Southern legend helped bring clear weather to this Charleston wedding

Charleston wedding venues

The best part of having a wedding is that all of your favorite people in the world come together for one night of dancing, laughing, embracing, crying, feasting, drinking — and it’s all in the name of love. The Rody wedding party made the most of it all, and created unforgettable memories that will forever be loved and cherished by this tight-knit crew.

Dating friends of friends is always a good idea, so when Rachel’s friends from college introduced her to their childhood friend, Cody, the two could sense that something amazing was about to happen. Since the moment they met five years ago, Rachel and Cody have been coupled up in the Carolinas, looking forward to the day when they will officially call themselves Mr. and Mrs.

Keep scrolling to see all of the incredible photography by Kailee DiMeglio Photography of this wedding at William Aiken House, featuring flowers by Festoon, planning and design by Sarah Lillie Designs, and stunning attire courtesy of White Magnolia. Make sure to also click here to check out every photo in the full gallery, also linked at the bottom of this page!

Southern summer wedding decor

A timeless summer wedding calls for a timeless summer look... and a little bit of Southern legend!

On a Friday in June, the couple's big day came, and thanks to a bottle of Basil Hayden buried deep in the ground of the William Aiken House, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky! Southern legend has it that burying a bottle of bourbon at your wedding venue the month before the big day keeps storm clouds at bay, and it certainly did for this wedding. Upstairs, in the crimson and gold bridal room of this historic mansion, Rachel and her lilac-adorned bride tribe got ready together in a flurry of excitement. Rachel slipped into her White Magnolia wedding gown with delicate spaghetti straps fastened to a pleated silk bodice. With her blonde, wavy locks brushing her shoulders and her mermaid train sweeping the historic floors of the William Aiken House, she radiated timeless beauty

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Take your custom gift to the next level by incorporating a loved one's handwriting

At their first look Cody was in awe of her. He was brought to tears when she gifted him with cufflinks engraved with his late parent’s handwriting stating: “Love you. Love you a lot.” In the couple’s portraits, Rachel’s vibrant bouquet adds a burst of pink pigment to the green hedges and rustic brick walls found throughout the courtyard. In the lush gardens of this charming venue, the couple looked like the absolute perfect picture of summer love!

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The ceremony featured fans as favors and a stunning white walkway over water

Guests began to arrive shortly thereafter, sporting their brightest and breeziest summer best. Everyone grabbed a new raffia woven fan thoughtfully gifted to them by the sweet couple. Taking their seats under white umbrellas on wooden folding chairs, the guests drank in the relaxed magic of the inviting courtyard. The music began to play, ushering the wedding party down the aisle. The couple stood under a stunning floral arrangement, weighted to the right of the trellis, perfectly framing them to say their "I do's." After reading their vows, and saying those two magic words, they shared a passionate first kiss as Mr. and Mrs. Allred!

outdoor Charleston wedding reception

outdoor reception

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outdoor summer wedding reception decor

The best toasts will have your guests laughing and crying like these did

With Old Fashioneds and champagne circulating throughout the venue, the wedding party was ready to have some fun! The long, farmhouse style tables provided an open dining experience that allowed for lots of mingling and recalling of old college memories. Each table was decorated with elegant gold and white dinnerware and gorgeous, lush arrangements by Festoon florals. The speeches were touching yet hilarious, bringing this group to tears and lots of “Cheers!” as they reflected on what was and what may be.

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Meeting through college friends means a college-level late night party is a must!

The sun went down and the dance floor opened up, queuing Rachel to put on her shimmering party dress and all the groomsmen to take off their jackets. In total elation, the wedding party hoisted their new favorite couple up in the air, causing Cody and Rachel to laugh until they cried. LED glow sticks and neon trucker hats stamped with “Rody 2022” were distributed among the crowd, bringing everyone back to their glory days together in college. For a literal taste of nostalgia, the late-night bites highlighted Rachel’s favorite Primanti Bros. sandwich from her hometown in Pittsburgh. The party twisted and shouted, with a sandwich in one hand and a drink in the other, until the final song of the night.

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