When Elisabeth and Joel celebrated their April wedding, they knew they wanted to add a few touches that reflected both their personalities and the culture of Charleston, South Carolina, one of their favorite cities and the place where they said their vows. Elisabeth grew up spending summers and long weekends in the coastal city at her family’s beach house and always planned on marrying there. To capture Charleston’s laid-back, southern vibe, the couple decided to transport guests from the church to the reception via the most low-key (and low-impact) form of transportation available—pedicabs. “My husband is an avid cyclist, so deciding to ride in a Charleston rickshaw from our wedding ceremony to our reception was a natural choice," Elisabeth explains. It was incredibly energizing to be in the open air and hear pedestrians shouting their congratulations!” Not only did their use of pedicabs support the local economy and tourism industry, it also cut down on guests’ fuel consumption (and therefore costs) and preserved the city’s quiet charm.
Elisabeth and Joel’s motives were part environmental and part practical. Many guests were elderly and couldn’t walk the five or so blocks between locations. Plus, Elisabeth notes, “Nothing ruins the mood like car engines and exhaust.” Guests who didn’t want or need to ride were encouraged to take a stroll and enjoy the local landmarks and buildings that pepper the downtown historical district. “Above all, we wanted our guests to have a very memorable, very Charleston experience,” Elisabeth says. “If that also enabled us to incorporate a green element into our wedding, well that’s even better.”
Photos by
Charles Bordner.
