Wedding Snapshots

By Muffie Vardell Wells

Following a beautiful ceremony at Shandon United Methodist Church, Arden Phillips and John Stone celebrated at The Lace House at Arsenal Hill. One of their favorite memories is having dinner on the balcony above the front porch while watching family and friends prior to joining the reception. They honeymooned in Oahu and Maui and then flew straight to Chicago, where they will live while John gets his MBA at Northwestern University. Jessica Roberts Photography

What is your favorite part of a wedding? The proposal, ceremony, flowers, first dance, cutting the cake, the getaway? The layers are endless, but decidedly COVID has increased the significance of intimate wedding celebrations while the recent lifting of restrictions has opened the doors for larger festive gatherings. Columbia Metropolitan delightfully presents eight couples who share wedding stories that are uniquely their own.

Margaret Taylor Cain and David Firth were married in Nashville on Sept. 10 in the garden of Riverwood Mansion. Margaret Taylor was stunning in her Aunt Eleanor’s almost-100-year-old cathedral veil that her mother and sister both also wore. The ceremony was followed by cocktails, dinner, and dancing. Molly Peach Photography
Margaret Taylor Cain and David Firth were married in Nashville on Sept. 10 in the garden of Riverwood Mansion. Margaret Taylor was stunning in her Aunt Eleanor’s almost-100-year-old cathedral veil that her mother and sister both also wore. The ceremony was followed by cocktails, dinner, and dancing. Molly Peach Photography
Kim Jamieson and Chip Crafton wed Oct. 30 with a ceremony and reception at The Hampton-Preston Mansion. The venue was special to the couple as Kim recently was named president of the Historic Columbia Board of Trustees. The elegant wedding was planned by Meagan Warren of Meagan Warren Weddings, and the couple honeymooned in Costa Rica. Taylor Rae Photography
Kim Jamieson and Chip Crafton wed Oct. 30 with a ceremony and reception at The Hampton-Preston Mansion. The venue was special to the couple as Kim recently was named president of the Historic Columbia Board of Trustees. The elegant wedding was planned by Meagan Warren of Meagan Warren Weddings, and the couple honeymooned in Costa Rica. Taylor Rae Photography
Auberge Du Soleil in Napa was the destination for an intimate wedding Oct. 22 for Reece Miller and Drew Stevens. Drew’s father, Robert Stevens, officiated at the ceremony in the resort’s treehouse. The wedding was the only time the rain stopped during their five days in Napa. The couple plans a honeymoon trip to Greece in January 2022. T.J. Salsman Photography
Auberge Du Soleil in Napa was the destination for an intimate wedding Oct. 22 for Reece Miller and Drew Stevens. Drew’s father, Robert Stevens, officiated at the ceremony in the resort’s treehouse. The wedding was the only time the rain stopped during their five days in Napa. The couple plans a honeymoon trip to Greece in January 2022. T.J. Salsman Photography
Sally Mills and Ransom Haywood’s initial wedding date was Oct. 17, 2020, and they were happy to make it official Oct. 2, 2021. The ceremony was at Main Street United Methodist Church with a reception at the Columbia Museum of Art. Sally wore the wedding dress owned by her mother, Frances Kitchens Mills. The wedding party entered the reception down the Sara Taylor Kitchens grand staircase, dedicated by Sally’s grandparents in memory of her late aunt and namesake, Sara Kitchens. The couple honeymooned in Aruba. Britt Croft Photography
Sally Mills and Ransom Haywood’s initial wedding date was Oct. 17, 2020, and they were happy to make it official Oct. 2, 2021. The ceremony was at Main Street United Methodist Church with a reception at the Columbia Museum of Art. Sally wore the wedding dress owned by her mother, Frances Kitchens Mills. The wedding party entered the reception down the Sara Taylor Kitchens grand staircase, dedicated by Sally’s grandparents in memory of her late aunt and namesake, Sara Kitchens. The couple honeymooned in Aruba. Britt Croft Photography
Claire Oliver of Dallas, Texas, and Belton DuBose Amaker tied the knot June 12. The fabulous wedding destination was the One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos, Mexico, where many friends and family traveled to celebrate. They first met in Atlanta at a karaoke bar, where Belton charmed Claire by singing “All These Things I’ve Done” by The Killers, which unbeknownst to him was Clarie’s favorite band! Ximena Zermeno Photography
Claire Oliver of Dallas, Texas, and Belton DuBose Amaker tied the knot June 12. The fabulous wedding destination was the One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos, Mexico, where many friends and family traveled to celebrate. They first met in Atlanta at a karaoke bar, where Belton charmed Claire by singing “All These Things I’ve Done” by The Killers, which unbeknownst to him was Clarie’s favorite band! Ximena Zermeno Photography
Due to the pandemic, Caitlin Littlejohn and Max Craighead decided on an intimate outdoor wedding May 2 at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Charlotte. The reception was at the Charlotte restaurant Napa on Providence, which made a red velvet cake to order. The postponed honeymoon destination was Hawaii this past fall. Danielle Dziedzic Photography
Due to the pandemic, Caitlin Littlejohn and Max Craighead decided on an intimate outdoor wedding May 2 at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Charlotte. The reception was at the Charlotte restaurant Napa on Providence, which made a red velvet cake to order. The postponed honeymoon destination was Hawaii this past fall. Danielle Dziedzic Photography
Corinne Rixey of Morehead City, North Carolina, and Chandler McNair Coleman were married at First Presbyterian Church with a reception at Forest Lake Club. They danced with 15 bridesmaids and 21 groomsmen to “Shining Star” by The Manhattans and honeymooned at Grace Point in Turks and Caicos. Maggie Braucher Photography
Corinne Rixey of Morehead City, North Carolina, and Chandler McNair Coleman were married at First Presbyterian Church with a reception at Forest Lake Club. They danced with 15 bridesmaids and 21 groomsmen to “Shining Star” by The Manhattans and honeymooned at Grace Point in Turks and Caicos. Maggie Braucher Photography

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