'It Was a Fairytale': All the Exclusive Details on Tara Lipinski's Ultra-Chic Southern Wedding

Tara Lipinski has partnered up for her next chapter in life and love — and PEOPLE has all the details.

As the warm summer sun set over the Ashley River on the lush grounds of historic Middleton Place in Charleston, South Carolina, Lipinski, 35, and sports producer Todd Kapostasy, 33, said “I do” last Saturday beneath a canopy of roses and hydrangeas.

Around 245 guests were in attendance, including 1984 Olympic gold medal figure skater Scott Hamilton, sportscaster Dan Patrick and Lipinski’s BFF and “bridesman” Johnny Weir.

“It was a fairytale come to life,” Lipinski, who wore a hand-embroidered strapless sweetheart bustier gown with a circular lace skirt by Reem Acra and a 20-foot train by Laura Basci, tells PEOPLE of her nuptials. “I felt like I was living in the moment with all of my friends by my side and marrying the love of my life — it was the best day of my life.”

“She was so beautiful,” adds Kapostasy, who teared up watching the 1998 Olympic singles figure skating gold-medalist glide down the 200-foot aisle.

Hamilton also tells PEOPLE that he “was totally blown away” by the couple’s big day.

“The Charleston setting was beautiful and the wedding, from start to finish, was memorable in every way,” he continues. “Tara was always in such a hurry to accomplish everything she did in skating. She turned 16 days before her Olympic gold medal. But when it came to making this step in life, she waited for Todd. And all of us who love her are glad she did!”

After exchanging vows, the newlyweds treated guests to a pre-reception fête with boozy popsicles (a welcome refreshment from the Southern heat) before heading to a lavish 100-by-80-foot tent complete with glittering chandeliers, rose garlands and a customized dance floor.

It's coming together! ????#TNTmeant2be #charlestonbride #charlestonwedding #weddingdetails #weddingstyle

A post shared by Tara Lipinski (@taralipinski) on Jun 23, 2017 at 12:19pm PDT

“Tara designed everything,” says Kapostasy. “Like when I walked into the tent, everything she’d been talking about and agonizing about over for a year, every inch of that tent, was incredible.”

• For more exclusive details on Tara and Todd’s gorgeous Southern nuptials subscribe now to PEOPLE or pick up this week’s issue, on newsstands Friday.

The couple’s first dance was to “Everywhere” by William Fitzsimmons, and their cake was a six-tier masterpiece, each level with a different flavor done by Charleston’s Ashley Bakery.

As a nod to Tara’s love for the South — she was named after the fictional Georgia plantation from Gone with the Wind and owns a charming Kiawah Island abode about 35 miles away from Middleton Place — vendor Cru Catering crafted a reception menu featuring local seasonal fish, chicken in waffle cones with maple bacon remoulade, and fried green tomatoes. Guests were also treated to a special sweet tea punch named after the bride and groom.

@jacksondurhamevents unloading some of my wedding flowers! ????#weddingflowers #weddingstyle

A post shared by Tara Lipinski (@taralipinski) on Jun 21, 2017 at 1:14pm PDT

Over 40,000 flowers were arranged by Jackson Durham Events to make Lipinski’s Southern “romantic, chic” wedding vision come to life.

Watch the People Weddings: Tara Lipinski & Todd Kapostasy special Wednesday, June 28 on the new People/Entertainment Weekly Network (PEN). Go to PEOPLE.com/PEN or download the PEN app on your favorite device.

“They totally got what I wanted and it was breathtaking,” says Lipinski, who helped design the 12-foot main ceremony altar made of 12,000 stems of floral.”

FROM PEN: ‘Real Housewife of New York’ Luann Reveals Wedding Details

Now, the newlyweds are on a 40-day whirlwind honeymoon adventure around the globe (Maldives, Switzerland and Greece are on the agenda), before Lipinski prepares to jet off to PyeongChang to co-commentate at the 2018 Winter Olympics with Weir.

“Everything was so beautiful, and it went by so fast, but at the same time I was able to take it all in and take mental snapshots of the best day of my life,” says Lipinski. “It was perfect.”