Before we dive into the details of our wedding day, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in the southeast. We are deeply aware of the tragedy and hardship faced by so many during that time. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the storm, and we share this story with sensitivity, knowing that while we were fortunate enough to celebrate, many were dealing with far more difficult circumstances.

 

The weekend of our wedding in Charleston was nothing short of unforgettable—thanks to Hurricane Helene making a surprise appearance! But what could have been a disaster turned into an incredibly magical day, and it’s all because of the amazing people who stepped up, adapted, and turned chaos into pure perfection.

 

First, let’s talk about Hart Meadows Ranch on Johns Island. This stunning property is tucked away in the woods, so when Helene came through with all her wind and craziness, it left its mark. Trees had branches down everywhere, and the power was out, but you wouldn’t have known it by the time we arrived. The team at Hart Meadows Ranch worked tirelessly to clean up the mess—everything looked spotless and perfect. Thankfully, the power came back on just hours before the ceremony. Despite the storm, the estate was breathtakingly beautiful, the kind of setting that makes your heart skip a beat when you first see it.

 

Of course, none of this would have run so smoothly without Jessica Spears of Juju Lee Events. Jessica was an absolute lifesaver. Helene may have brought a whirlwind, but Jessica brought order. Throughout the morning and into the day, she handled every single hiccup with ease and grace, pivoting whenever necessary to make sure everything stayed on track. Not only is she incredibly skilled at what she does, but she’s also hilarious—bringing much-needed laughter in the middle of all the craziness.

 

We were lucky to have both an incredible photographer and videographer capturing our day. We booked with Brie Sciales, a destination wedding photographer based right here in Charleston, SC who specializes in documentary-style photography. For Brie, wedding photography should go far beyond cut and paste wedding albums and instead center around couples’ friendship and love. Her sweet, easy-going nature helped us forget about the storm outside and just enjoy the moment. Brie is the perfect wedding photographer. She strives to make the shots artful and fun for those who don’t take life too seriously! 

 

 And then there’s Summer LaBelle, our film videographer. Her work is stunning—every shot has a timeless, ethereal quality to it. Summer is as kind and sweet as she is talented! Summer is a Charleston local that fell in love with the art of film while living in Hawaii. She now captures weddings on Super 8 film candidly capturing the emotion of the day. I cannot wait to watch our film in a way that feels like we are reliving the day and memories again and again. 

 

With the power situation causing some last-minute changes, we ended up getting ready at my home instead of on-site. Lashes and Lace, specifically Brittany, didn’t miss a beat. She and her team came in, set up everything in my home, and had all of us looking flawless—well before our deadline. Hair and makeup were on point, and Brittany and her team brought such a fun, bright energy that made the morning even more enjoyable.

 

I must shout out KISS Cafe for keeping us girls fueled and happy. They catered the most amazing brunch for us while we were getting ready, and Tim, their owner/executive chef, was an absolute gem. He brought everything into our apartment, set it up beautifully, and made sure we had plenty of champagne to keep the celebrations going. It was such a sweet touch and truly made our morning even more special.

 

One more piece of the puzzle that made our wedding day unforgettable was the music. Our original live music plans fell through last minute (11 days before the wedding), but Bob Williams with Low Country Strings stepped in and absolutely saved the day! They played during our ceremony and cocktail hour, and their performance was nothing short of incredible. Not only did they sound amazing, but they also played some of our favorite artists, including Coldplay and John Mayer, which made it even more special. All of our guests raved about their music—and we couldn’t agree more.

 

And let’s not forget our DJ, Scott Sain who took over for the reception. He absolutely crushed it, keeping the energy high and the dance floor packed all night long. It was the perfect ending to an already magical day, and we had the time of our lives dancing the night away with everyone we love.

 

I can’t thank everyone enough for the part they played in making our wedding day such an incredible experience. From the venue team to the photographers, planners, and music team, every single person helped turn what could have been a disaster into a dream day. Despite the hurricane, our wedding was absolutely perfect. I would highly recommend all of the mentioned vendors to any Charleston bride!

 

Instagram Handles:

@hartmeadowsranch

@jujuleeevents

@briescialesphotography

@summ_shine

@kisscafe.ji

@djscottsain

@lowcountry_strings 

 

Dr. Malori Mattimore

Modern Chiropractic

512 Hayes Park Blvd STE 201

Johns Island, SC 29455

(843)998-7534