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

January 29 2019
What do you get when you mix a love for the outdoors with the inherent girly-girl style that comes when you run a hair and makeup company? Mason and Alex’s well-rounded wedding, of course! Bride...

January 28 2019
Chanel and Alex’s courtship reads like a rom-com, so buckle in for the ride. The two (he’s from Boston and she’s from Atlanta) met during their sophomore year at College of Charleston when Alex...

January 25 2019
We love it when neighbors from “Off” come to Charleston with a fresh look at some of our favorite old stomping grounds to give brides ideas anew. That’s what we’re showcasing today, thanks to...

January 24 2019
New Yorkers Mindy and Matt picked Charleston for a destination weekend a scant few months ago (his biz partner is based here, so they’d fallen for the city some time before). In proper Big City style...

January 23 2019
There are wedding hashtags, then there are neon signs for wedding hashtags! Meet Meghan and Beau, who are not only aces at hashtags but also so bold as to commission a neon sign reading #...

January 22 2019
Ever wonder how a super fancy blockbuster wedding gets pieced together while still coming off as personal? We took a look at Mary and Reid’s fantastic Fenwick Hall wedding, planned exquisitely by...

January 21 2019
So does all the heart candy in stores have anyone else out there seeing red–in the good way? Us, too. Thus we bring you Devin and Scott’s enchanting wedding at Lowndes Grove Plantation...

January 18 2019
Can we just say we love how Caitlin and Michael operate? The pair, who live outside Indianapolis, Indiana, wed on a Sunday last summer with a handful of family and little ones in tow at The William...