An Elegant Charleston Wedding Full of Southern Charm

“There was never any question whether we’d get married in Charleston,” says Brittany Summer, a former ballerina for the Boston Ballet. “After all, it’s where Matt [Gregory] and I met!” The couple, who met in the southern city in May of 2012 and got engaged in Amagansett, New York, in June of 2017, sought an outdoor venue for their October 6, 2018, wedding, and Legare Waring House captured their hearts the moment they stepped onto the property. “The oak-lined alley was what sealed the deal,” says the bride.

Over the course of their 18-month engagement, the couple worked with Fox Events to create an elegant and organic celebration that let the setting’s natural beauty really shine—and to help keep the bride off Pinterest! “It’s an amazing tool, but it’s easy to get lost in it,” Brittany says with a laugh. The former ballerina and her beau did their best to create a warm and welcoming ambiance for their wedding —full of southern charm, natch!—in honor of the 165 family and friends who made the trip to be there with them. “Each one of them has really been integral to our story,” Brittany describes. “We wanted them to feel special and loved.”

Photographed by Jennings King Photography, this outdoor Charleston wedding was totally breathtaking—take a peek at all the details!

“Getting ready with my bridesmaids was a total flashback,” says Brittany. “So many of them danced with me at Boston Ballet, where we’d spend a lot of time getting ready in big, shared dressing rooms before shows. I have incredible memories of those moments, and our wedding day felt like I was reliving it all over again."

Brittany knew she wanted a soft, romantic wedding dress, and she felt like she could really imagine her wedding day once she slipped on this Lee Petra Grebenau design. The A-line silk tulle dress featured an illusion neckline, floral appliqués, and a layered white and blush skirt. She paired it with a ballerina-inspired chignon and an all-white bouquet of roses and anemones. “The blue centers of the anemones were perfect against the napkins we’d chosen for the reception,” says the bride.

The groom also donned a blue suit from Suit Supply.

The ceremony took place beneath a towering oak tree dripping in Spanish moss, with guests seated on the manicured lawn. Brittany’s father walked her down the aisle, wearing an anemone boutonniere to match her bouquet.“My bridesmaids wore greenish-blue Jenny Yoo dresses and the groomsmen wore navy tuxes from the Black Tux, so Matt’s suit really popped,” Brittany says.

The couple personalized their ceremony by having a close friend officiate. “We wanted to add our own touch, but still loved the weight and significance of traditional vows,” says Brittany. “We decided to write letters to one another, which we read aloud before exchanging classic vows. It really gave us the best of both worlds.”

That alley of oak trees that had originally caught Brittany’s eye was the ideal setting for the couple’s reception. “We wanted our guests to experience that drama and beauty, so we opted for an open-air tent frame (yes, without a roof!) and draped it in fairy lights for an enchanted forest effect,” Brittany describes.

As guests made their way to the reception, they found their escort cards, each with a gold wax seal, on an oversized wooden board draped with Smilax leaves.

Chandeliers and hanging greenery created a magical indoor-outdoor effect at the reception. The tables were covered in a gray linen, topped with garlands of eucalyptus and petite white centerpieces combining anemones, tulips, and sweet peas. “I love the drama of long tables,” says Brittany.

“Two of my favorite parts of the reception decor were the menus, which we printed on bread bags, and the place cards written on pieces of concrete,” says the bride. “They both felt very elegant, while adding a more relaxed and natural feel to the table.”

The dinner menu included a pear salad with country ham, steak with gorgonzola cream sauce, and grilled local fish with a Creole glaze. “The food in Charleston is incredible, and we were able to incorporate a few favorites like crab cakes at cocktail hour (Matt is from Maryland) and late-night Chick-fil-a,” Brittany says.

After dinner, guests gathered in curated blue-and-taupe lounges as they enjoyed a lavish display of miniature desserts. “I was too busy dancing to have any, but I absolutely had one of the chocolate peanut butter tarts for breakfast the next day!” the bride recalls.

The couple's band, Big Night Dynamite, played all night, shifting seamlessly from Motown during dinner to current tunes for dancing. Of course, in a crowd full of dancers, the dance floor was packed all night. “Looking back on our wedding day, what I remember most is seeing the smiling faces of everyone we love so much," says the bride. "It’s so incredible to be surrounded by all that love and support!”

Wedding Planner: Fox Events || Venue: Legare Waring House || Bride's Dress & Veil: Lee Petra Grebenau, from Spina Bride || Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka || Hair: Charlotte Belk || Makeup: Dannon Collard || Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo || Groom's Attire: Suit Supply || Groomsmen's Attire: The Black Tux || Engagement Ring, Wedding Bands & Brides Jewelry: Kwiat || Floral Design: Poppy Custom Floral || Paper Products: Studio R, J.Lily Design || Catering: Cru Catering || Ceremony Music: Bob Williams Trio || Reception Music: Big Night Dynamite || After Party Music: DJ Smartz || Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals, Ooh Events || Transportation: Mt. Pleasant Shuttle || Accommodations: The Restoration Hotel || Photography: Jennings King