Parker and Eleanor’s wedding features an elegant ceremony at The Citadel’s Summerall Chapel, followed by an outdoor wedding reception at The Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston Historic District.

The Proposal

Charleston is one of the couples favorite places, and they share many memories there. On just another weekend trip, Eleanor had no idea that Parker was planning a proposal up until the day of. He was being a little sneaky and hiding things, so she was suspicious but unsure. After dinner, they walked down to waterfront park and he proposed next to the water. Eleanor says she was completely shocked! Parker had also planned for their entire family to meet them at a nearby bar to celebrate, wrapping up an incredibly special day.

Charleston Wedding Venues

Since Charleston holds so many sentimental memories for the couple, they knew it would be the perfect location for their wedding. After getting ready at the luxurious Dewberry Hotel, the couple held their ceremony at The Citadel’s Summerall Chapel, to honor the groom’s alma mater. It’s tradition that cadets get married there, complete with a saber arch exit. Parker also chose to wear his Army dress blue uniform, which is another military wedding tradition.

Following the ceremony, the reception was held in the Charleston Historic District at The Gibbes Museum of Art. The couple loves art, and wanted a unique venue. The museum interior made for stunning photos, while the courtyard brought their garden wedding reception to life. Eleanor says the venue “just felt very ‘us.'”

The Details

To create a classic garden party aesthetic, we added bistro lighting, an oak dance floor, and left the Museum’s fountain running for ambiance. The pale green bridesmaid dresses and napkins contrasted from the natural greenery in the space, while white flowers added an elegant touch. The antique gold candlesticks added an additional glow once the sun set, perfectly balancing the string lighting.

Favorite Memories

The bride’s favorite memory is when they and their guests got into the fountain! “It was so unexpected and so much fun. Truly one of my favorite parts in general was just dancing with everyone. It felt like a big party of everyone that loved us most, and you could tell everyone else was also having so much fun.” Aside from that, Parker and Eleanor loved having some time to themselves after the ceremony, before joining the reception. It gave them the perfect amount of time to let everything sink in and enjoy being newly married.

Vendor Shout Out

One vendor who stood out from the rest was their DJ, ML Event Entertainment. “DJ Mikey Lee was INCREDIBLE! He made the process so fun for us and seemed to truly care about who we were as a couple. Mikey brought life to our reception with his music and intros. He also was so kind to clear our plates for us and check in on us during the reception. We would hire him over and over again!” – Eleanor, bride (See Mikey Lee sharing a hug with the couple and maid of honor after toasts below – how sweet!)

Advice from the Bride and Groom

“Do what you want, it’s YOUR wedding! Don’t let people dictate what you can and can’t have. At the end of the day you should do what’s best for you as a couple and what will make the day most memorable for you.” – Eleanor, bride

Working with BNCo

“Since I had never worked with a planner before, it surprised me how hands on Kelly was. Kelly really took care of all of the things that felt most stressful to me like vendor interactions and contracts. She made things that seemed hard, look effortless! The best part of working with her was knowing that I didn’t have to worry about anything day off. She completely took care of it and made my vision come to life without me having to bat an eye!” – Eleanor, Bride

Are you planning your military wedding? Click here for our guide to all things military weddings!

Let’s get this planning party started! Want Bianca Nichole and Co to help plan your elegant wedding in the Charleston Historic District? Click here to send us an inquiry!

Bianca Nichole and Co is a team of wedding planners based in Austin, Texas as well as North and South Carolina, and will travel to the surrounding areas.

Vendor Team

Venues: Summerall Chapel, The Gibbes Museum of Art
Planning: Bianca Nichole and Co
Photography: Katie Dewald
Florist: Fresh Weddings + Events
Rentals: Snyder, EventWorks
Entertainment: ML Event Entertainment
Hair + Makeup: Amy Loope, Karrie Lykins