Danielle & Tom | Middleton Place



After Long Islanders Tom and Danielle met in chorus class during their freshman year of high school, it took him a full year to build up enough courage to ask her to be his girlfriend. Her response: “What took you so long?” For nine and a half years they dated, through high school (where they were voted “cutest couple”) and college (though they were some 650 miles apart), until one fateful evening when they joined Danielle’s brother and his fiancée on a tour of their late paternal grandparents’ neighborhood in the Hamptons. A huge blizzard had come through the night before leaving two feet of snow behind, but a determined Tom (and his helpful father-in-law-to-be) shoveled a clear path to the community dock where he planned to pop the question, then lined it with lanterns all aglow. The scene was so expertly executed, Danielle thought the setup was for someone else. Then, she says, “Tom looked at me funny and I immediately burst into tears. It then hit me … he was going to propose.” His question was an easy one to answer, but where to wed? I knew I didn’t want to get married on Long Island,” says the bride of her home turf. “It just didn’t feel like my style. All the ballrooms and ugly carpeting just screamed gaudy Italian wedding. I wanted something Southern, romantic and beautiful. Tom and I took a trip to Charleston a month after our engagement and we knew we had to get married there.” With its enormous oak trees and secret gardens, Middleton Place stole their hearts and answered Danielle’s hope for “Spanish moss in every single one of my photos” snapped on the Big Day.

When the ceremony rolled around, her maternal grandfather, 89 years old, rose to bless the union with a prayer. The preamble included some compliments for the bride and good-natured jabs at the groom, then the formalities, but before wrapping things up, he raised his cane in the air to emphatically declared his love for Danielle’s grandmother, his wife of 71 years. With a legacy like that to lean on, and a foundation of their own already a decade old, we’re thinking this pair has kicked off their love story in the best possible way. 

P.S. Soon after Danielle’s paternal grandparents passed away, the family started to find pennies and dimes right next to each other in random spots. One day they found the penny and dime you’ll see below–each having the year they passed away. Danielle pinned them to her bouquet, so they could be with her as she walked down the aisle.

Wedding Coordinator + Designer: Sweetgrass Social, Meredith Tanton | Wedding Ceremony + Reception Venue: Middleton Place | Caterer: Cru Catering | Cake: Delicious Desserts | Florist: On A LimbBridal Hair and Makeup: Lashes and Lace | Wedding Dress Designer: Pronovias | Wedding Dress Boutique: L’Fay | Bride’s Heels: Essex Lane | Bridesmaid Dresses: Bloomingdales | Bridesmaid’s Robes: Le Rose | Groom & Groomsmen Suits: Kenneth Cole Reaction | Groomsmen Ties: The Tie Bar | Flower Girls & Ring Bearer Outfits: Golositos Ropa Infantil | Ceremony Musicians: Spiritually Yours | Draping: Veil | Invitations: Minted | Calligraphy: J. Lily Design | Lighting Design: TEC | Rentals: EventWorks | Linen Rentals: Nuage Linens | Reception Music: Other Brother Entertainment, DJ Wade | Transportation: Marquee Limo Company | Videographer: Thomas Brothers Productions | Wedding Rings: Maddaloni Jewelers | Acrylic Place Cards: KateLandLovemade

The post Danielle & Tom | Middleton Place appeared first on The Wedding Row.

The Wedding Row

February 24 2020
Molly and Chris’s colleagues at J.P. Morgan in New York had a feeling the two were perfect for each other and tried for months to set them up. When they finally met up at an event? Cue: magic. Over...

February 24 2020
After Long Islanders Tom and Danielle met in chorus class during their freshman year of high school, it took him a full year to build up enough courage to ask her to be his girlfriend. Her response...

February 24 2020
On the first day of college at the University of Georgia, a complete stranger tried to convince Sarah to drop freshman English; he’d heard the professor was terrible. Turns out the professor was,...

February 14 2020
To all the single ladies (and gents): Valentine’s Day isn’t only for those already in love. As Alex and Pete’s story proves, it may be the perfect day for a meet-cute. Pennsylvania-born Pete was in...

February 12 2020
Four days before Allison and Brendan’s dream Charleston wedding, Hurricane Florence was making its way toward the Lowcountry and the city was under evacuation orders. The Dallas-based couple pulled...

February 11 2020
Courtney wasn’t looking to settle down, but when friends convinced her to take Kristen on a date, something felt different. Before long, they found themselves in a long-distance relationship—Courtney...

February 7 2020
Bumble may be responsible for introducing this couple, but it was a magical first date filled with sushi, hours of conversation, karaoke, and endless laughter that truly brought together Michelle and...

February 6 2020
Maggie and Mike’s story puts a whole new spin on bro-mance. It all started in Chicago when her boss, who was dating a fellow named Eric, wanted to set Maggie up with her boyfriend’s younger brother....