I knew from the moment I laid my eyes on these gorgeous images by Sarah Deshaw, I was going to love this wedding. Love it in that way that only seersucker suits, pretty pink hues and touches of burlap can bring. Because when sweet Southern elegance meets intimate garden party, you can’t help but adore every last minute. That’s a fact, lovelies. See all of the pretty planned by Jekyll Island Club Hotel in the full gallery. You’ll love it just as much as me.
From the Bride… From the very beginning we decided that we wanted a small intimate destination wedding. We wanted a few guests who we absolutely knew would remain close to us for the remainder of our lives. That was the theme. The best years of our lives are yet to come. And because Hunter was 40 and I was 30 we had many friends and relatives with young children. My parents are from The Netherlands and Hunter’s are from the South. We needed it to be small so that people could learn one another’s accents! Also, we wanted a place that was kid friendly and where everyone could really get to know one another. Having attended graduate schools in both New England and Texas, we had friends from all of the country and world. Folks came from Washington, California, The Netherlands, Israel, Uruguay, Texas, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Colorado and Arizona. And it was great. Everyone mingled and got to know each other.
As soon as we found our wedding location the planning began. We wanted something that was classic, romantic, and that incorporated the incredible natural surroundings of Jekyll Island, particularly the dramatic trees enveloped in Spanish moss. We designed our wedding based on soft pinks, greens, and whites and infused them into small details throughout the wedding. Classic touches included white lace, simple font type and pink details. A splash of burlap added an earthy feel. Our calligrapher designed a monogram with our first initials that was displayed on cups, napkins, programs, and cigars. In addition to the decorations, our main priority was creating a family affair that was convenient, fun and interactive. Being a second grade special education teacher, I wanted it to be child friendly as well.
In lieu of a guest book, we created a gorgeous wishing tree, a Dutch tradition that invites guests to write their wishes for the bride a groom. The kids table enjoyed activity books and fun games. After dinner, champagne was passed and all the guests were ushered into the middle of the courtyard for a group photo (taken from the upstairs balcony). We were then introduced for our first dance as a married couple, a fox trot to Eta James’ “At Last,” for which we had practiced endlessly. My father, an engineer by day and competitive ballroom dancer by night, surprised me with a quickstep for the father-daughter dance to “Shall We Dance.” The groom and his mother danced to James Taylor’s “Carolina in my Mind,” which brought tears to family members around the dance floor. The rest of the night, guests enjoyed dancing, a photo booth, a cigar bar, and a late night snack of honey baked ham and biscuits. We ended the party with a sparkling send off!
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Wedding Photography: Sarah Deshaw | Wedding Venue: Jekyll Island Club Hotel, Crane Cottage in Jekyll Island, Georgia | Wedding Planner: Jessica Shell from Jekyll Island Club Hotel | Floral Design: Stacy Bass from Straton Hall | Music: Spike at the Beach | Ceremony Music: Deborah Ray | Wedding Invitations: Paper and Chocolate | Wedding Stationery: Josie Patrick at VivalaLovely | Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanco via Isis Bridal Boutiques | Jewelry: Nadri via Nordstrom Wedding Suite | Rings: The Diamond Doctor | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka + Vera Wang Lavender | Groom’s Attire: Jos.A.Bank | Hair: Amy Jenkins (912.634.0546) | Makeup: Eva Liptak (912.399.3035)