If you've ever stepped foot in the Lowcountry, there's a good chance you've developed a soft spot in your heart for the region and I can always see that adoration when checking out a couple's engagement session. Arizona couple Laura + Cory are currently planning their destination wedding in Charleston and they recently teamed up with Shannon of Riverland Studios for this dreamy engagement session at two of my favorite locations; the classic Legare-Waring House and the laid back shores of Folly Beach. From their comfortable demeanor and flawless clothing selections to the stunning venues and romantic photography, every detail was pure perfection. Oh, I forgot to mention that Laura even decorated one of the abandoned boats of Folly Road to create a personalized backdrop!
Southern Wedding in Kentucky from Chris Cornwell Photographer
Sometimes I just have to pinch myself. My inbox is constantly flooded with beautiful weddings filled with darling details and stunning photography. So, when photographer Chris Cornwell sent over Sondra + Jason's Southern wedding in Kentucky, I just couldn't wait to share this charming Bluegrass affair with everyone. Seriously, it's amazing. This classically Southern event combined a soft, netural color palette with a sweet outdoor ceremony and one of the most adorable flower girl I've ever seen!
Wedding Vendors
Photographer: Chris Cornwell Photographer / Floral Designer: Flowers by Olivia / Catering: Danny Haddix
Skylar + Chad {Washington Wedding}
Before we jump right in to today's dreamy Washington wedding, we wanted to give everybody a little update. Our brand spanking new blog will be launching in the next few weeks (hopefully the beginning of February!) and as our way of saying thanks to all our favorite Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head wedding vendors, we're offering some fantastic introductory rates on our new blog tiles. So, if you're interested in reaching Lowcountry brides, shoot us an email at hello{at}alowcountrywed.com and we'll pass along the info! Okay....now on to Skylar + Chad! This adorable couple wed in an intimate outdoor ceremony this past September in beautiful Blaine, Washington. Skylar impressively handled the rustic decor (and even tackled that gorgeous cake!), while her mother used the green and purple color palette to design all of the fabulous flowers. Courtney Bowlden Photography captured emotional images of the glowing bride in her stunning strapless gown as she saw Chad for the first time. I mean...they kinda made me tear up.
Maggie + Mike {Burke Manor Inn Wedding}
Tell us a little bit about how you met your husband... My husband and I met on Match.Com…. Yup it really does work. I feel in love with a picture where the sun was in his eyes. That bald head of his was really the magic ticket. Honestly it does help that he is a sexy man, but his words in the profile he wrote went straight to my heart.
How did he propose? How long were you engaged for?
Mike proposed to me at Winter Green Ski Resort this past January. Martin Luther’s King’s birthday. A year prior he took me there as my first time ever to ski. I broke my ring finger. This January as we started to get all of our gear on he told me to wait a minute.. He walked into the bedroom came around the corner bent down on one knee and asked me to marry him. And I quote this is his proposal “even know that you are a pain in my ass, I love you more than life itself and cannot imagine my life without by my side” Will you marry me? AS I stand there in my ski wear with face and head gear on and he could not see my face. Only my eyes I was floored. Yeah we spoke of rings etc…. but never did I expect that. We were engaged for 7 months before we said our dos. And keep in mind that on our wedding day of August 27th we had a hurricane, Days prior a heart quake and one week to the day my father had a heart attack where he got two stints but in, but was still there to give me away and we had our very first dance EVER.
Your wedding was filled with gorgeous details. Did any have special meaning? What was your favorite? The flowers had special meaning. The girl who did them lived outside the box as I asked her to do. I gave her a clear canvas to show her talents but at the same time my touch. The flowers were done in Japanese lettering to match my shoulder tattoo. It means double happiness and love. And those are what we stood on when we said our own vows to each other. We did a sand ceremony as well that I wrote myself and the class that we poured our sand in matched the flowers and my tattoo.
How did you choose your venue? We choose the B&B to be sure that all of our family was together and not spread apart. As they come from far and in between we wanted our family close and to share memories and to make new ones.
Tell us a little bit about your menu... Well I am a very picky eater. And our family and friends all love meat and potatoes. So we had prime rib, salad, mixed garden veggies and a potato bar with all the fixings. It was delicious. There are still people talking about the food and it as over three months ago. We had wine imported in from our engagement night that we later found out that is not easy to find. We had NY wine sent to us as well. Each had a meaning and those were shared with everybody.
What’s your favorite picture from your wedding? My favorite pic is where my father and I are dancing. As I said that was the very first time I ever danced with him and considering he had a heart attack one week prior to that. Well I just about didn’t get that chance of a life time. My father raised me from 15 years old until the time I was 17 by himself. Until I gave him a shot of courage to ask someone out who now is my step mother. Yes, I hooked my dad up…
Out of the entire day, what was the most memorable moment? Out of the entire day... sitting here with tears in my eyes as I type this is that I shared special, priceless moments with my father. We danced to Britney Spears all the way to Pit Pull. His hands in the air and feet off the ground he never skipped a beat and told me that it was the best day of his life. My dreams weren’t just answered or my blessings didn’t stop when god gave me a guardian angel with Mike…. They continued when he spared my dad’s life to give me memories that only very few of us ever get a chance to have with their fathers. If you knew more about me you would clearly understand why my dad is my world. And the best memorable moment with Mike was when cake went down the front of my halter wedding dress between my cleavage and he went right in after it in front of god and everybody. That was a memory that I don’t just have it is also on DVD…..
Looking back on your engagement and wedding, is there any advice you would give to brides in the planning process?
Take one day at a time. Don’t let anybody talk you into something that you or your soon to be husband doesn’t want. And enjoy it. It goes by way to fast. Remember it is about both of you and nobody else. So do what makes you happy and what is meaningful to the both of you. After all this is the first party as husband and wife that you are giving so make a hell of day.