Gracie and Pat’s Charleston wedding at The Gibbes Museum of Art was an emotional celebration of beauty, love, and a party that did not slow down until the lights were flipped on and everyone was forced to continue elsewhere.
We first connected with these two when Pat came to our studio for a headshot for his law firm. He told us he had just gotten engaged, and made a little joke about how we might get two jobs out of this. It could have been just an off-the-cuff comment, but we were intrigued and followed up with him later, telling him we’d love to meet his fiancée. About a month later, Pat walked back into our studio with this beaming ray of sunshine named Grace, and we were immediately under her spell.
The Bride and Groom
To be around Gracie is to experience joy, lightness, positivity, warmth, and just enough sly mischief. She walked in, and we felt like we were already her friends. She embraces people in that way and makes everyone in her orbit feel seen, heard, and special. I watched this happen over and over again at their welcome party at Vintage Lounge and all throughout the wedding day. Grace didn’t just give her guests a passive greeting. She took the time with each person and really connected with them, had a real conversation with them, and acted like THAT person was the one she was most excited to see. That’s just who she is. She feels it all and loves big.
Pat is the steady ship, anchor and all. He always knows what’s going on, and keeps both eyes on everything to make sure everyone is happy, especially his Gracie. He always wanted to know if everyone was OK, if we had eaten, if we had what we needed. He takes care of his people, even on the one day when people should be taking care of him. One of our favorite moments of the wedding was watching Pat let go during the reception, arms wide open, singing at the top of his lungs, making the absolute most of this milestone day.
A Classic Charleston Wedding
On the wedding day, Gracie and her family got ready at the beautiful Mills House Hotel, while Pat got ready with his friends at Gracie and Pat’s house in downtown Charleston. They were married in a traditional Catholic ceremony at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. It’s a short, scenic walk between the cathedral and Gibbes Museum of Art. We took advantage of that and made portraits of Gracie and Pat as we walked to the reception together.
Once everyone arrived at the Gibbes, the party was on and never stopped till Gracie and Pat were through the sparklers and in their getaway pedicab. Most of that credit goes to the phenomenal wedding band U.S. Beat out of Atlanta. We swear, the dance floor wasn’t empty, or even light, for even one song. It was an incredible experience. You know it’s a good one when the photographers are having (almost) as much fun as the guests, bopping around the dance floor while we shoot.
Getting Married at The Gibbes
This was our second wedding at The Gibbes Museum of Art, the first being Aaron and Jason’s LGBTQ Charleston wedding, where they had both the ceremony and reception at The Gibbes. Weddings at The Gibbes have full access to the museum after closing time, so guests can explore the galleries during cocktail hour before heading to the courtyard for dinner and dancing, usually under a tent.
At Gracie and Pat’s wedding reception, guests were greeted with glasses of champagne as they entered The Gibbes. They then headed upstairs to cocktail hour and meandered through the art galleries. The Gibbes courtyard, behind the museum, is beautiful on its own. But it can be made into whatever aesthetic you want with the use of a tent. A sparkler exit at the end of the night perfectly ties the bow on a classic downtown Charleston wedding.