Southern Comfort



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Southern Comfort | For her Big Day, a San Francisco-based bride returns to her Lowcountry roots

Carrie Sasser & Jonny Whitaker
May 28, 2011
The Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island & Edisto's Middleton Plantation

 

Sometimes in love, all signs point to “go”. Take San Francisco couple Carrie Sasser and Jonny Whitaker, who met at church when a Patagonia-clad Jonny turned to greet outdoor-loving Carrie and asked her out for coffee after the service. “I already had plans but he asked for my number,” says Carrie. “After he left, I ran to a good friend of mine who had met her husband at church and told her the news. Turns out that a couple years later, we would share the same ‘how you met your husband’ story.”

A year and a half later, Jonny drove to Charleston—Carrie’s hometown—to request her father’s permission to ask her to marry him. Shortly after, Jonny took her to Mount Tamalpais, California, where he proposed and told his new bride-to-be that he had yet another surprise in store. They drove to Hog Island Oyster Farm in Point Reyes—a favorite date spot of theirs—where a group at one of the tables asked if the two had just gotten engaged. “I thought, ‘That’s weird,’” says Carrie. “But then I looked up and saw my parents and close friends from Charleston—plus Jonny’s family.”

And though Jonny had arranged for Carrie’s family and friends to fly cross-country for the proposal, when it came to the wedding Carrie wanted to head home.  Thus with a vision of showing off her Lowcountry roots and their affinity for vintage pieces, the couple brought in Ooh! Events to dress Edisto’s Middleton Plantation with farmhouse tables, driftwood bars, and fresh, country flowers. Above all, “We wanted our guests to have a seriously good time,” says Carrie. And that they did. “Every single second was a blast,” she says.


Vendor List:

Bride’s attire: Ulla-Maija from Maddison Row; www.maddisonrow.com
Bridesmaids’ attire: Melissa Sweet from Bella Bridesmaid Charleston; www.bellabridesmaid.com
Cake Pops  and cupcakes: Sweet Reba’s; www.facebook.com/pages/Sweet-Rebas
Caterer: Southern Affairs Catering; popigs@bellsouth.net
Ceremony Location: The Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island; www.pcedisto.org
Groom and groomsmen attire: Cotton Ludlow Suits from J.Crew; www.jcrew.com, bow ties from High Cotton Ties; www.highcottonties.com
Music: The Mighty Kicks; www.themightykicks.com
Photography: Hunter McRae; www.huntermcraephotography.com
Rentals (tent, lights, and driftwood bars): Atlantic Tent; www.atlantictent.net
Reception Location: Middleton Plantation, Edisto Island
Restrooms: Royal Restrooms; www.royalrestroomscarolinas.com
Stationery, save-the-dates, and thank you cards: Blue Cole Press; www.etsy.com/shop/bluecole
Transportation: Absolutely Charleston; www.absolutelycharleston.com
Wedding cake: Magnolia Wedding Cakes
Wedding coordination and design, invitations, day-of stationery, and rentals: Ooh! Events and Out of Hand; www.shopoutofhand.com