Sweet Magnolias



WRITER CREDIT: 
PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT: 
Sweet Magnolias | Classic décor, romantic candlelight, and magnolia touches gathered from the bride's parents' backyard fill this Pennsylvania pair's beautiful Big Day 
William Drinkwater & Elisa Woodward
May 20, 2016
Boone Hall Plantation
 
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.
 
VENDOR LIST: 
Wedding planning, umbrellas: Rebecca Woodland Weddings, www.RebeccaWoodlandWeddings.com 
Florals: Out of the Garden, www.OohEvents.com/Services/Floral/
Images: Evan Laettner Photography, www.EvanLaettner.com 
Rentals, linens, lighting, draping: Ooh! Events, www.OohEvents.com 
Tent: Sperry Tents Southeast, www.SperryTentsSoutheast.com 
Tabletop décor: Polished!, www.PolishedTabletop.com 
Catering, bar and wine service: Cru Catering, www.CruCatering.com 
Cake: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal, www.WeddingCakesbyJimSmeal.com 
Stationery: Embossed Graphics, www.EmbossedGraphics.com 
Menus: SAS-E Ink, www.SaseInk.com 
Bride’s attire: Pnina Tornai, www.PninaTornai.com (gown); Badgley Mischka, www.BadgleyMischka.com (shoes)
Bridesmaids’ attire: Alfred Sung (gowns, available in Charleston at Bella Bridesmaids, www.BellaBridesmaids.com); BHLDN, www.BHLDN.com (shoes) 
Beauty: Lashes and Lace, www.LashesAndLaceCharleston.com 
Groom’s attire: Jos. A. Bank, www.JosABank.com 
Music: Classical Charleston, www.ClassicalCharleston.com (ceremony); Darby Events, www.CharlestonWeddingDJs.com (reception) 
Transportation: ACW Limo, www.ACWLimo.com; Shuttle Hogs, www.RideLowcountry.com/shuttle-hogs 
Pecan favors: Molly & Me, www.MollyAndMePecans.com

 

Planning by Rebecca Woodland Weddings / Images by Evan Laettner Photography