1. Real Weddings

A Rustic Purple Wedding at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston, South Carolina

Inspired by the gorgeous, natural greenery of Charleston, South Carolina, Steph Nodine (30 and an attorney) and Brad Hornback (32 and works in managem

Inspired by the gorgeous, natural greenery of Charleston, South Carolina, Steph Nodine (30 and an attorney) and Brad Hornback (32 and works in management and consulting) chose Magnolia Plantation and Gardens for their stunning shabby-chic wedding. “We wanted an outdoor wedding, and I wanted the ceremony to happen under or near some old, beautiful trees that we have a lot of here in Charleston,” Steph says. “When we visited Magnolia, we absolutely fell in love with the grounds. It was perfect: There were gorgeous trees, but also a view of the Ashley River, which runs just beyond the Carriage House. The Carriage House itself is beautiful in a rustic way.” Wanting to add a little soft romance to the historic venue, they used shades of purple and white throughout the details. “The decorations were mainly inspired by the venue itself,” Steph says. “The beautiful garden setting gave a laid-back but romantic vibe, which suited us well as a couple.” They brought the romantic outside into the reception, with Spanish moss hanging from the iron rod chandeliers—an idea we love. Keeping with the garden theme, Steph and Brad sent guests home with paper flowers that will grow into wildflowers when they’re planted. The couple didn’t hire a full-service coordinator, but did get a week-of coordinator, a pro they definitely recommend. “Our week-of coordinator went above and beyond to make sure the last few weeks before the wedding were as stress-free as possible for us and our families. It was totally worth it to have someone else coordinating all the final contracts and timelines so that we could just enjoy the time with our families and friends.” See all our favorite details, beautifully captured by Richard Bell Photography, below.

Steph gave Brad a pair of brown plastic bear cufflinks to reflect an inside joke between them for their wedding day.
Steph carried a lush lavender and white bouquet including roses, tulips and hydrangeas. She loved how the bouquet matched the garden setting and added a pop of color to her look.
Steph and Brad exchanged vows at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston, South Carolina. They lined the aisle with black lanterns hanging from shepherd hooks.
Classic Gray Groom's Suit With Purple Tie
Shabby-Chic Carriage House Reception Venue
“We loved the option for an indoor-outdoor reception, with the patio and fire pit available for use as well,” Steph says. They decorated the space with lavender drapery from the ceiling and purple linen napkins on the tables for a pop of color.
The reception tables were decorated with brown and black single-folded table numbers to keep with the shabby-chic theme. They were paired with mason jars full of lavender and ivory flowers, including hydrangeas and tulips. The tea candles in smaller mason jars added a romantic feel to the room.
The sweetheart table and guest-book table were decorated with paper-heart garlands that Steph and Brad cut out of a map. Since they love to travel and have both live abroad, they loved how the detail added a little personalization to the reception.
Steph and Brad danced to Van Morisson's "Into the Mystic," which their friend Andy performed on the guitar and harmonica. “Andy knocked it out of the park, and his performance really helped Brad and I enjoy the dance. Neither of us are dancers or really enjoy being in the spotlight, so the idea of the first dance was a little nerve-wracking for us,” she says. The reception was decorated with black iron chandeliers adorned with hanging Spanish moss.
One of the bridesmaids baked a two-tier red velvet cake with cream cheese icing for Steph and Brad to cut. The cake was topped with lavender flowers to match the wedding color. The couple had a small cake for the two of them and had a cheesecake and s'mores bar for the guests.
Hanging Crystal Chandelier Ceremony Decor