'Tis the Season

Grayson Schirmer & Ross Jones December 10, 2016 • Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church & Sand Dunes Club It takes what it takes when it comes to men and proposals, and in the case of Ross Jones, a soon-to-expire gift card to Fulton Five restaurant was just the prompt he needed to pop the question to Grayson Schirmer. When “dessert” arrived at their table, it was served in a silver dish that Grayson had admired months before at Ross’s mother’s house. “I had told her how much I loved it,” says Grayson, who opened it this time to find—surprise—a ring box. With Ross down on one knee, says Grayson, “I was so shocked that the lady sitting next to us said, ‘Well, are you gonna say “Yes?”’. ” For the Charleston couple, who’ve known each other most of their lives, choosing a wedding date nearly a year later was simple. “I love my church,” says Grayson of Mount Pleasant Presbyterian, “and I knew the Christmas tree would be up.” With the ceremony site set, Grayson and her mom, Gina, next turned to the reception venue, Sullivan’s Island’s Sand Dunes Club, where Grayson had spent many a summer. To transform the blank canvas of the cavernous location, mother and daughter hit up Ooh! Events’ trove of a rental warehouse.“The second I walked into Ooh!,” says Grayson, “I knew it was just better for my mom to take over. She had a really good way of taking everything I loved and putting it all together.” Gina and the Ooh! team, led by Lisa Thomas, created a series of gathering spaces for the wedding’s 350 guests within the rambling club. “We wanted people to move through the space,” says Lisa, “so we strategically placed food stations throughout the site, inside and out.” For colors, they turned to the bride. “I wanted a winter wedding without it looking like Christmas,” says Grayson, who picked silvery blue sequined bridesmaids gowns right off the bat. “We based everything else around those,” she says. That translated to a formal black tie affair with an abundance of snowy white—from flowers to faux fur cushions—tan, silver, and rich aqua. On the day, the adage “Good things come to those who wait” reigned as Grayson and Ross tied the knot. “I honestly feel like I married my best friend,” says Grayson. “There is no one that knows me better than he does.” Vendor List Wedding design: Gina Schirmer (mother of bride) and Ooh! Events, www.oohevents.com Florals: Out of the Garden, www.oohevents.com/services/floral/ Photography: Virgil Bunao, www.virgilbunao.com Venues: Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church (ceremony), www.mppc.net ; Sand Dunes Club (reception), www.facebook.com/SandDunesClub Rentals: Ooh! Events (furniture, décor), www.oohevents.com ; Polished! Tabletop (tabletop), www.rentals.oohevents.com/collections/polished-table-top; Snyder Events (tents), www.snyderevents.com Catering: Geist & Co., www.geistandco.com Bar: Batch Cocktail and Bar Service, www.batch-charleston.com Cake: Publix Mount Pleasant, www.publix.com Cake pops: The Cake Pop Shop of Charleston, www.facebook.com/TheCakePopShopOfCharleston Calligraphy: Penned by Palmer, www.pennedbypalmer.com Invitations: Christine Brinson Designs, (843) 499-2954 Music: Barbara Loehr-Fox (soloist, ceremony); Jason Pedeaux (organist, ceremony), www.mppc.net ; The Mighty Kicks (ceremony, reception, choir), www.willisblume.com/mightykicks Bride’s attire: Rivini from Fabulous Frocks Charleston (gown), www.fabulousfrocksbridal.com, vintage fur (bride’s own); Kate Spade (shoes), www.katespade.com Bridesmaids’ attire: Adrianna Papell (gowns), available in Charleston through Bella Bridesmaids, www.bellabridesmaids.com, vintage (furs) Beauty: Patrick Navarro (hair), hairbynavarronyc@gmail.com, Dannon K. Collard (makeup), www.dannonkcollard.com Men’s attire: Jean’s Bridal, www.jeansbridalcharleston.com Ring bearer ensemble: The Best Dressed Child, www.bestdressedchild.com Getaway car: Absolutely Charleston, www.absolutelycharleston.com