1. Real Weddings

An Elegant, Formal Wedding at The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina

Christina Ghoreishi (29 and a salon owner) and Neil Shepard (32 and a real-estate broker) were acquaintances through mutual friends for years. "Always

Christina Ghoreishi (29 and a salon owner) and Neil Shepard (32 and a real-estate broker) were acquaintances through mutual friends for years. "Always having a flirtatious connection, we were reconnected years later at a friend's wedding. We dated for a while and were inseparable. Neil proposed on Folly Beach on a gloomy day, when we were walking our dogs on a random rainy Sunday. Caught completely off guard and sporting yoga pants and no makeup, I said yes. It was such a special moment because the beach was secluded and we had our furry family with us to complete the occasion."Their wedding was held at The Mills House hotel in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. "We had the ceremony on the pool deck and the reception was held in the Barbados room and courtyard," Christina says. "The venue was simply perfect. It had a great flow from the inside to the outside, with the classic Charleston feel in the courtyard. A gorgeous fountain centers the courtyard, complete with fire pits and an outside bar. We loved the idea of having the best of both worlds, but being weatherproof at the same time, without having to worry about a backup plan. The icing on the cake is the location of The Mills House. Our friends and family were able to spend the weekend with us at the hotel, and we were close to the best Charleston has to offer."

"I was absolutely obsessed with all-white flowers and some greenery," Christina says. "I loved the simplicity of the look, and I felt that it made a statement without taking over our pictures or being too busy. I was so happy with my choice."
Christina's stunning pear-shaped diamond engagement ring with a diamond halo and band and Neil's silver wedding band look beautiful together.
"We wanted a timeless-classic look for our wedding," Christina says. "We went with a black, white, off-white, gray and silver color scheme. I chose a slate gray bridesmaid dress by Dessy. The dress was able to be tied at the top in hundreds of different styles. I loved this option, because it was long and flattered all body types. Our groomsmen wore light gray suits."
Christina wore a gorgeous blush-and-champagne wedding dress with thin straps and a low back.
"Our colors were simple and classic," Christina says. "I was inspired by a classic, timeless and chic theme. I loved the look of a modern wedding and I wanted an upscale, formal event. All our flowers were white. Despite florists trying to convince me to add color, I didn't budge."
"We are definitely foodies," Christina says. "The food was not something that we were willing to compromise on. Our cocktail hour had passed appetizers and light bites. We served oysters on the half shell, tuna tartar on a spoon, lamb lollipops, coconut chicken skewers with spicy mango, pimento cheeseburger sliders and Southern tomato-pie tartlets, to name a few. We had an open bar with liquor and beer and stations for the reception, including a lobster-roll station, a corn-bread griddle station with smoked pulled pork, a roast rack of lamb carving station, a prime-rib carving station and a mashed-potato station with all of the fixings.
Christina and Neil kept their color palette in mind when they chose to serve a simple yet stunning three-tier white wedding cake with gray accents and a sparkly monogrammed cake topper.
Honey in small jars from Christina's uncle's family farm served as wedding favors. A simple bow around the lid was a sweet touch for the DIY favor.
"Our reception lasted until 11," Christina says. "We wanted to extend it so that we could enjoy the night and turn in after. There was no after party."