Hilton Head Wedding Inspiration at Stoney Baynard Ruins

I'm thrilled to share this gorgeous Hilton Head Wedding Inspiration shoot from the talented Julie Roberts.  This beauty was on the grounds of the Stoney Baynard Ruins and combines romantic evening sunlight, the ruins of an old, mysterious Southern Plantation and a veil that's bound to take your breath away.

From Julie Roberts Photography: "This gorgeous couple, Sara and Jack, agreed to model for a little styled session that I did in Hilton Head last summer. I've been so excited to feature these images that are full of super sultry evening sun light. When I first thought of doing this session I called up my friends at The Gilded Gown and they happily agreed to lone us this gorgeous gown, veil, and all accessories as well as the suit and accoutremont. The adorable flowers were done by Allie with Sassafras Flowers. I discovered her through the wonders of facebook ... and was thrilled when she agreed to be a part of this little project. Her work is so whimsical and artistic! The location for our session was a sweet little find my mom discovered tucked away on Hilton Head Island, SC. The Stoney-Baynard Ruins are the remnants of a grand antebellum plantation home built 1793-1810 by Captain John Stoney. The original house was built of timber and tabby which is a mixture of oyster shells, lime, and sand. The up close texture of the ruin walls was WONDERFUL. The home was raided during the Civil War and Union forces made it their headquarters. It burned down shortly after the Civil War. I LOVE the mystery and charm of old plantation ruins. Paired with the elegance of a lace wedding gown and string of fresh water pearls this scene is my idea of the perfect deep south wedding inspiration."

Hilton Head Wedding Vendors

Photographer:  Julie Roberts Photography  //  Floral Designer: Sassafras  //  Event Venue: Stoney Baynard Ruins  //  Dress Store: The Gilded Gown//

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Dying for more Lowcountry Wedding Inspiration!?  Check out these beauties…

• Coastal Folly Beach Wedding from Charleston wedding vendor Dana Cubbage Weddings
• Laid back, DIY Lowcountry Wedding from Jeanne Mitchum Photography with burlap and anemones
• Vibrant Myrtle Beach Wedding from Memorable Moments and Scott Smallin Photography
• Sequins and Peony Wedding Inspiration from Savannah Wedding Vendors, Ivory + Beau and Rach Lea Photography
• Dreamy Hilton Head Wedding at the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort from Landon Jacob
• A Lowcountry Wedding Magazine filled with 13 real weddings from Charleston, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach

That's When I Look at the Groom... {Groom's Reactions}

Typically, all eyes are on the bride when she makes her grand entrance on “the big day”- we’re captivated by her stunning gown, lovely bouquet, and the way that she exudes elegance as she makes her way down the aisle. But, let’s remember what Jane, the serial bridesmaid in 27 Dresses, described as her favorite part of weddings: “You know how the bride makes her entrance and everybody turns to look at her? That’s when I look at the groom. ‘Cause his face says it all you know? The pure love there.” A groom’s reaction when he first sees his bride is a moment unlike any other. We hope you enjoy these awe-worthy pictures of groom’s being taken aback by their beautiful brides.

Hilton Head Weddings {Nicole + Tim} Artsinfotos Photography

If you're in the mood to enjoy a healthy dose of Lowcountry weddings, then boy do we have a treat for you!  Not only can you dive into the beauty of A Lowcountry Wedding Magazine, but now you can purchase your very own print copy!  So head on over and revel in all the Fall/Winter edition has to offer.  YAY!  Check it out and get your copies here.  You’ll find amazing Coastal weddings from Hilton Head, Charleston and Myrtle Beach, mounds of bouquet inspiration and an AMAZING fashion editorial shot at RiverOaks! We’re so proud of what we've created and we hope you'll be inspired by all the loveliness we’ve created for you!  As we continue our fabulous Southern Wedding Sunday, we've decided it was time to treat you to a few Hilton Head weddings, starting with this beauty at Sonesta Resort from Artsinfotos Photography!  We're smitten with gorgeous Nicole, the lovely florals and those adorable bridesmaids dresses!

