Georgia Weddings

I get a little too excited when I see a wedding from Amy Arrington, and I’ll tell you why. Her images always tell a gorgeous story, one where even the simplest moments stand out. Her ability to capture a day in that way always leaves me chomping at the bit to get her work on the pages of SMP as soon as I possibly can. The only problem is, it’s basically impossible to choose my favorite images from a wedding as gorgeous as this one, so be sure to check them all out in the full gallery of gorgeous.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the Bride… From the dreaming stages, my husband and I knew we wanted each piece of our wedding on the lake to be uniquely meaningful. From highlighting our families by placing them on the platform with us, surprising our guests with a show from the Groom’s improv troupe, entertaining the kids with lawn games, creating a family-style table setting, we attempted to create an environment that emphasized what we felt were the key elements of any marriage. The wedding ceremony for us was a celebration of family, community, and faith.

From the beginning, we wanted to maintain a hands-on approach in the design and development of the ceremony and the celebration to follow. We personally created concept sketches, collected each vintage centerpiece, assembled flower arrangements instead of going with a floral boutique, and even built many of the ceremony’s decorative elements. I designed the save the date, the program and other graphic elements, and worked with the lovely Anya’s bridal to personalize my ruched satin and soft organza ruffle wedding gown, deciding to add some sassyness and contrast to it by angling its straight fit and flare silhouette and adding a bridal trim I found on Etsy.

We chose a rustic door as the ceremony centerpiece. This kept our family, community and faith in the forefront because we wanted our new home to have an open-door-policy for all three. My husband, using a painting technique his father taught him, painted and weathered the door with our mint accent color and adorned it with a cross made out of a door handle which we found at an antique store. It only felt natural to include outdoor elements in the design as well, so we created an earthy display for our desserts by having a table top made of planed and varnished sections of tree trunks with wooden barrels for legs. We used salvaged twigs in our DIY flower arrangements, and placed flowers in each bridesmaid’s hairstyle. We kept things fun for our friends and family with the Mongoose Improv show, silly photo booth, gelato and cappucinos, sweet table loaded with delicate desserts created by my aunt and her company Trudle’s Catering, and metallic hand rolled streamers for our send-off. The atmosphere was fun and festive- a perfect blend of the sanctity of the occasion and the camaraderie of those who witnessed it.

We wanted our day to be a unique reflection of our individual personalities and our tastes as a couple as well as to give us the opportunity to highlight and give back to those who have helped make us who we are. This was an opportunity we cherished and, in the end, we think that’s exactly what we got. [dotted]

Photography: Amy Arrington Photography | Venue + Catering: Lake Lanier Islands Resort (Legacy Pointe) | Videographer: J & J Digital Media | Wedding Dress: Anya Bridal | Bridesmaids Dresses: Affordable Bridal | Groomsmen’s Attire: Charme Bridal | Bouquets + Boutonnières: Design House of Flowers | Decor + Floral Arrangements: DIY | Entertainment: Mongoose Improv | Cake: The Baking Grounds | Gelato: Dreamy Gelato & Chocolates | Sweet Table: Trudle’s Catering

Virgil Bunao can do no wrong in my book. The second I see his name alongside a wedding, I get more excited than I care to admit. And it’s because of weddings like this one. Weddings that started with the sweetest of love stories, and then topped off with a fête filled with heart all captured so beautifully I could cry. It’s image after image of pure lovely, and it’s all waiting for you right here.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the Bride… We met on a spring day in 2008 thanks to Duncan, a dog who decided to have an adventure and escape his yard. He went to the park where he found Allie and her dog Bowman. Allie called the number on his tag, Bernard picked up his dog and later that night asked for a date. Not straying far from the theme of adventure, 2 years later Bernard proposed at the summit of Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park.

We share a love for the coast and exploring unique, obscure islands. Allie is a graduate of Clemson and since college she has always wanted an intimate southern wedding. Sapelo, a barrier island in the Emerald Isles, with it’s pristine beaches, towering oak trees, Spanish moss and 19th century R.J. Reynolds mansion was the perfect place to host our wedding. Because our families and friends were coming from all over the U.S, and Bernard’s immediate family from Belgium, we envisioned a place where we could celebrate and be together for an entire weekend. The island proved to have some logistical challenges. It is accessible by ferry only twice a day and is undeveloped with no stores or hotels, however this was a draw for us – we had the place to ourselves! Our families filled the mansion to capacity while the rest of our guests stayed in nearby Hogg Hammock – one of the last remaining Geechee communities in the U.S.
Our wedding took place on April 22nd – Earth Day.

We wanted a DIY wedding that reflected our love for the outdoors, each other and family. Together we crafted almost everything for the big day: summer evenings were spent making blueberry lemon and peach lavender jams, our fingers were stained for days after making welcome bags, hours were spent picking out our font for stationery and even more hours photo-shopping and printing! Props to the groom who even sewed all the table runners and napkins from a piece of linen fabric we liked. Allie’s mom took the role of wedding planner, complete with color-coded folders and her trusty binder. The woman knows how to antique! She tirelessly searched for the gorgeous milk glass and depression glass dishes that decked out our desert bar. Having a DIY wedding made the planning and decision making enjoyable – it was a crash course on a lifetime of compromise and communication.

