Every year around our wedding anniversary, I think I should dig out old photos and scan them for a blog post. As it’s always wedding season and I’m immersed in editing and end-of-school-year activities, it never really happens. So today, I pulled out my trusty iPhone and my wedding album (long before flush-mounts, there were matted albums), and I pixelized some photos that were taken by our wedding photographer, David Edwards.  At the time (1999!), he was the only photographer I met with who didn’t show me a dozen standard shots and say “Here is where we do the hand and ring shot.” Even before “photojournalistic” was a wedding photography descriptor, I knew I wasn’t keen on being told how and when to do stiff poses on my wedding day.

We married by the Ashley River at Lowndes Grove, long before Patrick Properties bought it and made it even more wonderful. We opted for a daytime wedding — crazy, I know, having an outdoor ceremony at 11:30, with the sun beaming down everyone’s noses and unflattering shadows all over the place. I wore my mom’s silk organza wedding gown, which we tweaked by removing the brittle lace elbow-length sleeves and by adding a couple of inches at the waistline. Even though I was svelte at 30, she was positively tiny when she married at 19. My bridesmaids wore ivory linen dresses my mom found on the rack at Lord & Taylor. I’m pretty sure my petite DC-based friend could have made a second dress with the leftovers from her alterations.

I don’t remember much about the food except that it was catered by Hamby’s and that the shrimp and grits were a hit. Brunch is my favorite meal, so I think there were also omelets and such at the food stations. I opted for purple and green flowers, and I took a photo from Martha Stewart Weddings to the florist to show what kind of bouquet I wanted. It was mostly white and green, but like some of the brides I’ve worked with, the bouquet that was delivered didn’t really include the flowers I thought we’d discussed. It wasn’t a huge deal, but I remember that each time a client seems a little shocked how her bouquet differs from the photo she’s had on her phone for a year.

My brother played his guitar and sang a few songs, and then we also had a DJ, who played Lyle Lovett’s version of Stand By Your Man followed by Aretha’s Respect. Despite having few single friends (um, late bloomers!), we went ahead and did the bouquet and garter tosses because they were traditional and no one had really skipped it back in the 90s. I still think they are a pretty awkward tradition, so by all means, skip it if you’re not up for it. Or if it looks like the flower girl may be the only one going for the bouquet. Sorry, Cody, I should have let you keep it. Kristi didn’t want it anyway!

I changed into a champagne silk shift so we could hop on Pearsall’s boat as we left the reception. Guests threw handfuls of lavender, which I sourced online, long before Pinterest. Some friends drove us down the Ashley for a champagne toast and then to City Marina. That night, we met friends at Magnolia’s for dinner. The night before, Pearsall’s parents hosted a fun rehearsal dinner at the Harbour Club followed by a cocktail or two at Blind Tiger. Funny how much as restaurants come and go in Charleston, all these places are still there. Nancy and her mom hosted a yummy bridesmaids lunch on Folly, but that little spot, across from current Taco Boy, is no longer there.

Thanks to everyone who celebrated our wedding day with us! And to my dear maidens, I am truly sorry for leaving you to pack up my apartment so we could catch our plane to California. Procrastination remains a challenge to me, but I really feel bad about that and for leaving Lyle in charge of Two Men and a Truck. How they moved my bed down the tiny spiral staircase is beyond me.

We honeymooned in California, hopping about from San Francisco to Yosemite (where it snowed!) to Sonoma (70 and perfect) and wrapped up in a little hippie cabin in Point Reyes where elk roamed the foggy cliffs over the Pacific. Good stuff.

And without further ado, here are some photos of photos from the last millennium.

I like this one of the girls in what is now the yellow room by the entry.My dear friend Meredith and her hubby Eric — they look the same as when I photographed their son’s bar mitzvah a few months ago!My Blackbaud co-workers.

Check out the next post and be whisked to Ashley and Mark’s gorgeous day at the same venue, 15 years later. Time flies, y’all. Enjoy every minute. Or most of them!