A Coastal Pitt Street Engagement in Old Village

After spending the first half of their engagement session wandering through historic downtown Charleston, Marissa and Carson headed toward Old Village for a completely different feel to end the evening. While downtown brought the classic architecture, blooming jasmine, and historic charm Charleston is known for, Pitt Street offered something quieter — soft waterfront light, marsh views, and the relaxed coastal atmosphere that makes Old Village feel so special.

By the time we arrived near the water, the clouds had finally started to clear, giving us the prettiest golden light to close out their session. The slower pace of this part of the evening felt so natural for the two of them. We wandered through the side streets, stopped along the waterfront, and let the evening unfold naturally as the sky softened over the harbor.

Marissa changed into a long flowing white dress with a soft purple pattern that moved beautifully in the breeze and fit the coastal setting perfectly. The softer colors paired so naturally with the waterfront and evening sky, giving this portion of the session a romantic, effortless feel.

This location felt especially fitting because it already plays such a large role in their everyday life. Marissa works as an interior designer for Kate Miles Design right on Pitt Street, making this part of Mount Pleasant feel especially personal to their story. Between weekends on the boat, afternoons around Old Village, and life spent near the water, this session felt very true to who they are together.

Their black lab, Goose, joined us for a few photos near the waterfront and definitely brought some personality to the evening. While Marissa and Carson lovingly call him their “trial dog,” he still acts very much like a puppy, which made for a few entertaining moments throughout the session. Watching the two of them with Goose made it so easy to see the life they have already built together over the last five years.

One of my favorite things about engagement sessions in Old Village is how calm everything feels. There is no pressure to rush from one spot to the next. The beauty is in the simplicity — the quiet streets, the marsh breeze, the sailboats in the distance, and the way the light reflects off the water just before sunset.

As the sun finally fully appeared at the end of the evening, the sky turned into the dreamiest mix of soft color and golden light over the harbor. It was the perfect ending to such a meaningful Charleston engagement session.