KATIE & BRYANT
Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort
Hilton Head Island, SC
Katie Van Malssen & Bryant Meckley met the way most young adults in their twenties do — in a bar! Katie out with her girlfriends in Arlington, Virginia when Bryant offered to buy her a drink. The sweet gesture led to an evening of effortless conversation and an invitation for a first date. Date number one led to forever and ever.
Katie was over-the-moon when Bryant proposed on a quiet October morning while the two enjoyed the sunrise over the Golden Gate Bridge. “It was absolutely perfect,” remembers Katie. As the couple began thinking of their ideal wedding, the San Francisco-based pair were keen on finding a destination down South where their friends and family could escape for a weekend of fun. Hilton Head Island, a place they had both vacationed while growing up, provided the coastal atmosphere they had in mind. And The Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort, with its views of the Atlantic and beachside venue options, was the perfect backdrop. So, they set their sights on Labor Day weekend and invited 144 guests from across the country to join them on the Carolina coast. In true Lowcountry fashion, it wouldn’t be a September wedding without the threat of a hurricane and Katie & Bryant’s weekend was no different. In the days leading up to the wedding, Hurricane Hermine was heading straight for the Lowcountry, causing the couple to consider canceling the weekend’s festivities. But as luck would have it, most of their guests were able to make the trip and their vendor team effortlessly made the necessary weather adjustments for the welcome party the night before the big day. As the storm passed, the clouds cleared, and September 3rd delivered blue skies and sunshine.
With visions of a beachfront ceremony and an al fresco reception at The Shorehouse, the couple teamed up with Amanda Rose Weddings to design an understated celebration in shades of blush, ivory, and pale green. Her bridesmaids started the pastel trend in silk chiffon dresses in a shade of dusty shale, in the silhouette and neckline of their choice. Katie, who originally saw herself in a more “flowy” gown, was surprised when a form-fitting, lace Theia design captured her attention. “It was so comfortable and beautiful…and just perfect for a beach wedding,” says Katie. Her bouquet was lush and unstructured, full of peach and ivory roses, ranunculus, lisianthus, astilbe, and seeded eucalyptus. The girls carried smaller versions with the same blooms. Taking into account South Carolina’s notorious humidity, she completed her look with a relaxed up-do and natural makeup, thanks to Eye Do Makeup and Hair. Bryant and his fellas wore custom suits from Indochino — the guys in navy and Bryant in a lighter shade of blue — with custom cufflinks and ties that matched the bridesmaids’ dresses.
Guests were directed down the boardwalk to a draped arbor standing in front of the Atlantic Ocean. Katie wore an updated version of her mother’s bridal veil as she and her father made the long walk down the dunes to Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years”. The ceremony was kept short due to the heat, but it wasn’t without personalized moments. As the couple was pronounced Mr. & Mrs. Meckley, the crowd let out a huge cheer while an instrumental version of “All You Need is Love,” began the recessional.
After the waterfront nuptials, the party moved to The Shorehouse where the couple’s signature drinks — Moscow Mules and a prosecco blend cleverly named “The Blushing Bride” — made the rounds. Tables were outfitted with luxurious linens and topped with a mixture of bud vases, greenery, and lanterns to complete the tranquil vibe, while café lights strung from the ceiling created a soft glow. After a Lowcountry-inspired dinner featuring shrimp & grits and crab bisque, The Tony Howard Band got the guests up and to the dance floor where they spent the remainder of the reception.
V E N D O R S - Ceremony & Reception Venue: Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort ll Photographer: Carrie Friesen Photography ll Event Planning: Amanda Rose Weddings ll Design: Purely Décor by Amanda Rose Weddings ll Floral Design: Flowers by Freshcuts ll Gown: Theia ll Dress Boutique: Lovely Bride (San Francisco, CA) ll Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J. Crew ll Hair & Makeup: Eye Do Makeup and Hair ll Men’s Attire: Indochino ll Catering & Bar: Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort ll Cake: Sweet Carolina Cupcakes ll Invitations: Minted ll Ceremony Music: Catherine Klimoff String Duo of Hilton Head Entertainment ll Band: The Tony Howard Band ll Officiant: Betsey Peterson ll Rehearsal Dinner: Windows on the Waterway