Twelve years after meeting in high school, Maryland native Joey Daniels recreated the midnight walks through Washington, D.C., he used to take with Rose Di Peppi while she studied at George Washington University. When the couple reached the Lincoln Memorial, he handed Rose a viewfinder, popping the question on the last slide. Seeking a destination wedding, the couple turned to Magnolia Plantation & Gardens and the talents of Christina Baxter of Cibi Events. “I wanted vintage romance with a modern twist,” says Rose, “almost like Gatsby coming to Charleston and throwing a garden party.” To that end, the bridal bouquet held roses (of course), dahlias, greenery, hydrangeas, and anemones; similar mixes adorned the aisle and reception tent, where gold accents radiated the pair’s “sophisticated, warm, and approachable style,” says Christina.
To-dos from the Daniels ...
• Personalize your sweets. “Joey used to buy me mini cakes from a bakery in D.C. for every anniversary,” says Rose, so Cakes by Kasarda baked up miniature confections in addition to a traditional cake.
• Donate your florals after-the-fact. Rose and Joey (who are both in the medical field) worked with local nonprofit rEvent to give theirs to MUSC Children’s Hospital.
• GIft favors that are equal parts practical and pretty. Rose and Joey’s guests left with vintage teacups (thrift-shopped for by the couple), a heart-shaped diffuser, and Charleston Tea Plantation tea bags.
• Reinvent pricey ideas. For a photo booth backdrop, planner Christina Baxter recreated a floral wall the bride found on Pinterest, using paper florals instead of fresh blooms.
Weddings are weekend-long affairs these days. Jump-start yours with a welcome party like this one, where far-flung guests fell fast and hard for the Lowcountry life
