The Sunny Side



PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT: 
The Sunny Side | A Southern garden party-inspired Big Day
Brittany Jordan & Thomas Robbins
April 27, 2024 / Residence on Clouter Creek
 
A drawn-out first date—“the longest either of us has ever been on”—quickly sparked a comfortable connection between Charlestonians Brittany Jordan and Thomas Robbins. “Being with her felt effortless, as if I had known her forever,” he recalls. Both valued a good sense of humor and strong family ties, which helped them fit right in with their future in-laws. So when Thomas popped the question two and a half years later, they could think of no better place to marry than her parent’s house on Clouter Creek. “Their home is where everyone gathers to have a great time,” says Brittany. “We joke that our friends come over to hang out with my parents just as much as, if not more than, us.”
 
The bride wished for an elegant Southern garden party, so Ash Events planner Ashley Pate Newkirk and Willow florist Jessie Johnson played up the springtime vibe. Bright white and sunny yellow blooms appeared in dainty bud vases and woven baskets while magnolia leaf garlands graced the tables and “Charleston Green” joggling board, which doubled as a guest book. Inverted umbrellas and patterned linens lent a whimsical touch inside the tent.
 
In true Lowcountry fashion, the backyard reception also included a raw oyster bar and custom bourbon bar built by the bride’s father. Brittany and Thomas even followed the Southern tradition of burying a bourbon bottle upside down—here, a rare special release of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. 18-Year Marriage—one month prior to their nuptials to ensure good weather. And thanks to clear skies, guests were treated to a breathtaking drone light show prior to the couple’s sparker-led departure. But with the pool-turned-dance floor still rocking, “we just took a quick ride around the block and came right back to the party,” laughs Brittany. The night was simply too good to end.
 
Tips
 
  1. Lean on experts. The bride has a gluten allergy, so she turned to Rosemary & Rye for a menu that was both gluten-free and delicious. “Their pecan-encrusted chicken was an absolute standout,” raves Brittany. “When your grandmother goes back for thirds, you know it’s a hit!” 
  2. Hire a dog nanny. The couple’s fur baby, Ollie, was not to be missed at their nuptials. So they hired a helper to stay with Ollie when she wasn’t in pictures and take her to a boarding facility following the ceremony. 
  3. Bury the bottle. Bourbon is a beloved spirit for this duo. Exactly one month before the big day, they buried a full bottle (upside down for good weather), then dug it up at the reception to share with their wedding party and family. Her advice: bury it in a bag to avoid a mess. 
 
Vendors
Planning & Design: Caluna Event Design Collective, Ash Events
Photography: Magnolia Photography
Florals: Willow
Garland: SweetMagnoliaBliss Etsy shop
Catering & Bar: Rosemary & Rye
Rentals: CRUSH by EventWorks
Linens: Stradley Davidson Linen Collective
Lighting: LIT Charleston
Drone Light Show: Sky Elements Drones
Dance Floor: Pleat Systems
Calligraphy & Signage: Bree Moore Design & Calligraphy
Entertainment: The Midnight City Band
Bridal Attire: Essense of Australia (gown), Gown Boutique of Charleston (boutique)
Beauty: Galya Makeup Artistry
Groom’s Attire: The Black Tux, Brackish (tie)
Bridesmaids’ Attire: Azazie

The Wedding Row

July 23 2021
Been wondering why go the extra mile for a bridal portrait shoot? While the tradition began in Southern Europe, at a time when affluent families would hire an artist to paint the picture, we’ve come...

July 8 2021
Like any solid relationship, Ali DuRant and Quinn Foster’s foundation began in friendship. They met at a July Fourth party on Sullivan’s Island in 2013. But it was a fated bus ride to a USC vs. UGA...

June 24 2021
You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Or can you? The old adage implying you can’t have it both ways didn’t ring true with Lauren Margaret Snyder and Robert “Bo” William Bledsoe’s May 1st...

June 14 2021
Need ideas for your wedding color palette? If you missed this bold and beautiful mock wedding (inspired by a to-die-for metallic rose gold Shelby Cobra convertible) in the latest installment of...

April 29 2020
Love’s Timeline New Yorkers Philip (Phil) and Brittany (Britt) Mcphail’s first brief meeting was at a concert. Five years later, at Britt’s cousin’s house, the two happened to...

April 28 2020
A Charleston Rehearsal Dinner | Introductions Laura-Brooke and Ryan both grew up in Florence, South Carolina, but they didn’t meet until a college spring break trip to Myrtle Beach in 2015. The S.C....

April 23 2020
But What If It Rains? Anybody who has ever planned a wedding has asked themselves this question. When you’re spending big money and planning for months, nobody wants the forecast to quite...

April 22 2020
“Falling” In Love Picture this. You’re in college, on your way to class. Your crush steps out of the building door two feet in front of you … and you immediately trip over your shoes. You...