29 Sep Alexandra Nelson & Erik Korianski | Boone Hall Plantation

By weddingseditor | September 29, 2021

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Photos by Dana Cubbage Weddings | Written by Melissa Reardon

They say the greatest marriages are built on teamwork. And indeed, it’s one of the marital building blocks that create a solid foundation, and a skill Alexandra “Aly” Nelson and Erik Korianski were already practicing prior to their October 20, 2020 boho vintage-inspired wedding at Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens’ waterfront Cotton Dock in Mount Pleasant. The couple, who were friends in high school on Long Island but reconnected years later and fell in love, worked together to create many elements for their Big Day. “Erik and I love doing all types of DIY projects together,” says the bride, who gets plenty of DIY practice as a kindergarten teacher. “We have so much fun planning things out and working together to make our vision of a project come to life. It’s probably one of our favorite things to do together.”

The couple worked together on numerous creative elements for their wedding. For their escort table, they sourced differently sized vintage bottles from thrift stores, and used a label maker to print the seating charts affixed to them. Aly made all the invitations (envelopes too!) by hand, designing and cutting each piece and adding gold foil to the vellum. Erik even made the gold wax stamps. He also came up with a creative solution for hanging the neon sign they purchased on Ebay—the newlyweds’ name in lights and a centerpiece at the reception—which he also wired with vintage light bulbs. Laura Union of Lux & Union adorned it with flowers.

Other thoughtful elements of their wedding included the ways in which they honored family. For their grandparents, who were unable to attend due to COVID, rather than a traditional memorial table, they displayed each grandparents’ wedding photos in frames on the fireplace. Erik’s late father and motorcycle enthusiast received special honors as well. His custom-built motorcycle was displayed in front of the venue. Aly and Erik used a license plate cover to make a sign that Erik engraved, denoting “This seat is reserved for Eddie Korianski.” And the bride gifted her groom a stopwatch that had belonged to his dad and which was engraved with his dad’s handwriting.

Of course, the couple collaborated with some key vendors as well, including their day-of wedding coordinator, Erica Peper of Peper Events. The ’52 Chevy Tap Truck bar by Chug-a-Lug Wagon was a big hit, as was the food from Salthouse Catering, and rustic nude carrot cake from Publix, creatively enlivened with cannoli and dulce de leche fillings.

Aly and Erik’s wedding surely won’t be their last test in teamwork, but it might just be their most rewarding and certainly most memorable.