Lauren & Blake | The Dewberry



Lauren and Blake crossed paths in Summerville, South Carolina when she was nannying for a coworker of his. They started dating and fell in love, they say, while boating on Wappoo Cut when a thunderstorm hit and they had to jump onto a dock for safety. Blake held Lauren in his arms to keep her cozy and dry, and, well, that was that. Five years later he proposed at that very same spot. Since she’s a Summerville native and he’s been a Charleston local since graduating from The Citadel, they wed here in town at Summerall Chapel on his alma mater’s campus and then headed to The Dewberry for a swanky reception. And while the day was made special thanks to all who surrounded the couple, it was made even more so considering the homage they paid to those missing. “My Dad passed away a month to the day after Blake and I were engaged,” explains Lauren. “We were so fortunate to get to share the excitement with him during that time and we wanted to make him a part of the wedding day as much as we could. There were a few things my Daddy loved—the Lord, golf, aviation, America, and a good stogie …” So, in honor of him, Lauren had her parents’ wedding date stitched into her gown; she carried her father’s aviator wings with her bouquet, and the couple included a Cigar Row rolling bar in their reception. The bride said she felt her dad’s presence throughout the day, but remarks that it was especially palpable when everyone was enjoying cocktails on The Dewberry’s rooftop, when “Dad sent a beautiful rainbow for all our guests to take pictures with,” Lauren says. To see all Cana Dunap’s images from this lovely couple’s lovely day, scroll on.

Design + Planning: The Petal Report | Images: Cana Dunlap Photography | Reception Venue, Catering & Bar: The Dewberry | Ceremony Venue: Citadel Summerall Chapel | Videographer: Branch Wedding Co | Rentals: Snyder Events | Florist: OK Florist | Stage: Stage Presence | Draping: YOJ Events | Lighting: Lowcountry Entertainment | Day of Signage: Hatchcove Designs | Hair & Makeup: Madison Lecroy | Cigar Bar: Cigar Row | Wedding Cake: ABCD Cake Design | Reception Entertainment: PlaneJane | Getaway Car: Lowcountry Valet | Transportation: ACW Limo

The Wedding Row

August 26 2019
Happy Monday, ladies and gents. First up on this week’s lineup? An adorable downtown wedding filled to the brim with beauty, sentiment, and lightheartedness. And you know it’s gotta be good when the...

August 23 2019
We loved Chloe and Blake’s dreamy downtown wedding from our summer print issue soooo much that we wanted to feature it here on The Wedding Row, too. So gals and gents, cozy up, grab a drink and...

August 22 2019
Cupid sure had his arrow locked and ready when Lindsay and David first met at SEWE the day before Valentine’s Day. Coincidence? We think not. Not only did they see each other almost every day the...

August 21 2019
Wedding Wednesday is in full swing and with Lauren and Bobby on tap, you’ll see why. Even though this pair attended different high schools and universities, distance couldn’t keep these sweethearts,...

August 20 2019
OK peeps. We may be just a little bit obsessed with this next styled shoot. OK, a lot obsessed. So get ready future bridal babes, or those just plain-obsessed with pretty, as  you’re going to want to...

August 19 2019
Smartie pants Jessica and Josh signed up for the same class during their sophomore year at the College of Charleston and that was what ultimately sparked the romantic connection between the New...

August 16 2019
Jazmin and Andrei might have met in Boston—where they still live—but choosing Charleston as the place for them to say “I do” was like coming home for the groom. (Andrei’s family moved from Romania to...

August 15 2019
Combine a few times crossing paths in Charleston, one meeting at Home Team BBQ during a Carolina/Clemson game where Billy second-guessed Aly’s availability (and passed up the chance to ask her...