I’m super excited to share the photos I took of Kristen & Clayton’s classic Gadsden House wedding in Charleston, SC. Read on to learn more about why this venue fits them and their love story perfectly!
The couple knew they wanted to get married in Charleston, South Carolina after many weekend trips there, where they fell in love with the amazing food and Southern charm. Kristen & Clayton chose The Gadsden House to host their classic Southern wedding.
This iconic property in downtown Charleston was built in 1798 and recently revitalized to seamlessly blend the historic character with contemporary elegance for private events. It’s the perfect wedding venue to show all of their loved ones why Charleston holds a special place in their hearts.
How They Met
Clayton and Kristen first met when she was in nursing school and Clayton was in medical school. Kristen was in the library early one morning before class and Clayton also happened to be there. He boldly came up to her and introduced himself and asked her out to dinner.
Kristen says she felt early on in their relationship that Clayton was the one. He was so kind, generous, intelligent, and selfless. She calls him her sunshine on a rainy day and swears she has never met a kinder soul. She could not imagine spending the rest of her life with anyone other than him.
Clayton says he can’t pinpoint the exact moment that he knew Kristen was the one. Instead, it’s the collection of memories and moments that they have shared over the years that have made him fall in love with her. He believes she is such a beautiful person inside and out.
Kristen & Clayton are huge travelers and try and take one big trip a year. They have a travel bucket list where they write down all the places that they want to travel to. Once they figure out when they can take time off work, they look up the weather and decide what climate they want. Then they research the country they picked and plan a vacation around that. Their past trip to Jordan is where Clayton proposed!
The Proposal
After an 8-hour hike to the Treasury in the city of Petra, Clayton said he wanted to get a picture with the both of them in front of it. Kristen didn’t think anything of it because they had been taking pictures all day and usually liked to take photos on all their vacations. Kristen found a Bedouin who could take their picture.
When she turned around to pose, Clayton told her he needed to ask her something. He then got down on one knee and popped the question in front of everyone! Clayton had been hiking with the engagement ring in his front pocket the entire time!
Kristen describes her cushion cut engagement ring set high with beautiful diamonds along the band as enchanting! It’s even better than her Pinterest board picks!
“From the first time that I spoke with Leigh over the phone I knew that she was going to be wonderful to work with. Her pictures speak for themselves, but her personality was the icing on the cake! The natural light that Leigh uses for her pictures just enhance all of the beautiful details that she captures. We had our engagement session with Leigh and right away she made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera. When she arrived on our wedding day, she was full of energy and positivity. She got our wedding pictures back to us in three weeks, which is amazing! Her work is so beautiful, and I cannot recommend her enough. We have gotten so many compliments on how beautiful our wedding photos are!”
A heart-to-heart conversation for the bride who values what truly matters I see you there, beautiful bride-to-be. You’re juggling career demands, family expectations, and endless wedding planning lists that seem to grow longer each day. You’re craving something different – a celebration that feels authentically you, not a Pinterest board come to life. Let me…
Indoor Wedding Venues Charleston Looking for indoor Charleston wedding venues to escape the heat during the brutal summer and early fall months of South Carolina. Here are my favorite three air-conditioned venues so your wedding guests don’t melt off their seats. All three of these indoor Charleston wedding venues are large enough to hold both…
Planning a wedding in Charleston feels exciting and overwhelming at the same time. You want a venue that feels right for your story. You want a place where you can breathe, slow down, and enjoy the day without stress. And you want photos that feel natural, honest, and full of quiet moments you never want…
When you look back at your wedding photos years from now, the images that matter most will not just be the traditional ones. They will be the photographs that bring you right back to how the day felt. The quiet moments. The emotion. The connection between the two of you. When I photograph a wedding,…
Most people feel awkward in front of a camera. You’re planning this beautiful wedding or elopement in Charleston, and suddenly you’re thinking about how unnatural you feel when someone points a camera at you. I get it. That’s exactly why I’ve spent over 20 years figuring out how to make this process feel easy and…
“We spoke with a few photographers, but the vibe and connection with Leigh was instant. She was so positive and open to listening to our needs, understanding the cultural aspects that would be needed, willing to do the research and customized a package for us that would include our multiple event wedding weekend! We could…
