Ashley & Keith Palmetto Collegiate Wedding, Lexington SC

Ashley & Keith were married at St Peter’s in Lexington SC with reception at Palmetto Collegiate. But before the big day, there was a big proposal! Being USC alumni, both of them are huge gamecock fans, so Keith got a surprise Horseshoe brick engraved. Here’s how Ashley tells their engagement story…

We got to the horseshoe and began walking around. We walked around for about 15 minutes just talking about memories on campus from when we were there, and we both had stories about tripping on the bricks while walking to class haha. We found Keith’s brick and I started taking pictures with my phone, of course, because I love pictures. Keith asked if I wanted to get a picture of him kneeling down with his brick. I told him that was a great idea so he began to kneel down on the ground. Looking at my phone ready to take a picture I noticed Keith reaching into his pocket. I thought maybe he was pulling out his phone to get a picture with it, too. I was wrong! He pulled out a ring box and it hit me while he was down on one knee! He asked me to marry him! My jaw dropped ( I literally have a picture). Of course I said yes! He stood up, we kissed, we hugged, and I cried.

But Keith wasn’t done with the surprises yet. He continued the evening by driving Ashley to a surprise party with all their friends and family that he had planned! How sweet!

Ashley chose to get married at St Peter’s Church in Lexington. I love the stone work on this majestic church. And it made the perfect backdrop for the dapper gentlemen in their pale grey suits!

Groomsmen in grey suits St Peters Lexington

The ladies pulled off some sassy poses in their teal dresses.

Ashley picked out the sweetest gift for her Dad! She grew up with Dad taking her fishing so she got him a personalized fishing lure as a wedding gift! How creative is that! Ashley said,

The sweetest part of our wedding was exchanging gifts with our parents. There were a lot of personal touches throughout our wedding that really meant a lot.

Personalized father wedding gift fishing lure

Speaking of personal touches, the couple put a lot of time and effort into the details around the reception at Palmetto Collegiate. They set up several photo displays within window panes and on a chicken wire grid to showcase some of their great memories throughout the years- and some from our fun outdoorsy engagement session! The favor table featured the couple’s favorite cookies and treats! Ashley mentioned,

The most exciting part of planning a wedding is seeing everything come together in the end. For so long it seems like a bunch of small pieces to a puzzle. It’s fun to finally put all of the pieces together.

personalized favor cookie table and photo display

Their 4-tiered wedding cake with floral details was breathtaking!

floral wedding cake palmetto collegiate in lexington

There are so many great spaces at Palmetto Collegiate. They used the interior of the house for the buffet line and cake table, the back porch made a quiet lounging area and they set up a tent on the lawn with a dance floor to enjoy the beautiful SC weather the majority of the night!

tent at Palmetto Collegiate in Lexington

Showing off their Gamecock pride, the couple entered the reception to Sandstorm. They even had towels printed with “Ashley & Keith” embossed on them for the guests to wave.

Remember how many surprise Keith planned for the day of their engagement? Well, the bride had a surprise of her own for the groom on the wedding day! She had arranged for a replica of the General Lee Dodge Charger to show up at the reception and stay for their big exit!

One of my favorite personal touches from Ashley & Keith’s wedding were the tea lights they draped from the trees and the little candles they set up for mood lighting behind the house. So, we incorporate those details into their dusk portraits to add a romantic mood!