In the spring of 2012, during a friendly meet-up of some mutual friends, Katherine Tannon was introduced to William Wiet. Though the two resided in different cities, they found that they had an instant connection. “Will asked me out on our first date before returning to Boston later that weekend,” reveals Katie. “As it turns out, that was the best date either of us had ever been on.” Despite the distance, the pair kept in contact for several months. Eventually, Will was offered a job in Washington, DC – where his beloved lived – and broke the news to her quickly. “Many jokes from his friends ensued concerning the ‘real reason’ for his move,” laughs the bride. “Once he arrived, we were inseparable!”

Three years into their relationship, Will proposed to Katie near the Jefferson Memorial. After her acceptance, the bride- and groom-to-be met with their families at a nearby hotel for drinks to celebrate the occasion. “I was on cloud nine – I did not sleep one second that night from all of the excitement!” Katie exclaims. Upon their engagement, Katie went to work organizing their nuptials immediately, learning as she went from her planner as well as through extensive research. “I knew planning our wedding would be very time consuming, but I somewhat underestimated the magnitude of tasks throughout the process, even with a consultant,” she reveals. “Planning necessitates very strong time, people, and project management skills, as well as creativity, resourcefulness, and thoughtfulness.”

Nearly 14 months after her sweetheart popped the question, the bride and groom met at their venue: a gorgeous historical estate in Charleston, South Carolina for their “first look” prior to the ceremony. Katie wore a chic fit-and-flare gown with a delicate sweetheart neckline while Will donned a classic black tuxedo. “With our 4:30 p.m. start time, scheduling an early hair and makeup appointment and an early ‘first look’ helped tremendously!” advises the bride. 

Guests gathered underneath a white tent layered with sheer fabric and accented with clusters of blush and snowy blooms to witness the vow exchange. An antique water fountain surrounded by low votives stood at the entrance to the space, highlighting the Old-World feel of the grounds. “Will’s uncle, an Episcopalian minister, officiated our ceremony. We loved that he blended our traditional program with personal and humorous anecdotes, based on his relationship with us, to engage our guests and create an incredibly warm and intimate environment,” notes the bride.

Following the vow exchange, attendees were led into another alfresco location on the property to continue the festivities. “Since our escort card table would be the first thing guests would see, we had a tall arrangement of blush and ivory roses, white hydrangeas, and dark greenery surrounded by escort cards over a gold floral lace linen,” explains Katie. Each tablescape exuded the couple’s chosen motif of “classic Southern romance and elegance” through a soft color palette of light pink, white, and gold. Patterned linens, gilt-rimmed chargers, and small candles topped each table, accompanied by tall glass vessels holding pastel-hued blossoms. 

With the city’s noise regulation laws, the celebration lasted until 10PM – however, that doesn’t mean there was not a party atmosphere. “Our dance floor was packed throughout the event thanks to our entertainment,” Katie says of their reception band, Liquid Pleasure from EastCoast Entertainment, which performed at President Obama’s first inaugural ball. Additionally, the funny-and-heartfelt toasts made by the wedding party thrilled the newlyweds. For their grand exit, Katie and Will provided guests with gold pom-poms to shake as they ran to their getaway car.