There’s something incredibly special about celebrating a wedding at home – especially when that home is one you’ve only just begun making your own.

Molly and Erik had recently purchased their home on James Island, and instead of planning a large, traditional wedding, they invited their immediate families and closest friends to join them there for an intimate backyard celebration.  The entire day felt wonderfully relaxed and personal, with thoughtful details contributed by the people they love most.  Before guests arrived, we wandered down to the end of their quiet road for portraits beneath the sprawling live oaks.  It was such a quintessential James Island setting, with that beautiful filtered Lowcountry light coming through the trees.  Keeping their portraits close to home also fit the spirit of the day perfectly – nothing rushed or overly orchestrated, just time for Molly and Erik to enjoy being together on their wedding day

Their ceremony took place beneath the trees in their backyard, surrounded by a small gathering of family and friends.  Molly carried a loose, garden-inspired bouquet filled with soft peach, white, blue and yellow blooms, while Erik wore a deep blue suit – the perfect complement to the colorful, organic palette woven throughout the day.

After cocktails in the backyard, their guests gathered on the porch for dinner.  A private chef prepared the meal, which was served at one long table overlooking the backyard.  The tablescape was one of my favorite details of the day, incorporating pieces of family china alongside soft linens, blue glassware, candlelight and whimsical garden florals.  Rather than everything matching perfectly, the collected pieces gave the table so much character and history – elegant, sentimental and completely at home in the setting.

So many elements of the celebration were created by the people closest to Molly and Erik.  Molly’s sister baked their wedding cake, while a close friend – and incredibly talented Charleston floral artist – designed the flowers.  Those personal touches made an already intimate wedding feel even more meaningful.

What I loved most about this day was how lived-in it felt.  This wasn’t a venue transformed for a wedding and returned to normal the next morning.  It was Molly and Erik’s home.  Their ceremony happened in the yard they’ll continue to look out at.  Their first dinner as a married couple was shared with the people they love around a table on their own back porch.  Years from now, they’ll still be able to walk past these exact places and remember this day.  It was serene, colorful, personal and beautifully unfussy – proof that a wedding doesn’t have to be elaborate to feel incredibly special.

Molly and Erik, thank you so much for inviting me into your home and trusting me to document such a beautiful beginning.  Congratulations, you two!

Photography: Dana Cubbage Weddings | Venue: Private Residence | Florals: Juniper + Jasmine | Wedding Dress: Sarah Seven | Bride’s Jewelry: personal | Cake: bride’s sister | Catering: private chef