Gibbes Museum of Art Wedding | Carson & Andrew

Tanya here, one half of McSween Photography. I want to tell you about Carson and Andrew’s wonderful Gibbes Museum of Art wedding weekend in Charleston. It was the perfect way to kick off our summer season in Charleston. As wedding photographers in the Carolinas, Harry and I have been photographing weddings here for years, and this one had everything we love: a couple who stayed present and genuinely excited for every part of their day, from their first look to the last dance.

Rehearsal Dinner at Surcee’s on King Street

The weekend started the night before at Surcee’s on King Street, where Carson and Andrew gathered their closest family and friends for cocktails and a small, intimate dinner. We snuck the two of them out for a few minutes on King Street, just to catch some quiet photos together before the night got going, Carson in an iridescent, spaghetti-strap dress, Andrew in a beautiful blue suit. Back upstairs, the toasts began, and it didn’t take long before the room was somewhere between laughter and tears. Stories about friendship. Stories about how well these two people are known and loved. That kind of night sets the tone for everything that follows, and this one did exactly that.

Getting Ready at The Restoration Hotel

The wedding morning started at The Restoration, where Carson and her bridal party got ready in a suite full of music and laughter, with champagne being poured throughout the morning. Down the hall, Andrew and his groomsmen had a ball game playing while they helped each other with ties and cummerbunds. It was a relaxed morning, the kind that lets you actually enjoy getting ready instead of just surviving it.

First Look and Portraits on Chalmers Street

From there, we all loaded onto a Charleston trolley and headed to Chalmers Street for bridal party photos and a first look. Carson and Andrew’s reaction to seeing each other was pure joy, full of big smiles and real laughter with no nerves left in sight. One thing I loved about how Carson approached portraits: instead of individual photos with every single bridesmaid, she opted for group shots with her girls, and Andrew did the same with his guys. It kept the timeline moving without losing any of the connection, and by the time our friend Shannon from Hill & Co. checked in on us, we were ahead of schedule. After the bridal party photos, we carved out time for portraits of just the two of them on the cobblestone streets, some of my favorite frames from the entire day.

Wedding Ceremony at First Baptist Church of Charleston

The ceremony took place at First Baptist Church of Charleston, the oldest Baptist church in the South, established in 1682. There’s a weight to a space like that (the history, the pillars, an enormous organ), and it made for a ceremony that felt both grand and deeply personal. I don’t think there was a dry eye when Carson walked down the aisle with her dad. After their first kiss, the couple exited through a bridal party that was practically bursting with excitement, and the celebration spilled out onto the church porch in hugs and happy tears.

Before we left the church, we made a quick stop at a spot Harry and I had scouted the day before, dappled light coming through the trees, just a few blocks away. We always try to plan these moments ahead of time, so we’re not searching for good light on the fly. It keeps the day moving and gives us a little bit of magic we already know is there.

Gibbes Museum of Art Wedding Reception

The reception at the Gibbes Museum of Art was one of the most thoughtfully designed we’ve photographed this year. Carson and Andrew chose a palette of chartreuse green and light blue, and instead of a seated dinner, they opted for a station-style setup with soft seating and smaller tables that made it easy for guests to talk to each other. It’s one of our favorite reception styles for exactly that reason.

Cocktail hour was held in the museum’s rotunda, where a Rodin exhibit happened to be on display, a beautiful backdrop for the evening. Back downstairs, the couple shared a first dance, a father-daughter dance, and a mother-son dance, followed by a speech from Carson’s dad that had the whole tent raising their glasses. Then the band, Steel Toe Stiletto, took over, and the dance floor never emptied. Late-night French fries and pizza kept everyone fueled, and party favors (glasses and hats) kept the energy climbing.

Carson and Andrew ended their night exiting through a sea of bubbles and driving off in a powder-blue 1975 Chevy convertible, waving to guests down Meeting Street. It was a genuinely joyful send-off and a perfect close to a day that felt, from start to finish, like the two of them.

What made this Gibbes Museum of Art wedding in Charleston so special wasn’t just the setting. It was how present Carson and Andrew stayed in every moment, and how much they trusted the incredible team around them, including the ever-wonderful Shannon from Hill & Co.

Looking for a wedding photographer for your Gibbes Museum of Art wedding?

If you’re planning a Gibbes Museum of Art wedding in Charleston and want photographs that feel as real as the day itself, we’d love to hear from you. Take a look through more of our work on our home page, and when you’re ready to talk details, reach out through our contact page. We can’t wait to hear your story.

Carson & Andrew’s Gibbes Museum of Art Wedding Team

Planning and Design @hillandcocreative
Photography @mcsweenphotography
Videography @thomasmalphrus
Florals @festooncharleston
Beauty @charlestonbridalcollab
Bride aide @cackysbrideaid
Venue @thegibbesmuseum
Catering @crucatering
Bakery @ashleybakery
Band @partywithsts
Bride’s Gown @whiteondi
Bridesmaids Dresses @lulakate
Invitations @katieknowlesdesign
Rentals @snyderevents @curatedeventscollective
Linens @bbjlatavola
Draping @thesocialspool
Lighting @lightitup_sc
Transportation @whipdashchs @scexpresscharleston