SARAH & CHAD
A Garibaldi Cafe Wedding
Savannah, Georgia
Chad Hinton had just returned from deployment when he whisked Sarah Drake away for a romantic holiday weekend in the Big Apple. The twosome, who met in the 7th grade, were excited to hit up all the touristy spots in New York City but immediately hit a few bumps in the road instead — overbooked flights, lost luggage, you name it! After finally arriving, they set out to tour the city, stopping along the way at Times Square and Rockefeller Center. It was after a dinner overlooking Central Park where Chad popped the question in the middle of Columbus Circle. “With all the city noise,” describes Sarah, “I was still able to hear every heartfelt word of his proposal.”
Sarah had always dreamed of a destination wedding and since Chad is a Georgia native, the Southern state seemed like the obvious choice. The couple honed in on the coastal city of Savannah with hopes of weaving its rich history, tradition, and hospitality throughout their wedding day.“What better city to start our life together than in the ‘Hostess City of the South’,” says Sarah. With that, they scheduled an April 7, 2017 date and invited 120 guests along for the ride.
Not seeking to overpower the natural tones of the Lowcountry, the couple worked with an elegant color palette of black, white and gold and added pops of pink to enhance the setting. For the spring affair, Sarah opted for a traditional, lace Justin Alexander design with an illusion gown and full skirt that she paired with a textured up-do. She kept her bridal party small, with her sisters serving as the matron and maid of honor, and dressed them in flowing Bari Jay dresses in the cheery shade of pink. Chad had a specific vision in mind for his attire and went with custom-made grey suit jacket with a black lapel and black pants.
Anxious to spend the day with each other, the couple scheduled a touching first look in Columbia Square, and Sarah admits, “I don’t know how we would have survived without one!” After shaking out the jitters, they made their way to Wormsloe Plantation with their bridal party to soak in the scenery while posing for portraits.
The ceremony took place in front of the Forsyth Park fountain where they kept the décor minimal to let the backdrop shine. Sarah made her entrance on the arm of her father, who accessorized his black tux with a pink bow tie, as the caring crowd looked on. After exchanging heartfelt vows, the newlyweds exited under a shower of rose petals, a festive send-off for a beautiful ceremony.
Sarah & Chad hoped to treat their guests to a true Southern party, one where every detail was covered, and it started with worry-free transportation. “They traveled from across the United States to celebrate our marriage and we wanted them to know just how appreciative Sarah and I felt,” explains Chad. So, after the ceremony concluded, guests boarded open-air trolleys and enjoyed a short drive throughout the city before arriving at Garibaldi Cafe. “Transportation was provided to allow guests to enjoy themselves and avoid the aggravation of finding downtown parking. It was a fun first-time experience for many of our guests,” remembers Sarah.
As they arrived at the reception, the crowd was greeted by Southern-themed apps, including miniature crab cakes and fried green tomatoes. The classic Palladian ballroom, which features sixteen-foot ceilings and vintage iron chandeliers, was perfectly set to allow guests to easily move throughout the reception. “Our reception ballroom had seated and cocktail tables to allow for maximum use of the space. It allowed guests to freely mingle and interact without forcing them to sit in an assigned seat for the entire evening,” describes Sarah. Tables were topped with spring arrangements of hydrangeas and roses mixed with magnolia leaves and greenery. To add a soft glow and a warmth to the overall vibe, centerpieces were surrounded by mercury glass votives.
After a tasty dinner of chicken Milanese and roast beef, attention turned to dessert where Wicked Cakes of Savannah created a bourbon barrel-shaped groom’s cake – with a lemon blueberry cake and lemon filling — as a nod to Chad’s appreciation of Maker’s Mark. Continuing the Kentucky trend, DJ James of All About You Entertainment played “My Old Kentucky Home”, a favorite of Sarah’s family. The special tune led to guests embracing on the dance floor, swaying and singing, before breaking out into at Kentucky Wildcats cheer, setting the tone for the epic dance party to come!
As they arrived at the reception, the crowd was greeted by Southern-themed apps, including miniature crab cakes and fried green tomatoes. The classic Palladian ballroom, which features sixteen-foot ceilings and vintage iron chandeliers, was perfectly set to allow guests to easily move throughout the reception. “Our reception ballroom had seated and cocktail tables to allow for maximum use of the space. It allowed guests to freely mingle and interact without forcing them to sit in an assigned seat for the entire evening,” describes Sarah. Tables were topped with spring arrangements of hydrangeas and roses mixed with magnolia leaves and greenery. To add a soft glow and a warmth to the overall vibe, centerpieces were surrounded by mercury glass votives.
After a tasty dinner of chicken Milanese and roast beef, attention turned to dessert where Wicked Cakes of Savannah created a bourbon barrel-shaped groom’s cake – with a lemon blueberry cake and lemon filling — as a nod to Chad’s appreciation of Maker’s Mark. Continuing the Kentucky trend, DJ James of All About You Entertainment played “My Old Kentucky Home”, a favorite of Sarah’s family. The special tune led to guests embracing on the dance floor, swaying and singing, before breaking out into at Kentucky Wildcats cheer, setting the tone for the epic dance party to come!
After a tasty dinner of chicken Milanese and roast beef, attention turned to dessert where Wicked Cakes of Savannah created a bourbon barrel-shaped groom’s cake – with a lemon blueberry cake and lemon filling — as a nod to Chad’s appreciation of Maker’s Mark. Continuing the Kentucky trend, DJ James of All About You Entertainment played “My Old Kentucky Home”, a favorite of Sarah’s family. The special tune led to guests embracing on the dance floor, swaying and singing, before breaking out into at Kentucky Wildcats cheer, setting the tone for the epic dance party to come!
SAVANNAH WEDDING VENDORS - Ceremony Venue: Forsyth Park ll Reception Venue: Garibaldi Café ll Photographer: JB Marie Photography ll Event Planning: Everlasting Occasions ll Gown: Justin Alexander Signature ll Dress Boutique: The Steel Magnolia (Somerset, KY) ll Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bari Jay ll Hair & Makeup: Emma Collins Beauty ll Men’s Attire: Calvin Klein from Men’s Wearhouse ll Floral Design: Azalea Ann’s Floral Designs ll Catering: Garibaldi Café ll Cake: Wicked Cakes of Savannah ll Rentals: Carlson’s Premiere Events, Borrow + Table ll Invitations: Minted, Whit Lynn Design Shop ll Videographer: Caleb Suttles Video Production ll Ceremony Music: Two Strings Are Better Than One, Kenneth Parsons ll Reception Music: All About You Entertainment ll Rehearsal Dinner: The Chart House ll Officiant: Brother James Mills
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