Hilton Head Wedding Vendors

Photographer:  Artsinfotos Photography  //  Reception Venue:Sonesta Resort

Old Sheldon Church Ruins {Andrea} Holly Graciano Photography

With the overwhelming response from all of our faithful followers who were asking if they could purchase a print copy of ALW Mag, you're in luck!  We just added the Fall/Winter edition to ISSUU where you have multiple print options.  YAY!  So head on over, check it out and get your copies here.   We know it's raining, but we thought we might just slap a smile on your face with this gorgeous Beaufort wedding engagement in the heart of the Lowcountry.  Bride Andrea had always hoped to have her bridal portraits taken at Old Sheldon Church Ruins in Yemassee.  So, when the opportunity presented itself, she grabbed her faithful photographer, Holly Graciano and headed down for a lovely coastal day.  Andrea had fallen in love with the picturesque backdrop the Ruins provided - deep rooted history, southern charm, and trees laden with Spanish moss.   After enjoying the landscape, the crew headed over to Waterfront Park finish off the day!

Hilton Head Wedding Vendors

Photographer:  Holly Graciano Photography  /  Venue: Location: Old Sheldon Church

Hilton Head Wedding {Katie + Geoff} Scott Hopkins Photography

We always love sharing a Hilton Head wedding, particularly when a crazy talented group of vendors are involved.  This beauty took place this past May at a private residence in Bluffton, South Carolina and offered up one heck of a backdrop for a beautiful Lowcountry evening.  Bride Katie stunned in a strapless gown while her bridesmaids rocked deep purple dresses.  Katie's bouquet was a mix of hydrangeas and roses in varying shades of purple mixed with a few lovely calla lilies. The team at Weddings with Leah was on hand to bring their fairytale to life while JLK Events handled the lighting.  Downtown Catering treated their guests to an evening of Lowcountry cuisine while Lowcountry Boil Band kept them on their feet.  Thanks to  Scott Hopkins Photography for capturing all the magical moments!

Hilton Head Wedding Vendors

Photographer:  Scott Hopkins Photography   //  Caterer: Downtown Catering  //  Lighting: JLK events  //  Event Planner: Weddings with Leah  //  Band: Lowcountry Boil Band  //  Cake: Ronnie’s Bakery

Oldfield Club Wedding {Stina + Bill} Amy Marie Kay Photography

We love when stunning Hilton Head weddings roll across our inbox, especially when a dreamy Lowcountry wedding venue is involved!  This beauty kicked off with a traditional ceremony at quite frankly one of the prettiest coastal churches I've ever seen, The Church of the Cross in Bluffton.  After saying their 'I do's', they continued the celebration with a beautiful Oldfield Club wedding in Okatie, South Carolina.  Guests were treated to an evening of Southern cuisine before they hit the dance floor...and they hit it hard!  Thanks to Amy-Marie Kay Photography capturing the amazing, and lively, celebration!

Hilton Head Wedding Vendors

Photographer:  Amy-Marie Kay Photography   //  Second Shooter: Brook Bertschy Photography  //   DJ:All about you Djs//  Reception Venue: Old Field Club //  Other: The Church of the Cross

Hilton Head Weddings {Danny + Laura} Port Royal Golf Club

We're so happy to welcome the New Year here at A Lowcountry Wedding!   With the launch of our ALW mag (come check it out here!), 2013 was crazy (to say the least).  With the outpouring of support we received, we can't wait to see what's in store for 2014.   At the request of our Southern brides, we're expanding our vendor gallery to bring you ladies the best of the best that the Lowcountry has to offer.  Soooo, until Jan 10th, we're offering great rates for vendors interested in a listing or banner ad, so shoot us an email at hello{at}alowcountrywed.com to chat!  In the meantime, I've been dying to share this Port Royal Golf Club wedding from Scobey Photography.  You know how much we love Hilton Head weddings, so when this vibrant beauty rolled across our inbox, I squealed a bit.  The blue bridesmaids dresses and charming pink peony bouquets are totally my style.  It's the perfect Southern wedding!