We wanted the style and feel of our wedding to be simple and natural with a southern twist. The Mansion was the perfect backdrop – the grounds are gorgeous featuring a lagoon pool, old oaks draped with Spanish moss and a patio ornamented with period tiles. The design, architecture and history created the ambiance – all we had to do was add the personalized details. One of the favorites was our take on the “guest book” that Bernard painted using watercolors. We wanted to dress up the mansion’s living room since it was attached to the patio where our reception took place. Three generations of family wedding photos, topiaries and moss-covered monograms added the personal touch we were looking for.

We decided to say our vows in the morning, in front of the pool, under the moss covered oaks and couldn’t have had better luck when it came to avoiding an imminent storm. Guests were seated to an instrumental version of Ella Fitzgerald’s “Dream A Little Dream of Me”. Allie walked down the aisle to her brother singing and playing guitar to Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah” for which he had modified the lyrics for the occasion. The intimate ceremony was officiated by Allie’s campus minister and long time friend, Tim Willis. The reception included fried chicken and other traditional southern sides such as green beans, squash casserole and corn bread. Bellini’s were served for the toasts in honor of Georgia’s peaches and the family’s Italian heritage. Sweet tea was sipped from mason jars. The dessert table included cookies and chocolates hand delivered from Belgium by the Bernard’s parents as well as several cakes, candies and peach cobbler. Guests spent the afternoon playing games on the lawn, hiking the nature trail or combing nearby Nanny Goat Beach for sand dollars. The celebration was capped with a birthday hoedown for the bride in the Mansion’s third floor Circus Room, lasting late into the night.

Our inspiration and goal was all about the intent of creating an intimate island escape weekend for everyone. We wanted to keep it unique to us but at the same time create something everyone could enjoy. In an attempt to stay unique and true to us we made a promise to each other that any idea we found, we would put our own spin on it. One of our favorites was the idea of a directional sign. We wanted to recognize how far everyone traveled to be with us on our wedding day so we made a post that had every state guests traveled from, including the distance in miles from Sapelo Island. We got a lot of compliments on how special it was that we made everything ourselves, and even more “thank-you’s” for such a fun, laid back weekend. That was the best gift we could have received!

Looking back on the weekend, it’s hard to choose a favorite moment. For Allie, walking down the aisle was pretty amazing. She remembers the amount of love and happiness she felt walking toward Bernard while seeing everyone who was there to support and celebrate their new life together. We really enjoyed the toasts as well – it was touching to hear how much thought and love went into the wishes that our guests had for us. Finally, our rehearsal dinner was a great time-we invited everyone who was already on the island for the wedding to the Nanny Goat Beach pavilion and had a traditional low country boil under the stars. Upon returning to the mansion we danced, bowled and played pool in the pirate-themed basement.

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: Virgil Bunao | Wedding Venue + Catering: R.J. Reynolds Mansion | Floral Design: Doodle Bugs Florist | Wedding Cakes: Addy B’s Cakes | Wedding Dress: Galina Signature | Brides Shoes: Kate Spade | Hair + Make-up: Eternity Salon and Day Spa | Groom’s Attire: Calvin Klein | Officiant: Tim Willis | Music: Brandon Slavinski

Tybee Island weddings are insanely beautiful; the kind of insanely beautiful that would compel you to travel from Alaska to Georgia just to hold your “I Do’s” against its sandy beaches, endless blue waters and breathtaking scenery.  In other words, it was the perfect destination locale for these two sweeties who craved an intimate, elegant, joy-filled celebration with their closest friends and family.  See every last gorgeous moment captured amazingly by Amy Arrington in the full gallery.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the bride… This was a destination wedding for everybody involved, for us included. Neither of us had been to Tybee Island before, and all of the planning was done through email; lots of email! I chose the chapel for its beauty and simplicity. It was a blank canvas we could do whatever we wanted with, or nothing at all. Coming all the way from Alaska, I wanted to keep it simple. My mom made our cutting cake, and we tied the bouquets ourselves the day before. Decorations were kept to a minimum, to highlight the simple elegance of the chapel. We chose the colors aqua, mint, peach and coral, and my dress and accessories to create a modern vintage feel to the day. It was a beautiful, intimate, joy-filled celebration! I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

My favorite memory of the day was our first look, walking up to Sean on the boardwalk and tapping him on the shoulder. The look on his face when he saw me in my dress for the first time. The accumulation of months of planning and stress just fell away. The rest of the day flew by, but it felt as if time had slowed during that moment.

Our wedding was a week-long vacation for our family and closest friends. Family played a big role in our celebration. My brother performed the ceremony, and Sean’s sister read a passage from the children’s book, “I Like You.” My niece was an adorable flower girl, she was on the dance floor the whole night.

Our guestbook was the hardest item to choose. We shopped the day before the wedding to find something that was really us, and the whale was perfect! We met while working as deckhands on a whale watch tour boat in Sean’s hometown of Seward.

