Although they met at University, Cass and Brent’s love story didn’t begin until a few years after graduation. Initially reconnecting over Facebook, their conversations opened the door to getting to know each other further in person – coming together a few weeks later around Valentine’s Day weekend. The magnetism was clear and the sparks were flying, and soon they were on the path to happily ever after…
Read all about Cass & Brent’s love story, proposal, and experiences in their chic and timeless wedding in South Carolina.
Bride & Groom: Cass & Brent
Occupations: Sr. Process Improvement Consultant & Global Quality Engineer
Wedding date: 4.14.2018
Wedding location: Columbia, SC
How did you meet? We met at Clemson University where we both graduated from. We reconnected several years later through a Facebook post that I posted of a Clemson football coach that I had seen on a flight. Since Brent was a former Clemson football player, he commented on the post and we started talking. His first visit after this initial exchange was a few weeks later on Valentine’s Day weekend.
Tell us about the proposal: We had planned a trip after dating a few months to visit Europe since we both loved to travel, and planned a trip to Paris. We were there for a week and towards the end of the trip, we visited the highest point in the city at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Montmartre. As we were descending from exiting the church, the groom asked if we could sit on a nearby bench for a while, and there he proposed on a beautiful sunny day at the highest point in Paris, France.
Describe your wedding attire. Our wedding day look was inspired by our desire for elegance. I wore a fitted ivory satin gown that had a jeweled neckline and a completely jeweled back. My shoes were Nina ivory satin peep-toe heels with a jeweled toe, an ivory cathedral veil with fine beading around the edge, a jeweled hairpiece, drop earrings, and a borrowed tennis bracelet from my mother for the “something borrowed.” Brent wore a midnight pin dot shawl tuxedo jacket with black satin lapels, black suspenders, a black satin bowtie, and a white pocket square along with black tuxedo pants. Black monogrammed socks from Pantherella and black patent leather string-up shoes. He also wore his wedding day gift, which was a Tag Heuer watch from me.
What was the wedding shopping experience like for you? We were more excited with getting married and starting our lives together, and we tried to include family and friends in our shopping experience for wedding items. I took my parents with me to pick my wedding dress, and Brent had me and some groomsmen with him during the tuxedo experience.
Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding? Our wedding inspiration stemmed from wanting to share the place of our initial roots in Charleston, SC with our guests. The symbol used was a pineapple which signifies “welcome.” We wanted our guests to feel like family and feel appreciated for sharing in our day. We wanted an elegant look that would be timeless, so we focused on the major color of Midnight (Navy) with accents of gold and pink florals. Because our spiritual lives are extremely important to us, we wanted to have our ceremony in a church and it included the partaking of Holy Communion for the first time as husband and wife in our ceremony. We wanted our guests to feel welcomed; hence the pineapple being used throughout on the invitations, table names, programs, menu cards, etc. The Charleston theme was throughout the day for guests to understand the area where we both were raised. We included live musicians during our cocktail hour, and a DJ during the reception. Some of our favorite parts of the
wedding were the first look with each other, the greeting of our parents during the ceremony, seeing all of the family and friends that greeted us with warm well wishes, and being able to see all of our planning come to fruition in a beautiful magical day that ended in a beautiful bubble send off. And the weather was PERFECT!
Wedding party gifts: The bridesmaids received a monogrammed tote in the wedding colors, the earrings that they would wear on the wedding day, and the bride had her makeup artist do the bridesmaid’s makeup. The groomsmen received monogrammed socks from Pantherella that they wore on the wedding day along with a travel tie case.
Gifts for each other: The groom gave the bride diamond solitaire earrings and the bride gave the groom a Tag Heuer watch.
Ceremony entrance song: “You’re the One” by Lisa Shipman & Hallerin Hill
First dance song: “Angel” by Anita Baker
What is your best memory from your wedding? Our best memory is our first kiss as husband and wife, followed by our secret handshake that we developed during the time while we were dating. It was a surprise to all of our guests!
What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples? Stay focused on spending the rest of your lives loving your best friend. We were able to get
through our wedding planning process by reminding each other that the wedding was one day and it was for our family and friends, but the many days after (especially our honeymoon to Rome) were about us getting to share our lives together, and making many memories together that we have always dreamed of.
Vendors:
Photography: Jessica Hunt Photography
Second Shooter: Alexis Schwallier Photography
Event Planner: By Invitation Only
Event Venue: Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
Dress Designer: Casablanca Bridal
Dress Store: Dimitra Designs
Shoes: Nina Shoes
Apparel: Pantherella
Jewelry: Tag Heuer
Florals: Balloons Arches and Flowers
Cake: Parkland Cakes
Bakery: Olde Colony Bakery
DJ: DJ Puff
Caterer: Spectra Food Services
Makeup Artist: GlamBeatz by DNekol
Hair Stylist: Sola Salons
Stationery: Kalos Designs
Jessica Hunt
Thank you SO much for sharing my work!!
Gresha P Lewis
Such a beautiful wedding and a very beautiful couple. Many blessings on your new life together