It was an honor to photograph Elizabeth and Miguel’s Agapae Oaks Wedding in St. Helena, South Carolina!
These two love birds met when Miguel was in the marines. During his enlistment, they stayed together and had a long-distance relationship. Once his commitment ended with the marines, their relationship grew stronger and led them to marriage. They enjoy fun date nights by going to escape rooms, geocaching, or going out for music and dancing on the town. No matter what they are doing, they always have a smile on their face. They’ve got the best personalities!
When I arrived at Agapae Oaks, I was amazed by the charm of this St Helena wedding venue! There is white fencing on both sides of the long driveway and ancient oak trees with Spanish moss covering the branches. Located in the heart of low-country, this venue offers astounding natural beauty with large pristine marshlands surrounding the property.
The historic main house at Agapae Oaks makes for the perfect getting-ready space. While Elizabeth’s mother was getting her ready, she gasped as she took a step back and marveled at her daughter’s beauty. It was such a sweet moment! Once Elizabeth was ready for her bridal portraits, she became emotional and had to pull out her happy tears handkerchief to conceal her tears.
A beautiful fall wedding at Agapae Oaks
One of the best things about having a wedding at Agapae Oaks is that there are multiple spots around the property to have your ceremony. Miguel and Elizabeth chose to have their ceremony in front of an area of marshland and under palm trees. Elizabeth and her father made a grand entrance at the ceremony, arriving in a vintage white car.
During their ceremony, they incorporated a tradition from Miguel’s family. Las Arras Matrimoniales, where Miguel’s family gifts 13 coins. After the blessing and exchange of rings, the priest blesses the 13 coins. Then, the groom presents it to the bride to symbolize his commitment to care for her and their home. They also had a rosary wrapped around them. The wedding lasso is a large rosary placed around the couple to symbolize unity. I loved how they could incorporate these particular elements into their ceremony.
The portraits that we got of Elizabeth and Miguel were stunning. We included the vintage car in a few for a more classy look. The sunsets at Agapae Oaks are always striking! Even though it was a fall wedding, it was a warm day. Elizabeth’s bridesmaids looked amazing in their jewel-tone contrasting dresses that complimented the fall vibe.
They had a beautiful tented wedding reception with quite the assortment of cupcakes to go along with their naked wedding cake adorned with flowers. All of their guests enjoyed the night by laughing at speeches, dancing with Miguel and Elizabeth, and ending the night with a confetti exit.
It was such a joy to be part of their wedding day!
Here are some of my favorites from their Agapae Oaks Wedding!
South Carolina Wedding Vendors:
Ceremony Venue: Agapae Oaks Weddings
Reception Venue: Agapae Oaks Weddings
Photographer: Ashta Harler Photography
DJ : Veterans Pride Entertainment
Florist: Southern Coast Flowers
Caterer: The 33 BBQ
Dress: The Sentimentalist
Cake: Wicked Cakes of Savannah
Cupcakes: Goudie Two Shoes Baking
Violinist’s: Low Country Pianist
Tent: Event Works Rentals
Bartender: Low Country Kitchen
Transportation: Vintage Limousine
Officiant: Andy with Divine Marriage Union
Are you getting married at Agapae Oaks? Let’s chat about your dream wedding!