Adelaide & Todd's Southern wedding at the Jupiter Beach Club by Stay Forever Photography
Seaside Engagement {Sasha + Riley}
Oh, Paul Johnson! What have you done to me with this gorgeous, coastal engagement session? Snapped along the Florida shoreline in beautiful Seaside, the camera fell in love with the adorable Sasha + Riley. Not only was the backdrop flawless, but the duo's effortless style combined with the talents of Paul Johnson Photography made for an engagement session that tops my list of favorites. Simply perfect.
Arcade Engagement Session in Myrtle Beach by Angela Cox Photography
Coastal Wedding in Spain from Miguel Varona Photography
There's one thing we love around here and that's the coast. Lowcountry ladies love the salt in the air, the sun on their skin and the classic, laid back lifestyle that comes with living by the water. This gorgeous Coastal wedding was shot in Europe along the coast of Spain by the insanely talented Miguel Varona. He captured the couple, the glowing Pilar + her man, Victor, as they strolled along the shore with the sand beneath their toes...heavenly!
European Wedding Vendors
Venue: Coast of Spain / Photographer: Miguel Varona Photography
In need of some more coastal wedding loveliness!?! We knew you'd say yes! Check out a few of our favorites...
Meredith + Rod's Coastal wedding in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina from Leslie Parrott Photography and Memorable Moments
Brian + Kim's waterfront Rice Mill Wedding from Paige Winn Photo + Mingle
Yellow and Blue Chesapeake Bay Wedding from Britt Croft Photography
There are two things I really like: 1)Weddings (obvi!) and 2) The coast. So, when I get to combine both I'm a pretty happy gal and, luckily for me, that happens on a regular basis and today it's no different! Our pal Brittani of Britt Croft Photography recently shot Lindsey + Chris' Chesapeake Bay wedding and has ever-so graciously decided to share this gorgeous eye candy with us! The couple tied the knot on The Pier at North Beach this past October under a clear blue sky in front of all their friends and family. After, they kept the party going at a private residence with a tented reception decorated in a preppy yellow + blue color palette. If this doesn't make you want to head to the water then I don't know what will!
Vendors
Photographer: Britt Croft Photography / Catering: Wyvill Catering / Ceremony location: The Pier at North Beach / Reception location: A private home in North Beach / Bride's dress: David's Bridal
Coastal Folly Beach Wedding Engagement from Chi Photography
Alright, who's up for a gorgeous Lowcountry engagement session at the beach?! This girl! Then let's get started with the latest and greatest in all things Lowcountry weddings! Head on over and check out the premier issue of A Lowcoountry Wedding where you'll find the top 13 Weddings from Charleston, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach, so head on over and enjoy every minute of it here. Our lack of winter has me yearning for Summertime and long days relaxing on Folly Beach, so what better way to satisfy my craving (and probably yours, too!) than with an easy-going session along the coast! Folly is a casual, coastal town just minutes from Downtown Charleston and is the perfect spot for bride's looking for a laid back beach wedding. Blessed with a perfect day by the water, the talented Chi Photography captured Haley + Robert in their element with stunning oceanside views. What a Beautiful Folly Beach Wedding Engagement!
Venue: Folly Beach, South Carolina / Photographer: Chi Photography
Specialty Drinks for Southern Weddings in Charleston, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach
Wedding season is upon us and for all of you Spring and Summer brides looking for the perfect tasty libation to welcome your guests, look no further! We've rounded up plenty of options. Charleston, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach are blessed with the beautiful Lowcountry landscape that lends itself way to jaw dropping wedding venues that offer one-of-a-kind views on the water. These coastal spots will naturally put wedding guest into a celebratory mood, so your choice of food and beverage needs to share the same spirit. Welcoming your guests with a killer specialty drink will get the party started!
Blood Orange Margarita
The Brooklyn Beauty
Raspberry Beer Cocktail
Pineapple Mint Rum Punch
Pomegranate Spritzer
Meyer Lemonade with Rosemary
Blackberry Sage Cooler
...and who could forget our favorite Lowcountry specialty?
A John Daly - Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and Lemonade
Stripes {Wedding Decor}
We've been loving how many brides have incorporated stripes into their wedding color palettes. Stripes are the perfect preppy and coastal addition to any girl's wedding decor...and let's face it, we love all things coastal and preppy here in Charleston. We've rounded up quite a few of our favorite ways to incorporate some stripped accessories into your Lowcountry Big Day! They range from linens and invitations to bridesmaids dresses and favors...
