We absolutely adored photographing Lillian and Stephen’s poignant and utterly stunning Gibbes Art Museum wedding in Charleston this spring! The Gibbes Art Museum makes for an incredible wedding venue that seamlessly merges elegance with artistic allure. Nestled in the heart of historic Charleston, the Gibbes Art Museum created a stunning and historic backdrop for their garden party-inspired wedding surrounded by priceless works of art. Check out our favorite images from this gorgeous Gibbes Art Museum wedding celebration that is both a work of art and an unforgettable experience.
Unveiling the Gibbes Art Museum
The Gibbes Art Museum is easily considered one of Charleston’s premier wedding venues. Situated amongst Charleston’s rich cultural heritage in the Historic District, this neoclassical treasure stands as a testament to the city’s vibrant art scene. Its grand façade, adorned with graceful columns, intricate details, and a sense of majesty, sets the stage for an awe-inspiring wedding venue that exudes sophistication and refinement. Throughout the main building, you’ll find impressive architectural details that have been carefully preserved amongst modern and updated amenities. Its front steps and main entranceway include its iconic black and white tiled floor and steps, with wrought iron handrails perfect for decorating with florals and greenery to welcome guests. Stepping inside the front doors, you’ll immediately be transported into an eclectic collection of art, design, and sculpture, set amongst the historic Gibbes’ Beaux Arts building’s charming corridors and naturally lit rooms. This historic gem along Charleston’s Museum Mile is easily one of our favorite Charleston wedding venues, boasting neutral, beautiful backdrops and multiple indoor and outdoor facilities for weddings and events alike. We easily consider the Gibbes to be one of Charleston’s most beautiful spaces to host weddings within, and adore every single inch of the property for jaw-dropping wedding portraits.
Best Charleston Wedding Venues
As a Charleston wedding photographer, we love photographing weddings at the Gibbes Art Museum for its stunning, multidimensional locations, its fantastic location in downtown historic Charleston, as well as its incredible lighting. Steps away from the Gibbes Art Museum, you’ll find that Charleston beckons with its romantic allure and picturesque surroundings. Some of our favorite portrait spots in the entire city are a mere block or two away from your Gibbes Art Museum wedding celebration. We love taking our couples down to the picturesque cobblestone streets of Chalmers Street. Right next door, you’ll find The Mills House, which with its iconic light pink exterior, is a much-loved backdrop for Charleston wedding party portraits conveniently located right next to the venue.
Gibbes Art Museum Wedding
Lillian and Stephen opted for an intimate, garden party celebration of their Friday wedding, utilizing some of the most iconic corners of the Gibbes Art Museum for their wedding day. We began our time together with wedding party portraits on the front marble steps of the Gibbes Art Museum, using the black and white checkered stairs as a gorgeous backdrop to their portraits. Meanwhile, the team at Michelle Summers was transforming both the upstairs Rotunda and the Lenhardt Garden into a breathtaking, Bridgerton-inspired oasis for their guests to enjoy.
Rotunda Ceremony at the Gibbes
Taking the staircase just inside the front entryway of the Gibbes Art Museum, you will find the upstairs galleries and the ever lovely Rotunda. Many couples, Lillian and Stephen included, opt to host their wedding ceremony in the Rotunda of the Gibbes Art Museum for their wedding. The museum’s captivating Rotunda, with its soaring ceilings and exquisite chandeliers, creates an intimate ambiance that envelops you and your loved ones. The vast room, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a stained glass rotunda dome, is surrounded by white marble statues and busts that are used as a unique backdrop to wedding ceremonies. Michelle Summers transformed the space, using clear ‘ghost’ chairs to seat their 75 person wedding attendance, and created a unique display of natural twigs, greenery, and white flowers in a half-moon crescent shape on the floor for their ceremony altar.
After their poignant wedding ceremony, guests were invited to enjoy the museum’s galleries, adorned with an array of paintings, sculptures, and unique installations. As their guests made their way down to the Lenhardt Garden of the Gibbes Art Museum for their wedding reception, Lillian and Stephen opted for ‘just married’ portraits amongst the rich collection of paintings upstairs.
Garden Courtyard Reception
Long tables and rounds with gold chiavari chairs were delicately scattered throughout the main courtyard of the Lenhardt Garden, which is situated behind the main art museum building on the property. You would never guess such a peaceful, greenery-filled place exists in the heart of bustling downtown Charleston. Overflowing gold and glass floral compotes littered the tables, with tall glass candelabras creating a sense of height and wonder in the reception’s design. Cafe lights were strung across the courtyard so that guests really did feel like they were dining and celebrating under the stars. A stunning head table for the couple was created, covered in white velvet linens and surrounded by white roses and snapdragon blooms. As the sun set, the couple dined with their closest friends and family amongst the stunning, peaceful surroundings. Lillian and Stephen utilized their reception to mingle with all of their guests underneath the stars, and closed out their gorgeous Gibbes Art Museum wedding day on the perfect note. A sparkler exit on the front black and white steps of the museum was the perfect ending to their gorgeous Charleston wedding day, and we couldn’t think of a better spot in Charleston for these two to get married in! Check out some of our favorite images below from this stunning Gibbes Art Museum Wedding from this spring below!
If You Are Planning A Gibbes Art Museum Wedding, a Wedding In The Southeast, Colorado, Or At A Destination Worldwide, And Looking For A Destination Wedding Photographer, Let’s Get In Touch Today!
Photography Team: Sarah Nann Photography
Film Processing: PhotoVision Prints
Wedding Design & Florals: Michelle Summers
Wedding Planning: Halo Events
Rentals: Curated Events Charleston
Venue: The Gibbes Art Museum
Catering: Duvall Catering
Cake: Sweet Dreams Charleston
Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero
Bridal Salon: Bridals by Jodi
