If I had to guess, most brides daydream of looking just like Meredith for their Lowcountry wedding day. This beautiful Savannah bride was the definition of stunning for her Bethesda Academy wedding. Krissy Huff styled her enviable blonde locks in to the perfect half up-do while Lindsey Wirht Makeup Artist finished off her bridal glow with killer eye makeup and the perfect pink lip. She stepped into the ultimate Oleg Cassini from David’s Bridal as she met Trent for their first look underneath the watchful eye of moss-draped oak trees. Check out all the sparkle and shine from their Bethesda Academy wedding captured by Happy Everything Co.
Tell us how you met: At the time, Meredith was a television reporter and was asked to help raise funds for a local charity. As part of her efforts, she set up an event at one of her favorite watering holes where she was a guest bartender and a portion of the sales that night went to the non-profit she committed to help. Trent saw the posting on Facebook through a mutual friend and decided to go and have a beer for a good cause. Trent was the first to arrive (with a female friend) and the last to leave. Turns out the girl who attended the fundraiser with Trent really was a friend and took a special interest in helping him find the right girl. She noticed a chemistry and said, “Trent, I think you are going to marry that girl someday.” Turns out, she was right!
Proposal Details: It was October 31, Halloween night, 2014. In an effort to not get too mixed up with the revelers, Trent planned a night of bouncing around from restaurant to restaurant getting appetizers and cocktails along the way. It's something we really enjoy because you get to experience great food and atmosphere, but don’t have to commit to a full meal. Trent wanted to grab a beer first, so we stopped in to the bar where it all started. Before I knew it, we were visiting all the places that meant something to us; the restaurant where we had our first date, the restaurant where he asked me to be his valentine, he surprised me with a pedicab ride through town like he did on our first date, and we ended in Wright Square where we found a bench. He had a photo album waiting with all of our adventures up to that point. The end of the album said, “The adventure has just begun..” and he proposed! We cried happy tears, kissed and celebrated with champagne!
How did you select your venue: Savannah is rich with history. Visitors travel from far and wide to get lost in the culture and walk among our lush oaks kissed by spanish moss. Even as a local, I am sometimes surprised by our city’s breathtaking beauty. Neither of us are from Savannah, so if we were going to get married here, we wanted our guests to see old Savannah and fall in love with it like we did.
Bethesda Academy, originally named Bethesda Orphan House, began as a colonial orphanage. It has the distinction of being the oldest child caring institution in the country. Founded in 1740 by Rev. George Whitefield, Bethesda was visited by many of the country’s founding fathers, and found one of its earliest supporters in Benjamin Franklin.
The National Society of Colonial Dames donated Whitefield Chapel to Bethesda Academy in 1918. Construction was postponed due to World War I and was completed and dedicated in 1925. The chapel, where we exchanged vows, is nestled under some of the majestic oaks that line Bethesda’s scenic campus.
Ceremony Site + Personal Details: Bethesda Academy: Because so many guests were coming from out of town, we wanted everything to be together. We danced and partied under our beloved oaks and Spanish moss on the marsh.
Aesthetic + Color Palette: I love all things silver, gold and sparkly. We asked female guests to pull out their beads and sequins from their closets because we wanted everyone to sparkle in the moonlight.
What Lowcountry elements did you incorporate into your big day? We wanted to have a glamorous and rich looking party, complete with a chandelier, but also showcase the beauty of the historical property. A tent would distract from the trees and marsh. Plus, a local brewery made our beer and allowed Trent to come in and brew his own just for our big day!
Best Piece of Advice for Brides-to-be: Don’t get caught up in the small stuff or you will miss out on the special moments. Take time with family and friends and enjoy all the love pouring in around you. We had an after party after our rehearsal dinner so we would see many of our friends and catch up before the wedding.
What were the most important elements about your wedding day to you and your husband? Our wedding ended up being almost an entire weekend. Weddings can be a blur but we had lots of quality time with all of our friends and family. Family is SO important to both of us. It made the weekend that much more special. We cried happy tears all weekend because we were just so overwhelmed with all the love and support we were receiving. It was incredible!
Concept + PR/Marketing: Something New for I Do // Wedding Coordinator: Winey Blonde Events Co. // Photographer: Happy Everything Co. // Videographer: Josh Jasso Films // Catering: Center Cut Catering // Wedding Cake: Cakes by Carissa // Florals: Bouquets, Boutonnieres: A to Zinnias | Table Centerpieces, Ceremony Florals: Michael Vann, Jr. // Hair: Krissy Huff // Makeup: Lindsey Wirht Makeup Artist // Bride's Dress: Oleg Cassini from David’s Bridal // Bridesmaids Attire: Lulu's, All That Shimmers Dress // Groom's Attire: Jos. A Bank// Rentals: Amazing Event Rentals // Linens: Graceful Tables // Invitation Suite: Minted // Paper Goods/Signage: Brooklyn Peach Co. // Singer, Guitarist, One Man Band: David Payton // Harpist: Kristin King of New Arts Ensembles
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