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: Amy Arrington Photography | Wedding Venue: Tybee Island Wedding Chapel | Day of Coordinator: Raven with Everlasting Occasions | Catering: Savannah Event Catering | Cakes: Mother of the Bride + Fresh Market | Flowers: Sam’s Club | DJ: All About You Entertainment | Hair + Makeup: Beyond Beautiful by Heather  | Wedding Dress: Alfred Angelo, Modern Vintage Collection | Shoes: Mojo Moxy | Groomsmen’s Attire: Calvin Klein

There’s really nothing better than an entire weekend of festivities to celebrate your wedding. And this adorable couple got things started off in quite the unique way with a surprise murder-mystery rehearsal dinner. Talk about a fabulous way to break the ice and get everyone involved. TAKEN Photography captured all the beautiful details of this pretty destination wedding at Tybee Island Wedding Chapel. Be sure to meet us in the gallery for more.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Tybee Island Wedding Chapel… Courtney and Ryan planned their destination wedding for Tybee Island, Georgia. This amazing couple planned an entire weekend for their guests. The weekend began as the Rehearsal dinner was hosted on Tybee Island’s vintage 1960’s pier. The pier stretched out over the Atlantic ocean provided the back drop for the surprise murder-mystery dinner that the couple planned! 

Courtney and Ryan’s wedding ceremony took place inside the Tybee Island Wedding Chapel. As guests poured into the sanctuary, Courtney relaxed in the Bridal suite. The Bridal suite overlooks the entrance to The Chapel, were she eagerly watched her guests arrival. After the Ceremony, the new Mr. and Mrs. escaped to the Atlantic beach for some romantic photo opportunities. Meanwhile, their guests enjoyed cocktail hour on the patio of The Chapel. Guests were served hand passed hors d’oeuvres.

The reception dinner was served in the Chapel lounge by Paula Deen’s restaurant, Lady and Sons. After a few speeches and blessings, the guests were escorted back into the main sanctuary of the Tybee Island Wedding Chapel. The sanctuary had been converted into the second part of the reception. The Wedding cake was a classic creation with a unique spin. The words airbrushed on the cake are the lyrics of the song “Crazy Love” by the band Pepper, and it is the song that Ryan proposed to Courtney to during a concert in Atlanta.  The design was created by TEKST Artist who worked with the couple and Tier Luxury Cakes when creating the picture.

Wedding Photography: Alicja Colon from TAKEN Photography / Wedding Venue: Tybee Island Wedding Chapel / Event Planning: First City Events / Floral Design: Urban Poppy Designs / Officiant: Reverend Steve Schulte / Catering: Paula Deen’s The Lady and Sons / Cake: TIER Luxury Cakes / Hair + Makeup: Dollface by Jules / Hair: ONY Salon

What is it about live oak trees that makes us all weak in the knees just thinking about them? Seriously, are they not the most perfect environment to say your I Do’s in? Not only was this wedding super pretty and filled with adorable details like hand made cornhole boards and bags adorned with the bride and groom’s silhouettes, it also looks like it was one heck of a party judging from these images by Jade + Matthew Take Pictures. See it all right here.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

Samantha and Jacob had three important criteria for their Georgia farm wedding. First, a beautiful outdoor open setting. Second, good food and amazing drinks! And third, personal touches throughout. Dunham Farms, located in Sunbury, Georgia, was the most beautiful venue. Set right on a marsh, with a horse, and huge live oaks everywhere. It is completely unique, private and so, so elegant. The farm has distinct locations for each part of your day, so guests were able to move from the ceremony (tucked among the live oak trees), to the cocktail hour (overlooking the marsh), to the reception (in an open field by the poolhouse). It made each piece of the day feel even more special than the last and gave guests the opportunity to see different parts of the farm. Because the food was important to the couple, they chose Cha Bella catering (on a recommendation from Andrea, the owner/lead designer at Gray Harper Event Maker). Everything was delicious, and guests enjoyed smoked oysters, shrimp and grits, and locally sourced cheese and honey to name a few.

Andrea worked very closely with Sam on a variety of projects for the wedding. First, Andrea created an adorable ceremony backdrop using ribbon and tissue paper; this was so important to Sam, and she had mentioned it at their very first meeting. Andrea and Sam spent months collecting and wrapping old jars with yard, ribbon and thread. In the end, over 300 jars were used throughout the entire wedding. The groom’s family made the cornhole boards, while Andrea sewed up the sacks using silhouettes of the bride and groom, which the bride designed herself. The centerpieces were a collection of burlap-covered, cylindrical vases, vintage beer cans, succulents and flowers, all put together by the wedding party.

Wedding Photography: Jade + Matthew Take Pictures / Wedding Venue: Dunham Farms in Sunbury, Georgia / Event Design + Planning: Gray Harper Event Maker / Bouquets + Boutonnieres: Urban Poppy / Centerpieces: Gray Harper Event Maker + Bridal Party / Catering: Cha-Bella / Desserts: M Sweet Desserts / Wedding Invitations: DIY by the Families of the Bride & Groom / Lighting: JLK Events / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang via Bleubelle Bridal

Engagement sessions are some of my most favorite images of the wedding experience and I think I’ve pinned down just why I adore them so. It’s all about the love, people! Every image is solely focused on the couple and their love. And that simple concept is just what makes this engagement session from Timwill Photography so essentially wonderful. It could also be that to die for Badgley Mischka gown and you can see all its glittery goodness in the gallery here.

