A Downtown Charleston Engagement Session Complete with Cocktails

It’s wedding day for Kelly and Nikita, and I’m finally getting around to catching up on blog posts, so that means it’s time to share their engagement portraits!

You may remember their faces from their epic boat proposal back in 2023 off Daniel Island! I was so thrilled when Kelly reached out saying, “We had such a great time and loved our photos from the proposal. We’d love to have you for our wedding, too!” Cue the tears. Love that.

Kelly and Nikita are so obviously head over heels for each other and an absolute JOY to be around. They radiate love for each other and the world around them. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching their date nights over Instagram stories this last year and cannot wait to watch them become husband and wife today.

When we started planning their engagement session, Kelly asked for something a little bit Charleston, but also a little something different. We decided on grabbing cocktails at Iron Rose in the Mills House Hotel and venturing around Historic Downtown Charleston, and it was a blast!

We started our walk in the courtyard of the Gibbes Museum of Art with the most amazing afternoon light streaming through the trees then made our way through a portion of one of Charleston’s hidden gems – The Gateway Walk. (This is one of my favorite little secrets to tell visitors about!)

Our next stop was for cocktails at Iron Rose, and these two ROCKED the vibe. They both loving trying all the great Charleston eateries and drink spots, so this was a perfect addition to their engagement session! And though I don’t think either of them had any nerves to tamper down, for my couples that do- having a little stop for a cocktail is a great way to do that and makes for great photos.

After a change of clothes, we continued our walk next door to Hibernian Hall, across the cobblestones of Chalmers Street, caught the iconic steeple of St Michael’s in the background as we crossed Church St, and then meandered our way through the streets south of Broad before ending up waterside on the Cooper River- a perfect walk through the beauty that is downtown Charleston with incredible images all along the way.

I spent yesterday afternoon with the happy couple, their parents, and wedding party at their rehearsal and got a little taste of how today will go. Not just the exact places everyone will stand or who goes up the aisle first, but the feeling of love surrounding these two. Laughs with the guys, giddy giggles with the girls, and the adoration that Kelly and Nikita have for each other. I smiled to myself as I watched them stand at the front of the aisle in preparation for the real thing and marveled in what a special time this is for them and how very grateful I am to be able to not only witness these kinds of moments, but to document them for the future of their families. I really do have the coolest job out there.

And now, I’m preparing to head out for their wedding day at Daniel Island Club as they prepare to say the real “I do” with marsh views and all of their closest family and friends this afternoon. I can hardly contain myself! I just know it’s going to be the most wonderful day with YOJ Events and the incredible vendor team they’ve pulled together. I can’t wait to see what they’ve dreamed up for these two very special people!