Secret Garden Elopement in Charleston

Charleston is renowned for her historic architecture, but one might argue that her gardens are truly her secret jewel. Anyone wandering through town who peeks behind the right gate will be pleasantly surprised by what beautiful landscapes they find nestled there. Charleston wedding photographer ANNE RHETT and Hawaii wedding florist DESIGNS BY HEMINGWAY are delighting us with this secret garden elopement shoot at the SOUTH CAROLINA SOCIETY HALL.

Anne tells us, "We drew inspiration for this styled collaboration largely from the Charlestonian locations themselves: first the Neo-Classical Society Hall, situated near the Four Corners of Law, the crux of activity on the historic peninsula, and the second, a private garden in the historic district. Meticulously landscaped year-round by the owner himself, this garden takes on a new personality each season. In spring, the fragrant confederate jasmine steals the show, but late November is the Camelia’s heyday. Some call them “winter’s rose,” and they made for a vibrant backdrop. Debbie from DESIGNS BY HEMINGWAY created cascading, romantic florals that folded in easily with these natural surroundings.

A setting this enchanting begged for both elegance and a bit of whimsy, and local Charleston bridal gown designer EMILY KOTARSKI'S gauzy, feminine gowns were a perfect fit. The SINGLE STONE ring worn by the bride, with its antique stone in a modern setting, also embodied this old-meets-new ethos. It is only fitting that it came from CROGHAN’S, a family-owned jewellery store that has helped generations of locals get engaged over the past 100 years, the ultimate purveyor of old-meets-knew finery. The same could be said of the antique car that transported the couple between locations, a 1970 classic that is actually a family heirloom itself. While embracing the tradition and history that charms so many Charleston visitors, we also hoped to inject a bit of freshness and fun, and nothing quite conveys joie de vivre like a top-down convertible!"

Hawaii wedding florist DESIGNS BY HEMINGWAY creates works of art, and we highly recommend her for your Hawaii wedding. Using a fine art approach when it comes to creating florals for your day, her designs are classic & natural. You can see more of her work in this Old world romance in charming Charleston or in her portfolio here.

Bridal gown designer EMILY KOTARSKI is a valued member of the MAGNOLIA ROUGE VENDOR GUIDE. Emily Kotarski wedding gowns are one-of-a-kind and made with the finest materials. All gowns are made by hand out of her Charleston atelier. It is the utmost personal and unique wedding gown shopping and design experience. See more of this bridal gown designers portfolio here.

Charleston wedding photographer ANNE RHETT is a valued member of our vendor guide. With a passion for creating beautiful memories, she loves to tell people's love stories. "I am humbled by the joys of my job and the way my clients invite me to be a part of such beautiful life milestones. I would be delighted to get to know more about you and your love story!" See more of her portfolio HERE and you might also want to check out this Old world romance in charming Charleston.