Georgia Weddings

We’ve got quite the double dose of Southern style for you here today! Not only do we get a peek into the colorful engagement shoot for these two cuties but we get to dive wholeheartedly into their classic “I do’s” at the stunning Cloister on Sea Island later today. Amy Arrington captured both special sessions and we’re oh so grateful she did! To kick start our special day, let’s love on this sweet e-shoot among the Spanish moss right this way…

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From the Bride-to-be… Charles and I met about 10 years before we started dating. We met while we were at University of Southern California (Go Trojans!) when I decided to join the golf club, and he was the President recruiting new members. We had a lot of friends in common but just never connected in more than a friendly way during our years at college. Fast forward to 2012, I found myself back in LA and realized that Charles and I only lived eight blocks from each other in Manhattan Beach. We started hanging out as friends after realizing that we had so much in common, including our love of airplanes in particular. We started dating in May 2013, and just eight months later, I got offered my dream job in New York. Needless to say, we traveled long distance for the next three years, flying back and forth between LA and New York, and only missed a handful of weekends together. It was tough, but he was definitely worth the red eye trips back to New York! Because of my job, we got to travel a lot and had some amazing experiences together. We went to Norway in January and saw the Northern Lights, flew to Ireland to play golf for Charles’ birthday, and hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu for my birthday. We’ve had some amazing adventures!

We knew that we wanted to have our engagement pictures in Sea Island, Georgia because that is where we would get married. Charles grew up going to Sea Island with his family, and they always spent important holidays there together. Charles’ parents actually went to Sea Island on their honeymoon, and while riding around the beach on bikes picked out houses they wanted to own (as we all do in amazing places in the world.) Mr. Ralston ended up buying one of the houses they saw a few years later and they have it to this day.

A year into dating, Charles brought me to Sea Island to spend Easter with his family. I remember immediately falling in love with the Spanish moss hanging from the live oaks; it seemed to be the perfect combination of romance and Southern heritage. There are some beautiful golf courses down as well, and because we are both golfers, it was never hard for his parents to get us out to the island for a weekend. Sea Island is such a special place that has a lot of Ralston family history associated with it. It’s not just a beautiful place, but a place that has a lot of deep rooted meaning with our family.

We had pictures taken on the Avenue of the Oaks, a beautiful long drive on the way into The Lodge, part of The Cloister. The Lodge has ruins from the colonial era that we used as a really beautiful backdrop. We then went and took pictures at a secret driveway on the island (I can’t tell the location though!!) and at Charles’ house. The engagement scene was really wonderful because working with Amy and Brandon was so easy. They have the kindest of hearts and are just a joy to be around. They put you at ease the second you start talking to them, and you barely notice when they start snapping away! Our session was during the 4th of July weekend, and it was of course SO hot and humid the day of our photos (like any good Southern summer day). It rained in the morning but the silver lining to that was that we had a beautiful rainbow over the ocean when we took pictures at Charles’ house.

Photography: Amy Arrington Photography

Sometimes all you need is a the tiniest touch of color is all you need to completely transform your wedding palette, and for this sweet St. Simon’s celebration a little pop of teal did just the trick. See all the pretty through Kylie Martin’s lens and head to the The Vault to keep the color crushing going.

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From Kylie Martin Photography…Katie and Kyle gathered their friends and family on the beautiful island of St. Simon on a warm summer afternoon. Katie’s personality and hand were involved in every immaculate detail of the day. They created a relaxed environment filled with beautiful tones and intricate details. The color palette played off of the giant trees that cascade over the venue property. The primary focus of their day was to create lasting memories and beautiful experience from start to finish for their guests. The day was filled with stunning light and laughter with friends and the evening was spent dancing to a live band as the sun set over the marsh. Katie and Kyle created a day full of love that was an absolute reflection of them as a couple, by focusing on the experience they were able to enjoy their day and absorb it fully.

