A Natural, Provencal Chic Wedding at Lowndes Grove Plantation in Charleston, South Carolina

“I was inspired by Tuscany, so I wanted to incorporate a lot of fresh herbs, white florals and wood details,” Alexandra Slivka (24 and works in product development at Nordstrom) says of her and Brian Austin’s (25 and a first lieutenant in the US Army) fall destination wedding.

The Tacoma, Washington–based couple returned to Charleston for their nuptials, since the pair spent many long weekends vacationing there while they dated long-distance. They even sent a South Carolina–shaped save-the-date to guests. “The plantation was the epitome of ‘Southern charm’ for us,” Alexandra says. “Between the home and its grand lawns with 100-year-old trees, it was gorgeous.”

Bridesmaids accessorized French blue, floor-length dresses with silver shoes. For a look that matched the groom’s, each groomsman donned a blue wool suit, tweed tie and American flag socks—a salute to Brian’s career in the Army.

Succulents and sprigs of lavender topped the couple’s three-tier carrot cake, which was served along with two chocolate cakes baked from a family recipe. For their first dance, Brian chose “It Just Comes Natural” by George Strait. “One of his only duties was to pick the song, and I cried at his choice,” Alexandra says.