This Timeless Southern Wedding in Charleston, South Carolina, Took Place at a Historic 200-Year-Old Catherdral
Quite fittingly, it was a wedding that brought Victoria (Tori) Hamilton and Michael Drohan together. “I had never tried Bumble in Charleston before,” Tori admits. “I swiped right because Michael's first sentence in his bio was: ‘My brother is getting married in May, let’s get the show on the road.’” Being a consummate lover of weddings, she was intrigued. Both later learned they had more in common than they originally thought. “When I took the time to read his whole bio, I saw he said he had MS [multiple sclerosis] and he is ‘confident in himself and he was looking for somebody who is confident in themselves,’” she tells. “I have cerebral palsy, but I was never that bold to include it in my bio. I had to meet this guy!”
Over the course of their courtship, the couple attended many weddings together. So, when it was time for them to exchange vows, they knew how they wanted to design their big day. “Our inspiration of the day was all of the past weddings we have been to! The best aspects of all of them, done in our own way.”
When the morning finally arrived, Tori donned her sleek, classic V-neck gown and Michael wore a stylish navy suit, keeping with the timeless overtones of their celebration. The couple elected to take a “less is more” approach to their nuptials: the bride carried a simple bouquet featuring white blooms and verdant greenery, which matched the groom’s boutonniere. Other than these two arrangements, the lovebirds chose an all-greenery aesthetic for their decor. Bridesmaids put on matching pink dresses with frilled straps, coordinating with the young flower girls (who all got to wear stunningly sweet “flower” crowns with tons of greenery. Groomsmen were all decked out in the same sleek suits as Michael, complete with pocket squares. Guests gathered at a historic, 200-year-old Charleston cathedral, sporting magnificent stained-glass windows, ornate lanterns and grand archways to bear witness to the “I dos.”
Attendees then traveled to The River House to continue the revelry at the reception, finding their seats via oyster shell name cards as a nod to South Carolina cuisine. The indoor-outdoor event was bedecked with dusty rose and Kelly-green details—the centerpiece being the lush sweetheart table backdrop sporting a neon sign displaying the words “Just Like You,” which is an inside saying between the newlyweds. “We had a few DIY touches, like our save-the-dates and programs with help from a bridesmaid who happens to be a graphic designer,” Tori shares. “We used family heirlooms for the wedding band, mother-of-the-bride bouquet holder and our drinking glasses.”
Cafe lights wove through the trees above the alfresco lawn as friends and family wined and dined at small, round tables with flowing white linens. Centerpiece set-ups included candles of varying sizes and bunches of branches with vibrant leaves—low, so guests could easily see and talk to one another across the table. As the sun set over the Ashley River, Tori and Michael took in the incredible scenery and every ounce of love in the air.
“Above all else, this is your day and you need to stay true to each other. That may mean some compromising, but it's ultimately YOUR day,” Tori advises future brides and grooms. She also touches on some practical advice for anyone in the throes of wedding planning: “Designate someone to be in charge of your phone on the wedding day—to take care of/screen calls and texts coming in.”