Image by Brooke Images via Southern Weddings
Image by Jesse Leake via Style Me Pretty
Image via Once Wed Photography by Erin Hearts Court
Event Design and Flowers by La Partie Events
Image via Rifle Paper Co.
Image by Kellie Kano Photography via Style Me Pretty
Image by Anne Marie Photography via Style Me Pretty
Image by Agnes Lopez via Style Me Pretty
Image by Jose Villa via Southern Weddings
Images by One and Only Paris Photography via Style Me Pretty
Image by Genevive McKeiver via Style Me Pretty
Image via M. Robin Cakes
Jennifer + Chris {Honey Horn Plantation Wedding}
Honey Horn Plantation is located on Hilton Head Island and is one of the Lowcountry's treasured Wedding venues. It has everything that today's couple, Jennifer + Chris, wanted in a reception venue: cozy live oaks, salt marshes, spanish moss and picturesque open fields. Amanda Joy Photography was on hand to capture this darling Southern affair complete with an oh-so sweet couple, personalized details and some amazing lowcountry cuisine.
Thanks to Jennifer for filling us in on all the details. I just love her responses...
Tell us a little bit about how you met your husband. How long have you known each other? Where did you meet?
My husband and I met through our group of friends at the beginning of our sophomore year at the University of South Carolina. As our group of friends hung out more, our relationship grew and it was history from there. We first became best friends and the love grew from that which is why our relationship has such a solid foundation. We dated for 5 years before getting engaged
How did he propose? How long were you engaged for?
While visiting my family in Bluffton SC for a long weekend, our day was full with lots of summer activities throughout the day, nothing out of the ordinary. I noticed that Chris seemed to be following my Dad around a little more than normal while they were cooking dinner on the grill, but thought he was just trying to get to know him more. Little did I know, he was asking to marry me. After dinner and showers, we were ready to watch a family movie when Chris mentioned that he wanted to go to the gas station nearby to get a Gatorade to help his headache. Chris almost always gets a headache after being in the sun all day, and always wants a Gatorade when he has a headache, so this wasn’t out of the ordinary either. I was a little annoyed with him because I was ready to watch the movie, and the gas station wasn’t very close. After my mother (who also had no idea what was going on) tried to offer him a few medications, I agreed to go with him to the gas station, but being stubborn, I didn’t change out of my pjs and didn’t put on any shoes either. Once we got on the road, I was giving him all sorts of directions to the gas station, and he wasn’t following any of them. He was driving past all the turns. Finally, he asked me where the church was that my parents got married in. He said he wanted to drive by to see what it looked like at night, since it is on the water. I STILL didn’t get a clue; I was just getting more and more annoyed. Finally we got to the church and we hopped out of the car. He took my hand and walked me over to an oak tree and got down on one knee right under it. He asked me to marry him and I immediately covered my mouth in shock and started stepping backwards. Chris jokes now that he was a little scared when I did this because it looked like I was going to run away. I of course said YES and we quickly got back in the car. Remember, I wasn’t wearing any shoes and Chris found out quickly that he knelt down in an ant pile. Oh, the joys of the south. On the way home to celebrate with my awaiting parents and brothers, I still thought Chris had a headache and asked if he still needed a Gatorade. We were engaged for a little over one year.
How did you choose your venue? What elements drew you to Honey Horn?
We knew right away that we wanted to get married on Hilton Head, where I was born and raised. Chris’ family has a beach house in Beaufort SC, which is about an hour away. This is where Chris spent his summers growing up. So this place is special to the both of us. We knew we wanted our wedding to be somewhat laid back and a low country theme, so an outside reception was perfect. We chose Honey Horn Plantation because of the beautiful pavilion (in case of rain) that still gave the outside feel, but most importantly because of the beautiful oak trees and moss. Nothing is more beautiful to a southern girl and guy like us than a location with Oak Trees, moss, and the smell of the marsh nearby. We were sold!
I asked Jennifer to pick her most cherihed shot from the day...I'd have to say I agree!
Your wedding was filled with gorgeous details. Did any have special meaning? What was your favorite?
