October 22, 2016

The couple met through work in 2012. Dana had gone back to school to get a second degree and was pursuing a career in public accounting. John had just left the field and offered to take her to lunch to let her pick his brain, later treating her to a congratulatory dinner when she landed an offer with a top public accounting firm. Dana wasn’t sure John was interested in her romantically, but after going to a Carolina-Clemson baseball game together, their relationship began. The couple got engaged after two years. During their first Christmas as a couple, John shared a family tradition by crafting Dana a scavenger hunt throughout the house, all leading to her Christmas gift. They continued the tradition, and on New Year’s Eve 2015 John told her one of her gifts had come in late and he had set up a hunt for her. Inside a big gift box she found a smaller wrapped box, inside which was a jewelry box with a beautiful diamond ring. The ceremony was held at Georgetown Presbyterian Church, followed by a reception at Winyah Indigo Society Hall. The event was simple and elegant with a touch of Southern. Guests dined on shrimp and grits, pimento cheese tarts, crab cakes and more, and the four-tier cake featured three different flavors. The couple lives in Columbia.

PHOTOGRAPH BY CARMEN ASH PHOTOGRAPHY