Hilton Head Wedding Vendors

Photographer: Scobey Photography  //  Ceremony & Reception Location: Port Royal Golf Club  //  Bride’s Hair: Mark Goodman with Hair Designers  //  Bride’s Makeup: Diane Cook with Hair Designers   //  Dress Designer: Anjolique Bridal  //  Bridal Salon: Wedding Angels Bridal Boutique  //  Bride’s Shoes: TOMS  //  Groom’s Suit: King Tux  //  Cake Designer: Lowcountry Flour Girls   //  Florist: Henry Kretchmer at The Flower Garden //  DJ: DJ Wayne Byrd with Hilton Head Entertainment

A Lowcountry Wedding Magazine Premiere Issue: Sneak Peek!

So, I know we've taken a bit of a blog hiatus, but I promise it's been for a great cause!  Over the past few months, we've been slaving away over the premiere issue of A Lowcountry Wedding mag.   It's been quite the process, we've been planning shoots, selecting real weddings and attempting to figure out the world of InDesign.  We've had a few hang ups with some things behind the scenes, so we thank you for your patience!  With it being our first issue, everything has taken a little longer than expected, but we'd rather have it perfect then send out something we're not 100% proud of...and we promise you're it's going to  be well worth the wait!  So, to hold you over until the end of the week, we thought you'd give you a sneak peek of the beautiful cover shot by the talented Angela Cox Photography at the stunning RiverOaks.  Ash and Co. Bridal killed it with model Katie Cockman hair and makeup, as she rocked a gorgeous LulaKate gown and that beautiful Moon and Lola necklace....Do you like!?!

Charleston Wedding Photography Giveaway {The Click Chick Photography}

It's Friday and I get to present and awesome contest to all of our loyal ALW readers and that always makes me smile!  But now I want to make you smile.  In honor of her brand new website, we’ve teamed up with our friend and Charleston wedding photographer, Mackenzie of The Click Chick Photography, for a big ol’ giveaway that we’re positive will have you grinning from ear-to-ear.  The best part is it combines two of our favorite things…a free wedding photography package and Pinterest.  My kind of heaven!

 And let's be serious, who doesn't want their wedding captured by an awesome photographer and then featured on A Lowcountry Wedding!  Excited?!  I knew you would be!  Now, for the rules...

A Lowcountry Wedding 

Facebook  l  Twitter: @alowcountrywed  l  Pinterest 

The Click Chick Photography

Twitter: @clickchickchas   l  Facebook  l  Pinterest

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So, have fun and get to pinning!

Lowcountry Wedding {Margaret + Jesus}

Margaret & Jesus married on June 22, 2013 under large majestic oaks on the coast of South Carolina. The couple lives in DC and wanted an intimate southern destination wedding, and Lord knows that's exactly what they got when they ventured to the Lowcountry! The overall vibe was natural, beautiful and elegant. Margaret was breathtaking in a stunning Vera Wang wedding gown and gold sparkly Kate Spade flats. She carried loose stems of white and yellow seasonal flowers with a pop of pink. The ceremony was lined with tin bails of sweet baby's breath flowers. After the ceremony, guests enjoyed the cocktail hour on custom built wooden tables draped with lace and beautiful flowers.

For the reception, Margaret & Jesus joined their guests in a large tent draped with cafe lighting and enjoyed local southern flair foods and seafood paella. The couple loves hot sauce so, naturally, they had to have a hot sauce bar. The Tao Reed band played well into the night. Everyone lit paper lanterns in the end and were whisked away in a vintage green car.  It was an celebration with impeccable style in a natural and elegant setting and we're so glad Donna Von Bruening was there to capture all the details!

