High school sweethearts McCall Hilburn and Josh Berry first began dating in 2009 and, for the next 12 years, have been inseparable, culminating with a marriage proposal on a beautiful, sunny day in August.
The couple’s wedding day was held at the historic William Aiken House in Charleston, on December 10, 2022, themed around a visual expression of their love for Christmas, while still remaining a timeless, classic, and modern winter wedding.
“It was very important to me that our wedding felt personal and unique to us,” says McCall. “From the cuisine to the details and decor, each element was thought-out and intentional.”
Following tradition, McCall had her bridesmaids wear long, black gowns – just as her mother did on her wedding day. Bucking tradition, however, was her bold decision not to theme their décor elements around Christmas red and greens, but instead, shades of reds, plums, pinks, greens, and gold. As a nod to the newlyweds’ last name, they also featured berries throughout the floral design, with greenery like magnolia leaves and juniper highlighting Southern elegance. To let the architecture of the William Aiken House shine, a beautiful floral arch was installed on the carriage house for the ceremony, lush wreaths hung on the windows and the venue’s famous entrance gates, and a centerpiece Christmas tree featuring a ring of florals as a tree skirt was suspended from the ceiling of the reception space.
McCall said yes to her dress after visiting five different bridal shops, finally finding a dreamy, custom designed A-line gown adorned with sequins and beads–reminiscent of a shaken snow globe that sparkled under the canopy of lights.
Because bride and groom were born and raised South Carolinians, they chose some of their favorite Southern dishes for the reception menu, such as shrimp and grits, braised short ribs, crab cakes, fried chicken, and collards. Additional special touches on their special day included a personalized crest that appeared on the napkins, stir sticks, koozies, custom-embroidered pillows, and on the dance floor. Their signature cocktail was the “Berry Married Margarita” that honored the couple’s favorite weekly tradition of tacos and margaritas. At the end of the night, the Berrys made a dramatic exit driving McCall’s father’s vintage ’69 Chevy C-10 decorated with a wreath and posed for a photo under the marquee at the historical American Theatre that featured the couple’s wedding quote: “Eat, Drink, and Be Berry.”
Photo by MAGNOLIA PHOTOGRAPHY
