Rachel and Charlie’s intimate at-home wedding centered around love and nostalgia. The couple had originally planned an extravagant wedding in Savannah, Georgia, but they swiftly adapted their plans amidst the COVID pandemic. Though unexpected, their low-key wedding was a beautifully authentic celebration of their union. Wedding photographer Tim Willoughby captured each moment with a genuine and artistic eye.

The winter wedding weekend began with a rustic oyster roast, inviting all to gather around a fire pit shucking oysters--scroll to the end to see photos from this event as well as the post-wedding party Rachel and Charlie threw in Savannah!

For their wedding, Rachel and Charlie opted for a tiny gathering of their closest family members at Cathedral Church of the Advent, a church dear to Charlie’s family. Rachel got ready with her bridesmaids in her family home, sharing laughs and sweet stories amongst them. The girls wore black satin bridesmaids dresses, which looked striking on a chilly February day.

Every element of Rachel’s wedding was specially chosen, so it is only fitting that her designer wedding dress also had thoughtful attention to detail. She combined two silhouettes into one: for the bodice, she chose our Tiffany Nicole spaghetti strap wedding dress, and for the skirt, she chose our May May Cates sheath wedding dress. What makes the Heidi Elnora wedding dress shopping experience different is that our brides get to select each element of their dress, including the fabric. Rachel chose to upgrade her fabric to a luxurious silk crepe wedding dress material, which added soft sheen and graceful movement to her gown.

Our design team created a one-of-a-kind wedding dress overlay for Rachel’s custom wedding dress. We based the design off of our lace Valentina Top, but lengthened the sleeves and added a lovely scalloped edge as well as a delicate waistband. The most unique detail is that we sourced a collection of gorgeous lace swatches from around the world, allowing Rachel to hand select her favorite for her custom bridal overlay. Rachel wore her mom’s wedding veil--her “something old”--on her big day, and we took careful consideration into finding a wedding dress lace that would complement this heirloom wedding veil. Rachel looked breathtaking in her long sleeve lace wedding dress, and we adore the vintage fur coat she paired with it.

Following their traditional church ceremony, Rachel and Charlie joined their guests at the home of Rachel’s parents for an intimate wedding reception. Bold indigo blue flower arrangements by renowned local florist Dorothy McDaniel created a cozy atmosphere while guests gathered for a catered dinner by Hot & Hot Fish Club, the restaurant of James Beard-award winning chef Chris Hastings. From the comforting meal to the sentimental toasts family members made, the evening was as warm and inviting as could be.

After dinner, the party moved indoors for champagne, music, and wedding cake by Olexa’s. In a truly sweet moment, Rachel and Charlie enjoyed their first dance as their families serenaded them with lyrics and acoustic guitar. There is such beauty in the elegant simplicity of Rachel and Charlie’s wedding day, and we know they will remember it for a lifetime.

Congratulations to this lovely couple--we wish them all the best as they start their lives together as Mr. and Mrs.!