Photography: Kylie Martin Photography | Wedding Dress: Casablanca | Invitations: Katie Hammock | Bride's Shoes: Tibi New York | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Show Me Your Mumu | Hair + Makeup: Xada Rae Baxter | Venue: Captain's Bluff St. Simon Island | Film Processing: PhotoVision Prints | Photography - Assistance: Tulle Grace

This couple is adorable.  And not just because they happen to be college sweethearts with one of the cutest proposal stories you’ll ever read (seriously).  No, they also happen to be a duo that just glows with happiness.  A stunning couple who just can’t stop smiling, can’t stop hugging and can’t stop laughing with an energy that will brighten your entire Thursday.  See their entire e-session captured by Sarah DeShaw right here in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… James and I are fortunate enough to have met our freshman year of college. We remained friends until love struck and we started dating our senior year. New Year’s Eve 2012, we decided just the two of us would spend New Year’s Eve together. After a rainy day of hiking the trails along the Guadalupe River, we got dressed up for a “fancy” Tex-Mex dinner at the local spot. We bought fireworks from a stand on the way back to the cabin. After shooting them all, James said he had one more surprise firework in the car. When he came back, he had a little box instead and got down on one knee! The whole night was filled with the sound of fireworks in the distance and champagne in our glasses. We ended up dancing the night away at a local New Year’s Eve dance and having the best time!

James has grown up vacationing in St. Simons and we knew this would be a meaningful place to take some wonderful shots. Sarah DeShaw Photography could not have been a better fit for us. We were able to take photos at Lovely Lane Chapel, Avenue of the Oaks, and conclude with sunset on East Beach. We had so much fun and made sure to incorporate our NYE engagement with a champagne toast on the beach. We can’t wait for the big day this April!

Photographer: Sarah DeShaw Photography | Beach: East Beach | Bride's Polka Dot Dress: J.Crew | Grounds: Lovely Lane Chapel | Grounds: Avenue of the Oaks | Location: St. Simons Island

I’m a true believer that a little dusting of rain makes any wedding day just that much better.  A bit more dreamy, a bit more cozy and a bit more romantic.  Not that these two St. Simons sweeties need any help in the romance department, because after literally growing up together (they met at the age of 10) and spending their teens and early 20’s as “just friends,” they realized that the “comfort” they had always felt with one another was more than that… it was true love, instead.  And to celebrate their meant-to-be? Well, they enlisted the help of Darryl Wiseman Flowers, EastCoast Entertainment and LeeAnn Ritch Photography, a team sure to take any dreams and turn them into reality.  See it all in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… Nick and I met at the age of 10 when our families moved into the same neighborhood. Through middle school and high school we had the same group of friends, but it wasn’t until our best friends started dating each other that were we “forced” to be together more. Though we went to different colleges (I attended Ole Miss and he attended LSU), we remained friends and saw each other every summer when we would come home from school.

It wasn’t until after college, once I had moved to New York to start a career, did Nick and I started looking at each other as more than friends. It was a very natural progression, made slowly over time, as we were in different cities. There was something comforting and very natural about falling in love with an old friend. After three years in the Big Apple, I returned to Georgia, our hometown, to be back with my friends, family… and Nick. Our families blended immediately – made easier by the fact our parents were already friends within the community. It just fit.

On the day of our wedding, we had 14 of our best friends standing next to us – 12 of whom had attended school with us both since the age of 10. Needless to say, it was impossible to have a “bride” or “groom” side at the church, as many of our guests had known us both since grade school. It seems weird to say ‘I have already know my husband for 19 years,’ and still feel so young. Looking back, there was always a comfort I felt around Nick – even as a child, before I understood what it meant, I knew somehow that we would end up together.

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Wedding Photography: LeeAnn Ritch Photography |  Second Shooter: Cole Whitworth | Venue: Village Inn and Pub, St. Simons Island, Georgia | Floral Design: Darryl Wiseman Flowers | Catering: Tasteful Temptations | Entertainment: EastCoast Entertainment – NSP (New South Players) | Tent: Ranco Tent Rentals | Wedding Dress: Tara Keely | Veil: Vera Wang (Bride’s “Something Borrowed”) | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jim Hjelm | Chalkboards + Stationery Suite: Mother of the Bride

These college sweethearts kept their St. Simon’s wedding understated and simple to showcase the beautiful details of their church and reception venue, the Frederica Boat House, both of which were designed by the bride’s architect cousin! Beautiful white and green hydrangeas from Vine Garden Market accented the natural elements and it was all captured by Kelli Boyd Photography. See the rest of this beauty right here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Kelli Boyd Photography… Leigh Ann and Tommy met in college through mutual friends attending Auburn University. They attended a formal together, and they have not been apart since. With both of them having strong roots in St Simons Island, Georgia, they could not think of a better place to get married. They chose Wesley Methodist Church for the ceremony and the Frederica Boat House for their reception because the bride’s cousin, Keith Summerour, an architect, designed both buildings and that the groom’s grandfather helped get Wesley started years ago. They wanted the decor to be simple to show off the beauty of the buildings.

