Christina and Evan met in Los Angeles, but their love story spanned coasts. Living in New York, the couple nurtured a cross-country romance, traveling back and forth and spending meaningful time together in Charleston. Evan proposed at a deeply personal location to the couple: the bench dedicated to Christina’s grandfather at the Huntington Library in Pasadena, a cherished family spot. “My grandparents’ enduring 60-year marriage made it a fitting place to begin our forever.”
Their wedding captured by CHRISTI CLARK combined traditional elegance with romantic, Southern-inspired touches. The custom stationery by STERLING STRIPES featured a watercolor crest in soft blues, greens, and pinks, tying together events from the bridal shower to cocktail napkins. For the florals which were created by LOLUMA EVENTS, they focused on hydrangeas, roses, and greenery in whites, pale blues, and greens, echoing the timeless charm of the bride’s dress and the invitations.
The day began in an enchanting 1840s home surrounded by Spanish moss and oak trees, where three generations of Penido women prepared together. I wore a family heirloom necklace from the 1800s, a treasured tradition for brides in our family.
For the floral arrangement I took inspiration from the wedding dress itself and made hydrangeas the focus with roses and greenery woven in.
the dress
The best part of the planning process was the fashion. I leaned into southern inspiration for the OSCAR DE LA RENTA ceremony dress, with off-the-shoulder bow sleeves and cut out hydrangeas (my favorite flower). Since the dress and the necklace were ornate I kept the accessories minimalist with white satin MANOLO BLAHNIK shoes and simple pearl earrings.
For the after party dress I wanted it to be the complete opposite of my ceremony dress, with as much Old Hollywood sparkle and glamour as I could squeeze into one look. I went for a structured LEE PETRA GREBENAU couture gown with feather trim that screamed “party” and paired it with a rhinestone JUDITH LEIBER clutch and STUART WEITZMAN heels. I added a high party pony hairdo to complete the vintage glamour look.
Under a surreal avenue of oaks at Legare Waring House, they exchanged vows in a ceremony officiated by the bride’s brother, who infused humor and heart into every word.
the flowers
From the save-the-dates to the wedding invitations to the place setting I kept the color scheme the same: romantic whites, eggshell, greys, pale blues, and green. For the floral arrangement I took inspiration from the wedding dress itself and made hydrangeas the focus with roses and greenery woven in.
THE CEREMONY
Under a surreal avenue of oaks at LEGARE WARING HOUSE, they exchanged vows in a ceremony officiated by the bride’s brother, who infused humor and heart into every word. After the fairytale moment, guests enjoyed a lagoon-side cocktail hour with Southern-inspired appetizers, signature drinks, and surprise entertainment from a crocodile that delighted the kids.
the venue
LEGARE WARING HOUSE
This stately, circa 1840s house has hosted governors, international dignitaries and blushing brides alike. Adorned with quintessentially Charleston colors and furnishings, the grandeur of the Legare Waring House – with its avenue of majestic, moss-draped oak trees – is timeless.
THE RECEPTION
Ahead of the speeches we had a champagne tower. We ended up using a magnum champagne bottle which I advise against. Evan could barely lift the heavy bottle to pour the liquid on top of the tower! We also did a cake cutting, which was one of my favorite parts. Each tier was a different flavor: red velvet, dark chocolate, and vanilla with raspberry filling. There is something about it not feeling like a real wedding until there is cake tower you are cutting and eating in front of everyone. Plus I am a huge cake fan, so that’s probably where that comes from.
The reception was unforgettable, thanks to TRU SOL BAND, who kept everyone on the dance floor all night. Glow-in-the-dark batons, a conga line, and even an impromptu duet from Evan and me brought endless energy to the celebration. “Our wedding was everything we dreamed: traditional, romantic, and filled with personal touches that honored our families and love story. It was the perfect start to our next chapter.”
THE HONEYMOON
We went to Tahiti for our honeymoon, staying in Bora Bora and Moorea. It is the ultimate relaxing honeymoon location. That said I like to stay active so we went sailing, snorkeling, jet skiing, swimming with whales, and ATVing. I did manage to finish a few books (I work in publishing) and now have major withdrawals from drinking pineapple juice mixed with rum every afternoon.
Our wedding was everything we dreamed: traditional, romantic, and filled with personal touches.
