Sweet Southern Soirée



WRITER CREDIT: 
PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT: 

May 31, 2025 / Old Wide Awake

Emily Garcia met Massimo Biscardi on a night out, “thanks to a serendipitous twist of mutual friendships,” she says. While celebrating a friend’s birthday, Emily ran into a childhood bud who happened to be in town with her boyfriend—and her boyfriend’s best friend, Massimo. As soon as Massimo and Emily started chatting, their connection was undeniable, as if they were the ones who’d known each other for years. Just seven months into dating, the couple knew they were ready for forever. Among the resplendent gardens of Middleton Place aglow at sunset, Massimo popped the question. 

Choosing to wed in the Lowcountry seemed a no-brainer, as it’s the place the couple calls home. And the two fell for the timeless charm of the first site they visited, the historic Old Wide Awake property along the Stono River in Hollywood. “We were captivated by its sweeping, moss-draped oaks, peaceful pathways, and picturesque white house standing proudly in the center,” Emily says. Elegant and impossibly romantic, the venue proved the perfect backdrop for their May nuptials. Emily personally executed her vision of an elegant Southern soirée, creating detailed inspiration boards and utilizing her own décor before bringing on Patrick & Co. Events as the month-of coordinator.

An airy palette of soft blues and greens—her favorite colors—anchored the aesthetic and carried over to patterned table linens and arrangements of delphiniums, anemones, roses, and hydrangeas. Personal touches were plentiful, including the bridesmaids’ monogrammed bouquet sashes, linen napkins bearing the newlyweds’ last initial, and personalized cornhole boards for playing on the lawn. Even the signature drinks offered a snapshot of the pair: Emily’s an orange crush, the drink she was holding when she met her future groom, and Massimo’s an old-fashioned, a classic cocktail that fit his style to a T.

Top Tips:

  • Soak it in. The couple relished the moments when they pressed pause and felt truly present, including when their pastor had them turn and face their guests during the ceremony and when they closed the celebration with a private last dance.
  • Embrace color. Who said a wedding cake must be all white? Emily’s love of Wedgwood inspired their lemon-flavored confection, which incorporated the day’s signature green hue. 
  • Roll with it. Some details didn’t quite go as the couple envisioned, but they didn’t let disappointment dominate the day. “The small imperfections are usually the moments you end up laughing about later,” Emily says.
  • Plan a few surprises. Emily delighted her mom with a mother-daughter dance, which became one of the sweetest moments of the entire evening. 

Vendors:

  • Month-of Coordinator: Patrick & Co. Events
  • Venue: Old Wide Awake
  • Photography: Christina Baird Photography
  • Florals: Charleston Flower Girl
  • Catering & Bar Service: Hamby Catering & Events
  • Cake: Bonnie Brunt Cakes
  • Signage: Graceanna Judy Art
  • Linens: Stradley Davidson, Snyder 
  • Rentals: Snyder, Aaron’s Lowcountry Event Rentals
  • Entertainment: Bunn DJ Company
  • Bridal Attire: Madison Carolina Bridal (gown and veil)
  • Beauty: Adore & Co.
  • Bridesmaids’ Attire: Azazie Atelier
  • Groom’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse (tux), Brackish (bow tie), Tecovas (shoes)
  • Bouquet Sashes: ThreadsandHoney (Etsy)

The Wedding Row

March 4 2019
Even though Anna, a Wilmington native, and Bobby, who is from Mount Pleasant, dated for over four years after swiping right on each other, they never really talked about getting married … they just...

March 1 2019
Kitty and Kyle met during their freshman year at Clemson, but they didn’t begin dating until they got to know each other as study partners a few years later. After two years, a move to Charleston,...

February 28 2019
Bissell and Jack may live in Atlanta, but Charleston has played a large part in their relationship, from their dating days through their engagement and now with their wedding. Bissell’s mother is...

February 27 2019
Today’s styled shoot takes place on the patio of 5Church, a downtown church-turned-restaurant that doubles as a wedding venue. Nicki Paige, owner of wedding planning company Nicki Paige Collection,...

February 26 2019
Christa met Andrew when she first moved into the same Charlotte, North Carolina, townhome complex as him in 2013. For a while, they were just passing acquaintances, until he asked her out for drinks...

February 25 2019
We’ve got the world of modern dating to thank for this gorgeous celebration at Boone Hall Plantation. Christiana and Bud met on Tinder, and after chatting on the app for a while, they met up for a...

February 22 2019
Nadja and Ryan both grew up in Sarasota, Florida, but they didn’t meet until they were in college (and on her 21st birthday, no less). A decade of dating later, he surprised her with a 10th...

February 21 2019
We so want to be friends with these two Charleston high-school sweethearts. Ask when they met and Jackie will tell you it was went they were 15 years old, she was in braces, and neither could drive...