Written By Melissa Reardon
Photographs By Lucy Cuneo
A transplant from Virginia, Weston “Wes” McAfee vividly remembers the first time he saw his future bride-to-be. Charleston native Dana Elaine...
When bridal boutique owner Christina was struggling to lug a new desk into her East Greenwich, Rhode Island, condo, her neighbor Daniel (Dan), on a business call, saw her plight … and kept on walking. Later that day, he left a sincere apology note on Christina’s car with an offer to assist her with any future lifting needs. She followed it up with another note that shared her phone number; today she jokes, “I will never have to carry my home furnishing purchases alone anymore.” Two years after that chance meeting, Dan proposed at a quaint restaurant on a trip to Kennebunkport, Maine, and the couple started searching for New England venues, but nothing felt quite right. “I began researching places in Charleston on a whim,” says Christina, who had been here on her first vacation with Dan. She says she immediately fell in love with Lowndes Grove, and “booked last-minute tickets to Charleston for a 24-hour trip to visit.” It was a(nother) perfect match.
Despite working in the wedding industry (or maybe because of it … decision-fatigue, anyone?), Christina wasn’t exactly sure what she envisioned for the wedding. “I watched ‘Father of the Bride’ on loop as a child and knew that I would need a ‘Franc’ in my life when the time came,” she says. So, she emphasized “classic” then let Mac & B. Events take it from there.
And as for how a bridal boutique owner could possibly pick out her very own wedding dress? Well, Christina had a fairy godfather of sorts on that account. While in New York City during bridal fashion week, Christina saw a Lazaro dress on the runway that she knew was meant to be … even before Dan proposed. A few months later, with a new diamond ring on hand, she visited the designer’s studio. “From the moment it zipped up, I knew it was the dress!” Add a cathedral-length veil Mr. Lazaro customized just for her, and her dream look was complete.
Photographer: Aaron and Jillian Photography | Wedding Coordinator + Designer: Amy DeVito at Mac and B. Events | Wedding Ceremony & Reception Venue: Lowndes Grove Plantation | Caterer, Bar Service, and Cake: Patrick Properties Hospitality Group | Bridal Hair and Makeup: Lashes and Lace | Wedding Dress Boutique: The Bridal Garden | Wedding Dress Designer: Lazaro | Bride’s Heels: Christian Louboutin | Bridesmaid Dresses: Hayley Paige Occasions from The Bridal Garden | Bridesmaid’s Jewelry: Noon Designs | Groom & Groomsmen Suits: Carl Anthony Tuxedo | Calligraphy: J. Lily Designs | Ceremony Musicians: Bob Williams Duo | Invitations: New England Invitations | Lighting Design: Snyder Events | Linen, Lounge & Place Setting Rentals: Ooh! Events | Reception Music: Steel Toe Stiletto | Tables & Chair Rentals: Ooh! Events/Snyder Events| Tent Rental: Snyder Events | Videographer: Surrender Films
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