This was the most important thing for Chris and I when planning our wedding. We wanted every single detail to be personalized or mean something special to us. Since we had a more laid back reception, we got to spend a lot of time creating small details that meant something to us. Where do I start?
For the actual ceremony, I had my great grandmother’s ring tied to my bouquet, which was wonderful knowing that it was there.
And the reception is where is gets good! Each table number corresponded with a short sentence or story about Chris and me. For example, Table 56: Chris and Jennifer were engaged for 56 weeks. The escort cards were clothes pinned onto an old window frame.
My dad made different signs to use around the reception for parking, arrows for “reception”, “thank you” for the gift table, but my favorite (out of all the signs and everything at the reception) was “Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Hunt” that was put at our wedding party table in front of our seats.
The pavilion had a beautiful fireplace with a huge mantle that we had fun decorating. We strung twine across the mantle and used clothespins to pin up black and white pictures of Chris and I. My dad also made a huge “H” to put up as the focal point. Some greenery and a few more framed pictures, including ones of our parents on their wedding days finished up the mantle.
For our cake, I had a clay figurine made of our two precious dogs with their names on it. We were sad they couldn’t be there with us, but the cake topper was a perfect addition.
We also created a fun area for guests to take pictures and videotape. My mom found a huge red couch on sale that we put out in the yard. We had a table nearby with a camera and video camera and a chalkboard so that guests could write notes to us. There were also stick mustaches, lips, and glasses to have a little fun with.
We used more chalkboards to label different things at the reception like the lemonade, sweet tea, specialty drinks, cookies, and pies.
Near the gift table we had a few vintage pieces of luggage stacked on top of one another with a picture of Chris and I on our first trip together as a couple, and a little note to tell the guests where we were headed for our honeymoon.
There were many many more details for our reception, and once again, everything was planned and meant something to us. We know that with all of these special details, nobody will ever come close to having the same details as us, and our wedding will always be unique to us.
Tell us a little bit about your menu. Did you add any Lowcountry elements?
Our menu screamed southern for sure, and that is exactly what we wanted. For the cocktail hour, the guests were greeted with mini crab cakes, fried oysters, fruit skewers, and mini ham biscuits.
For dinner we enjoyed strawberry and feta cheese salad, Caribbean chicken, coconut shrimp, grilled veggies, and macaroni and cheese. Everything was absolutely delicious! Honestly, we had a hard time deciding what we wanted for our menu because everything that Downtown Catering and Events had was delicious!
Out of the entire day, what was the most memorable moment?
Besides saying our vows (which was by far the best moment of the day, it felt like we were the only ones in the room), there were two other great moments that I could live over and over and they would never get old.
The first one would be seeing all of our friends and family at the reception together, having a good time. I’ve been to many weddings, but I have never seen two families mesh as well as our two families did. People that didn’t know each other until that day were dancing with one another. New siblings were dancing, long time family friends were dancing, and everyone was having a blast. You wouldn’t have been able to tell which family member or friend went with which family and for me that was the best thing. Family is the number one most important thing to Chris and I, so this was a very special moment for us for sure.
The second moment would have to be when we drove away. I know that doesn’t really sound too good, but at this moment, it was just the two of us for the first time all day, for the first time as a married couple. My little brother and his friends decorated our car and Chris drove us away, so there wasn’t even a driver to get in the way. Just us. As much as we were sad that the day was over, it was now real. On the way to the hotel, we realized how hungry we were, so we went through the Burger King drive through to bring food back to our room. We looked at each other and laughed because this was us. Nothing had changed, except I was now Mrs. Hunt and we were finally married.
Looking back on your engagement and wedding, is there any advice you would give to brides in the planning process?
I think I would say what everyone said, enjoy the whole thing, and DON’T RUSH through it. For me the planning for a whole year before the wedding made it so I wasn’t too stressed towards the end. Don’t get me wrong, I think every normal girl will get at least a little stressed. But, I feel like I had just enough time to plan.
The part that went by so fast for me was the actual day. I feel like I was rushing the morning by because I just wanted to see Chris and I couldn’t wait for the ceremony to start. I could have slowed down and taken in everything a little more.
The reception went by the fastest. I’m not sure where the time went. I wish I would have been able to speak to everyone there a little more than I did.
So yes, my advice would be slow down, look around, and enjoy every second of the day.