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From the Bride… After six years of dating, Will proposed to me in March 2012 in the sparkliest way possible. We were taking photographs after a wine tasting in Napa, when Will handed me a bottle of Schramsberg sparkling wine with his proposal etched in gold on the bottle, along with a beautiful, three-stone sparkler! We had talked previously about getting married either in the California wine country or at the historic Ford Plantation in Georgia, a very special place to us. Since our engagement took place in Napa, we knew The Ford Plantation would be the site for our wedding. We opted for a fall wedding, so we chose to shoot our engagement photo session at Ford in October to get a sense of what our wedding day would be like. Our incredible photographer, Tim Willoughby, captured the beauty of the location exquisitely. We incorporated our proposal story in the shoot and celebrated by popping open a bottle of Schramsberg. The result, was a fun, sparkly, very “us” experience. Tim has left us more eager than ever for October 2013!

Photography: Tim Willoughby of Timwill Photography / Venue: The Ford Plantation in Richmond Hill, Georgia /  Event Planning: Caroline Carter Events / Champagne: Schramsberg / Blanket: Pendleton Woolen Mills / Bride’s Gold Dress: Badgley Mischka “Screen Siren Gown” via Rent the Runway

There’s vintage weddings and then there’s this wedding by The Vine Floral & Event Design. It’s authentically vintage from the pretty color palette of creams, greens, peaches and lavender to the bride’s vintage lace gown, also worn by her mother on her wedding day. Oh, and did we mention that the bride planned the entire day too? She sure does know a thing or two about putting the chic in vintage. Twin Hearts Photography snapped up all the pretty and you can see all the rest right here.

Don’t miss this fab film by Twin Hearts Photography:

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From The Vine Floral & Event Design… This beautiful bride truly upheld the meaning of vintage. She wore her mother’s lace gown and chose a color palette of cream, antique green, pale peach, gray and lavender that oozed vintage, Victorian beauty. They chose a riverfront setting for the reception and Wesley United Methodist Church for the ceremony. A gospel choir serenaded the congregation as Beth’s father walked her down the aisle to meet Josh. By entering by gondola on the river, Beth and Josh greeted their guests by offering a CHEERS! from below. Because Beth works for both a floral design company, The Vine, and an event designer, Caroline Carter Events, she chose to take on the task of planning her wedding herself! She chose white and blush garden roses, ranunculus, anemones, caramel roses and lavender roses and cream and white stock.

Wedding Photography + Cinematography: Twin Hearts Photography / Ceremony: Wesley United Methodist Church at Frederica in Sea Island, Georgia / Reception: Frederica Boathouse in Sea Island, Georgia / Event Planning: The Bride / Floral + Event Design: The Vine Floral & Event Design / Ceremony Choir: Music by Pegge / Band: The Bo Henry Band / Wedding Dress: The Bride’s Mother’s

This amazing Tybee Island fete was planned by the bride in just three short months! And for all you planning a wedding, you now that is no easy task! She quickly chose her color scheme of blue and ivory after finding tons of vintage blue mason jars that would soon house tea lights and set the stage for a romantic beach inspired soiree. Tea Olive Photography captured all the pretty, handmade details and there’s tons more gorgeousness happening right here in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Ever since I was a little girl, my mom and I have been going to craft shows in the Southeast. The fall was always a time full of weekend-long festivals. We loved to browse and look at all the creative ideas, but in the end, we would never buy a thing because we would always say, “We can make that.” Our bravado was put to the test this past summer, after my fiancé and I decided our school schedules were going to be too hectic in the fall, so we needed to move our wedding date up from October to July. This meant planning an entire wedding from April to July 19th. Daniel and I both love the beach, so we decided to get married back at Tybee Island, Georgia, where we first got engaged one year before. I also love the South, so my mother and I set our sights on finding that perfect blend of Southern and Sun. To start our southern style-wedding project, we went on the hunt for blue vintage mason jars to serve as our candle holders/centerpieces. Finding these proved to be the deciding factor in choosing our wedding colors, and blue and ivory became our official palette.

Since Daniel is such a huge Georgia Bulldog fan, we decided to use this as the theme of the groom’s cake. I made small flags out of Georgia-printed material for the backdrop and a small “G” emblem from a sports shop for the top. For the last cake, mom wanted to add initials, so she painted the wooden initials, added rhinestones and glued Popsicle sticks to the back to stick them in the cake. On this same table, we decided to do a candy buffet in blue and ivory colors and bought tags to identify the types of candy. From the same vendor, I received a candy buffet sign and a sign for my wishing tree. I thought it was a good idea to get wishes and advice from our guests at the wedding so we made a wishing tree. We took a vase and added LED lighted branches from Hobby Lobby and used tea-stained tags from Etsy for people to write down their words of wisdom. We added blue ribbons to hang the tags to the tree. The centerpieces for the tables were a collection of things that I liked.  We found beautiful, large iron lanterns that held three tea-light candles, and we used mirrors in the bottom to reflect the light. We sat the lanterns on top of Spanish moss, which reminded me of the trees in Savannah. We added starfish on top of the moss to bring in the beach feel and added two mason jars on to each side that had a tiny bouquet of baby’s breath. I gave Daniel the job of hanging café bulbs that I found at Target to give the reception a warm feel. The last touch to the tables was a thank you written on cardstock from a vendor on Etsy that expressed gratitude to our guests for making the journey to our wedding. We are proud to say, “we did it ourselves.”

