A Charleston bride marries her beau at her childhood home amid family, friends, and 4,000 floating roses
“We wanted the flowers to look like they could have been freshly gathered from a garden,” says Heather Barrie of Gathering Floral + Event Design of the loose bouquets the wedding party carried.
“Cate’s love of art was a focus in all design decisions—from the use of ombré, to the artist-drawn save-the-dates, to the hand-painted dance floor,” says Kristin.
Among other goodies, welcome boxes held ingredients for the wedding’s signature cocktail: La Croix and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
Photograph by Corbin Gurkin.
Hair and makeup by Ashley Brook Perryman. Bride's gown by Monique Lhuillier, available in Charleston through Maddison Row. Earrings by Ippolita, available in Charleston through REEDS Jewelers. Bridal styling by Lindsey Nowak and Cacky's Bride + Aid. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin.
Artist Sally King Benedict (whose work is pictured here with Cate’s Jimmy Choo heels) is a family friend of the Morse’s and one of the bride’s favorite talents. Cate commissioned Sally to craft portraits of each of her attendants and gifted them the abstract pieces.
Boutonnière by Gathering Floral + Event Design. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin.
Bride's gown by Monique Lhuillier, available in Charleston through Maddison Row. Earrings by Ippolita, available in Charleston through REEDS Jewelers. Bridal styling by Lindsey Nowak and Cacky's Bride + Aid. Bridesmaids' attire by Monique Lhuillier from Bella Bridesmaids. Florals by Gathering Floral + Event Design. Hair and makeup by Ashley Brook Perryman. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin.
Bride's gown by Monique Lhuillier, available in Charleston through Maddison Row. Bridesmaids' attire by Monique Lhuillier from Bella Bridesmaids. Florals by Gathering Floral + Event Design. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin.
Cate’s blush-hued gown paired with her bridesmaids’ ivory dresses (the bride and her attendants all wore Monique Lhuillier) and their mix-and-match blooms made for a pink and white ombré effect.
Pup's collar by Gathering Floral + Event Design. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin.
Flower girl's dress by Doloris Petunia. Ring bearer's attire from Southern Belles. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin.
Ring bearer's attire from Southern Belles. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin.
At first, the plan was to cap the pool with a dance floor. In the end, Gathering Events made the pool a focal point by filling it with blooms. “It was one of my favorite aspects of the wedding,” says Cate.
Ghost chairs from Taylor Creative Inc. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin at a private home South of Broad.
Wedding design by Kristin Newman Designs. Escort card display by Natalie Taylor Humphrey. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin at a private home South of Broad.
Escort cards were pinned to a canvas painted by Charleston’s Natalie Taylor Humphrey.
Photograph by Corbin Gurkin at a private home South of Broad.
Ghost chairs ensured the immaculate gardens were front and center.
Florals by Gathering Floral + Event Design. Wedding design by Kristin Newman Designs. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin at a private home South of Broad.
Wedding design by Kristin Newman Designs. Florals by Gathering Floral + Event Design. Circle-back chairs from Ooh! Events. Linens from La Tavola. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin at a private home South of Broad.
Florals and decor by Gathering Floral + Event Design. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin at a private home South of Broad.
Wedding design by Kristin Newman Designs. Florals by Gathering Floral + Event Design. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin at a private home South of Broad.
Watercolored pillows dressed lounge chairs.
Bar service by Cru Catering. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin at a private home South of Broad.
Florals by Gathering Floral + Event Design. Chairs from Ooh! Events. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin at a private home South of Broad.
Florals by Gathering Floral + Event Design. Wedding design by Kristin Newman Designs. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin.
Ghost chairs from Taylor Creative Inc. Wedding design by Kristin Newman Designs. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin.
Bride's gown by Monique Lhuillier, available in Charleston through Maddison Row. Bridal styling by Lindsey Nowak and Cacky's Bride + Aid. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin at a private home South of Broad.
“I wanted to get married with guests sitting on the lawn and looking down from the first, second, and third floor piazzas,” says Cate. “The anticipation of having the wrought-iron gates open, walking down to Hugh and looking up and around at our friends and family was the most exciting moment I could possibly imagine. In reality, it was even more special.”
Bride's gown by Monique Lhuillier, available in Charleston through Maddison Row. Hair and makeup by Ashley Brook Perryman. Bridal styling by Lindsey Nowak and Cacky's Bride + Aid. Groom's tux by Ermenegildo Zegna from Gwynn’s of Mount Pleasant. Bow tie by Brioni. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin at a private home South of Broad.
The newlyweds dined at a sweetheart table on the second-floor piazza. “We could see everyone but had an intimate moment to soak it all in,” says Cate.
Wedding design by Kristin Newman Designs. Florals by Gathering Floral + Event Design. Plates from Suite One Studio. Glassware and flatware from Snyder Event Rentals. Linens from La Tavola. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin.
Wedding design by Kristin Newman Designs. Ghost chairs from Taylor Creative Inc. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin at a private home South of Broad.
Florals by Gathering Floral + Event Design. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin.
Art by Britt Bass Turner. Wedding design by Kristin Newman Designs. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin.
Tent decor by Blossoms Events. Wedding design by Kristin Newman Designs. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin.
Prints by Atlanta artist Britt Bass Turner purchased as décor now hang in the couple’s home.
Cake by Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin.
Wedding design by Kristin Newman Designs. Florals by Gathering Floral + Event Design. Ghost chairs from Taylor Creative Inc. Linens from La Tavola. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin at a private home South of Broad.
Transportation by Lowcountry Valet & Shuttle Co. Photograph by Corbin Gurkin.