Prospect Hill Plantation Wedding {Rebecca + James}
For starters, I just have to mention that my cousin, Meaghan, was on The Knotty Bride yesterday...and she looks ah-maz-ing. (Must run in the family :) ha!) The Lowcountry Region is full of breathtaking venues. They tend to be the perfect mix of coastal and elegance...and let's be honest, you just can't beat that. Charleston is surrounded by quite a few barrier islands that will sweep you off your feet with their natural beauty. Today's couple, Rebecca + James, selected the beautiful Prospect Hill Plantation on Edisto Island, South Carolina, which is just south of Charleston, to celebrate their wedding. They enlisted the talented ladies of By Invitation Only to pull off their laidback, pink coastal affair. The crew at Good Food Catering made sure their guests were treated to a healthy dose of Lowcountry cuisine. (Crab cakes? Yes, please!) While photographer Christine LeGrand captured everything a Lowcountry Bride dreams of...gorgeous sunlit, darling details, a perfect backdrop (complete with a palmetto tree or two!), and a sweet, loving couple....
Tell us how you guys met... I met James at a Carolina Gamecocks football game. I had extra tickets and my sister’s husband brought his best friend, James. That was in 2006. We kept meeting at Carolina games like once a year, talking and hanging out. In 2008, I called him up and asked him when he was going to take me on a date. We went out that weekend and have been together ever since.
Let's hear about the proposal...
James wanted to propose where it all started, so he wanted to propose at Williams-Brice Stadium. It was a completely gloomy and rainy Memorial Day weekend and James said he wanted to go for a ride. We drove down to the stadium and drove around the fairgrounds three times probably waiting for the rain to stop, which it never did. He ended up parking in front of the stadium and got me out of the car. He knelt down in a puddle and pulled out the most beautiful,perfect engagement ring and asked me if I would marry him. Of course I said yes! It wasn’t exactly how he had planned it but it was the thought that counts!! We got married one year later on Memorial Day weekend.
What's your favorite picture from your wedding?
I can't choose a favorite picture because there are so many wonderful, meaningful moments that were captured, but I really like this photo on the hammock. How much more Southern and laidback can you get that a hammock?! I just love that it's just me and James and you can see all the details of the wedding - the venue, the colors, flowers, accessories. I also love how happy we both are!
Out of the entire day, what was the most memorable moment?
That’s a hard one!!! I would say our first kiss because it was perfect but honestly it was probably the vows! I had asked the Pastor if we could include some additional vows. During the ceremony, the Pastor told us we could recite the vows to one another. I thought we would just be repeating them so I didn’t memorize them and I knew James didn’t know them. I looked at James and without thinking said, “We’ll pass!” It was a funny moment that made everyone laugh and is very indicative of our life. When things don’t go as planned, we just try to laugh!!
How did you choose your venue? What elements drew you to Prospect Hill?
I bought a bunch of Charleston magazines and looked on a lot of websites to find some plantations in the Lowcountry. I found a listing in the back of one magazine with different plantations and saw pictures of Prospect Hill and knew I had to go see it. James and I made an appointment to visit. We got in the car and knew we had found the perfect place for our wedding! There was this beautiful white plantation home, rows of palm trees for a beachy feel, a pecan grove, a pond, and a gorgeous oak tree with a beautiful view of the water. Exactly what we both wanted!
Your wedding was filled with gorgeous details. Did any have special meaning? What was your favorite?
There were several details that were very special to me. I only have one grandparent still living, my Nana (my paternal grandmother), but she was unable to come to the wedding because it was out of town. She always wears brooches on her sweaters or dresses. I needed something borrowed so I asked if I could borrow some of her brooches and wear them for the wedding. I found a pink brooch that I attached to my bouquet, and a teal brooch that I wore on my reception dress. The necklace I wore was my maternal grandmother’s that my granddaddy had given her. My mom gave it to me years ago and I told her I was going to wear it on my wedding day. The necklace was a flower which fit really well into the wedding because the wedding was outdoors and my dress actually had some flowers on the sash. I also really liked my cake topper. I like being a little artsy and I decided to make the cake topper myself. I painted the people and sewed the dress, suit, and bouquet. I also included our three cats because James really wanted them to be a part of our wedding. I love the way it turned out! It was very us!!
Why did you choose to have A Lowcountry Wedding?
