KATIE & MICHAEL
Sea Pines Resort Wedding
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
NOVEMBER 11, 2017
THE PROPOSAL: : Katie Matig & Michael Shogry had been dating for 6 years when they set off on a family vacation to Napa Valley to celebrate Michael’s birthday. But Michael had a different kind of celebration in mind. As he and Katie took in a hilltop sunset, Michael seized the moment and proposed.
THE VENUE: Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island, a place where Katie’s parents own a home, was the first place the duo vacationed together as a couple. As the spot of many fond memories, Katie & Michael quickly honed in on the coastal South Carolina town as the setting for their destination wedding. “We knew almost immediately that we wanted to get married there,” recalls Katie. “So much so, that we ended up calling to inquire about dates and availability just a few days after getting engaged.”
THE DRESS: “My dress was Justin Alexander Signature,” remembers Katie. “It was the third dress I tried on.” Anticipating cold weather on their November wedding day, she added lace sleeves to shield herself from the potentially cooler temps. The dress also had a detachable skirt, allowing for a second reveal as the newlyweds made their reception entrance. “Everyone thought I had two dresses!” says Katie. She paired her different looks with complementing hairstyles—low chignon up-do for the ceremony and a more relaxed, half-up/half-down style for the reception. A golden, smoky eye and bold berry lip completed the look.
THE BRIDAL PARTY: Katie’s squad set the tone for their autumnal color palette in one-shoulder, burgundy Sorella Vita gowns with gold leaf drop earrings. The men continued the formal trend in black tuxedos with monogrammed herringbone suspenders.
THE CEREMONY: Their November ceremony took place on the 18th lawn at Harbour Town Golf Links where hot apple cider greeted the crowd as they arrived. The couple’s favorite bible verse lined the carpeted aisle, which not only helped prevent tripping, but also amped up the glamorous design. A beautiful ivory-draped stage served as the altar and added just enough elevation to the ceremony site to ensure each guest had an equally stunning view.
THE RECEPTION: : The crowd of 260 guests gathered on the croquet lawn under the glow of café lights and snacked on passed hors d’oeuvres like lobster BLTs and hoisin-glazed lamb lollipops during cocktail hour. Inside the Harbour Town Clubhouse, guests found their seat by way of a handcrafted, 10-foot tall driftwood tree, dripping with deep red orchids and sprigs of greenery. Oyster shells, delicately tied with velvet ribbon, were hung from the tree branches and hand-lettered with each guest’s name and table assignment. The ballroom walls were draped with a soft, cream linen to enhance the romantic Fall vibe. The space was set with gold chivari chairs that surrounded seating tables covered in an assortment of luxurious linens. Centerpieces were a mix of low designs of white and red roses, pomegranates, artichokes, berries, and astilbe, or striking tall arrangements of red orchids, similar in style to the impressive escort card display.
THE MENU: Delicious Southern specialties were the stars of the dinner menu as guests dined on classics like Calibogue crab cakes and sea salt beef filets. The design of the five-layer cake from Savannah Custom Cakes was as equally scrumptious as it was stunning. The bottom three tiers featured a burgundy marbling with gold veining and accents, followed by a hand-painted replica of the couple’s custom monogram. The final tier featured sugar magnolia flowers, a detail that was mimicked at the base of the cake. As an ode to their native Pittsburgh, the couple treated their guests to a Pittsburgh-style cookie table which featured 40 varieties of cookies and over 280 dozen! At the end of the night, not a single cookie was left!
Ceremony Venue: 18th Lawn of Harbour Town Golf Links, Sea Pines Resort ll Reception Venue: Harbour Town Clubhouse, Sea Pines Resort ll Photographer: Landon Jacob Productions ll Event Planning & Design: Spencer Special Events ll Floral Design: A Floral Affair ll Gown: Justin Alexander Signature ll Bridesmaids Dresses: Sorella Vita ll Hair & Makeup: Christine Stephens ll Men’s Attire: Michael Kors ll Cake: Savannah Custom Cakes ll Rentals: EventWorks, Savannah Special Events by Ranco ll Invitations: More Than Words ll Linens: Party Tables ll Lighting: JLK Events ll Band: The Rivertown Band ll Videographer: Hart to Heart Media ll Transportation: Sea Pines Trolley ll Officiant: Rev. Dr. John R. Wall