Lowcountry Wedding Vendors

Photographer:  Donna Von Bruening, Photographer//Event Designer: Ashley Rhodes Events  //  Florist: Wildes Floral Design  //  Rentals:  Amazing Event Rentals  //  Gown: Vera Wang  //  Entertainment:  Tao Reed Band  // Hair: Ash and Co. Bridal

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

We Need Your Help!

So...we need your help!  We're in the midst of planning our big ol' A Lowcountry Wedding magazine and we thought, who better to ask than our readers, brides and vendors to help us knock it out of the park!  So, if you don't mind, we'd like to put you to work!

For starters, we're want your input on how to put a little "Lowcountry" into your wedding day!  Whether it's a Firefly and Lemonade, an evening wedding along the marsh or incorporating a few sweetgrass roses into your bouquet, tell us what 'A Lowcountry Wedding' means to you!  Leave us a note, tweet us, or Facebook us for the chance to have your quote included in A Lowcountry Wedding mag.

Next up, we've got a styled shoot (or 2) coming up and we're looking for a few gorgeous gals to pose as our brides!  Our first shoot will take place July 17th and the second will be August 6-8th.  So, if you feel like having some professionals get you all dolled up, then feel free to nominate yourself, or a friend.   If you're interested, please send an email to hello{at}alowcountrywed.com with the subject line ALW Model Search.  Make sure to include a few photographs of yourself as well as your height.

Lastly, we've got a few deadlines coming up that we wanted to remind you of!  July 19th is the last day we will be accepting real wedding submissions for publication.  Real weddings must have been shot in the Lowcountry region, in and around the areas of Hilton Head, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.  For additional submission details, please see below!  Along with our new magazine, we've got a new media kit with affordable rates for vendors looking to work with Lowcountry brides.  If you'd like to chat with us about your marketing plan to see how A Lowcountry Wedding can be beneficial to your business, shoot us an email at hello{at}alowcountrywed.com.

Wedding Details {Place Cards}

One thing I absolutely love about weddings is the small and unique touches. Something as simple as a table place card can really add character and creativity to any Hilton Head, Charleston or Myrtle Beach wedding! Not to mention it can completely influence the entire décor of the reception area. Table place cards are truly a necessity in making sure your reception runs smoothly and that guests sit at the right table.  So why not make yours unforgettable?! Here are some great ideas for wedding table place cards:  

Drink Along Place Cards

Message in a Bottle Place Cards

Movie Title Place Cards

Polaroid Place Cards

Seashell Place cards 

Vintage Key Place Cards

Place cards with an extra treat

DIY Vintage Place Cards 

Wine Cork Inspired Place Cards

 Suite of Hearts Place Cards

XO,

Sessalee

Downtown Engagement {Sarah + Ben}

Have you heard the big news!?! We're launching our first ever online publication this summer and we're over-the-moon with the fabulous response we've already seen.  We've got big plans to shower Lowcountry brides with dreamy weddings from the coast of South Carolina ranging from Hilton Head and Beaufort to Charleston and Myrtle Beach (and a few of our other favorite cities in between!).  You'll find a selection of the most sought after Southern bridal selections from the top, local gown boutiques and, of course, all the best tips and inspiration to make your wedding planning process a breeze!  In the meantime, we won't keep you waiting!  Today we're sharing this charming Downtown Charleston engagement session from LindseyK Photography!

 Charleston Wedding Vendors

Photographer: LindseyK Photography

Intern {Elizabeth}

Last, but certainly not least, I’m excited to officially introduce you to Elizabeth, who some of you may lovingly refer to as Spelly!  I’ve got a feeling everyone will soon be falling in love with her envious sense of style, her humorous approach to wedding planning and her love for all things Lowcountry.  Y’all say hi to Elizabeth! .

