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 27 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads, the majority of us are anxious and overwhelmed. And when you’re engulfed in worry, you often dig further and further down that hole and forget to take in the beauty...

March 26 2020
Maybe you’ve been planning your dream wedding for months. Maybe you just got engaged and cannot wait to start booking vendors. Either way, you weren’t expecting a pandemic like the COVID-19...

March 19 2020
For anyone who doubts that chemistry trumps all, meet Ashlyn and Tommy. The two Charlestonians were struck super shy when they first bumped into one another at a party in 2013, but thanks to a little...

March 18 2020
Charlotte, North Carolina, residents Drew and Annie were introduced at a birthday party in a local brewery. He heard she was a physical therapist and asked her lots of questions about his “hurt”...

March 17 2020
Five years ago, Anna just happened to sit right behind Ian while both were in Savannah, Georgia, at pharmacy school. Soon after, he asked her to a wedding as his plus-one, and they had a grand old...

March 12 2020
When bridal boutique owner Christina was struggling to lug a new desk into her East Greenwich, Rhode Island, condo, her neighbor Daniel (Dan), on a business call, saw her plight … and kept on walking...

March 11 2020
Today we have two local lovebirds, Mallory and Brian, who were introduced through Bumble. Their first-date stops were Charleston favorites: Home Team Barbecue on Sullivan’s Island for ’cue and The...

March 10 2020
This one brings a whole new luxe-wedding vibe to “painting the town red!” Charleston native Annie moved to Nashville on a whim, where her new home just happened to be down the road from Music City...