Aye Do!



WRITER CREDIT: 
PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT: 

When mutual friends brought Jordan McLean to Taylor Adkins’s birthday, the move turned out to be the gift of a lifetime. After hitting it off, the Atlanta natives met for an unofficial first-date cocktail—a rendezvous that tumbled into a four-hour conversation and concluded only when the bar closed. Following a two-year courtship, Jordan proposed during a Thanksgiving trip to New York City. With the Macy’s Day Parade underway, he found a quiet corner of Central Park and asked for her hand.

Taylor and Jordan initially considered his ancestral home of Scotland for their big day but decided it was too far for guests to travel. So the couple found a compromise: they would sneak away to the United Kingdom on a pre-wedding visit to Duart Castle (the seat of Clan Maclean) and exchange private vows on the beach of St. Andrews Links. They would then return stateside to host an intimate ceremony followed by a large reception in Charleston, where the groom’s parents reside. Upon learning that New Year’s Eve was one of just two dates available at their desired venue, Hotel Bennett, the thoughtful pair took it as a sign to ring in their romance on December 31, 2024. 

From there, a vision unfurled of a gilded soirée with Gatsby undertones and a touch of Scottish flair. Planner and florist Justin Wham and event designer Ty Leslie turned up the wow factor with sparkling tablescapes bedecked in candles, dramatic arrangements of soft white blooms, and a floral peacock perched atop a baby grand piano. Meanwhile, the groom’s Maclean tartan vestments, a kilt-clad officiant, and a custom wedding crest paid homage to his Highland roots. The entire affair felt like a stunning fairy tale, from the exchange of I dos inside the rooftop observatory to an elegant cocktail hour in the hotel rotunda to the black-tie reception-turned-midnight masquerade ball.

Top Tips

  • Embrace the date. The couple didn’t originally plan a NYE wedding, but upon discovering the date was available, they called it fate. The newlyweds rang in the New Year with guests bedecked in masquerade masks, feather boas, noisemakers, and party hats.
  • Find sweet inspiration. The three-tier cake echoed the beaded details of the bride’s ornate Nicole + Felicia gown and the ruffled blooms in her bouquet.
  • Make it personal. A pen-and-ink crest by local artist Christophe Drumain featured elements specific to the sweethearts: Duart Castle, tartan plaid, Georgia peaches, tennis, lacrosse, and their beloved Pomsky. The motif appeared everywhere from stationery to the dance floor.
  • Calm your mind. On the morning before her marriage, the bride enjoyed solo time to meditate, order her favorite room service breakfast, listen to a special playlist, and “reflect on my life leading up to becoming Mrs. McLean.”

Vendors

  • Design & Officiant: Ty Leslie
  • Florals & Planning: Justin Wham Weddings & Events
  • Venue, Catering, & Bar Service: Hotel Bennett
  • Photography: Richard Bell Photography 
  • Cake: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal
  • Custom Crest: Christophe Drumain
  • Stationery: Jeffrey Bannon
  • Linens: BBJ La Tavola
  • Rentals: Curated Events
  • Lighting: Technical Event Company 
  • Entertainment: Simply Irresistible Band from East Coast Entertainment
  • Dance Floor Wrap: Shout!
  • Bridal Attire: Nicole + Felicia (gown) from The Bridal Collection in Colorado, Cornelia James (gloves)
  • Beauty: Ash & Co. (hair)
  • Bridesmaid’s Attire: AQUA (gown) from Bloomingdale’s
  • Groom’s Attire: Smith & Palestro, Gucci (loafers)
  • Videography: Lowcountry Wedding Films

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