Ashley and Dave wanted to have a destination wedding in a city that their guests would love to travel to and experience. The couple chose gorgeous Charleston, South Carolina, for their wedding away.

The couple made their family and friends’ experience a priority and it paid off. Their wedding guests were “very excited to travel to such a spectacular destination.”

Ashley and Dave kicked off the weekend getaway with a welcome party at the Peninsula Grill at Planters Inn in the downtown historic district. The couple gave their guests a list of their favorites places to see, eat and shop to experience the best of what the city had to offer during their visit.

For the wedding, the now-newlyweds wanted their guests to see a modern side of Charleston’s Southern hospitality. “We loved Cannon Green for its elegant simplicity,” they said about their venue. “We knew the ‘live wall’ in the courtyard would be the perfect backdrop for the ceremony and cocktail hour, and were drawn to the Trolley Room for its historic and industrial vibes.”

Ashley says hiring their wedding planner and Sam Hurd were two no-brainers while planning their wedding. “We love, love, love how unique our photographs are and I was relaxed the whole weekend because [our planners] Aimee and Cindy are so good at what they do,” she said. 

The bride says Charleston is both expensive to travel to and expensive to host a wedding in, but she did her best to make it worthwhile for her guests by really making it a weekend-long celebration. As part of the celebration, the couple incorporated traditional Charleston palmetto roses into their place settings. The tradition dates back to the Civil War and is still considered symbols of true love today.

Dave and Ashley also rented a classic Charleston trolley to take guests to a bar downtown for more celebratory drinks after the reception. “We loved getting to spend some extra time with our guests,” the couple said.

Ashley’s advice is to not lose sight of the fact that it’s your day and to put your happiness first. She also says to pay homage to your destination through details, as they make your day unique and memorable.

Vendors: Photographer: Sam Hurd, Wedding Planner: A. Dominick Events, Ceremony/Reception Site: Cannon Green, Florist: Branch Design Studio, Stationery: Minted and Flourishing Penguin, Cake: Sugar Bakeshop, Hair & Makeup: Nadine Matar and Winston Thompson, Gown Designer: Lela Rose, Groom’s Clothing Designer: Ratio Clothing Customer Menswear, Band: Ben Fagan and The Charleston Groove Factory, Hotel/Bridal Suite: Zero George, Linens: La Tavola, Rentals: Event Haus, Vintage Car: Lowcountry Valet, Trolley for End-of-Night Transportation: Absolutely Charleston & Biscuits for Welcome Party Favor: Callie’s Charleston Biscuits.