A Charming Hometown Wedding for Irby and Adam

Hartsville, South Carolina, sweethearts Irby Haynes and Adam DuBose met in high school. A trip that they both attended during their senior year ignited a romance that continued through college. Nine years later, they tied the knot in their hometown at Drengaelen House. The Southern affair celebrated faith, family, and food, with a special nod to the bride's late father, whose birthday coincided with the wedding date of June 7, 2014. In celebrating her father's life, as well as Irby and Adam's new one together, the late-afternoon soirée was a special event to remember, complete with personal touches around every corner.

Jessica Rourke, who planned the wedding, also designed the invitation through her stationery company, Lady Letterpress. The custom suite incorporated calligraphy by Lydia Robins Hendrix, gray ink, and a white wax seal with the shape of a fern on it.

The bride and groom selected Drengaelen House for its location—it was easily accessible for both families—and its beauty (its name translates to "among the trees"). Dating back nearly 100 years, the local spot on the campus, where the bride's parents went to college, provided an idyllic backdrop for the nuptials and their muted, romantic color palette.

Adam and Irby decided early on in the planning process that they would do a first look. "In retrospect, I love the time we were able to spend together before the ceremony," Irby says. "The pictures taken by our photographers, Landon Jacob, will always hold a special place in our hearts."

Adam looked sharp in a classic gray suit and silver tie. Irby wore a Monique Lhuillier silk gown in a subtle blush tone. "I love how the dress seemed to shift colors depending on the lighting," she recalls. "Sometimes you could detect a hint of gold, sometimes a bit of ivory." After trying on a number of options, she found this winning number at Maddison Row, a boutique in Charleston.

Adam designed the platinum engagement ring, which has a pear-shaped diamond with a rose gold halo surrounding it. For the wedding band, Irby selected a thin rose gold number, and Adam went for a simple white gold classic.

Irby carried a wild and loose arrangement of garden roses, peonies, and clematis. The cascading bouquet perfectly complemented her blush gown.

The bridesmaids wore short ivory dresses in a mix of textures from Anthropologie, Bhldn, and J.Crew.

Guys affixed boutonnieres of rosemary, flower buds, and petit sprigs of greenery to their lapels. 

A small statue of Michelangelo's David on the grounds of the venue was incorporated into the décor for the ceremony, with large floral arrangements set around it to the entrance of the aisle.

The wedding kicked off with a ceremony on the front lawn under a large tree. A cellist and guitarist performed and sang a couple of traditional tunes and some more modern ones as well. Both the bride and groom recall the walk down the aisle as the most memorable (and perhaps emotional) moment of the day. The ceremony reflected the couple's Christian faith, with the pair offering communion, then exchanging traditional vows and sealing it with a kiss as husband and wife. 

Following the ceremony, the 250 guests were greeted with sweet tea and water on silver trays, and one of the groom's favorite southern staples: chicken and waffles.

In addition to tasty bites, a signature cocktail dubbed the "Charleston Mule" was served during the alfresco cocktail hour. The southern take on the classic drink was made using ingredients local to South Carolina (Striped Pig Distillery vodka and Cannonborough ginger beer soda).

Delicate ferns were strung up behind the bar for a decorative accent.

Along with her mom, Irby's grandfather, whom she calls Papa, walked her down the aisle. He also danced with her to "Butterfly Kisses" by Bob Carlisle during the reception. The song choice was easy and obvious; he would often play the track in his truck's tape player when he picked her up from the bus stop after school. "I remember him telling me we'd dance to it at my wedding one day, and we did," Irby says.

A mix of long, rectangular tables and rounds were set for dinner under a tent frame swathed with sheer fabric and illuminated with string lights and chandeliers.

The menu was calligraphed by Lydia Robins Hendrix on an oversized poster, framed by a fresh wreath constructed by Fern Studio. The duo served fare that reflected their Southern roots and love of delectable cuisine. The crowd favorite was a fried green tomato station, where the made-to-order dish was served with bacon aioli and buttermilk ranch dressing. Also on the menu? Brisket and pulled pork served with sweet tea vodka BBQ sauce and mustard BBQ sauce, bread-and-butter pickles, and homemade biscuits.

Arrangements of roses, Queen Anne's lace, peonies, and astilbe adorned each table, along with a variety of candle holders. 

Guests found their seats thanks to gray cards calligraphed with their names and topped with the same wax seals that enclosed the invites.

Ingrid Michaelson's version of the Elvis classic "I Can't Help Falling in Love With You" played as the couple danced together for the first time as newlyweds. One of the bride's favorite memories of the wedding-planning process was playing the song on their home's back deck and practicing the first dance.

Adam and his mother swayed to "Godspeed" by the Dixie Chicks.

The three-tier cake was piped in an elegant pattern and boasted three different flavors: pineapple, strawberry, and chocolate. A red velvet cake was also served to guests.

Irby's grandmother, known as Happy, is famous for her chocolate chip cookies and makes them for everyone. When the bride was thinking of what the wedding favor would be, she could think of no better token of thanks than some of the noteworthy cookies. Grandma was happy to bake the sweets, which were packaged in custom baggies.

Photography: Landon Jacob Photography 

Location: The Drengaelen House

Event Planning: Jessica Rourke

Catering: Spotted Salamander Catering

Florist: Fern Studio Floral and Event Design

Videography: Caravan Cinema

Stationery: Lady Letterpress

Calligraphy: Lydia Robins Hendrix

Cake: Buttercream

Reception Music: Ross Holmes Band

Rentals: Party Reflections

Hair and Makeup: MiKel Rumsey