Crandall and Brenton met in 2006 while both were students at the University of South Carolina. Although they were attracted to one another, it took a bit for things to get off the ground, and it was only in 2018 that their love story, now 12 years in the making, really got underway, thanks in part to the matchmaking efforts of Bo, Brenton’s college roommate, who knew well how strong Brenton’s feelings for Crandall really were. You can read more about how that first date came together here. Its quite an adorable story. Anywho…to make a long story short, Brenton proposed on Memorial Day in 2019, and they decided to make it official in March of 2020.
Now, we all live in the same world, so I won’t go much into what was happening all over the planet in mid-March of 2020, but it should be sufficient to remind everyone that things in the US were about to undergo a major change. Like tomorrow. And although the looming lockdown (pretty much everyone at the party knew it was coming our way) was discouraging and at least a little bit frightening, it also lent a unique energy to Brenton and Crandall’s wedding. Here were hundreds of people, gathered together as a group for what they knew would be the last time for a long while. As you can imagine, the sense of love and togetherness was certain that day.
The ceremony took place at Matthews United Methodist Church, the church Crandall and her family had attended while she was growing up. It’s a lovely church, all brick and green grass with a traditional white spire. One of the things I enjoyed most about the church was the wrap-around balcony that spanned the entire sanctuary. The freedom to tiptoe around the upper level of the sanctuary allowed for angles I am not generally afforded.
For the reception, we all made our way down to Providence Country Club, which Crandall and Brenton loved for the gold and navy tones in the ballroom. The hues went perfectly with the wedding colors, and the rest of the club is, of course, just dazzling in its own right, especially during the Spring months, when everything looks so fresh and new.
My most lasting memory from the reception, which was a total blast, was of Crandall just going all out on the dance floor the entire night. I mean, this girl never took a break. I think a lot of the partygoers felt similarly; they knew this might be the last chance they would have to cut a rug for a while, and so they gave it everything they had. I always enjoy capturing dance floor candids during the reception, but this night was exceptional. There was just so much positivity and loving energy in the room. At the end of the celebration, there was a sparkler exit into a white Rolls Royce, complete with a romantic dip and a smooch. Well done, Brenton.
For their honeymoon, Crandall and Brenton slipped away to St. Lucia. They spent their days having mud baths, hiking, checking out waterfalls, horseback riding, and lounging on the beach. Pretty sweet way to kick off quarantine. These two had plenty to keep them busy when they arrived back in their now shared hometown of Greenville, SC. They closed on a new home just before the wedding day. Now it was time to agree on paint colors.
Getting Ready Location: Ballantyne Resort
Ceremony Location: Matthews United Methodists Church
Reception Location: Providence Country Club
Hair and Makeup: Beauty Asylum
Floral Design: Kelilabee Flower Company
Cake Artist: Sweet It Is!
Band: Loose Chain Band
Car Rental: Carolina Classic Rentals
Thank you to my second photographer Alisha Rudd for her lovely images!
