Some stories don’t start with a proposal. They start years earlier, in college classrooms, when you’re young and convinced you have everything figured out (spoiler: you don’t). Laurin and I went to college together in Savannah, Georgia, both photography majors, both carrying cameras everywhere and dreaming big. Somewhere along the line, long before Avery was in the picture, Laurin casually decided that when she got engaged, I would be the one photographing it, and eventually their Gadsden House wedding. No pressure or anything. She’s reminded me of that fact for years.

Fast forward a bit, and Avery enters her life. They got engaged in Turks and Caicos, which feels exactly right for them. After the celebration and the glow settled in, they came home and started talking about where they wanted to get married. Charleston kept rising to the top. Close enough to North Carolina for an easy trip, but far enough to feel like an escape.

This was about choosing a place where they could slow down, gather their people, and let this season of life unfold naturally. As someone who’s known Laurin for a long time, it felt incredibly special to be invited into this chapter, not just as their photographer, but as someone who understood where the story started and how meaningful it was to finally see it come full circle.

Why Charleston, South Carolina Was the Perfect Fit

Charleston has a way of feeling like you’ve been there before, even if you haven’t. For Laurin and Avery, it was close enough to feel like a destination wedding without the destination-level stress. Honestly, a very smart move.

What made Charleston especially right was how it became part of the journey. Engagement photos wandering downtown and along Sullivan’s Island. Bridals at Cypress Gardens. And eventually, a wedding day. Choosing Charleston was choosing a warm, welcoming, and timeless feeling.

The Pre-Wedding Journey: Engagements in Downtown Charleston & Bridals at Cypress Gardens

Before the wedding day ever arrived, there was space to slow down and let the story unfold. This is one of my favorite parts of photographing a couple: the in-between moments, where trust builds, and everything starts to feel easy.

Their engagement session took place in October of 2024, in warm, humid, and unapologetically South Carolina. Downtown Charleston gave us its classic charm with cobblestone streets, soft light bouncing off old buildings, while Sullivan’s Island brought in that breezy, coastal calm.

A year later, in October of 2025, we met again for Laurin’s bridal session at Cypress Gardens. And just to keep things interesting, Charleston decided to do the exact opposite of what it did the year before. It was cold. Shockingly cold. I was bundled up in sweats, and we were doing our best to keep Laurin warm out by the water, laughing through chattering teeth. Not exactly the romantic scene people imagine, but it worked!

Photographing both their engagements and bridals mattered, not just for variety or pretty locations, but because it allowed their story to build. By the time the wedding day arrived, we already knew each other’s rhythm. And that makes all the difference when you’re telling a story.

Their Gadsden House Wedding

December in Charleston showed up and chose kindness—seventies, sunny, no wind, barely any humidity. Truly unfair levels of perfection.

Gadsden House held the day beautifully. They put a lot of heart into the details, like custom napkins printed with little facts about Laurin and Avery. Four tiny dog trinkets happily “eating” the cake, custom luggage tags for every guest, a subtle thank-you, and a nod to the journey it took everyone to be there. Matching Prada shoes, because sometimes love is practical and sometimes it’s fashion, and both can coexist peacefully.

From college friends in Savannah, sharing cameras and creative dreams, to standing there photographing one of the most important days of Laurin’s life, from engagement photos to bridals to this exact moment. It’s all connected. It felt complete.

This is why start-to-finish wedding photography matters. When you choose to document the whole story, the images carry more weight. Laurin and Avery’s wedding day was the natural continuation of a story that had been unfolding for a long time. And getting to witness it, from the very beginning to this perfect Gadsden House wedding day, was something I’ll always hold close.

A Love Letter From Laurin’s Mom

“I just wanted to tell you your photos bring tears of joy to my eyes!!! You are definitely doing what you were intended to do!! I’m beyond impressed with your ability to capture the perfect shot, the moment, the emotion. You should be so proud of your work. It is stellar!!!! Just wanted to share that with you!!!”

Vendors

Venue, Planning, Catering, & Bar | The Gadsden House

South Carolina Wedding Photographer | Wild Thistle Photo

Videography | Taylor Nichols Films

Rentals | Snyder Events

Florals | Branch Flower Shop

Hair | Beauty by Yvonne

DJ | Bunn DJ Company

Officiant | Kasey King