Tell us a little bit about yourself…and by a little, we mean a lot :)

My name is Elizabeth and I’m your typical 20-something recent graduate who is trying to navigate the super murky waters of the “real world”. I’m was born and raised in beautiful Charleston, SC and am so excited to explore all my amazing hometown has to offer in the upcoming months with A Lowcountry Wedding! I played competitive tennis for the majority of my life but hung up my rackets after playing for two years for the women's team at Villanova University. While I still play from time to time, now I like to mix it up and stay active by running, doing yoga, spinning, barre, taking my puppy to the beach… you name it. I'm a complete Francophile - French cities, people, language, culture, food - I love it all and would move to Paris tomorrow if I could. I’m a self-proclaimed bookworm and a complete Harry Potter nerd. Other slight obsessions: shopping, any beach or boat related activity, eating awesome food, and spending time with my family and friends. Speaking of my family I have a little sister who often gets mistaken for my twin, awesome parents who have recently become my “roomies”, and Maddie my precious mutt-dog. Like any family they can drive me crazy, but without them I wouldn’t be who I am  today.

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Top Five All-time favorite TV Shows…

Ok, so I wasn’t able to narrow it down to 5 but I’ve got 3 categories for you!

• Go-to’s: Sex and the City and Friends. I’ve seen all the episodes so many times that I can recite them but the story lines and characters never fail to put a smile on my face.
• Guilty pleasures: Grey’s Anatomy and Pretty Little Liars. I watch these religiously for a weekly dose of absurd drama, romance, and mystery. 
• Nerdy obsessions: Downton Abbey and Game of Thrones. Downton appeals to my love of historical fiction and GoT to my epic/fantasy obsession (and I’ve read the whole series). Like I said, NERD.

. What are you excited to bring to the table this summer?

I have always had a passion for writing, which is what drew me to the editorial opportunity at A Lowcountry Wedding. I’m excited to put this to use as well as explore my creative potential as my new teammates and I continue to expand the blog and combine our talents to create the new virtual magazine!

 What’s your favorite thing about weddings?

I’m not a super emotional person and rarely cry, but weddings can really get to me. From the bride and groom, to their family and friends, everyone is filled with so much love and genuine happiness for the couple – gah when my first friend got married last summer I was a wreck! It took some practice but thankfully I’ve learned to keep my tears in check.

It’s Friday and you just cashed your paycheck….what’s your first splurge?

In my real life? A night out with my friends. In my dream life? I’m bringing in the big bucks, so a ridiculously awesome pair of shoes.

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If you were a major league baseball player, what would be your ‘at-bat’ song?

O wow this is so hard because my taste in music is all over the place. Back in my tennis days Nelly’s “Heart of a Champion” always got me fired up because he yells “Did you hear that Elizabeth, here comes the big one!” in the intro so I guess I’d have to pick that!

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Hometown: Charleston, South Carolina

College/Major: University of South Carolina, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing and Management

Favorite Item of Clothing...

My Lululemon crop wunder under pants - I could live in those things.

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Favorite Summer beverage..

I know its finally summer when I can scoop up a Painkiller (recently renamed “Gamechanger” just FYI) from Home Team on Sullivans and head to the beach.

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Current favorite color palette...

Pale blues or purples mixed with neutrals always manage to catch my eye!

Favorite Quote...

"It's no accident, I think, that tennis uses the language of life. Advantage, service, fault, break, love, the basic elements of tennis are those of everyday existence, because every match is a life in miniature... Points become games become sets become tournaments, and it's all so tightly connected that any point can become the turning point. It reminds me of the way seconds become minutes become hours, and any hour can be our finest. Our darkest. It's our choice."

- Andre Agassi, Open

Must have Lowcountry Wedding detail...

Sweetgrass anything - it is such a unique part of Lowcountry culture and can make a beautiful accent!

 Welcome to the team!

xo, Erin