Stunning Chairs Set the Tone for this Wedding Photographer's Coastal Floral Wedding Day

You have to see the chic chairs that inspired the design behind this dreamy wedding day! This photographer turned bride teamed up with Whitewood Events to bring her Big Day vision to life in a palette of blue and white after falling in love with floral chairs she stumbled upon online.  The playful pattern was then woven throughout the entirety of the event, from the invitation suite to the sailcloth tent reception.  Floral designs by Amy Osaba  stunned, with the incredible installations being repurposed throughout varying elements of the day.  All the blue and white beauty, and a lot of love, were elegantly captured in the artful imagery by Amanda Olivia Photography. Visit the full gallery to get a closer look at ever carefully curated detail.

From the bride... As a wedding photographer, it seemed like this day would never come, but after capturing this day for so many, it was finally my turn. I was getting married. I had dreamt of this moment since I was four years old. Back then it was thumb weddings, but now it was finally happening and it was Nick and I. We had our first date in August 2019. Within moments of our first date, we spoke about Hilton Head Island, SC. We were in a bar in NJ and talking about our ties to Hilton Head. It was the first of many things we had in common. By Thanksgiving that year Nick and I had our first Holiday together at his Dad's house in Hilton Head. We rode bikes, went to the beach, played golf, and found spots that would forever become our "happy place". When we got engaged a little over a year later, we immediately knew we would be getting married down south near Hilton Head Island.

We found the perfect location in Bluffton, SC. As a young girl, I always had this idea I'd find someone that was getting married the day before or the day after me and go in on some shared rentals with that bride. Seems unattainable, except it wasn't. There was a bride getting married the day before me that had moved her wedding from May to October. We were able to connect and we decided to share costs on the sailcloth tent, chairs, tables, dance floor, stage, and a little greenery. I kept thinking, worst case we share the tent, best case we share almost everything and I have a new friend to share this experience with. It was the latter. We both incorporated our own style. She added gorgeous rattan chandeliers throughout the tent and I switched out some chairs and my parents really stepped in, providing a few stunning decor pieces.

A few months prior to getting engaged I had fallen in love with specific chairs I had seen online. It was one of those, I don't care what they cost or how they'll get here but I have to have them wedding things. I was obsessed with the coastal, floral vibe and they honestly became the inspiration for several accents throughout our wedding. My friend, Jenna evolved the fabric of the chair and did her own design for the insert of our invitation suite. It was everything I wanted and more and stayed very much on theme. My mom had already begun collecting pretty much anything blue. It started with the blue and white ginger jars, then it was China I swear I didn't want or need, but then I saw it and we had to have it for the wedding, and in general, "married life". My dad designed and made the arbor we were married under and was also used as the entrance to the tent. He also designed and made the place card/pie stand that was perfect for the space.

From the beginning, I knew I wanted to look out during the ceremony and see a "sea of blue". I had envisioned all the guests wearing all different shades of blue. I mentioned this to several friends/ family and hinted to it on our wedding website. As the day approached, I had no idea it would actually happen, but it did. It was a stunning sea of blue! When it came to our wedding party, I wanted it to look like anyone could be a bridesmaid or groomsmen. Nick had one official best man. I had one official matron of honor. Then, we had nine children in the wedding, so, very royal wedding-esq. It was beautiful and so cool to see that everyone pretty much coordinated with one another but also the decor of the day.

When Nick and I first saw the reception space, I think our mouths hit the floor. Surprisingly, Nick was a very involved groom. He had a lot of opinions about the kind of experience he wanted us to provide our guests. I was right there with him. He was specific when it came to who would marry us, what was served at cocktail hour, where the bars would be located, the floor plan, how long the toasts would be and more specifically, the band ensuring everyone would have plenty of time to dance. But when we saw the reception space, he had no idea it would be quite like it was. I had imagined it every which way and was still absolutely floored by the presentation of it all. Our florist, Mary Wynn of Amy Osaba truly wowed us throughout the day. She brought over florals from the ceremony space, re-using them throughout the reception, but yet it looked new and fresh. Nick and I couldn't turn our heads fast enough to take everything in and couldn't wait to get the party started.

After sunset portraits, we had a sparkler entrance into the tent. It was every bit as magical as it sounds. I will never forget that moment and the excitement I felt. As the sun began to set, we went into our 1st dance. The sunset sparkled behind us as I twirled, or at least that's what everyone told us. It was breathtaking. Once toasts ended, the band fired up and it was a dance party to trump all dance parties. I changed into my reception dress, and Nick and I basically had to be forced off the dance floor to cut the cake and have some pie. We were back on the dance floor within minutes. The band didn't take a break the entire reception. Our friends and family began to chant our names as we plummeted into their hands, getting tossed up and down, having the time of our lives with a casual crowd surf, end of the night wedding moment.