A Dreamy Wedding at “The Notebook” House in North Charleston!
Remember "The Notebook" starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams? This is where it was filmed. For Heather and Corey Brown, it was also the gorgeous backdrop for their wedding day! Image: Anne Tenkhoff Photography
If you’ve ever read or seen The Notebook — the iconic summer romance set in 1940s-era South Carolina — this wedding may feel very familiar. For Heather and Corey Brown, that picture-perfect movie backdrop (fondly referred to as “TheNotebook House”) became a wedding day reality.
With Spanish moss dripping from the trees, parasol-sporting bridesmaids, and romantic details galore, this South Carolina wedding at North Charleston’s Admiral’s House is completely dreamy.
PinHeather and Corey said, “I do,” at the nostalgic Admiral’s House in North Charleston, SC. Image: Anne Tenkhoff Photography
It turns out, Heather and Corey passed each other multiple times before they ever took a second look. When they finally did, the fates aligned. After a long-distance relationship while Heather pursued her master’s degree, Corey eventually got down on one knee in a beautiful park with the Charlotte, NC, skyline behind him.
While Charlotte may have been the scene of their engagement, the happy couple chose Charleston for their wedding destination — and the Admiral’s House couldn’t have been a more idyllic choice. “I knew I wanted to get married in an estate,” explains Heather, “and then I knew it was for us once I saw it in person. It had so much history and importance to us right away. And obviously, it’s stunning and perfect.”
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Once the couple had found their dream venue, Heather began her search for the perfect dress. She unexpectedly stumbled upon it during a trip to Chicago. “I was visiting Chicago and my mom suggested I look at dresses. We went to a local shop called Dimitra’s Bridal Couture. My friend’s mom owns it, and we loved the whole experience. We ended up coming back a few months later, and I said, ‘Yes!’ to the dress. It was such an amazing moment seeing myself in the dress of my dreams.”
PinThis invitation suite and its surrounding embellishments truly capture the essence of South Carolina. Image: Anne Tenkhoff Photography
The location also informed their wedding day aesthetic — timeless and classic with a few modern twists. “We loved the Charleston charm …” says the bride. “A lot of my wedding was centered around the Southern, Lowcountry vibe and being surrounded by Spanish moss. I loved having a romantic feel to represent our love.”
PinGorgeous florals from Festoon Charleston bring out the light blue shade featured on the Admiral House’s exterior. “We focused on white roses, baby’s breath, white hydrangeas, and green amaranthus,” says Heather. “And we did a huge arch at the ceremony because we wanted our wedding centered around it.” Image: Anne Tenkhoff PhotographyPinThe bride chose a gown designed by Enzo Ani, which she found at a Chicago boutique called Dimitra’s Bridal Couture. She paired it with simple jewelry, including wedding earrings from Olive & Piper. Image: Anne Tenkhoff Photography
When the big day arrived, Heather and Corey exchanged personal vows before a massive, floral-adorned arch and roughly 110 guests coming in from near and far to celebrate. With the help of their planners, Chauncey and Riley of Bouquets & Bowties, it went off without a hitch. But first, the couple enjoyed some pre-wedding fun with friends and family.
“I got ready in the Admiral’s Room within the house,” Heather tells us. “I had my 10 bridesmaids, mom, and mother-in-law with me! My brother even popped in for a little. We had a spritz bar full of various accompaniments. We sang karaoke and laughed so much!” After that, the bride enjoyed first looks with her grandparents (“Nana and Papa”), her bridesmaids, and, of course, her future husband.
