Lauren & Austin | Lowndes Grove Plantation



Funnily enough, romantic gestures aren’t the only way to find love. New York natives Lauren and Austin met when he boldly cut in front of her in line outside of a bar in the Hamptons. She took notice of him for this snub, of course, but she also couldn’t help but notice how devilishly handsome this stranger was. Later, when he caught her eye across the bar, Austin sidled up to Lauren and profusely apologized, explaining that he sometimes worked at the bar and had connections. He extended a peace offering in the form of some of bubbly, and the two got to chatting. Only a few days passed before Lauren and Austin were toasting the night away on their first date and two years down the road from that, and Austin was down on bended knee—not even a nor’easter couldn’t stop him. He popped the question on the porch outside Lauren’s parents’ home while their family and friends watched from a hidden door camera upstairs. (Everything was recorded on film so Lauren could watch it back time and time again.) And as the newly engaged had, just a week earlier, taken an impromptu road trip to South Carolina and fallen hard and fast in love with our Holy City (can you blame them?), the runaway winner for wedding locale was Lowndes Grove Plantation, overlooking the scenic Ashley River. Their nuptials were infused with all kinds of romance, from whimsical spools of fabric draping the dance floor, to luxe velvet emerald-green lounge areas, to gold laser-cut place cards. Embracing their southern surroundings, the couple handed out weddings favors of grits so that everyone could bring a little bit of Charleston back up North. Oh, and did we mention they had candy bar station at the end of the night? What’s sweeter than sweet? This darling couple and their beautiful Big Day.

Venue: Lowndes Grove | Florist: Ooh! Events | Images: Taylor Rae Photography | Hair + Makeup: Meg Workman & Paper Dolls | Ceremony Music: Charleston Virtuosi | Band: Steel Toe Stiletto | Caterer: Lowndes Grove | Dress: Pronovias & Castle Couture | Groom’s Attire: Suit Supply & The Black Tux

The Wedding Row

August 12 2019
We love it when Charleston is the backdrop for a budding romance, and we love it even more when a couple who started here returns for their “I do’s.” So it went with Amanda and Joey, who both...

August 12 2019
When a gal can name how many days she’s dated her beau (“One thousand and nine, but who’s counting?” laughs Erin), you know she’s ready for him to put a ring on it. When Matthew obliged, he and his...

August 8 2019
Sometimes it’s just so better said coming straight from the bride, so away we go into hearing it all from Houstin, Texas, resident Megan… (besides, we’re pretty sure we couldn’t get away with calling...

August 8 2019
We’re sure that Laura and Brian wanted their wedding day at Lowndes Grove Plantation to go on forever, because, duh, but we have to say we want it to, too! Why, now? Take a look at their insanely...

August 7 2019
Leave it to a couple from Texas to make a big splash of a wedding here in Charleston. Not only did Alicia and Walker pick an iconic mansion, the William Aiken House, for their reception, but they...

August 6 2019
“For months before the wedding,” says Mike, “Taryn would say, ‘Just wait! You won’t believe how amazing this day is going to be.’ ”And amazing it was. From the perfectly planned pink palette to the...

July 31 2019
August is just around the corner (like tomorrow, oh-em-gee) and school is about to be back in session. Do we hear all of those moms emitting a sigh of relief? To celebrate the end of this dreadfully...

July 30 2019
Kelly and Will met in an elementary school in 2013 … not while they were attending, of course, but while they were both teaching in Cleveland, Mississippi, for Teach for America Corps. Every...