Wedding Photography: Tea Olive Photography / Wedding Venue: Tybee Island Wedding Chapel in Tybee Island, Georgia / Floral Design: Kato Floral Designs / Event Coordination: Ray Anaya of Tybee Island Wedding Chapel / Event Design: Katie + Sherry Hill (The Bride + Her Mother) / Catering: Barnes Catering / Invitations: Wide Eyes Design / Wedding Cake: Boll Weevil Cafe and Sweetery / Burlap: Flowers by Viv in Jasper, Georgia / Paper Wisteria + Decor: DIY / Wedding Dress: Tara Keely via La’ren Belle Bridal Boutique / Bride’s Ceremony Shoes: Michael Kors / Bride’s Reception Shoes: TOMS / Hair + Makeup: Beyond Beautiful by Heather / Bride’s Necklace: Brass Boheme / Groom’s Suit: J.Crew “Ludlow” in Wheat

Peanut butter and jelly, ice cream and hot fudge and St. Simons Island and downright magical weddings.  All things that are totally meant to be.  Case in point?  This stop-you-in-your-tracks Villa de Suenos affair captured by Meghan Stewart Photography.  Equal parts seriously elegant and DIY fabulous, it’s the kind of soiree that will take.your.breath away one uber-glamorous moment at a time… all while filling your day with some serious happy.  Care to join me in the gallery for all of the pretty? Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… I loved planning every detail of our wedding day. I wanted the day that Joey and I had looked forward to for so long to be meaningful and timeless with a vintage, romantic style. We live in Kentucky but chose to have the ceremony and reception at Villa de Suenos in St. Simons Island, Georgia. It is a gorgeous, Mediterranean-style beach house with great ocean views and beautiful architecture. We invited only our closest family and friends.

The décor was a huge DIY project by my mom’s best friend. The colors I chose were pink and gold, and we added a lot of lace, crystal and brass accents. The flowers were mainly roses, but she also used hydrangeas, peonies and ranunculus. She created a beautiful floral backdrop for the wedding ceremony, flower balls that hung from the ceiling of the pavilion and several other beautiful floral accents. The centerpieces were tall floral arrangements in antique brass candelabras and beautifully-decorated boxes that my mother made. Several of our family members contributed making our wedding day meaningful.  One of my aunts married us. My great-grandfather, who could not be at the ceremony, recorded a very special prayer that was played during the ceremony. My mother-in-law made her homemade peach preserves for all of the guests. Another one of my aunts made the ring bearer’s pillow using a lace handkerchief that my mom bought in Venice, Italy. And yet another of my aunts did my hair and makeup.

It rained on our wedding day, so we had to have the ceremony under the pavilion instead of in the yard as originally planned. I had worried for months that it would rain and ruin the whole day, but it actually turned out perfect! The ceremony was so intimate under the pavilion. Joey and I felt like we were the only people in the room. It was a wonderful feeling! The day turned out to be more wonderful than I had ever imagined. Now Joey and I can look back at the breathtaking photos by our photographer Meaghan Stewart and remember this day forever.

Wedding Photography: Meghan Stewart Photography / Wedding Venue: Villa de Suenos in St. Simons Island, Georgia / Floral Design: Janie Tomek, A Family Friend / Officiant: An Aunt of the Bride / Catering + Wedding Cake: Straton Hall / Wedding Invitations: Beacon Lane / DJ: Joe Willie Sousa / Ring Bearer’s Pillow: An Aunt of the Bride / Peach Preserve Favors: The Mother of the Groom / Rentals: Beachview Tent Rentals / Wedding Dress: Lazaro via Bridal and Formal / Bride’s Shoes: Pour La Victoire / Hair + Makeup: An Aunt of the Bride / Groom’s Suit: Calvin Klein

Nothing gets my heart fluttering quite like this sophisticated, stylish Sea Island wedding by Brooke Roberts Photography. All of the elements at play, like the classic floral arrangements and mouthwatering cake by Sea Island, are right on point.  I keep going back for one more glance of the The Cloister at Sea Island ceremony location – pure beauty! There’s more to love in the full gallery here. 

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/47871919?byline=0&portrait=0 600 338]

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Brooke Roberts Photography… This event was a wedding weekend rather than just a wedding day. Tanja and Chris planned a three-day celebration for their families and guest that included a river cruise, fishing trips for the men, spa treatments for the women, a beach-side welcome party and cocktails, a stunning outside ceremony, a jaw-dropping reception and a sparkler fountain grand exit.

When looking for the perfect location to hold their wedding, Tanja made appointments at four of the finest venues the east coast had to offer. Sea Island was the first on her list to visit, and after driving up to the Cloister, she told her family they could cancel the other appointments — this was the venue. When walking through the garden with the Sea Island wedding team, they listed all of the wonderful details the wedding could include, and she said that they had her when they mentioned they could hang crystal chandeliers from the trees. Tanja’s inspiration for her wedding design was soft elegance. She wanted feminine touches without being too girlie or stuffy. Using a mixture of baby’s breath, delicate pale pink and cream roses and peonies to decorate the arch for the ceremony, the theme was carried through to the bouquets and table centerpieces.