PinHeather sipped champagne with her bridesmaids as she got all glammed up for her big day. Image: Anne Tenkhoff PhotographyPinGirls just wanna have fun — especially as they prepare for a fun night of dancing and celebrating! Image: Anne Tenkhoff Photography
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PinThe groom awaited first looks with his bride-to-be. Image: Anne Tenkhoff PhotographyPinThe bride and groom shared a sweet moment during their “first look.” Image: Anne Tenkhoff PhotographyPinSpanish moss offered a fairytale-esque backdrop for the bridesmaids’ parasols. Image: Anne Tenkhoff PhotographyPinWearing champagne-colored dresses from Show Me Your Mumu, Heather’s bridesmaids — which included friends, cousins, and her sister-in-law — were all smiles as they gathered around her. Image: Anne Tenkhoff PhotographyPinThe couple’s sweet (and photogenic!) pup, Sunny, popped in for a few pics with his mom and dad. Image: Anne Tenkhoff PhotographyPinReturning to the Admiral’s House after first looks, the bride and groom prepared to make it official. Image: Anne Tenkhoff Photography
After their sweet ceremony, the newlyweds made their way to the cocktail hour, where they laughed with guests, sipped on custom cocktails, and ate tasty Lowcountry fare such as mini crab cakes with Cajun caper remoulade, raw oysters on the half shell, and braised short rib with horseradish cream sauce on herb and cheese biscuits.
Even more delicious food was on its way during the reception. “We went with chef-attended food stations,” Heather tells us. “We wanted to take a more social approach and offer variety and visual interest to our wedding reception. Our guests spoke highly of the hand-rolled sushi bar!”
Other grazing stations included beef tenderloin with demi-glace and mashed potatoes, as well as lemon and herb-roasted chicken with pan jus, garlic green beans, and parmesan risotto.
For their wedding cake, the couple chose a two-tiered masterpiece designed by Naomi of MeDulce Cakes. “We wanted the cake to complement the venue, so Naomi and I emailed back and forth to perfect the color scheme,” explains Heather. “The Admiral’s House has a primarily white exterior with light blue undertones, so we aimed to incorporate that blue into the cake’s design.”
She adds, “The cake had a vintage-inspired style featuring two elegant layers. The layers were made of vanilla cake paired with luscious cream cheese icing. Between the layers, we had a delicious strawberry jam filling, which added a sweet touch of fruitiness. The entire cake was covered in smooth blue vanilla buttercream with white icing, and its color perfectly matched the overall aesthetic of the venue, tying everything together beautifully.”
Pin“We did personal vows to each other that felt so right,” says Heather. They even enclosed their vows in little embossed notebooks. How appropriate! Image: Anne Tenkhoff PhotographyPinCongratulations, Heather and Corey! Image: Anne Tenkhoff PhotographyPinAs Heather and Corey’s guests discovered, the Lowcountry is known for its oysters. Image: Anne Tenkhoff PhotographyPinTalk about elegance. Simple floral sprigs and candles adorned the tablescape, along with butterfly cutouts boasting each guest’s name. Image: Anne Tenkhoff PhotographyPinThe champagne tower awaits its bubbly. The bride and groom poured Veuve Clicquot and sipped in style! Image: Anne Tenkhoff PhotographyPinThe two-tiered cake from MeDulce Cakes was undoubtedly a focal point. Image: Anne Tenkhoff Photography
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After the first dance, champagne tower toast, cake cutting, and other memorable moments, guests took to the dance floor for a night of rowdy fun. Late-night corn dogs and sliders were even handed out to satisfy that post-dancing hunger!
When the evening came to a close, the bride and groom walked hand-in-hand to the Admiral’s House, where they spent their first night as husband and wife. How’s that for a movie-like ending?
PinThe bride and groom shared their first dance to “You Make It Easy” by Jason Aldean. “It’s been ‘our song’ since the moment we met,” says Heather. Image: Anne Tenkhoff PhotographyPinThe dance floor was packed all night, with guests donning sparkly cowboy hats and cutting a rug beneath disco balls. Image: Anne Tenkhoff PhotographyCongratulations, and thank you for sharing your special day with us!
Jenna von Oy Bratcher is StyleBlueprint's Editorial Operations Manager and Lead Content Editor. The East Coast native moved to Nashville almost two decades ago, by way of Los Angeles. She is a lover of dogs, strong coffee, traveling, and exploring the local restaurant scene bite by bite.
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