When asked what color palette she wanted for her Jekyll Island wedding, this fabulous bride replied, “All of them!” The bespoke watercolor invitation suite by Momental Designs, the beautiful bridesmaids Plum Pretty Sugar robes and Amsale dresses, and the pastel florals by Garden on the Square all helped make her colorful wedding day dream a reality. The end result – captured by Amy Arrington Photography and Imagine Video Productions – is oh-so-pretty!
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From the Bride… From our first few dates back in 2013, Steve and I set a tone for our lives together that we would always meet each other halfway. Our relationship was long distance in the beginning, and with us both balancing busy careers in intercollegiate athletics, we measured weeks by football and basketball games. I was living in Orlando, Florida, and Steve was living in Columbia, South Carolina. A chance encounter at a professional development conference had quickly flourished into a relationship that spanned 430 miles. In the beginning, we would take turns hopping on a plane and joining each other for a weekend. These weekends together often consisted of bringing the other person to work functions – our version of date night.
After a few months, we realized we wanted to meet each other halfway geographically. We had both heard about the Golden Isles area of Georgia and quickly started doing our research. First priority of this search was finding a pet friendly hotel and beach for Steve’s puppy, Riley. Through our research, we stumbled upon a pet friendly location called Jekyll Island. Neither of us had ever heard of this former home of America’s elite. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, this small island became the winter retreat for families that represented one sixth of the world’s wealth. Some familiar names that would bring their yachts down from the northeast or travel by railroad include the Rockefellers, Pulitzers, and Carnegies. One winter weekend, Steve, Riley, and I arrived at Jekyll Island and experienced the quiet beauty of this lovely place and learned the rich history of its club. To top it all off, the pet friendly beaches where Riley could run free for miles on end really sealed the deal. Without hesitation, we said this is where we will get married one day!
One year following our first trip to Jekyll Island, I had the opportunity to join Steve in Columbia to finally begin our lives in the same city and to see each other more than twice per month. Six months following my move, on a Saturday in July, we travelled up to Boston to see the Red Sox (Steve’s favorite team) play the Yankees. Steve proposed before boarding a boat to cruise the Boston Harbor. We could barely make it off the celebratory cruise before calling the Jekyll Island Club Hotel to book our wedding!
We knew we wanted a spring date, and with a short ten months to plan, we didn’t waste any time. We communicated what we wanted for our wedding to all of our great vendors and started the planning process. Many people would ask, “What are your colors?” I’d reply, “All the colors!” By combining my vision of all the colors and highlighting the natural beauty of Jekyll Island and the Club, our wedding evolved into everything we wanted it to be and more.
The Jekyll Island Club Hotel is a sprawling property with each building telling another story of the rich history of the turn of the nineteenth century. Steve and I chose to wed at Crane Cottage. It was built in the Italian Renaissance style for the plumbing mogul, Richard Teller Crane, Jr. The cottage features a sunken garden where Steve and I said “I do,” a reflecting pond overlooking the river where we had cocktails, a courtyard where we dined under the stars for dinner, and a living room where we finished off the night dancing before taking off in a 1969 Cadillac DeVille Convertible.
We were beyond grateful for our wonderful family, friends, and vendors that helped make our wedding the perfect day that it was. We wanted to tell a story throughout the weekend and show everyone the reasons we love and appreciate the history of Jekyll Island so much. We even offered our guests the opportunity to take the historic tour hosted by the Jekyll Island Museum to both learn and appreciate our special wedding location.
The tone was set for our wedding with the hand painted and completely custom invitations illustrating the Jekyll Island Club Hotel by Momental Designs. From the intricate flowers by Garden on the Square that were so important to me to the musical stylings of Steve’s brother, Joe, on the keyboard, our wedding truly reflected who we were as a couple. With Amy Arrington Photography behind the camera and Imagine Video Productions handling cinematography, our wedding was immaculately covered so that we can remember every detail for years to come.
I couldn’t pick a favorite moment if I tried because everything from sipping mimosas with my mom and bridesmaids to dancing the night away on the dance floor was flawless. For those searching for a one-of-a-kind destination wedding venue, look no further than the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. To say they outdid themselves would be an understatement. Steve and I were their royalty for the weekend, and even with another wedding on property, it was as if we were William and Kate. Their Southern hospitality was impeccable, and the food was quite possibly the best food I have ever experienced at a catered event. From the endless shellfish station to the customized pasta dishes, the menu and memories of the cuisine will leave us with cravings for years and years to come.
For those that are about to embark on the planning process, my advice is to tell a story about who you are as a couple or even the location you so carefully picked to wed, pick vendors that you trust and work well with, and just enjoy the process. What every former bride says is true – time flies when you’re having fun, and this day will flash before your eyes. Take those moments to breathe and admire the perfection that has been created to celebrate you and your new spouse. I promise it will be the best day of your life. And when the dust settles and you look back on your wedding, you’ll give anything to do it all over again. For Steve and me, we’ll always have Jekyll Island, the memories of the most perfect day, and the commitment to always meet halfway.
Photography: Amy Arrington Photography | Cinematography: Imagine Video Production | Event Planning: Caroline Carter Events | Floral Design: Garden On The Square | Wedding Dress: Demetrios Bride | Stationery: Momental Designs | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Makeup: Patricia Koziack | Hair: Bienvenue | DJ: All About You Entertainment | Men's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Venue: Jekyll Island Club Hotel | Bridesmaids' Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Catering and Cake: Jekyll Island Club Hotel | Ceremony and Late Night Music: Joe (brother of the groom) | Getaway Car: Martins Wedding Transportation | Rentals: Beachview Tent Rentals | Save the Dates: Natty Michelle Paperie | Signage: Lilah Paper | Sparkling Wine: Schramsberg Vineyards