Mary Jane & Alex | The Gadsden House



Magic brought Mary Jane and Alex together. No, really, it did—they met while working at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, part of Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Five years later, while on a lunch date, Alex popped the question and Mary Jane made him immediately drive her to her mother’s house so she could show off the ring. The two knew they wanted an outdoor wedding, but the bride says that Florida is just too hot and humid year-round, they went on a “tour of the South” searching for the perfect spot for their Big Day. After visiting venues in Greenville and Savannah, Georgia, as well as Charleston, they decided that The Gadsden House was just the right mix of elegance and Southern charm. They picked Monday, November 19 (their dating anniversary) for their nuptials, both as a sweet nod to their beginnings and as a way to make the most of their budget. And did we mention that the couple lost a total of 200 pounds (130 of those being hers) together in the years leading up to their wedding? Mary Jane tells us, “After Alex surprised me with a trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom for a special trek where they take pictures, we decided it was time to get our health under control. I had a feeling we would be getting married in the next couple of years and was extremely motivated to not have to pay more for my dress because of my size.” And what a dress it was! Congratulations to this pair of true partners.

Wedding Planner: Carolina Occasions | Florals: OK Florist | Photographer: Olivia Taylor Photography | Venue, Catering, and Bar Service: King Street Hospitality Group | Rentals: Snyder Events, Something Borrowed K&S | Lighting: Lowcountry Entertainment | Desserts: Cakes by Kait | Getaway Car: Lowcountry Valet & Shuttle Co.

The Wedding Row

April 29 2019
If you’ve ever walked down King Street on a Saturday evening, you know Charleston’s the “It City” for bachelorette parties. So when North Carolina native and bride-to-be Cristen decided to hold her...

April 26 2019
The latest Charleston Weddings magazine features the journey of Kaitlin and her hubby Allan, who defied the odds and overcame a traumatic brain injury to join his bride at the altar on their Big Day...

April 25 2019
When Morgan and her family attended Folly Gras 2015 (a Mardi Gras celebration held annually on Folly Beach), she had no inclination she’d meet her future husband. But when she caught up with her best...

April 24 2019
Few things get us through a hump day better than fantasizing about fantastic food and lip-smacking libations. So we thought it was a good time to reach out to Graham Ervin, director of sales at The...

April 23 2019
We profiled Hannah and Jonathan’s super lovely wedding in the spring issue of Charleston Weddings, but we weren’t able to include all they had to say, and we had a ton of bonus images to share with...

April 22 2019
Samantha Anderson Events teamed up with Lyndi and Jason Photography to turn a no-fun subject—your wedding budget—on its head. The trick? Samantha dressed three tables at three different price points...

April 19 2019
Blake, a wedding planner for Pure Luxe Bride, recently had the chance to plan her own Big Day. She and now-husband Charles met in an accounting class at College of Charleston, and a few years later...

April 18 2019
Here’s a rare wedding bird these days: A Charleston-raised couple prepping to say “I do” here in their own backyard. As Elizabeth and James keep on with the planning, here’s a little about the...