After dating for two years, Jill Waldon and Charles Timmons III planned a three-week trip through Iceland and Switzerland. Though Jill didn’t know it at the time, her beau had also been researching how he would propose; however, once the ring was ready, he simply couldn’t wait a moment longer. “Charlie popped the question on a casual Wednesday night in our living room weeks before we left for our vacation,” Jill reveals. “For me it was the perfect proposal and I was even more grateful for the simplicity of it after hearing the elaborate plans he had in place.” The next day, the happy couple shared the news with Jill’s daughter, Hazel, and Charlie “proposed” to her as well with a special ring just for his new stepdaughter. “It was such a special moment for our family and the perfect beginning to our future together!” exclaims the bride. 

They decided to host an intimate ceremony at the church Charlie grew up attending, with fewer than 50 people attending the vow exchange. The reception was held at the home of the parents of the groom, with 300 people joining for the party. While the couple planned for a winter wedding, they got more than they bargained for, as a surprise snowstorm coated Greenville, South Carolina – which typically averages three inches of snow annually – with fresh powder. Luckily, nothing went wrong due to the weather and the snow created a beautiful winter wonderland for the pair. “I love white and neutrals, so the color scheme was simple,” Jill says of the décor that fortuitously complemented the weather. “The florist did a great job incorporating lots of beautiful greenery, and I think the end result was beautiful and timeless.”

The bride walked down the aisle in a chic V-neck gown with short sleeves. She was preceded by her daughter and bridesmaids, all wearing ivory dresses. In a touching moment, Hazel stood between Jill and Charlie for a portion of the vows. “In the end, the day was about our family, and the amount of love surrounding us during our ceremony was incredible,” muses the bride.

A backyard wedding in the snow may sound like a disaster, but an impressive tent full of string lights kept everyone warm. A live band heightened the energy, as did glow necklaces, bracelets, and rings for guests to wear on the dance floor. As revelers left the reception, they were treated to fresh ham biscuits to enjoy before the after-party.

While there is nothing she would change about the big day, Jill does have advice for future brides and grooms: “Don’t skimp on the photographer! Vue Photography captured so many photos and I will always cherish them.”