Set amongst the draping moss of Charleston, Megan and Joe’s summer wedding at Legare Waring House was one for the books. In our conversations leading up to their wedding day, it was clear where their priorities were—time. Time with each other and time with their people. Megan and Joe’s only requests were glowy portraits and a party that would go down in history. They (eventually) got both.

With a close eye on the forecast all week, we knew rain was a possibility. Rain is always a possibility in the South. The storms circled around us all day, and every minute felt like an escape from the inevitable. Haley of Carolina Occasions quickly got everyone down the aisle, and the ceremony commenced. We couldn’t have predicted the intensity of the storm that blasted through just a few minutes later. Floral arrangements blew off the altar and the darkest clouds I’ve ever witnessed enveloped the sky. A six o’clock ceremony suddenly looked like a nine o’clock ceremony—nearly pitch black.

While their vision for a warm, light-filled summer wedding in Charleston may have been eclipsed by the mother of all summer storms, their spirits could not be dimmed. Megan and Joe gladly accepted whatever their day brought, even when insane gusts of wind, power outages, and darkness arrived. No matter the circumstances, you could tell their priorities were still the same.

It was obvious to Joey and I that we needed to return to Charleston as soon as possible. For us, leaving Megan and Joe without the portraits they envisioned was not an option. We arranged to photograph them in their wedding attire a few weeks later. It was amazing to see their vendors come together to make this happen for them. Ashleigh of Everything After the Ring crafted a stunning replica bouquet, nearly identical to her original creation, and the staff at Legare Waring House were incredibly accommodating. We even got to swing by Sullivan’s Island for dreamy seaside portraits. Sunshine blanketed each landscape we photographed at—a true redemptive gift.

May these images tell the story of Megan and Joe’s perfectly imperfect summer wedding in Charleston, and may we all remember what the wedding day is actually about—a beautiful union and time with people we cherish most.