beautiful and magical night

Growing up in a military family, Kerry Lowe moved around a lot. But visits to relatives in Charleston proved, year after year, to give her a sense of permanency. Charleston, with its rish history and welcoming ways, felt like home. So where better to start life with her beloved, Scot Armstrong, than under the eaves of an ancient Charleston live oak?

That is precisely what occurred last May, when the New York City residents invited their friends and family to a wedding at the downtown William Aiken House. The fragrant May weather was a welcome respite for guests arriving from the North, and the charm of Charleston worked its magic – almost instantaneously. Of course, Kerry and Scot – and a slew of locals – helped make it work.

It all started with the rehearsal dinner, which set a casual Charleston tone. Or maybe it was Scot and Kerry who did that – who hosted the evening wearing rubber shrimp boots to “kick off” the Charleston weekend. The party was held on a picturesque shrimp dock on James Island, and featured local favorites like Johns Island tomatoes, fresh shrimp, mac and cheese, and corn on the cob. Guests were taken by boat through the gentle waterway, and gained a treasured glimpse into the Lowcountry’s beloved marshlands.

Casual morphed to elegance for the wedding, which was framed by the lovely William Aiken House and grounds. Kerry and her attendants were given an old carriage house in which to dress, connecting them to the eternal themes of love and marriage. As she emerged to greet her guests, Kerry moved down an ancient path that wound beneath a Live Oak tree, where wrought iron chandeliers had been hung. “It was just so beautiful, and the night was magical” she recalls. “I love Charleston, the way it smells and the way the air feels. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect setting than that for our wedding.”

These months later, Charleston still feels like the perfect place. With guests arriving from world cities like Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, the Holy City dressed to impress. “I think everyone was surprised by what a beautiful town Charleston is. They loved the colorful homes, the cobblestones, the friendly people and the food.”

The couple learned Charleston is also a great place to start a honeymoon; they spent their wedding night at the Wentworth Mansion, a four-star property. “We couldn’t have asked for a better place to celebrate with our loved ones than we found in Charleston.”

 

Real Stories

Introduced by popular demand, this section features real-life weddings from you, our readers. We want to give you real stories as told by real couples. We would love you to be part of this section. To submit your wedding day story, tell us in less than 600 words the details of how you met, the proposal, wedding preparations, and the details of the day itself.

Please email the story and up to five low-resolution photos to realweddings@charlestoncvb.com.