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An Autumn Wedding with Irish Touches in Charleston

By Shayna Seid | Photography by 

Stetten Wilson Photography 

|Planning by 

Shannon Hodges

Courtney Connor Ginty and John Joseph Rivers III met through work during her first week on the job. After dating for two-and-a-half years, he proposed while cutting down their Christmas tree, which had become a tradition in their home. 

As Courtney had attended the College of Charleston, she was drawn to the city for her November wedding. Coincidentally, her best friend from school, Shannon Hodges, is a local planner there, so they secured the Thomas Bennett House together, which had the perfect Southern charm for the reception. To get married, the couple picked St. Luke’s as their chapel. “It reminded us of something you would find in Ireland,” the bride says. “And we both felt a sense of peace come over us the minute we walked in.”

On the day-of, Courtney made her way to the altar in a classic Romona Keveza gown from the Legends collection with her father. “When I walked down the aisle, JJ got pretty emotional, but then once we were together, he couldn’t stop smiling,” the bride remarks. The couple and their officiant, Wayne, worked together to make the ceremony truly unique to them and super intimate, and once they were announced as husband and wife, everyone made their way to the famous home for dinner and dancing.

Cocktail hour began inside and on the porch, and guests moved outside on the large patio for the sit-down meal. The space featured beautiful, gold bamboo chairs and highlighted jewel tones that warmed the aesthetic. During dinner, Courtney’s father’s toast brought tears to the bride’s eyes, and her mother focused on giving Irish blessings to the couple.

Under the stars, the newlyweds had their first dance to “The One” by Irish band Kodaline, and then everyone joined and stayed on the floor until the end of the night. The after-party kicked off at the Blind Tiger Pub downtown, and the new Mr. and Mrs. arrived in a vintage Rolls-Royce, which Courtney had surprised JJ with. “It was the perfect ending to our dream wedding.”