When Stephanie Sawyer Fletcher met her friend Kristy through work, she never dreamed of becoming her future sister-in-law.
“I had been single for several years, and one day at lunch, I was complaining to Kristy about how there was no one to date in Nashville,” Stephanie recalls. “She immediately suggested I meet her brother, Mark, and little did I know at the time, she had already shown him photos of me, and he told her, ‘that looks like someone I’m going to marry.’”
Stephanie, on the other hand, wasn’t so sure. Mark was an attorney and avid game hunter who lived over seven hours away. A few days later, Mark sent her a friend request on Facebook, and after some convincing from Kristy, Stephanie decided to give it a shot. They met for a first date at Nashville’s Percy Warner Park, went for a walk, and the rest is history.
Mark Tinsley and Stephanie Sawyer Fletcher tied the knot on March 19, 2022, at their country home in Allendale, South Carolina. Meet the Tinsleys!
“It was truly love at first sight,” Stephanie tells us. “It was an absolutely gorgeous day. We walked for hours just talking and looking at all the trees; we even went for coffee afterward.” According to Stephanie, Mark’s passion immediately drew her in. “Mark is the most passionate man I’ve ever met in my entire life. Not just about me, but also his family and his work.”
However, it wasn’t happily ever after so fast. About a month after meeting one another, Mark was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer. Stephanie was steadfastly by his side as he completed four months of radiation in Florida. During this trying time, they decided they didn’t want to wait any longer to start the rest of their lives together. They worked together to design a ring, and Mark proposed at a local restaurant surrounded by their kids and one of Mark’s closest friends.
The romantic invitations were designed by You’re Invited in Nashville.
Stephanie said it was love at first sight when she met Mark. The two spent their first date at Percy Warner Park in Nashville, where Mark, who has a master’s degree in forestry, pointed out all the different plants and trees.
The couple designed Stephanie’s ring together, so it wasn’t exactly a shock when he popped the question!
Mark is now cancer-free, and the couple splits their time between Nashville, where Stephanie’s son Nathan is in school, and Mark’s hometown of Allendale, South Carolina. Their 120-year-old home in Allendale sits on roughly 1000 acres of land, and it served as the perfect location for their intimate wedding in March of 2022. Since Allendale is such a small town, Stephanie worked with Gathering Events out of Charleston to plan a small but special ceremony and seated dinner attended by 30 of their closest family and friends.
The couple’s historic home in Allendale sits on roughly 1,000 acres of land and offers the perfect respite away from city life.
Stephanie’s son Nathan is in school in Nashville. Mark’s daughter, Emma, attends college at the University of South Carolina.
Stephanie was escorted down the aisle by her son, Nathan.
A family friend and judge officiated the ceremony. His touching words inspired a few tears during the sentimental ceremony.
Mark and Stephanie exchanged vows behind their house, under a grove of pecan trees flocked with chandeliers and florals. Inspired by the location, they wanted a soft and rustic feel, enhanced by a mix of neutral and light pink flowers with touches of greenery by Gathering Events. Stephanie’s son walked her down the aisle as she glowed in a gorgeous pale pink Monique Lhuillier dress Mark picked out for her.
Designed by Gathering Events in Charleston, the florals consisted of neutral and light pink tones with touches of greenery.
Stephanie was stunning in a pale pink Monique Lhuillier gown that Mark picked out for her.
Inspired by their surroundings, Stephanie and Mark wanted a soft and rustic feel. This aesthetic was enhanced by a mix of neutral and light pink florals with touches of greenery by Gathering Events.
Stephanie shares a sweet moment with her son on her big day.
“It was my second wedding, so I knew I didn’t want anything traditional like a ball gown, and I was having a hard time finding something in stores that wasn’t white,” Stephanie explains. “I ordered about 12 dresses, and nothing fit. Mark found my dress online. Looking at photos of it, I wasn’t so sure, but I put it on, and it was absolutely gorgeous.”
After the ceremony, the celebration proceeded with an outdoor cocktail hour where guests were serenaded by a quartet while mingling and enjoying drinks and hors d’oeuvres. The evening progressed into a five-course Lowcountry-inspired seated dinner prepared by chef and family friend Matt Jording of The Sage Room in Hilton Head. Guests were seated at a long table under twinkling string lights, and Mark welcomed everyone with a sentimental toast. Dishes included pan-seared scallops over a parmesan risotto cake, watercress salad with poached pears, candied pecans, and goat cheese with citrus vinaigrette, prime filet with smashed potatoes, and of course, shrimp and grits.
“Since my family is mostly from Tennessee, Matt came out and explained each dish, what it meant to him and where he sourced the ingredients from,” says Stephanie. “It was a really beautiful and memorable meal.” The couple chose a two-tiered lemon cake with vanilla buttercream icing by Ashley Bakery in Charleston, SC, for dessert.
Following the ceremony, guests were treated to a multi-course Lowcountry-inspired dinner prepared by chef Matt Jording of The Sage Room in Hilton Head, SC.
Chef Matt Jording explained each dish to the guests throughout the meal, highlighting personal stories and details about where ingredients were sourced.
During a romantic seated dinner under café lights., the couple toasted to their happily ever with their closest friends and family.
Guests were treated to Lowcountry-inspired dishes like pan-seared scallops and shrimp and grits.
The cake was lemon topped with vanilla buttercream from Ashley Bakery in Charleston, SC.
The sprawling property provided the perfect setting for a night to remember.
The night ended with a bang as guests were treated to a spectacular fireworks show — a gift from one of Mark’s friends. The couple provided overnight accommodations for guests on the property, and the party continued with a celebratory brunch the next day.
After the wedding weekend, Mark and Stephanie concluded their South Carolina celebration by spending their honeymoon on picturesque Kiawah Island. The Tinsleys are finally enjoying their happily ever after. With Mark close to retirement, Stephanie says they plan to spend more time in Nashville but will continue to find time to escape to their countryside haven in Allendale. “It’s a good life,” she says. “We get the city and the peace and quiet of the Lowcountry. It really is the best of both worlds.”
Guests were treated to a fireworks show, a gift from a friend of the groom.
The couple now splits their time between Nashville and Allendale, offering the perfect balance of big-city vibes and small-town charm.
Thank you, Stephanie and Mark, for sharing your special day with us. And thanks to Gayle Brooker for the fabulous photos.
RESOURCES
Makeup: Heather Ashberry in Savannah, GA
Hair: Katie Salmon of JW Salon in Savannah, GA
Invitations: You’re Invited, Gifts and Paper in Nashville, TN
Flowers: Gathering Events in Charleston SC
Cake: Ashley Bakery in Charleston, SC
Dinner: Matt Jording, owner and chef of The Sage Room in Hilton Head, SC
Photographer: Gayle Brooker in Charleston, SC
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