I love the South and I knew I wanted a very southern wedding with oak trees and moss hanging down, something more laid back, easygoing. James wanted a beach wedding, but I didn’t want to do the whole sand and wind thing! So I thought a plantation wedding or something on the coast would be a perfect compromise.
Tell us a little bit about your menu. Did you add any Lowcountry elements?
The food was catered by Good Food Catering and it was phenomenal!!! I wanted all Southern food so we had crab cakes, barbecue, sweet potato fries, ham biscuits and shrimp and grits to name a few. I wish I could have just stuffed my face the whole night! It was the best wedding food I've ever had!!!! We also had a signature cocktail which was a merry mojito. James' favorite drink is a mojito and I asked to add berries to it so it could be pink like our wedding colors
Looking back on your engagement and wedding, is there any advice you would give to brides in the planning process?
Definitely give yourself enough time to plan everything but not so much time that it drags on and on. If you have certain ideas and visions for your wedding, do lots of research and don’t give up! The internet will become your best friend!!!
Lowcountry Wedding Vendors
photographer: christine legrand photography / planner: by invitation only
caterer: good food catering / venue: prospect hill plantation
Kaci + Nigel {Marina Inn at Grande Dunes Wedding}
Yesterday we featured darling bride-to-be Kaci as she prepared for her big day. We shared her beautiful bridal session followed by the couple's sweet beachside engagement session. Now, we've got the final piece of the puzzle...Kaci + Nigel's Lowcountry Wedding! Shot by the amazing Gillian Reinhardt of Carolina Studios, the couple wed at the breathtaking Marina Inn at Grande Dunes. You're going to love this stunning couple, picture-perfect scenery and all the lovely details...
Vendors
photographer: carolina studios by gillian reinhardt / venue: marina inn at grande dunes /
event planner: memorable moments event planning / caterer: grande dunes resort and pine lakes country club / floral designer: m. gladden designs / cinema and video: hart to heart media / hair stylist: myrtle beach hair styles / dress store: maddison row, the little white dress / cake designer: priceless desserts / band: soul function band / jewelry: symbols by chillico
Kaci + Nigel {Myrtle Beach Engagement Session}
For all of you who swooned over Kaci's Bridal Session this morning...just wait the posts keep getting better! You may have noticed that Kaci is simply a doll and, once again, this precious Southern Belle did not disappoint when joined by her man for an oceanside engagement session. The fabulous Gillian Reinhardt of Carolina Studios caught the darling duo looking happy and in love as Kaci donned a ruffly pink dress and Nigel sported a classic white polo and light blue pants.
Peach + Aqua Wedding Inspiration
I'm starting to get really sad that summer is over :( But I do have to admit I am LOVING this weather. I was in Atlanta last weekend for the UGA game and it was a steamy 95 degrees on Saturday. Twenty-four hours later and it's a refreshing 75. So, I can't really complain about that. Thanks to my good friend Pinterest, I'm able to hang on to all these gorgeous images until I find the perfect time to use them. I've really been diggin' the color peach over the past few months and recently I've taken a liking to pairing it with a beautiful coastal blue. It's a very classic, relaxing...and almost even a neutral palette. It is a perfect combo for A Lowcountry Wedding...
Images via: (1) Her Muse, (2) Oh Lovely Day, (3) DIY Weddings, (4) Break Down in the Beauty ,
(5) Style Me Pretty, (6) Style Me Pretty, (7) The Knotty Bride, (8) Creature Comforts
Around the Blogs
After a featuring some gorgeous Charleston weddings this week, we are looking forward to a beautiful weekend here in the Lowcountry. Take a look at some of our favorite posts on our weekly blog round-up...
Todd and Cyndi's gorg wedding via Love and Lavendar. Loving the bridal party's attire and this soft color palette. Check out more here.
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Over on Ruffled, this inspiration shoot was featured full of homegrown wedding ideas. I can't get enough of these rustic paper goods by Magpie Paper Works. They would be perfect for a Hilton Head wedding, don't ya think?
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Our friends over at One Stylish Bride featured Beth and Dan's Australian Peacock Farm wedding. I love the girls' brightly colored dresses and the guys' casual but stylish attire...perfect for a coastal, Myrtle Beach wedding! Besides being gorgeous, this wedding seemed so effortlessly cool.
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I'm a big fan of this preppy, coastal inspiration board I ran across on Postcards & Pretties. It's all about the stripes!
