Classic elegance with playful touches at Gadsden House

Kathryn and Gustavo met during their MBA program in Paris, France, where they first became friends and began dating at the end of the program. For their wedding—captured by KAILEE DIMEGLIO— they envisioned an atmosphere that was both timeless and fresh, combining classic elegance with playful touches that reflected them as a couple. The GADSDEN HOUSE in Charleston provided the perfect setting, serving as a stunning blank canvas that allowed them to personalize the day in a way that felt genuine and true to their personalities. They loved the natural flow of the historic house, where guests could enjoy the charming courtyard for the ceremony and cocktail hour before moving indoors for an intimate dinner, and then stepping outside again for dancing under the stars. The venue’s staff was incredibly accommodating, helping every step of the way to create an unforgettable experience.

Kathryn wanted the floral arrangements to feel whimsical yet timeless, striking a balance between elegance and fun. Whitney and her team at FESTOON CHARLESTON brought this vision to life with a classic base of white blooms and greenery, accented by playful touches of pink for added color and personality.

The engagement itself was magical. While on a trip to Sicily, Italy, Gustavo surprised Kathryn with a proposal after a lovely stroll through a garden in Taormina. Waiting in a room filled with flowers, champagne, and a custom engagement ring, the moment was everything Kathryn had dreamed of and marked the perfect beginning to their life together.

I tried on dresses at a few shops in Paris (where Gustavo and I live currently) but during a trip to Charleston decided to look at a few more so that I would have the experience of doing so with my mom. I tried on two dresses at BRIDAL HOUSE OF CHARLESTON that I loved, but I wasn’t ready to decide. The next morning, I knew I needed to see them again as I could not get one of them out of my mind. I called to see if I could come by again that afternoon to try them on again before flying back to Paris and they were so accommodating fitting me in on a busy Saturday. When I put the dress on again, I knew it was the one! 

We loved the small, personal details that our planner Eden helped to incorporate into the day like the table of family wedding photos, the photobooth guest book and the popcorn station (Gustavo’s favorite snack). We also loved the details our friends & family added to the day, like Gustavo’s dad’s army dress uniform and my grandparent’s wedding rings which were pinned to the inside of my aunt’s pocket as she officiated.

Enjoy it as much as you can and stay true to yourselves. Turn wedding planning sessions into date nights – brainstorm ideas over dinner out or stay in and knock out to-do list items together over a glass of wine. Don’t get too caught up in what other couples are doing or what’s “on trend.” The day is about the two of you.

For Gustavo and me, celebrating with friends and family from around the world was everything! Gustavo is from Peru, I was born in the U.S. but grew up in London, and we now live in Paris. With friends and family across the globe, we were thrilled to have so many gather in Charleston to celebrate with us. Guests traveled from 11 different countries and 15 U.S. states, making the day truly unforgettable.

We spent about a week in St. Lucia just after the wedding. It was the perfect way to decompress after a busy weekend of events. We spent lots of time relaxing at the beach and by the pool, but also managed to fit in some time to explore, including a wonderful snorkel trip set up by our resort.