The river cruise was held the first night for family and the wedding party as a fun and relaxed icebreaker event. The Cloister has it’s own beautifully restored 71-foot vintage yacht, The Cloister Belle. Everyone enjoyed drinks and hors d’oeuvres while relaxing in the warm summer breeze, accompanied by dolphins swimming at the boats bow. The evening before the wedding, as more guests arrived, Tanja and Chris’s families hosted a welcome party at Sea Island’s Beach Club overlooking the water. Set up on the ocean terrace under strands of glowing white paper lanterns, everyone was treated to an array of mouth-watering desserts, cocktails and music from a Jimmy Buffet-style band.

For the main event, Sea Islands event team had designed a ceremony site fit for a fairytale. In the glorious Cloister Garden, set under towering oaks hung with crystal chandeliers, was a green lawn filled with white chairs, the baby’s breath arch and an aisle decorated with cream rose petals and crystal candelabras. After the ceremony, guests were escorted to the Cloister Black Banks Terrace overlooking the tidal river and marsh to enjoy drinks before dinner. They mingled on the grand terrace that was decorated with large potted trees and watched as the sun set in the south Georgia summer sky. The final stage for the wedding celebration was perhaps the most elegant as the party moved into the Cloister Club Room. This glittering ballroom with massive crystal chandeliers opens up to yet another outdoor terrace that was also decorated with soft furnishings so that guest could mingle both inside and out. And for their grand exit, Tanja and Chris left in Sea Island style with a stream of sparklers that lined the long Cloister drive.

Wedding Photography: Brooke Roberts Photography / Wedding Venue: The Cloister at Sea Island in Sea Island, Georgia / Event Planning, Floral + Event Design: Sea Island / Wedding Cinematography: iMint Media / Wedding Cake: Sea Island / Wedding Invitations: Salutations / Wedding Dress: Unknown / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Hair + Makeup: Stephanie Adams + Ashley Edenfield / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale / Men’s Attire: Zegna

Dreams of a Caribbean wedding quickly changed once this adorable couple saw the beauty of Sea Island. Their wedding is the perfect expression of all the elements they wanted to infuse like nature, comfort and style. They used the gorgeous oak trees as inspiration for their reception and just wait til you see all the pretty, pretty flowers! Sarah DeShaw captured each and every beautiful moment and there’s even more right here!

From the Bride… Mike and I are the perfect complement to each other. We met working at the New York City Economic Development Corporation together back in 2005. Our journey together has taken us from our workplace to Chicago and back to New York, where we settled in Brooklyn. We’ve been in Park Slope, Brooklyn since 2008.

When we first got engaged, we were planning on having a Caribbean wedding but quickly changed gears to embrace a more domestic yet still tropical locale. The Cloister at Sea Island was the best of both worlds. It had everything we needed for our guests to feel swept away but yet was still close enough to home. Once we decided on Sea Island, everything just flowed from there. At the invitation shop a beautiful ivory piece just jumped off the wall for me. I fell in love with the mossy green tree that was its motif. That tree, just like the ones our guests would travel under as they approached the resort, became our inspiration. It represented everything we wanted our wedding to be. Natural, inviting and beautiful. Expanding on that, Sea Island is surrounded not only by ocean and palm trees, but also lush, green lawns and large oak trees. We tried to incorporate moss green and chocolate brown throughout our wedding design. For the flowers, we used a cascade of beautiful spring flowers including peonies, ranunculus and, for a pop of color, blush pink roses. For the altar swag, we incorporated a lot of green and blush pinks in our flowers. We also used many, many candles throughout the reception to soften the lighting. I wanted everything to just glow!

When guests started arriving in Georgia, we wanted them to feel at home. So we treated them to a little of that famous Southern hospitality and some amazing BBQ, of course! The night set the tone for an inviting weekend. On the day of the wedding, we woke up to some rain clouds in the sky but were lucky enough to have it stay dry long enough for us to get married in the amazingly picturesque garden. It was my dream come true. At the reception, guests danced the night away in a softly-lit room with French doors that looked directly out to the ocean. Everyone dined on local cuisine and topped the night off with a beautiful cake with two intertwined chocolate birds on top! My favorite. It was the perfect Georgia night…

Wedding Photography: Sarah DeShaw / Wedding Venue: Sea Island in Sea Island, Georgia / Wedding Planning: Danielle Elder of Classic Events NYC / Floral + Event Design: Sea Island / Wedding Stationery: Lion in the Sun / Ceremony Music: Music by Pegge / Music: Island Sound Live / Favors: Georgia Peach Cookies via Byrd Cookie Company / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Bride’s Shoes: Butter / Bride’s Earrings: Ippolita / Rings: David S. Diamonds / Hair: Steve Steve Hightower Hair Artists’ Studio / Makeup: Katherine Taylor / Groom’s Attire: His Own / Rehearsal Dinner Catering: Southern Soul Barbecue / Post Wedding Brunch Catering: Thyme It Right

While putting this lovely post together, I noticed a huge goofy grin forming on my face. Because this couple just gets it. Not to mention their day was what dreams are made of. You can totally tell that they enjoyed every minute of their drop-dead gorgeous day, and their joy just seeps through all the breathtaking images by LeeAnn Ritch Photography. How can you not smile about that? See it all here!

