well fed, be well hydrated, and to dance with us!
TWR: Sounds like three great priorities. Any wedding day bloopers that you look back on and laugh at?
Kathryn: Right before the ceremony, my bridesmaids, my dad, and I were in the stairwell to the balcony of the church. We had the door cracked so I could watch the guests come in. I was peeking through the door when all of the sudden, WHAM! Our bagpiper pushed the door open right into my nose. My eyes started watering and I thought for sure I had a bloody nose. Luckily I didn’t and was able to laugh it off. Actually, it was perfect timing, because I was starting to get emotional, so it definitely helped relieve that.
TWR: Wow. That’s quite the distraction! Can you share your favorite moments from the reception?
Kathryn: Hunter and I both say the same thing for our favorite moment. I had decided a few months earlier that I wanted a final private last dance at our reception. It took a few logistics to make it happen, but it was perfect. The guests were lining up outside for our exit, staff was starting to break down the reception, and we had them play “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton. It was just us, in our happy little bubble, soaking up the moment. I’m so glad we did that final dance. And Virgil Bunao, our photographer, captured that moment beautifully.
Planning + Design: ELM Events | Photography: Virgil Bunao | Ceremony Venue: First Scots Presbyterian Church | Reception Venue + Catering: Private Venue | Videography: Dock House Digital | Floral: Branch Design Studio | Band: Emerald Empire Band | Hair: Headlines at the Edge | Makeup: Olivia Carroll | Rentals: BBJ Linen, Ooh! Events, EventHaus
