This lovely South Carolina wedding, taking place at the most stunning garden venue, The Millstone at Adam’s Pond, fits this nature-loving couple so perfectly! Cal and Kristen’s love for the outdoors and nature was incorporated beautifully in their wedding design thanks to Melanie Murphy of By Invitation Only. The color palette of peach and blush is absolutely gorgeous when paired with a sage green, and Oh, Darling! Photography captured everything beautifully! And lucky us- Kristen is here with us today sharing about her wedding planning experience!

What (or who) helped you most in your planning process and/or on your wedding day?

There were two women who helped me the most.  First and foremost my Mom was there for me every step of the way.  She was the one who I would call for advice, help or to just talk to about everything that was going on with wedding planning.  She was my rock through it all!  Second my wedding planner, Melanie Murphy.  She made my dreams a reality.  I had all these ideas and she was able to make them happen and make them better than what I had imagined!  

What was the most important thing to you when deciding who to work with for your wedding?

Cal and I wanted to work with people who we felt compatible with and who understood what we were thinking when it came to our wedding style.  Our photographers were funny, amazing and understood absolutely everything we wanted to capture — natural and candid.  Especially with photographers I felt we needed to feel comfortable around them and within the first minute of meeting Dustin and Whitney from Oh! Darling Photography Cal and I were laughing, cutting up and making jokes!  Our wedding planner, Melanie Murphy, I felt like she took the words out of my head when I was describing my wedding.   She immediately understood what I wanted and when my Mom and I left her office we felt 110% better about the planning process. 

What was your inspiration for your wedding details and/or design?

I found a photographer, Kari Herer, when browsing through the internet looking at wedding websites one night.  One of her pictures really inspired me when I saw it.  Her Fox and Flower photographs were amazing and I fell in love with the organic nature and colors of the photographs.  I knew I wanted the wedding to be outdoors as much as possible and these photos just were a perfect inspiration!  

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

Other than marrying the most amazing man I have ever met :) my favorite thing were the flowers.  I never really saw what they were going to look like until they were put together.  So it was a big surprise when I walked downstairs to look at the venue while everyone was getting ready to see the arrangements and how exquisite they were.  My florist went above and beyond what I had imagined.  From the eucalyptus lining the isle, the bouquet, the flowers at the alter and the simple yet stunning table arrangements in gold mercury glass votives. .. I could not have imagined it better!

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

I tell everyone who asks me about my wedding that the best decision I made was hiring my wedding planner.  If you have it in your budget, even if it is day of planning, then get it!  Melanie made this experience unforgettable.  I had all these ideas and magazine cutouts and she took what I wanted and made it a reality!  Anything I needed she was on top of and my Mom was able to be by my side the entire time.  I was only nervous about being in front of people at my wedding I had no stress about the wedding itself because I knew Melanie had it under control.  

Seriously y’all- listen to Kristen’s advice! She says that the best decision she made was hiring her planner, and she had nothing to be anxious about on her wedding day because of it!

This South Carolina wedding is just so gorgeous. I love the how the color palette of peach, blush, and sage is muted, but yet still colorful- perfect for a southern garden wedding!

Are any of you having an outdoor wedding? What color palette will you be going with?

Vendors who made it all happen…