On Cloud Nine



WRITER CREDIT: 
PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT: 
On Cloud Nine | What does a gurney have to do with a wedding this posh? Let’s just say that love can take the oddest twists and turns rolling toward happily ever after
Mallory Severs & Kristian Perks
October 14, 2017 • Second Presbyterian Church & Lowndes Grove Plantation
 
When Kristian Perks was in the hospital recuperating from shoulder surgery and hopped up on meds, he finally found the nerve to text his one-time high school crush, Mallory Severs. It was a rather peculiar message: a selfie from his gurney accompanied by absolutely no explanation. “I think the medication finally gave him the courage to make a move,” says Mallory. Kristian’s special brand of boldness was just what the doctor ordered, though, and it led to a six-year long courtship for the two who met growing up in Charlotte, North Carolina.
 
Most of their six years of dating were spent as road warriors, alternating weekends between Auburn, Alabama (where she was in school), and Chapel Hill, North Carolina (where he was in school), then back and forth from Charleston to Charlotte after they’d graduated. Holidays were spent traipsing through the Caribbean, visiting Kristian’s family throughout Europe, and relaxing at Mallory’s family’s Isle of Palms vacation home.
 
Then one day in 2016, Mallory found herself posing at Lowndes Grove Plantation for a work head shot. (At the time she was a planner at Charleston’s Sweetgrass Social Event & Design where her sister, Meredith Severs Tanton, is lead coordinator.) Aaron Osteen of Aaron & Jillian Photography suggested Mallory spin around to get the hair out of her face. “I thought it was odd,” she tells us, “but as soon as I spun around, there was Kristian on one knee. He scared me to the point I screamed! I had no idea he was in Charleston and definitely didn’t expect him to be on one knee behind me during a photo shoot.”
 
Once she recovered, the coordinating commenced. Since Mallory had always wanted to wed at Lowndes Grove, she followed Kristian’s proposal there with a wedding on-site. The bride-to-be of course teamed with Meredith, a wise move, considering her big sister had reserved the venue a year and a half prior to the Big Ask (she had a hunch). From there, Mallory’s dream of bringing West Coast flair to the East Coast via a vineyard-inspired celebration came together flawlessly. Proving that two heads are better than one (“Kristian gave his opinion but was a bit outnumbered,” Mallory says), the siblings focused on the spacious main lawn. There, they erected wooden arbors and decked them with cascading greenery and floral clusters to mimic a California winery. With lavishly set tables beneath and ritzy chandeliers hung from above, a magical al fresco reception was spirited into reality.
 
“Sitting underneath that great structure right as the sun was setting … I was in awe,” says Mallory. “Other than the ceremony, that was the most memorable moment.”
 
Vendors
 
Wedding design: Sweetgrass Social 
Images: Aaron & Jillian Photography
Ceremony Venue: Second Presbyterian Church 
Reception venue, catering, bar service: Patrick Properties Hospitality Group (Lowndes Grove Plantation)
Florals: SYG Designs
Rentals: Snyder Events (tent, china, lounge furniture); EventWorks (furniture, china, flatware, glassware, bars); Ooh! Events (lounge console table); 428 Main (cake table)
Draping: The Social Spool
Cake: Jessica Grossman for Patrick Properties Hospitality Group
Stationary, koozies, welcome notes: Sixpence Press
Calligraphy, signage: J.Lily Design (butler cards, table names); Sixpence Press (menus)
Linens: Nüage Designs; La Tavola Fine Linen
Lighting: Technical Event Company
Bride’s gown: Sareh Nouri from Maddison Row
Beauty: Paper Dolls Wedding Hair & Makeup
Groom’s attire: Ike Behar
Groomsmen’s attire: Ralph Lauren from Berlin’s for Men
Transportation: Lowcountry Valet
Place cards: EngraveCelebration (Etsy)
Music: Classical Charleston (ceremony); Julia Harlow (organist); A Right to Party, EastCoast Entertainment (reception)
Bride’s attire: Diamonds Direct (jewelry); Badgley Mischka (shoes)
Bridesmaids’ attire: Jenny Yoo from Bella Bridesmaids
Flower girls' dress: Us Angels from Nordstrom
Ringbearer ensemble: Graccia (Etsy)
Puppy bow tie: Crew LaLa 
Favors: Market Street Sweets (pralines); Olde Colony Bakery (benne wafers)

 

Wedding design by Sweetgrass Social