From LeeAnn Ritch Photography… An elegant, timeless and breathtaking wedding for couple who owns the amazing Tybee Island Social Club on Tybee Island, Georgia. From the gorgeousness of the couple to their incredible appreciation for design, the water and great food and wine, it was perfect. The lunch lasted over two hours and was “European style”… no rush, simply enjoying fine wines poured with each course and great company. Elegant and beach chic summed this up. And did I mention that Kurtis is a great musician who serenaded Sarah as well? Romantic? Absolutely. Truly one of the most lovely weddings I had had the honor to shoot.

From the Bride… The menu was constructed with our love of food and wine in mind, along with Kurt’s Kentucky heritage and me being a Georgia peach. Several passed appetizers, such as bacon pimento cheese, seared tuna on cucumber, and watermelon and roasted grape tomato skewers garnished with mint were offered to guests as they arrived, along with Social’s white sangria. We knew we wanted to embrace our backgrounds through our menu, which began with an amuse-bouche consisting of root vegetable soup shooters with thyme butter-poached lobster, paired with Domaine Les grands Bois 2011 Cotes du Rhone Rose. The first course was a Caprese salad with mixed greens, fresh mozzerella, vine-ripened tomatoes, bleu cheese, fresh basil, and caramelized onions, finished with a balsamic glaze and paired with Henri Bourgeois Quincy 2006 Haute Victoire. An interim course of strawberry moscato sorbet with a chiffonade of mint was followed by the main course of roasted, local grouper with artichoke hearts, Meyer lemon, shitake tarragon bourbon butternut squash mash paired with Chateau Coupe Roses Minervois 2010 la Bastide. Jalapeno and corn hushpuppies with maple butter were also on the table. Our cake was a Kentucky bourbon and Georgia praline cheesecake. For the Southern Coastal Social Friday night, we served suckling pig, roasted oysters, tempura haricots verts, bacon and herb potato salad, Social’s famous crab stew, stuffed mushrooms and a few other appetizers, along with Social’s red sangria and famous fresh-squeezed lime margaritas. Sunday brunch consisted of quiches, whole hams, pastries, mimosas and Social’s bacon bloody marys.

Wedding Photography: LeeAnn Ritch Photography / Ceremony: Lovely Lane Chapel on St. Simons Island, Georgia / Reception: A Private Estate on Jekyll Island, Georgia / Event Planning, Floral + Event Design: DIY / Catering: FORM / Wedding Invitations: Number Four Eleven / Wedding Dress: Jim Hjelm / Bride’s Shoes: Borrowed from a Friend / Men’s Attire: Marc by Marc Jacobs

What do you get when you combine one VERY stunning Georgia backdrop, a breathtaking bride and groom and an adorable Columbus Day theme?  Well, lovelies.  You get this ogle-worthy Jekyll Island Club affair by the oh-so-talented Agnes Lopez Photography and, WOW, is it amazing.  Yep, an entire bundle of nautical goodness is coming your way, including sweet seahorse table numbers, a plethora of “Old World” touches and charming pink and blue hues.  All planned to absolute perfection by Nancy Hillis of Romantic Weddings of Savannah by Nancy, trust me, Columbus Day never looked so good.  Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Agnes of Agnes Lopez Photography… Lauren and Troy came down from Charlotte to have their wedding in an outdoor ceremony on the lawn at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel’s Crane Cottage. They incorporated a bevy of amazing details for their Columbus Day-themed wedding, from floral seahorses and wooden ships to compasses that served as place cards. And that wasn’t all — the attention to detail extended all from the bride’s brooch and seahorse bouquet to the way to the cuff links, belts, and nautical map fabric that lined the inside of the custom suit jackets that Troy and his groomsmen wore.

From the Bride… After much discussion over having a summer wedding, we decided to marry in October and not subject our guests from up north to the summer heat in South Georgia. We also wanted to marry on a holiday weekend, but not a busy one such as Labor Day. Not everyone had that following Monday off, but this way, any of our out of town guests who did have the day off and wanted stay an extra day could do so without having to miss work or school. So, that is really how our date came to be October 8th, 2011 which was Columbus Day weekend!

Growing up in Savannah, Georgia, I have always been fond of everything nautical, but I thought the month of October was too much in the fall to do a summer-themed wedding. For me, I definitely had to have a “theme” in order to pull it all together, and with our wedding being on Columbus Day weekend, I could still have my nautical themed wedding and not feel so weird because summer was over! Now, I didn’t want anything too beachy — no sea shells or sand. I wanted everything to be “Old World” style and very traditional. So, my first thought was of the old Tall Ships, compasses and old world maps. Those were the main things that made me think Christopher Columbus! After racking my brain and searching all over the internet for “Old World” items, I decided that it was all becoming way too masculine and I needed to add some more feminine touches. I then decided to change our colors from navy and cream to navy and pink, and I incorporated the seahorses as a whimsical touch. I searched for anything and everything that would go with our theme, from the old world map lining in the men’s custom suit jackets to the small seahorse figure on my dog’s custom made navy and pink hair bow… and everything in between! I went all out with my “Columbus Day” theme, and it began with our save-the-dates that read, “Please join us Columbus Day Weekend, as we set off for a new world together.”

