A Lowcountry Love Affair Grand Reception | Magnolia Plantation & Gardens



With couples getting anointed “Mr. and Mrs.” every weekend in the myriad nooks and crannies of Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, the site’s seen more than its fair share of wedding day décor. And as Magnolia’s former event director (and current owner of Cruz Coordination, one of Charleston’s top-notch planning outfits), Jessica Cruz has seen almost every last iteration. So when she was tapped to design the finale reception last January for the venue’s annual wedding showcase, “A Lowcountry Love Affair,” she wanted to give one of the most popular parts of Magnolia a totally new look. “The whole design was to create an extension of the outdoor garden parties that had taken place throughout the rest of the beautiful gardens of Magnolia Plantation that day,” says Jessica. “I wanted to create a lush, over-the-top, indoor garden party in one of my all-time favorite venues. I envisioned everything hanging from the ceiling—from flowers and greenery to the food displays and the insanely beautiful hanging dessert display. All the vendors took the vision and ran with it in their own way.” To understand how differently they styled things, consider the “before:” the waterside spot has towering bare-timbered ceilings that preside over a barn-like open floor plan, a recipe that planners tend to go rustic with. But Jessica and her dream team? Nope. Think hot pinks and purples. Think massive, brightly hued floral walls and installations from Roadside Blooms and WildFlowers Inc. And think pick-your-own pretzels from MOSAIC Catering & Events. (As for those guests plucked a hanging soft pretzel from those that dangled over the bar and opted for cheddar and beer cheese, basil-mustard dip, or a cinnamon creme anglaise.) Says Jessica, “The final product was truly more than I ever hoped it could be!” Curious? Don’t wait. Scroll on for all of the imagery from Philip Casey and happy pinning, all!

Venue: The Carriage House at Magnolia Plantation & GardensCoordination & Design: Cruz CoordinationFloral Design: Roadside BloomsFloral Design: WildFlowers Inc.Rentals: EventWorksLounge Furniture and Vintage Pieces: 428 MainDJ, Draping, and DJ lighting backdrop: Lowcountry EntertainmentMocktails: Spike by Snyder | Catering and Pretzel Display: MOSAIC Catering & EventsBakery: WildFlour PastryTransportation: Lowcountry Valet & Shuttle Co. | Images: Philip Casey Photography | Vintage Mirror Photo Booth: Charleston Booth Co. | Succulent Favors: Living Décor Charlotte

The Wedding Row

March 4 2019
Even though Anna, a Wilmington native, and Bobby, who is from Mount Pleasant, dated for over four years after swiping right on each other, they never really talked about getting married … they just...

March 1 2019
Kitty and Kyle met during their freshman year at Clemson, but they didn’t begin dating until they got to know each other as study partners a few years later. After two years, a move to Charleston,...

February 28 2019
Bissell and Jack may live in Atlanta, but Charleston has played a large part in their relationship, from their dating days through their engagement and now with their wedding. Bissell’s mother is...

February 27 2019
Today’s styled shoot takes place on the patio of 5Church, a downtown church-turned-restaurant that doubles as a wedding venue. Nicki Paige, owner of wedding planning company Nicki Paige Collection,...

February 26 2019
Christa met Andrew when she first moved into the same Charlotte, North Carolina, townhome complex as him in 2013. For a while, they were just passing acquaintances, until he asked her out for drinks...

February 25 2019
We’ve got the world of modern dating to thank for this gorgeous celebration at Boone Hall Plantation. Christiana and Bud met on Tinder, and after chatting on the app for a while, they met up for a...

February 22 2019
Nadja and Ryan both grew up in Sarasota, Florida, but they didn’t meet until they were in college (and on her 21st birthday, no less). A decade of dating later, he surprised her with a 10th...

February 21 2019
We so want to be friends with these two Charleston high-school sweethearts. Ask when they met and Jackie will tell you it was went they were 15 years old, she was in braces, and neither could drive...