When Kalei first reached out, she had one thing in mind: an intimate Charleston Capitol wedding.
She had actually found us through another Charleston Capitol wedding on the blog that she fell in love with– see it here:
After seeing those photos, knew it was exactly the kind of setting she had been dreaming of. But as they started planning, they realized there were just a few people they couldn’t imagine getting married without. So what began as an elopement naturally grew into an intimate wedding surrounded by their closest family and friends—and honestly, we think it was the perfect balance.
One of our favorite parts of the day was how beautifully their minimal, intentional design complemented the Capitol itself. They didn’t try to compete with the incredible architecture or the stunning marble throughout the building. Instead, every detail felt timeless, allowing the beauty of the space to speak for itself.
We did have a few surprises– when we arrived, we were greeted by a giant Ferris wheel set up directly in front of the Capitol with one of the best photo locations—definitely not something any of us expected when they started planning months before! None of us thought about it being so close the the 4th of July and the 250th celebration. To make things even more interesting, it rained for most of the day. Thankfully, we caught a short break in the weather when we needed it most, and instead of feeling limited, it gave us the opportunity to explore parts of the Capitol grounds we hadn’t photographed before. We ended up finding several new spots that we absolutely loved, and some of our favorite portraits from the day came from simply embracing the unexpected. I kept telling these two they were just so cool and trendy and were giving editorial vibes– obsessed with the stair and elevator shots!!!
Kalei and Riley approached their wedding day with so much joy and flexibility. They were far more focused on celebrating their marriage than stressing over the things they couldn’t control, and that always makes for the sweetest wedding days.
Kalei and Riley, thank you for trusting us to document such an important chapter of your story. It was such an honor to celebrate alongside you and your families, and we are so excited for everything that lies ahead for you both!!
If you’re planning your own Charleston Capitol elopement or intimate wedding, we’d love to hear your story and help you create photographs that feel timeless, genuine, and uniquely yours.
xo,
Katelyn Workman
