Taking place at a charming historical South Carolina home, this rustic, elegant wedding from Elizabeth Scott Photography is absolutely breathtaking! With lush florals, fabulous details, and gorgeous photography, this elegant “Garden party” wedding is sure to inspire you…

From the beautiful bride, Jamie:

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

There were two people that helped me the most in the planning process.  First, I would say that having a wedding planner (Page Anderson) was very helpful in the planning process.  That person knows the business and was very helpful in making connections, particularly for a person such as myself busy with a full-time job and family responsibilities.  However, I would add that you cannot drop everything in that person’s hands.  It is imperative that you continue to monitor the progress and constantly review what is happening.  At times, you have to be a pest!  The second most helpful person was my florist (Shawna at Ribald Farms Nursery and Florist), who turned out to be much more than a florist.  She understood my vision and went above and below to make the day exactly as I envisioned it!  With an outdoor event, the florals and décor that Shawna and Page created were critical to the plan.

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

The most important thing to me when deciding who to work with for my wedding was to make sure that they understood the vision that I had.  I also wanted someone that was very easy to talk to.  I found that communication was key in wedding planning, making sure that everyone was on the same page, with the same vision, and that everything was being handled in a timely manner.  Wedding planning is hectic enough so it was very important to have people you can trust and that no one would drop the ball.

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

The inspiration for my wedding was a romantic and elegant garden party.  I wanted flowers, ornamental lighting and candles everywhere!  I’m a very detailed-oriented person, so I wanted my wedding to represent that detail in every aspect.  I wanted it to portray an elegant feel in every feature, from lighted pathways throughout the garden venue down to the succulent favors left as a gift on the dinner plates.

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

It’s so hard to pick one favorite thing, I loved my entire wedding!!  If I had to pick just one though, it would have to be the venue.  The wedding truly wouldn’t have been a romantic garden theme without the garden venue.  The Ivy Place is absolutely breathtaking on 33 acres of family land.  From the ceremony that took place on the front lawn of the Southern mansion, to cocktail hour in the garden surrounding a stone fountain, and then further into the garden for the reception under a tent of lights and magic. The Ivy Place as a backdrop was beyond belief.   

 What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

One piece of advice to other brides would be to always check the customer reviews of all the vendors you are interested in.  I feel like this will truly let you see into how the vendor operates and what to expect.  Reviews will help you see what vendors really go above and beyond for your special day and who may fall flat.  Beyond the importance of choosing great vendors is to keep your hands on all of the planning.  Do not assume all the planning is getting done on schedule and do not assume you do not need to stay in touch with your vendors.  Keep a timeline and be a pest if and when necessary.  After all, it’s YOUR day! 

I just love the “garden party” theme that Jamie chose to go with. So elegant, and yet gorgeously rustic too. The table numbers are my absolute favorite- I don’t think I’ve ever seen any like that before!

Will any of you be drawing your inspiration from a garden like this bride did? What are you planning on doing?

Vendors who made it all happen…