A Planters Inn Elopement | Courtney + Luke

Courtney and Luke were married in a beautiful, simple, and intimate ceremony in Charleston. We met at Planters Inn for their elopement on a dreary morning that threatened rain, but it turned out to be the most wonderful, cool morning in Charleston. 

The two of them met at work, where Courtney is a nurse and Luke is a police officer. Courtney was working on a paper for school, and Luke noticed the topic. He was pretty proficient in this area, so he said, “hey, let me help you out with that.” I asked Luke if he already knew he liked Courtney at that point, and he thought about it and said, “Well yeah, I don’t think I would have basically done the whole paper for her if I didn’t already like her.” Courtney reluctantly agreed that yes, he did basically help her with the whole paper :)

I don’t think this couple could have been more opposite, and it’s adorable. Courtney is giggly, full of energy, chatty, and teeny tiny. Luke is “a man of few words,” as Courtney described him, calm, thoughtful, and very tall. I loved watching them interact, as Courtney energetically danced circles around Luke while he just gave little side smiles at her silliness. 

They had planned to have a big wedding and that got sidetracked by covid. When that happened, they decided to elope instead. They realized they were getting caught up in all the wedding planning and for them, it was taking away from what was really important. 

They got ready together, and Luke told me that he got scolded by her makeup artist for saying her makeup looked “nice” after it was done instead of gushing about how beautiful it was. When he saw her dress, he said she looked so nice. It became our phrase for the day…”it’s such a nice day! This is all so nice!” I just love how couples can be so different and still so perfect together.

We had the most amazing day…it was supposed to be raining and thunderstorming all week. But when we met up at 8am that morning, it was a cool 72 degrees (and my weather app said it actually FELT like 72 degrees!) which NEVER happens in August in Charleston. It was literally the perfect morning to be walking around downtown Charleston taking portraits and enjoying a wedding day. Luke and I bonded over our shared love for the weather channel, how we’re both huge dorks who missed our calling in life to be meteorologists. (Anyone else out there who loves the weather app? I don’t really understand why that’s so dorky, but everyone makes fun of me for it…)

After the ceremony, Courtney told Luke that she knew he was trying to hold back tears during the ceremony. I told her that I could tell too. Luke did his best to convince us that it was only at the very beginning, and then he pulled himself together. Sure, Luke. It’s ok, I think it’s very manly of a guy to cry on their wedding day :)

I’m so honored to have shared this morning with you both! Congrats again!

Vendors:

Getting Ready Venue: Planters Inn

Ceremony Venue: White Point Gardens

Gown: Carolina Bridal World

Suit: Men’s Wearhouse

Rings: Blue Nile

Photography: Taylor Rae Photography