Charleston Weekend + Instagram Recap
As I mentioned on Instagram we spent this past weekend in Charleston capturing our friends’ engagement photos. It was very busy, but so much fun! We drove down on Friday afternoon, grabbed dinner on Shem Creek, then spent all day Saturday finding the perfect spots around the city. Trent and I have worked together on several projects like this in the past and it’s one of my favorite things to do with him. He is the photographer, while I boss everyone around making sure everything is in the right place. Haha! It’s always amazing to watch him be creative and in his element. We play off of each other’s strengths, which makes the process really fulfilling. I can’t explain how special it is for us to be a part of these wonderful moments in our friends’ and family’s lives. I just love it!
There is simply too much to do in Charleston for one weekend to be enough! But I’m going to recap everything we did just in case you want to check it out next time you’re there. We stayed at the North Charleston Marriott which is about 15 minutes outside of downtown. It was wonderful! I was honestly surprised at how updated and modern it was. I wish I had taken picture for y’all to see! They have great rates and it’s easy access to everything, so highly recommend it if you’re looking for a more budget friendly option. That being said, it certainly doesn’t feel budget friendly. The bar was fabulous, all the staff was great, and the beds were so comfortable I seriously considered asking what mattresses they used. As an added bonus, the North Charleston Marriott is near several breweries. While we didn’t make it to Holy City Brewery, we did stop by Rusty Bull to grab a drink after our drive. It was right down the road from our hotel. I had the Belgian Trippel and it was very tasty! Rusty Bull is on the smaller side, but they have a great casual atmosphere and everything we had was delicious. They also partner with different food trucks so you can grab a bite to eat while you’re there. Read more information about this brewery on their website or follow them on Instagram.
For dinner we went to Saltwater Cowboys on Shem Creek that opened just three weeks ago. On their website, they promise local cuisine at affordable prices with unforgettable sunsets and they delivered! While we missed the sunset, this spot on the water was perfect at night. I can only imagine how gorgeous that view must have been with the sun going down. Regardless of the time of day, Saltwater Cowboys’ sprawling outdoor space is perfect for drinks this summer. As for the interior, the food was delicious and very reasonable. Our waitress was funny and very sweet! We were also pleasantly surprised by how well priced their wine list was. Their specialty “Creek Cocktails” looked great, too. I tried the “Miss Paula Sangria” and even though it was a little too sweet for me, it was very tasty! We will absolutely be back and highly recommend it. You can read more about Saltwater Cowboys in this article from postandcourier.com (source for pic above).
The next morning we headed out to the always beautiful Boone Hall Plantation where Emily and Justin will tie the knot next year. This was the first location we wanted to hit in an effort to beat the afternoon crowd and take advantage of the overcast morning. There are way to many pretty spots to capture them all! We started where their ceremony will take place, which is on the Cotton Dock pictured below (source). It sits off to the right of the main house, which is the second image below (source), where the bridal luncheon will take place.
The most iconic part of Boone Hall Plantation are the massive oak trees that surround the property. It is a quintessential lowcountry estate with beautiful Spanish Moss blowing in the breeze and blooming azaleas that add the perfect pop of color. You can read more about this plantation’s history on boonehallplantation.com.
The bride wanted to leave a few spots for bridal portraits and wedding photos, so we kept the engagement shoot to just a few locations on the grounds. After the Cotton Dock, we snapped some pictures on the low-hanging oak trees, walked around, and then headed downtown to our next destination. In downtown Charleston you’re never lacking for locations to take photographs. Beautiful backdrops are everywhere you look! So we went to Battery Park and then grabbed lunch where we met up with another couple from Charlotte that happened to be in town. The wind was crazy that day, as you can see in this picture haha. I was excited to finally use my new handbag from Anthropologie. I love the stitching details and it’s great quality for only $58. It also comes with a strap so you can wear it as either a clutch or a crossbody.
outfit details: similar chambray shirt // navy cami // white jeans // circle bag // sandals // sunglasses
Then it was off to the beach! But first, we had to hit up a local beer garden on our way out. Honestly, Trent and I were a little disappointed by Bay Street Biergarten’s beer list. It didn’t have as many local options and wasn’t as extensive as others we’ve been to in Charlotte. However, they supplemented that with a great cocktail and wine list, plus some delicious food. I got the Mexican Grizzly, which is Herradura Anejo Tequila, Aperol, and grapefruit. It was so refreshing! Definitely a great cocktail for summer.
I seriously cannot wait to share these pictures, especially the ones we took on Folly Beach. This was where the couple officially became boyfriend and girlfriend years ago. The sentimental value made it even more special! We got there right before sunset, taking advantage of “golden hour.” Can we take a moment to appreciate Emily’s dress?! It was even more beautiful in person! I’ve linked it here for you to shop. She got all of her dresses for the engagement photos from Rent The Runway. I think the Unlimited service is perfect for brides-to-be because, like Emily, you can easily rent designer looks for luncheons, bridal showers, engagement photos, and rehearsal dinners. Then you can use it for every day wear the rest of the time!
shop Emily’s dress
Stay tuned for the final images from this weekend! All in all, it was so much fun. We can’t wait to get back to Charleston! If you have any recommendations for places to go, eat or stay I would love to hear from you. Just comment below or shoot me an email! Hope you all have a fantastic week.
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