Love at First Site



WRITER CREDIT: 
PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT: 
Love at First Site | A Northern bride's dream Big Day—a Southern soireé complete with ancient oaks and draping Spanish moss—comes to life

Shelley McLaughlin & Kent Scott
September 20, 2014
Middleton Place

 

Shelley McLaughlin may live in New York City, but she says she always knew she wanted to get married under a mossy oak tree.  (Her mother’s from South Carolina, so the woman knows her live oaks and “mossy” to her equals Spanish moss). After a Central Park proposal from beau Kent Scott, the pair flew South and headed to scope out Middleton Place for their special day. It was the first venue on their itinerary, but they were so smitten with it they cancelled all other site visits and headed downtown for celebratory drinks with planner Lauren Fox of Fox Events—a childhood friend of the bride’s. As for aesthetics, “I wanted it to feel like you were in a garden,” says Shelley, who got just that. Tree slab cake stands, wooden lanterns, and leafy garlands wrapped around poles and rafters did the trick in charming, homespun style.

Top Tips
Take It from the Scotts ...

• Cakes from family friend Libby Murdock are a longtime McLaughlin family tradition on visits to South Carolina. The bride enlisted her to bake the wedding desserts.
• While it’s common practice to showcase family wedding photos at a reception, Shelley put a spin on that idea by displaying her mother and grandmother’s wedding gowns.
• The bride was so smitten with her Etsy-found crystal bouquet she skipped fresh flowers for herself. Faux florals are a great option for cold weather months when blooms are priciest.

 

Vendor List:

Wedding design, florals: Fox Events, www.AFoxEvent.com
Venue, wine, and bar service: Middleton Place, www.MiddletonPlace.org
Greenery: Nancy’s Exotic Plants, www.Facebook.com/Nancys-Exotic-Plants-116283035052515/timeline/
Bouquet: Bridal Bouquets by Ky, www.Etsy.com/Shop/BridalBouquetsbyKy
Photography: amelia + dan, www.ameliaanddan.com
Catering: Cru Catering, www.CruCatering.com
Cake: Libby Murdock (family friend)
Rentals: (chairs, lounge furniture) Snyder Events, www.SnyderEvents.com; (farm tables, bar) Eventhaus; (vintage pieces) 428 Main Vintage Rentals
Tent, stage, dance floor: Sperry Tents Southeast, www.SperryTentsSoutheast.com
Lighting: Innovative Event Services, www.IESProductions.com
Bride’s gown: Jenny Packham, available locally through White on Daniel Island, www.WhiteOnDI.com
Beauty: Meg Workman, Wedding Hair by Charlotte, WeddingHairByCharlotte.com
Bridesmaid gowns: Jean’s Bridal, www.JeansBridalCharleston.com/
Groom’s suit: Charleston Tuxedo, www.CharlestonTuxedo.com
Music: (ceremony) Charleston Virtuosi, www.CharlestonVirtuosi.com; (reception) Drivetrain, www.DrivetrainBand.net
Transportation: LowCountry Valet & Shuttle Co., www.LowCountryValet.com
 

The Wedding Row

June 5 2019
Hey Mon! We have some serious tropical vibes happenin’ on the blog today and seeing that the official start of summer is just a few weeks away, we thought it only fair to share it with you all cuties...

June 4 2019
Wakey wakey, all you sleepyheads. It’s a beautiful day and us gals over here at The Wedding Row office are here to make sure you roll out on the right side of the bed. How now? Well, once you lay...

June 3 2019
If Kelly and Jeff’s relationship beginning was to have a theme song, it would have to be “With a Little Help by My Friends” by The Beatles. The two were introduced by way of mutual friends (hint,...

May 30 2019
Just one more workday separates us from our beloved weekend and in the spirit of such, we wanted to set the mood and get you all primed and ready for what is to come. So let’s drink happy thoughts...

May 29 2019
Bridgitt and Hayden met and became fast friends during their sophomore year of college at Wake Forest University. More than five years later, the duo got engaged on its campus which is sweeter than...

May 28 2019
Shelby and Len owe a big thank you, really and truly, to Len’s father. How now? After finishing a round of golf together at the Country Club of Charleston, Len’s dad noticed a pretty blonde across...

May 23 2019
Likely you’ve heard the phrase before, “There are plenty of fish in the sea.” You’ve probably heard it from a consoling girlfriend, trying to bolster your confidence in the fact that you are sure to...

May 22 2019
Talk about one cool and cultured couple. From New York City to St. Thomas, Amsterdam, and France, Sophia and Alex have seen it all. So, it comes as little surprise that their Big Day was pretty...