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...
Courtney Jo Schoenbaechler and Jake Fraser
May 16, 2015
The Pavilion at Pepper Plantation
While Courtney Jo (CJ) Schoenbaechler and Jake Fraser now call Boston home, they met in classic Charleston fashion—on a bar crawl through the Market—when both lived here. Six and a half years later, the two dove into planning a wedding on their old stomping grounds that centered around CJ’s peach-hued sapphire engagement ring, exuded their down-to-earth style, and was executed thanks to their talents plus that of their family and friends. “We wanted it to feel like we were hosting a backyard party where CJ got to wear a really pretty dress,” says Jake. A glance at these images prove the entire crew met that goal and then some. One of the couple’s best bits of advice for DIYers? Hire a day-of coordinator, says CJ. “We did as much as we could leading up to the wedding,” she says, but with Christy Loftin on board, “all we had to do after that was show up for the ceremony.” Smart moves all around.
Vendor List:
Day-of coordination: Christy Loftin, www.ChristyLoftin.com
Photography: Shannon Michele Photography, www.ShannonMichelePhotography.com
Venue: The Pavilion at Pepper Plantation, www.PepperPavilion.com
Florals: Somerset Gagné, www.GagneFoods.com (tabletop); groom’s stepmother (bouquets, boutonnieres)
Flowers, peaches: Whole Foods Market, www.WholeFoodsMarket.com
Chairs, linens, tables: EventWorks, www.EventWorksRentals.com
Handkerchiefs, floral vessels, printed materials: CJ Schoenbaechler (the bride)
Signage: Mother of the bride
Bar service: MIX, www.MixCharleston.com
Pie: Kaminsky’s, www.Kaminskys.com
Bride’s attire: Augusta Jones (gown), available locally through Gown Boutique of Charleston, www.GownBoutiqueofCharleston.com; mother of the bride (veil); Cacky’s Bride + Aid, www.CackysBrideAid.com (day-of dresser)
Bridemaids’ attire: J.Crew, www.JCrew.com
Groom and groomsmen’s attire: Bonobos, www.Bonobos.com (suits); Lochcarron of Scotland, www.Lochcarron.co.uk (ties); Cole Haan, www.ColeHaan.com (shoes)
Bus: Lowcountry Valet & Shuttle Co., www.LowcountryValet.com
Cake toppers: Wish Daisy (Etsy), www.Etsy.com/Shop/WishDaisy
