Imagine waking up the week of your wedding. Excited? Nervous? Ready to marry the love of your life? I bet! It should be one of the most exciting times in your life. Kristin & Michael awoke the week of their wedding to news that Hurricane Dorian was barreling toward the coast of Charleston, where they were set to be married just five days later. It is every bride and groom's worst nightmare, and Kristin and Michael were living it. They weren't even sure if they would be able to get married on their original wedding date, September 6, 2019, let alone in Charleston. Before we continue, let's take it back to where it all began, ten years ago...
Kristin and Michael met during the summer of 2009. Kristin was home from college at Charleston Southern where she played softball and needed a place to work out. Kristin decided to join a gym that summer, and it happened to be where Michael was working. Their first date was to see the movie, "The Proposal." Kristin went back to school, Michael continued to work for the gym, and they kept in touch here and there. A few years later when Kristin moved back to Virginia they reconnected in person and the rest is history.
Michael decided to take Kristin to a winery for, what she thought, was a birthday surprise, but what she didn't know -- was that he was going to propose to her, in front of all her friends and family. Sure enough, Michael was standing on the other side of the room near a fire place waiting to ask Kristin to be his forever.
Despite being a few states away, Kristin had her heart set on getting married in Charleston, and once she saw Cannon Green online she knew that was the venue of her dreams. She continued to hand select vendors, until she picked her dream team (and y'all, we were a team, because I don't know about you, but rescheduling a wedding isn't the easiest thing in the world!)
Once it came time for the wedding though, Mother Nature had different plans in mind. With a mandatory evacuation and impending Category 3 hurricane set to hit Charleston just the day before their wedding, Kristin and Michael had some tough decisions to make. Kristin & Michael were by far, the most genuine, authentic and trusting bride & groom I have ever met. In the brink of a hurricane, they took it with such grace, and continued to hold confidence in me, that I would get everything figured out. Michael would message me everyday, so worried for Kristin. Not for himself, not for the vendors, not about the money, or the guests, but he didn't want Kristin to be heart broken over the rescheduling of their wedding.
But, as luck would have it though we were able to not only move it from Friday to Sunday, but we also were able to continue the reschedule with every SINGLE original vendor that Kristin & Michael booked. THE. WEDDING. WAS. ON!
Family and friends changed around flights and hotel reservations to be there for Kristin and Michael's big day, a sign of how truly loved these two are by those closest to them. And after Hurricane Dorian left Charleston virtually unscathed, Kristin and Michael would be married in a 2 p.m. ceremony at St. Patrick Catholic Church by their hometown Priest who traveled from Maryland to marry the two. Before Michael and Kristin shared their I Do's, Kristin & her maids enjoyed a morning of glam and bubbly at The Mills House with the ever talented, Pampered & Pretty.
Following the ceremony, Low Country Trolley would whisk the bridal party, who were decked out in light blue gowns, and dapper grey and black tuxes, to the historic district of downtown Charleston to take portraits with Kate Dye Photo among the beautiful backdrops of the city. Kristin and Michael quite literally stopped traffic kissing in the middle of Meeting Street for one of the most beautiful photos of the day.
Cannon Green went above and beyond for this sweet couple, keeping the restaurant portion of their property closed on Sunday to accommodate the new wedding date. The couple was blown away by the white floral centerpieces and head table lined with greenery, white florals, and a touch of light blue tapered candles created by Pretty Petals of Charleston. To spice it up a bit, we swapped out the mahogany chivari chairs to the bold gold chivari chairs by Ruth's Rentals.
Kristin and Michael describe the food which included beef tenderloin and crab cakes as "top notch" and service at Cannon Green as "at the top of their game." Kristin's advice to future brides is "the devil is in the details" and "there should be no shortage of personal touches." Some of those touches included custom wax seals on their invitations and menus, a personalized vellum menu for each guest, and hand lettered lyrics of "On My Way to You", their first dance song, on the cake table which included three cakes all hand painted with gold flecks by Swank Desserts. Guests left with custom macaroons as a thank you. Kristin says the detail photos are some of her favorite of the day and you "shouldn't let anyone tell you that you won't notice the details."
Guests enjoyed the atmosphere of being surrounded by the ones they love most -- drinking, eating, celebrating, and even dancing the night away to only the best music by Darby Events. Kristin & Michael both had one of the most memorable speeches given by Michaels twin brother, and Kristin's older sister -- not a dry eye was in the room. You can tell how much family matters to the both of them.
And in the end even a Hurricane couldn't stop Kristin and Michael from becoming Mr. and Mrs. Endress. They were married in the city they love surrounded by those who wouldn't miss it for the world, no matter when it took place. And when the two flew to Antigua for their honeymoon they watched "The Proposal" again all these years later. The perfect ending to a not so perfect journey to the alter.
Congratulations Kristin + Michael, I wish nothing but the best for you two. Keep in touch and can't wait for you to come back and visit, xo!
This day could not have been possible without the help of an amazing vendor team:
PLANNER: Nicki Paige Collection
PHOTOGRAPHER: Kate Dye Photo
GETTING READY LOCATION: Mills House Wyndham Hotel
CEREMONY: St. Patrick Catholic Church
RECEPTION VENUE: Cannon Green
MUSIC: Darby Events
HAIR AND MAKEUP: Pampered and Pretty
FLORALS: Pretty Petals of Charleston
CAKE AND DESSERTS Swank Desserts
TRANSPORTATION: Lowcountry Loop Trolley
RENTALS: Ruths House Inc.
BRIDE’S DRESS: Martina Liana