When you’re head over heels in love and soon-to-be-wed in the courtyard garden of Downtown Charleston’s most charming mansion, you don’t need bells and whistles to make magic happen. Makenzie and Spencer’s minimalist technicolor spring wedding deepened our appreciation for simplicity and the moments that matter most – like a backyard candlelit dinner and dancing in the rain with your best friends. Their day captured the essence of spring’s reviving energy and we’re so happy to have been part of it!
Not more than a hop, skip and a jump from the wedding venue, Makenzie and her bride tribe were getting ready in a luxury suite at the Hotel Bennett. With her besties, mom and older sister by her side, she had all the support she needed to kick off a blissful wedding day. Ready to glow with a fresh half-updo holding her brunette locks in place, she stepped into her Suzanne Neville wedding dress. Designed with an elegant square neckline adorned with textured flower appliques and a full skirt, she radiated timeless beauty.
Her bridesmaids were a gallery of floral fabrics, textures and bodice styles, with a few solid blue dresses to seamlessly tie the spectacle together. Overjoyed to celebrate Makenzie as the bride, they marched behind her, proudly holding her dress in the elevator and through the lobby. Undoubtedly the cheeriest entourage on the street, the girls strutted down King, swooning bystanders and illuminating the bustling sidewalk. Within a few minutes, they had arrived at the ornate iron gates separating the outside world from the enchanting William Aiken courtyard. They stepped through, intoxicated by lush oak and magnolia, and the sweeping grande architecture signature to the venue.
Ready for a first look with Dad, Makenzie found him in the emerald and gold downstairs suite. Seeing his daughter for the first time, he moved through a state of shock to a puddle of tears. The family had a good laugh and enjoyed the intimate moment before Makenzie departed for her first look with Spencer. Looking dapper in his dark navy suit and bow tie, Spencer patiently waited outside. The couple even had a little chat while Makenzie teased him from the upstairs balcony. Gathering her excitement, she floated down the wooden staircase and met Spencer on the first floor. Tapping him on the shoulder, he turned to see her grinning ear to ear. Equipped with his handkerchief, he wiped his eyes and gave his breathtaking bride a twirl.
We gathered the beaming bridal party together for some portraits in the garden. Each holding a bouquet of white tulips, the pastel bridesmaids provided a stunning contrast to the mansion’s yellow walls and white columns. Combined with the sharp groomsmen, the wedding party was a perfect balance of tradition and pizzazz. To capture the atmosphere of their Downtown Charleston wedding, we moved the bridal party to Anne Street for some shots with the exclusive yellow walls of the William Aiken House towering behind them.
The bubbling guests in their vibrant spring best, poured into the courtyard and relaxed back in the honeyed lawn chairs facing the reflecting pool and white trellis. Makenzie couldn’t resist soaking up the view from the upstairs balcony as her beloved friends and family gathered below. The violin began to play, ushering Makenzie and her father out the double doors of the mansion and down the aisle. Spencer, humbled by the sight of his beautiful bride, took her hand and walked with her to the arbor. The officiant, an honored friend of the couple’s, led everyone through a playful and emotive journey. Between deep belly laughs and tears, the couple said their vows and exchanged rings. With a fresh April breeze rolling through the garden, they shared a kiss and turned the page to a new chapter as Mr. and Mrs. Youngman.
The bridal party reconvened in the emerald and gold suite, celebrating the couple as they signed their marriage license. Makenzie and Spencer gave their dearest thanks to the officiant and presented him with a fabulous watch. As the guests enjoyed mouth-watering cocktails inside the coral and gold suite, the newlyweds enjoyed their own refreshments while admiring the front row view of the ceremony space. Ready to see their collaborative vision come to life, we walked with the couple over to the reception. Green garland hung from the ceiling, intertwined with string lights and gold chandeliers. The tablescapes were enlivened with technicolor springtime blooms, rose candles and powder blue linens. The couple relaxed back in their seats at the sweetheart table, reveling in the enchanting atmosphere.
The guests gathered around the tan and white checkered dance floor, ready for the bride and groom to romance them with a first dance. Holding each other’s gaze, Makenzie and Spencer floated around to Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me To the Moon.” They twirled and laughed, sending a wave of joy throughout the entire wedding party. After parent dances, Makenzie and Spencer took to the mic and gave their deepest thanks to everyone there, and commenced their backyard candlelit dinner party.
The guests swooned at the tablescapes, sipping in the springtime magic enveloping the evening. Spencer’s brothers gave speeches that had the couple doubling over with laughter, followed by heartfelt words from Makenzie’s sister and parents. The Dickens Band began to play some crowd favorites, encouraging the eager ones to get the party started. As more folks joined in to get footloose, the sky opened up and poured down. Much to our surprise, the bride and groom fully embraced the rain and paraded everyone to the center of the splash zone. Singing every song, Makenzie whipped her head around, eventually needing to wring out her hair on the floor. Even after changing into a fresh cocktail dress printed with blue hydrangeas, she went back to the dancefloor to rain-dance even harder.
The guests sporting their spring best couldn’t help but laugh at their fabulously drenched outfits. The rain had properly washed everyone’s cares away and all that was left was the moment and the music. Bon Jovi’s “Living On a Prayer” sent the crowd into an ecstatic singalong fit, with Spencer leading the charge. The joyous wedding party gathered in a circle, singing the words to the newlyweds twirling and laughing in the center. Enveloped with a lifetime’s worth of love, Makenzie and Spencer were ready to conquer it all together, no matter what the weather.
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Youngman! Never stop dancing in the rain!
Check out a few of our favorites below!
xox Kai & Tim
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