A Bridal District Is Born
Cannonborough isn’t exactly where you’d expect to find Charleston’s hip new bridal district.
But this diverse neighborhood is growing up fast and plays host to everything a Charleston bride needs, nestled among technicolor houses and favorite urban dives. Yes, this neighborhood has a buzz about it, and you certainly won’t get a cookie-cutter wedding working with the locals in this part of town.
“That’s what makes downtown New York so attractive. It’s residential with little boutiques and businesses mixed into it,” says Laura Kirkman, owner of Maddison Row Bridal Chic. “And that’s what this neighborhood is becoming.”
Step inside the gown room at Maddison Row and bask in front of the wedding designer greats–Carolina Herrera, Vera Wang, Elizabeth Filmore–traditional and contemporary designs, blended into a sea of cream and white. Where once upon a time Charleston brides jet setted to New York in hopes of high-end labels, now Kirkman (who will be a bride herself on Saturday) brings the goods to Charleston with Maddison Row. Kirkman expertly guides each bride-to-be through the process of finding the perfect dress, with a demeanor so relaxed it could calm the nerves of even the most nervous nelly. Maddison Row is elegant, but not at all stuffy, a blend of metropolitan style and Southern charm with white-wood floors, oversized mirrors, and Sophie – Kirkman’s dog – looking on expertly from a pink chaise in the front.
But as every bride knows, and grooms begrudgingly agree, the dress is just the beginning.
A block up the street, Tiger Lily Florist is a swell of in-season spring color – snapdragon, freesia, delphinium and dozens of other flowers fill the space. Taking their inspiration from Charleston’s famous gardens, Tiger Lily’s floral designers craft works customized for each member of the bridal party using fresh flowers shipped in each day from farms across the world. Charleston locals know there’s a reason they’ve been voted number one florist in the city for the past 10 years.
Cannonborough is also home to a myriad of Charleston wedding and event planners including Blue Moon Events (62 Cannon), W.E.D. (123 King St.), and Kristen Newman Designs (210 Rutledge). A perfect cake can also be found in downtown’s bridal district with Sugar Bake Shop (59 1/2 Cannon St.), designing vintage inspired cakes in flavors like vanilla with almond buttercream icing and their signature Lady Baltimore. These are adorned with fresh, local flowers giving a contemporary spin on the traditional wedding cake.
And when the big day arrives, a new salon is the destination for chic, eco-friendly brides to get the finishing touches. Velvet Salon (162 Spring St.) opened just this week, the dream of owner Melissa Pope who wanted to bring a trendy, but environmentally friendly salon to Charleston. Pope, who specializes in bridal hair in addition to nearly a decade of experience, incorporates as many environmentally friendly products into her styling to create a look for Charleston brides that is as one-of-a-kind as it is earth happy.
It’s Charleston’s exquisite attention to detail, charming locales, and creative spirit that make us one of the top wedding destinations in the country. Characteristics all reflected in the new Cannonborough wedding district.
Pop the champagne, it’s time for a wedding.
Photos by Matthew Morse
