Charleston’s winter season lends itself to ethereal blue skies, crisp air and warm, indulgent cuisine. There’s no better time to cozy up your celebration with comfortably chic rustic touches – and no better inspiration than the December nuptials of Laura Patrick & Andrew Boyles.
Admittedly, this gorgeous Lowndes Grove wedding holds a special place of honor among the Patrick Properties family. As the daughter of PPHG’s founders Dr. Celeste and Charles Patrick, Laura dreamed about being married on the historic Southern estate her parents had so lovingly and meticulously restored. When she met Andrew, the picture became complete.
For her big day, Laura turned her attention to her outdoorsy guy – and throwing “one heck of a party” for their guests. Rustic details made Andrew feel right at home while marrying Laura’s easy, elegant style: ironwork lanterns, oyster shells, leather armchairs and lush florals and greenery accented the celebration.
“You can do rustic without a barn!” Laura tells Charleston Weddings magazine. “Stick to a basic, muted color palette and incorporate exposed wood into the décor.”
The couple kicked off their Charleston wedding with a tented ceremony on the front lawn of Lowndes Grove, beneath beautiful exposed beams of a timber frame altar. Following the “I do’s,” guests mingled between three exquisite and distinct spaces.
“We had a main dance tent that felt like a ballroom, a cocktail tent that felt like a VIP party and a “man cave” tent,” Laura points out – complete with a craft beer wall, whiskey bar, Jenga game sets and a cigar rolling station.
Laura and Andrew bypassed a seated dinner and opted for the feel of a stylish cocktail soiree. Working with the Patrick Properties culinary team, the couple designed the evening’s signature menu of Southern barbecue, locally caught fish and traditional Lowcountry seafood pirlau. As the showpiece of the celebration, guests nibbled savory and sweet bites from the custom-designed bacon bar, a nod to the bride and groom’s favorite food.
PPHG Pastry Chef Jessica Grossman designed the elaborate wedding cake, with hand-shaped fondant petals and four mint tiers perfectly matched to the bride’s color palette.
It’s an honor for our PPHG event team to have been part of this beautiful day, with special thanks to Melissa Barton of A Charleston Bride and photographer Virgil Bunao.
We wish Laura and Andrew a warm congratulations on their one-year anniversary and the birth of their baby daughter, Isabelle!
