Gorgeous Burgundy & Greenery Parisian Inspired Wedding

Welcome to Margo and Austin’s gorgeous burgundy and greenery Columbia, South Carolina wedding. Their day was utterly beautiful with Parisian influence, inspired by their romantic Paris proposal.

They were married in a church ceremony and after their nuptials, they celebrated in an industrial-style space with exposed brickwork and wooden beams. They added twinkling lights, loads of wild greenery and gold decor, the result was marvellous.

I especially love all the stylish outfits and the COVID-friendly gifts for guests. Practical meets pretty! Do take in all these lovely images from Landon Jacob Productions and keep your eyes peeled for the cute pompom exit in the evening.

Columbia South Carolina Wedding

The Proposal

Austin and I met in 2013 during our time at Clemson University. We were actually next-door neighbors and became best friends first, who knew that we would end up here! 🙂

We love to travel when we can, so at the end of August 2019, we took a trip to Paris, France. I had an itinerary laid out of what we would do the days we were there. On the 3rd day, we were to visit the Eiffel Tower where I wanted to go up into the Tower, then grab a baguette, some wine, and hang out in the gardens. The line for the elevator up was of course very long, so we opted to climb the stairs (it wasn’t as bad as it sounds).

When we got back down we strolled the gardens, I noticed Austin started breathing a little heavier. Thinking it was from our climb up and down the Eiffel Tower, I asked if he was okay or needed water. He declined and then it hit me what was actually happening. He got down on one knee, just the two of us in a beautiful part of the gardens in Paris, under the Eiffel Tower. I had pictured this moment since we first started dating and could not have dreamt up a more perfect moment, and a more perfect person to share it with.

The Vision

I have always wanted a fall wedding, the colors of the season have always been something I dreamed of for a wedding and reception. The theme for the wedding/reception was “moody fall”, with deep reds, navy, gold, and natural greenery as the focus of the color palette.

I also wanted to sprinkle in a nod to Paris, where we got engaged, so the back patio area of the reception was transformed into a bistro-style area, all while keeping with the “moody fall” theme. An aspect of my wedding that I did not anticipate was having to learn how to navigate a pandemic and keep our guests safe.

So in addition to custom koozies, guests also got a personal hand sanitizer and a mask (who would’ve thought!). The masks and personal hand sanitizers were placed into a baggie that read “Spread Love Not Germs”.  Very on-brand with 2020. I had a traditional Methodist wedding ceremony held in my hometown church that I grew up in.

The Styling & Decor

The ceremony was held at the church I grew up in, so I wanted minimal decor to let the beauty of a place I love so much shine through. We went with simple greenery at the end of the first two pews, and a beautiful flower arrangement at the altar. However, when it came time for reception decor we ramped it up!

Our reception was held at The Hall at Senate’s End, a gorgeous venue in downtown Columbia, South Carolina that provides a great space to really get creative. With the help of La Tavola, we were able to pick out linens that provided texture and depth to our venue by mixing moody velvets and patterns.

The fall palette from the linens paired nicely with the cozy seating arranged throughout the reception venue by Ooh! Events. One of my favorite decor spaces of the reception was on the back patio. When you stepped outside, it was almost as if you were just escorted to your table at a restaurant in Paris.

From the gold velvet linens to the greenery hanging with string lights overhead to the bistro-style rattan chairs, the outdoor space was as a Parisian dream. I am also all about capturing memories, so another one of my favorite parts of the reception decor was a sitting area in the corner where guests could sit on a gorgeous royal blue velvet couch under a neon sign from Howdy Dudey Neon that read “Happily Ever After”.

With the help of Margaret Kelly Weddings, we dreamed up a whimsical floral arrangement that would complement the sign as well as the couch, making the final product a vibrant space that guests could enjoy throughout the reception and capture memories of their own.

The Flowers

Margaret Kelly Weddings did a phenomenal job with the floral pieces at the ceremony and the reception. From the flowers in the motives at the reception to my bridal bouquet, everything flowed together so beautifully.

At the ceremony, flowers were used for my bouquet, my bridesmaids’ bouquets, the groomsmen’s boutonnieres, family corsages/boutonnieres. At the reception, there was a beautiful arch of greenery at the entrance and then an incredible arrangement right as you walked into the venue. Those two pieces really set the bar for what guests should expect as they move further into the reception.

We had dainty motives on tables and a beautiful arrangement that lined the stage where the band played. The greenery that accompanied the string lights on the porch were the perfect touch to that space as well. And I will never forget the arrangement that Margaret Kelly Weddings came up with for the photo corner of the reception venue.

It was stunning and really pulled everything together. I really love color and texture and patterns, so flowers ended up playing an important part in the overall style of my wedding. It’s one of those aspects of a wedding that can just naturally tie your theme and color palette together, making everything feel complete.

The Details

We only had a couple of personalized moments at our wedding and reception. Austin and I have a dog named Watson who we love very much, so we named our signature cocktail after him (“The Watson”), with a cartoon drawing of him on the drink description that was displayed at the reception bar.

Another personalized moment, which is probably one of my favorite parts of our wedding was having my best friend, Shuler, marry Austin and me. Shuler and I have known each other since we were almost 6 years old and grew up together in the church where I was married. He has played a big role in both of our lives, and we were so incredibly lucky to have him be a part of our big day.

Your Outfits

Going in to choose my wedding dress I had no clue what I wanted, I just knew that I didn’t want a lot of beading. I visited Savvy Bride Boutique here in Charlotte as my last stop of the day and picked out a few dresses that looked a lot like other dresses I had tried on that day.

I described to the team at Savvy what I wanted and the woman who was assisting me left the dressing room and came back with a grey/blue dress that I had completely bypassed when I was pulling dresses originally. I tried on the dress and fell in love!

It was a ballgown with thick straps and a plunge in the front that wasn’t too revealing (my grandmother was there and approved haha). The top was stitched with elegant lace that wasn’t too busy or distracting. While the grey/blue color of the original dress would have been a unique head-turner, I opted to have it made in the traditional ivory. It turned out perfect!

Austin had it a little more easy! He knew that he wanted to wear a navy suit with brown shoes. We took a trip to Jos. A Bank and they fitted him in their blue Sharkskin suit. It is a classic suit that can be worn years down the road. He paired the suit with a white button up underneath and a silver, diagonal striped tie that really brought the look together nicely.

Memorable Moments

The most special moment of my wedding day was walking down the aisle and seeing Austin, our families, my best friend who would marry us, and our closest friends and family who in the midst of a pandemic showed up for us at this special moment in our lives.

I wanted to stop at every pew and hug every single person there. 2020 was a rough year for everyone, but that moment walking down the aisle and seeing all the people that you love and that love you right back was a special moment I will always remember.

Advice For Other Couples

This is probably very corny and cliche, but it’s something I reflect on often and wished I had reminded myself daily during the planning.

Enjoy every single moment, beginning to end. Wedding planning can be a stressful time (especially during a pandemic), but when you step back and look at the big picture, all that matters is that you get to marry the love of your life surrounded by your very best friends and family who love you.

Simply stunning!

Thanks so much to Margo and Austin for sharing their divine Columbia, South Carolina wedding.