A Magnolia Plantation Wedding | Darian + Drayton | Jill Brisken Photography

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A Magnolia Plantation Wedding Day

Darian and Drayton’s Magnolia Plantation Wedding was such a beautiful day! Family and friends gathered in Charleston, SC to help celebrate. Ever since I took Darian and Drayton’s Engagement photos in downtown Greenville, I couldn’t wait for their Charleston wedding! I could just tell they were going to have a fun and memorable wedding day, and I was right. From the weather being a cool 55-60 degrees all day to all the smiles and laughter between their bridesmaids and groomsmen – the day just went so smoothly!

Magnolia Plantation Wedding Bride and Groom Portrait

Darian and Drayton’s Love Story

I love learning more about each of my couples before I photograph one of the most important and special days of their lives. Darian had helped me get to know her and Drayton just a little more, when she filled out my “Getting to Know You” couple questionnaire back when they first booked with me. In Darian’s own words, “We met through a mutual friend in Charleston, SC. She tried a few times to get Drayton to come out and meet me before he finally did! Once we met, we went on a few dates in February 2020 and then lockdown happened, so we didn’t get to go on a lot of actual dates. Our first movie date happened 2 years later! He proposed in August of 2021. We were in the Exhumas, Bahamas with my family. He got down on one knee on a gorgeous sandbar! We are so excited for this next chapter of our lives.”

A Few Favorite Things

I always like to share a few of my favorite things from each wedding day I have the privilege to photograph. The things that stand out the most to me from Darian and Drayton’s day are:

1) Magnolia Plantation and Gardens was an absolutely beautiful venue! Darian and Drayton chose to get married at The Carriage House lawn, and have the reception in The Carriage House. The setting could not have been more perfect for their Fall wedding! The surrounding gardens, complete with the iconic white bridge over the water, made for some epic wedding photos too. My only regret is that we didn’t have more daylight to go to every part of the gardens for pictures – we fit in every last ounce of daylight that we could for their bride and groom portrait time after the ceremony. There were just so many beautiful spots for photos, I probably could’ve spent a full two hours just taking pictures around the gardens! The venue actually held a very special place in the couple’s hearts – Magnolia Plantation and Gardens has been a part of Drayton’s own family legacy for many past generations. If you visit Magnolia Gardens and read some of the signs around, you will see the Drayton name on many of the historical signs.

2) Darian’s Grandfather was their officiant for the wedding ceremony. It is always so special when a family member gets to perform the ceremony. It just makes for such a personal and even more meaningful ceremony.

3) Drayton and Darian wrote their own vows to each other! I wish I could record the vows as I am taking pictures so I could remember exactly what each said to one another. But I recall them both saying that they thought the other was truly made for them, and their first dance song was even titled, “Made for You,” by Jake Owens. So appropriate and sweet!

4) Darian’s robe she wore while getting ready was actually made from her Mom’s wedding dress. I love when there is a special, sentimental touch added to a wedding day like this!

The Pictures

Of course the main reason to share a blog post from a wedding day is to show an overview and huge sneak peek of the pictures from the day! So, here are even more pictures from Darian and Drayton’s beautiful Magnolia Plantation Wedding day! I wish Darian and Drayton a wonderful start to their marriage, and am so honored I got to share in their special day! Be sure to check out all the vendors at the end of the post who helped make their day amazing.