Rain-Kissed Romance at The Gibbes Museum of Art

Captured beautifully by KAILEE DIMEGLIO PHOTOGRAPHY, Jackie and Seizan’s Charleston wedding at THE GIBBES MUSEUM OF ART celebrated color, culture, and connection. With planning by MAVINHOUSE EVENTS and florals by FESTOON CHARLESTON, the day unfolded as a perfect reflection of the couple’s joyful, heartfelt love story—one that began in high school, rekindled in New York City, and culminated in a wedding that felt like pure springtime magic.

Jackie and Seizan’s story began at a backyard high school party, a spark that never truly faded. Though life took them to different colleges, fate brought them together again years later in New York City. “Who really marries their high school sweetheart?” Jackie laughed. “Spoiler: we did.”

When Seizan proposed, he did so under the glass dome of the New York Botanical Garden, feigning illness to lure Jackie into a courtyard—then surprising her by dropping to one knee as his father photographed the moment. “I was so focused on celebrating his birthday that I never suspected a thing,” Jackie recalls. “It was the most magical surprise.”

Though both grew up in Connecticut, Charleston had long felt like a home away from home after Jackie’s parents moved there. “It’s the city we fell in love with,” she says. “We wanted our guests to experience it the way we do.” THE GIBBES MUSEUM OF ART, with its stately rotunda and Southern charm, provided a perfect backdrop for their timeless yet colorful vision.

From the invitations to the tented reception, every detail combined polish with personality. Their stationery set the tone—green text on cream cardstock, featuring a floral crest that carried through the weekend. Florals in lively purples and blues paired with gleaming gold chandeliers, achieving what Jackie calls “the perfect combination of elegance and whimsy.”

Her gown, a custom VERDIN creation combining two designs, was a personal masterpiece—crafted from jacquard fabric and paired with a sweeping train and practical straps for the dance floor. Seizan wore a classic tuxedo, elevated by a peacock feather bowtie and green velvet loafers.

When the skies opened on their wedding day, Jackie and Seizan moved their first look indoors to her parents’ home—a pivot that led to one of their most cherished memories. “We ended up on the landing with these huge windows, just the two of us,” Jackie says. “It was quiet, emotional, and perfect.” They exchanged private vows in that sunlit corner, captured in an intimate series of photographs filled with laughter and tears.

The ceremony took place in the museum’s rotunda beneath the stained-glass dome. Jackie walked down the aisle to “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran—an ode to their young love story—and was married by a close family friend. Their vows, a mix of personal reflections and humor, brought tears and laughter in equal measure.

At the reception, the couple wove in meaningful cultural moments: a Japanese sake toast honoring Seizan’s heritage, and a challah cutting ceremony led by Jackie’s cousin in memory of her late grandfather. “It was a way to bring both of our families’ traditions together,” Jackie shares. “It made the evening feel deeply personal.”

“The day began with pouring rain, causing us to quickly rethink our original photo plans, but the shift led to one of the most meaningful parts of the day. Their private vows were moved into the intimate setting of her parents’ historic Charleston home, and it became, without question, our favorite moment of the day. The space was filled with love, happy tears, and a connection so tender that their words felt amplified in such a personal atmosphere. As Charleston weather often allows, the rain eventually paused, giving us the chance to step outside for portraits, carefully keeping her dress off the damp ground. Their ceremony took place upstairs in the grand rotunda of the Gibbes Museum, a breathtaking space that truly felt like a work of art, both literally and figuratively, as the couple said their I Do’s. With their warm, welcoming personalities, being part of their wedding day was an absolute joy. The evening continued with a dinner that began by honoring two beautiful cultural traditions from each of their heritages, a celebration that felt rich, heartfelt, and unforgettable.” KAILEE DIMEGLIO

Guests dined beneath a sailcloth tent adorned with patterned linens and layered place settings in green and blue. The whimsical wedding cake featured three tiers—each a different flavor, from olive oil to espresso caramel—and stood proudly in the center of the room.

After a heartfelt first dance to “Yellow” by Coldplay, the ten-piece band LOVESTRUCK kept the dance floor packed all night long. And instead of a champagne toast, guests raised wooden masu cups of overflowing sake—a symbol of abundance, love, and longevity.

Every detail of Jackie and Seizan’s Charleston celebration felt effortlessly personal — a blend of heritage, heart, and elegant whimsy. Captured with poetic sensitivity by KAILEE DIMEGLIO PHOTOGRAPHY, it was a day brimming with meaning, laughter, and the kind of joy that lingers long after the last dance.or their honeymoon, the couple will trade Southern charm for South African adventure, exploring vineyards, Cape Town’s coastline, and the vast beauty of Kruger National Park.