Maggie Andrea and Evan Hinkle met at Washington and Lee University and dated for a decade before Evan proposed in Richmond, where the couple now lives. “We went for a walk along the James River before what I thought was a friend’s birthday dinner,” Maggie remembers. “We walked out to a large rock, where he dropped to one knee, with his brother hiding in the bushes taking pictures!” It was a random Tuesday evening—but loyal friends and family surprised Maggie back at their apartment and partied until 2 a.m.
It was a vibe they’d want to recreate for the wedding in Charleston, a destination they knew well from countless summer vacations there. “We wanted our guests to feel immersed,” Maggie says. “As for aesthetics, when we landed on October, I knew I wanted to play off of the colors of a fall sunset.” The scheme informed the linens, florals and more. “And the night of our wedding, the sunset was literally the exact colors of the wedding,” Maggie says. “It couldn’t have been more perfect.”
Before the big day arrived, there was fashion to consider. “I knew from the start I wanted a strapless ballgown with some floral applique,” Maggie says. After two days of shopping in New York City, her final stop was at Mark Ingram Atelier. “There, I found my dream dress by Ines Di Santo,” Maggie says. “It was an open basket weave net with embroidered flowers reminiscent of large magnolia flowers, which are the flowers of the South, so I knew it would fit the Charleston venue perfectly.” She paired it with a cathedral veil and her grandmother’s diamond drop earrings, plus a modern take on a French twist created by Charleston Bridal Collab. “I also wore my mom’s Cartier diamond heart bracelet that my dad gifted her years ago. Their marriage is something my siblings and I look up to in so many ways, so wearing a little piece of their love was important to me.”
Though she did change much later—into a By Watters minidress—Maggie wanted to live in her bridal moment as long as possible. “I kept my blusher on for most of the night, which I loved,” she says. “Brides are so quick to take off their veils or change out of their dresses, but I wanted to feel like a bride for as long as possible. It looks so fun—and almost old-school—in our dancing pictures.”
Bridesmaids reflected the perfect Charleston sunset in dresses of their own choosing. “I crafted a Pinterest board with colors and flowers reminiscent of a sunset,” Maggie says. “Each bridesmaid picked a dress with a solid fabric, and they each paired off: three pinks, three yellows, two oranges. The dresses together had an ombre effect; it was beautiful.” Maggie coordinated with her florist, Festoon, to create a bouquet for each bridesmaid that matched the color of her dress.
On October 25, 2024, Maggie and Evan exchanged vows in a Catholic ceremony presided over by the same New York priest who had married her siblings. “We were both most nervous for the ceremony, mainly because it was the first time we would be seeing each other and it’s just a lot of eyes on us,” Maggie shares. “But we both agreed that the moment we saw each other at the altar, a calmness fell over us, and the ceremony was the favorite part of our days.”
Outside the church, colorful 1950s Bespoke Supercoach buses from Lowcountry Valet waited to transport guests to the reception venue, where fresh-shucked oysters and signature drinks awaited for cocktail hour.
Inside a clear-topped tent, the colors of sunset radiated. “The floral centerpieces in the center of both bars were our starting point,” Maggie says. “I saw inspiration on Instagram of a huge rustic urn displaying flowers at a wedding, and luckily, our florist had ones just like it in her store. The linens we chose onsite at Stradley Davidson. I loved the fun marigold color, and my planner Beth Burrus had the idea of getting decals with the same pattern to cover the reception bar. I love tying in a theme!” At Curated Events, they selected rentals: rope drum light fixtures, amber cutlery, and smoky glassware.
It all set the scene for a romantic dinner—Caesar salad, braised short ribs, and halibut with Boursin whipped potatoes—as the sun set. After speeches, a special guest took the stage with the Atlanta Showstoppers. “My dad grew up playing the drums and has played at all of my siblings’ weddings, so it was only right he played at ours,” Maggie says. “He knows ‘September’ like the back of his hand.”
The dance floor was immediately packed. “There was a moment Evan and I were physically surrounded by everyone we love,” Maggie remembers, “and that moment felt so special.” Later, the newlyweds drove off in a 1950s Oldsmobile convertible—and straight to Blind Tiger, where their patio after-party went late into the night.
