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...
Charleston-native Katherine Parker and fiancé Ryan Clark of Mandeville, Louisiana, shared a six-year romance so strong that it even survived his one-year trek around the world. The pair, who both share a great love for the outdoors and being on the water, as well as a deep devotion to family, let the latter rule when Ryan popped the question. Katherine said yes, and the two began planning their big day. Although both wanted a large, formal wedding, every detail the couple chose for their 500-guest affair was resplendent with family tradition, Old-World romance, and antique elements. “A lot of the inspiration came from looking at old photographs of my parents’ and my grandparents’ weddings and bringing back the details that played an important role in each of those events,” says Katherine, adding, “Even though ours was a big wedding, we wanted it to feel intimate.” To capture that feeling, Katherine turned to Lisa Thomas of Out of Hand, who wove in classic, time-honored details that would achieve a polished, nostalgia-driven evening. At the reception site, the look came to life with intimate gathering spots anchored by coffee tables topped with antique mirrors, passed hors d’oeuvres on vintage sterling platters, and softening accents like an Oriental rug. Last, hundreds of candles—some set in custom fixtures—situated throughout the entire space cast a hushed, mellow glow on the festivities. “The candlelight made such a big gathering seem less overwhelming and made for a very warm and welcoming atmosphere,” says Katherine, who now lives in Chicago with her husband. By night’s end, the thoughtful, romantic ambience seemed the only fitting way to fête a couple whose reverence for family and the past so auspiciously marked the threshold of their future.