Wedding Photography: Agnes Lopez Photography / Wedding Venue: Crane Cottage at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel in Jekyll Island, Georgia / Wedding Planning +  Flowers: Nancy Hillis of Romantic Weddings of Savannah by Nancy / Floral Design, Ship Arrangements, Carnation Seahorses + Seahorse Table Numbers: Nancy Hillis of Romantic Weddings of Savannah by Nancy / Music: Cloud 9 / Wedding Invitations + Save-the-Dates: beyonddesign / Wedding Programs: Sweet Talk Designs / Compass Escort “Cards”: Laura Hooper Calligraphy / Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanca / Bride’s Belt: Desla Couture via J. Majors Bridal Boutique / Pearl Hair Clip: J. Majors Bridal Boutique / Custom Rhinestone and Pearl-Covered Heels + Clutch Purse: Alibaba.com / Bride’s Other Shoes: Prada with Customized DIY Lace + Details / Brooch Bouquet: Noaki / Makeup: Jackie Neal / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Sung / Bridesmaids’ Necklaces, Bracelets and Earrings: Miss Annie May / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Nordstrom / Men’s Custom Suit Jackets: Astor & Black / Custom Cuff Links: Cozad Sundry Fine Art Atelier / Belt Buckles: bmused / Belts: Orion Leather Co. / Men’s Shoes: Johnston & Murphy / Rhinestone Seahorse Buckles for Napkins + Bridesmaids’ Bouquets: Rhinestone Jewelry Corporation / Guest Book, Matching Pen Holder + Tiered Cake Card Box: LoveNotes / Dog’s “Flower Girl” Dress + Matching Leash: Pampered Pup N Stuff / Custom Navy and Pink Dog Bows: Val’s Diva Do’s / “I DO” Shoe Stickers: YourHappilyEverAfter / Laser-Cut Seahorse Favor Boxes: KatBluStudio / Sixpence for Bridal Shoes: Mon Amour Boutique / “Bride” Silk Robe: Victoria’s Secret / Welcome Box Stickers: iDoArtsyWeddings / Bride’s Welcome Dinner Dress: Sherri Hill via Poffie Girls

This coastal Georgia engagement party is so rustic-chic, charming, eclectic and down right cute, I totally wish I could live in it. You heard me. Jump right into my computer screen and live my life surrounded by beautiful, warm florals, sweet little ponies, delicious food and wine, and the coziest home I’ve ever seen. Pineapple Productions sent this charming party our way, and I so can’t wait to see the wedding to follow this fantastic affair. Any couple that can dream this soiree up is full of style and is bound to have a killer wedding. Click here for the full image gallery!

The entire affair was captured brilliantly by Laura Ciociola.

From Pineapple Productions … The party began with cocktails under a grand live oak tree.  Spanish moss and lanterns made from vines hung from the trees as guests sipped bourbon punch served in silver trophy julep cups collected by Jamie.  Award winning artisan cheeses from Thomasville, Georgia’s own Sweet Grass Dairy were served on a collection of rustic wood platters.

Meanwhile, young children of guests fed carrots to a miniature pony and had their own picnic on a colorful quilt.  Paper pom poms hung from the tree over their quilt and were also placed whimsically on the grass.  Each child received their own picnic basket with wax paper wrapped peanut butter sandwiches, Late July cheese crackers, Zapp’s chips and organic apples.  Homemade spring strawberry punch was their drink of choice — as well as for some of the adults!

For the adults, two dinner tables were set with china collected from the cabinets of friends and family members.  The result was an eclectic but elegant mix of old and new finery that balanced well with the rustic and natural setting of the plantation.  Lauren used the natural surroundings as inspiration for her table designs.  For the dining room table, she created a breathtaking runner of moss and then accented it with vines, mushrooms and lichens she gathered from the property.  Jamie interspersed the narrowest of pillar candles with bendy parrot tulips for an effortless look.  A rustic wood chandelier draped with more vines hung from above.

The table on the screened in porch was set with an entirely different look.  A more styled arrangement  of gorgeous golden orange calla lilies mixed well with vintage table chandeliers and grass green goblets.  On the nearby coffee table, Lauren placed a precious hornet’s nest and around it artfully arranged touches of moss, cotton, lichens and vines.  It became the conversation piece of the night!

Dinner began with curried zucchini soup with lemon creme fraiche, followed by a salad with mixed baby greens and fried heirloom green tomatoes.  For the entree, caterer Jeanie Bracey served local quail stuffed with jalapeno over white cheddar grits.  Dessert was the ever popular s’mores around a nightime campfire.  This dressed up version involved artisan dark and milk chocolate “daisies” as well as tiny glasses of port and flutes of Strawberry Kir Royale.

During the party, guests were invited to write messages to the future bride and groom and to attach their words with clothespins to an oldfashioned birdcage that became a gift to the couple.  As guests departed, they were sent off with luxurious herbal and floral bath soaps, chocolate covered pecans and potted succulents.

Event Planning and Styling: Lauren Lanigan Davis and Jamie West, Pineapple Productions / Photography: Laura Ciociola / Catering: Jeanie Bracey, Thomasville, GA / Artisan Cheeses: Sweet Grass Dairy / Specialty Chocolates: Relish / Attire: Kevin’s of Thomasville / Decor: Nest / Soap Favors: Lavish / Accessories: Mimi’s / Florals: Ram Singletary, Singletary’s / Tabletop China: My Favorite Things / Invitations and Creative Paper: Polly Parker, Baker & Lu