Back to the Future



WRITER CREDIT: 
PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT: 
Back to the Future | A College of Charleston grad returns to her old stomping grounds to wed her dream fellow at her dream location amid a sea of color
Morgan Wetherington & David “Dave” Weinstock
 
March 24, 2018 • Lowndes Grove Plantation
 
Long before Morgan Wetherington ever met David “Dave” Weinstock, she was already in love … with a venue. Yes, while at the College of Charleston, the dimpled redhead had interned for a planner and when an event took her to Lowndes Grove Plantation, sparks flew. She, like most brides, confesses “she immediately knew” she’d found the one (well, the one location, at least). So next? That little business of finding the other one—her husband. As for that, leave it to mutual friends and a happy hour at a bar in Nashville, Tennessee, to kick Cupid into motion.
 
After three years of dating, Dave was ready to pop the question, and to dress up his proposal he booked a weekend in Charleston for the two. But when Morgan found the ring before the trip, Dave quickly switched to plan B at home and asked her to marry him amid flickering candles and twinkling string lights. (Spoiler alert: She said “Yes.”)
 
Since Morgan’s stint in the Lowcountry, she had followed Calder Clark on Instagram and was drawn to the event planner’s classic taste and whimsical touches. Morgan and Dave commissioned a watercolor crest and from there, let Calder work her magic. That birthed a milestone celebration that started by the water with a simple, almost unadorned ceremony and segued into a reception wrapped in blue, green, and pink, rife with calligraphy, that crest, and playfulness in the form of a blockbuster children’s table.
 
“Dave and I wanted our friends and family to fall in love with Charleston the way we have over the years,” says Morgan, who got to see her two biggest crushes unite on her Big Day. “People still call me to tell me how much fun the wedding was,” she says, “and how they are going back to Charleston to visit.” Can’t blame them one bit.
 
 
Child’s Play
 
Craft a table that young guests won’t want to leave. “I learned long ago that weddings are a wonderful way for children to learn how to behave,” says Calder. “There’s something really sweet (and both European and Southern) about including children in a wedding. You don’t have to leave a six-year-old out because you’re scared they’re going to be rambunctious. If you create boundaries they are joy to have at a wedding.” Here are some of Calder’s tips to setting a junior head table.
 
❶ Make it personal. From monogrammed plates to name straws, each child at Morgan and Dave’s reception received favors of their very own, which made them feel special in their own right.
❷ Be practical. Cup lids, straws, and durable melamine plates keep messes (and broken rentals) to a minimum.
❸ Rethink centerpieces. Let candy take the place of flowers and children—who tend to fiddle with centerpieces of any sort­—are riveted.
❹ Add a toy chest. Keep children occupied with goody boxes of table games and puzzles.
❺ Supervise. The eight guests at this table had parents all within sight. An alternative? Hire a nanny (through your planner) to sit with them.
 
Vendors
 
Wedding design: Calder Clark www.CalderClark.com
Florals and production: Blossoms Events www.BlossomsEvents.com
Photography: Tec Petaja www.TecPetajaPhoto.com
Venue, caterer, and cake: Patrick Properties Hospitality www.PPHGCharleston.com
Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals www.SnyderEvents.com
Linens and napkins: Pressed Fine Linens www.PressedFineLinens.com
Lighting and sound: Technical Event Company www.TechnicalEventCompany.com
Officiant: Dave Wyrick
Videography: Artistic Eye Productions www.ArtisticEyeProductions.com
Professional dresser: Cacky’s Bride + Aid www.CackysBrideAid.com
Hair: Salon Vari www.SalonVari.com
Makeup: I D.O. Makeup
Departure vehicle: Lowcountry Valet and Shuttle www.LowcountryValet.com
Ceremony musicians: Archer String Music Trio www.ArcherMusic.com
Band: The Voltage Brothers www.BookECE.com/artist/Voltage-Brothers
Transportation: Absolutely Charleston www.AbsolutelyCharleston.com

 

The Wedding Row

February 14 2022
Written By Melissa Reardon Photographs By Lucy Cuneo A transplant from Virginia, Weston “Wes” McAfee vividly remembers the first time he saw his future bride-to-be. Charleston native Dana Elaine...

December 29 2021
An Elegant Affair Proves New Year’s Eve Might Just Be The Perfect Time To Start A New Life Together By Joanne O’Sullivan | Images by Brandon Lata Photography Few people anywhere in the...

December 16 2021
A Match Made in Heaven Classic white blooms, greenery, and wooden elements set off this stunning Charleston wedding under the oaks When it comes to love and marriage, couples who pair well...

December 2 2021
A Charleston Winter Wedding Embraces the Season with Sophistication and Glamour Just a few hours before sunset in mid-winter, Charleston takes on a certain golden glow, unparalleled at any other...

November 17 2021
Take Cues from this Intimate Dreamy Blue “I Do” Amy Bronston and Trevor Pittman’s love story reads like a romantic movie. It was during the 2019 holiday season in Washington DC, where...

October 28 2021
This Halloween matrimony perfectly plays up the holiday—with a dash of fun and plenty of class in a scenic coastal Charleston setting By Joanne O’Sullivan | Images by Anne Rhett Photography...

October 11 2021
By Melissa Reardon | Images by Kelsey Halm Photo Expert Advice for a Beautiful Fall Bouquet With seasonal change comes an exciting rich color palette and tons of texture with which to design....

September 29 2021
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work Photos by Dana Cubbage Weddings | Written by Melissa Reardon They say the greatest marriages are built on teamwork. And indeed, it’s one of the marital building blocks...