Wedding Photography: Kelli Boyd Photography / Ceremony: Wesley United Methodist Church in St. Simons Island, Georgia / Reception: Frederica Boathouse in St. Simons Island, Georgia / Floral Design: Vine Garden Market / Wedding Cake: Sugarbakers (912-554-1880) / Rentals: Beachview Event Rentals & Design / Music: Heart to Heart Band via Music Garden / Wedding Dress: Tara Keely via Bridals by Lori / Bride’s Shoes: J.Crew / Hair: Blake Van Donkelaar of Uberzoot Salon (912-268-2643) / Makeup: Judy Crouch

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

I’ve been wedding-obsessed for as long as I can remember. Whether the event be big or small, modern or traditional, it’s the personal touches and tear-jerking emotion that gets my heart going. And in the case of this classically charming St. Simons affair by Jenny Evelyn Photography, I can’t stop pouring over the rich sense of tradition and perfectly-appointed bridal party! Be sure to read the story behind the beautiful day and see the rest of the photos right here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Jenny Evelyn Photography… Laura Beth and Jamie’s Sea Island wedding was a classic Southern affair, from the elegant lace gown to the Southern venue. Laura Beth incorporated all the classic wedding traditions — I loved her “borrowed” and “blue” jewelry. Because Laura Beth and Jamie met on St. Simons Island, they wanted to get married there. One of their favorite things about the island is the gorgeous live oak trees. So not only did I photograph them under the live oaks, but they also used live oaks on their invitations. The ceremony and reception venues Laura Beth and Jamie chose are filled with Southern tradition and style. The Lovely Lane Chapel is the oldest standing building on St. Simons Island, built in 1774. The Sea Island Resort has been the standard of Southern elegance by the sea for almost 100 years. I love the tradition of the bagpiper who plays on the 18th hole of the golf course every night at sunset. At their reception, Laura Beth and Jamie served their guests some island specialties: oysters on the half shell and shrimp. For dessert, Laura Beth’s traditional bride’s cake was lovely and delicious, but Jamie’s groom’s cake added a bit of whimsy. His grandfather owned a chain of Wendy’s restaurants, and the pastry chef at the resort recreated his favorite Wendy’s meal: a junior bacon cheeseburger, chicken nuggets and a Frosty. After dinner and dancing, the couple rode away in a vintage Cadillac as fireworks illuminated the path. 

Wedding Photography: Jenny Evelyn Photography / Ceremony: Lovely Lane Chapel at Epworth by the Sea in St. Simons Island, Georgia / Reception: Sea Island in Sea Island, Georgia / Event Planing + Floral Design: Sea Island / Catering + Wedding Cake: Sea Island / Band: Atlanta Rhythm and Groove / Wedding Dress: Adele Wechsler / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade

If there’s a wedding with any hint at peach cobbler, sign.me.up. There is nothing I love more, except maybe these stop-dead-in-your-tracks gorgeous photographs from Laura Deas Photography, or the swoonworthy florals from The Vine that have made this St. Simons Island wedding so stunning. Everything from the groom’s seersucker pants to the bride’s timeless Ramona Keveza gown, each detail of this wedding is quintessentially Southern and especially beautiful. Click here for the full wedding in our gallery.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Laura Deas Photography… This wedding was special to me as a photographer because I’ve known the bride all of my life. I have to say Reagan is one lucky guy! Julia is indeed beautiful inside and out, and I feel extremely fortunate that she chose me to photographically document her wedding weekend in St. Simons. While everything from the rehearsal dinner to the reception was extremely elegant, the atmosphere had that casual, laid-back feel that you find at the beach. Congrats, Julia and Reagan!

From the Bride… Even though we both attended The University of Georgia and were in some of the same circles, our paths did not cross until some time after college. We hit it off in the summer of 2010 at a friend’s birthday party and never looked back! St. Simons Island is a special place for us and in looking for reception spots, we fell in love with the simple beauty of the Frederica Boat House. We loved the idea of arriving to the reception on a boat, and it was a magical moment when we pulled up to the dock with all of our guests watching from above. We are truly blessed to have found the perfect match in each other, so we chose “More than Everything” by Rhett Akins as our first dance song. Reagan loves surprises and surprised me when our first dance was introduced by a personalized audio message from Rhett Akins himself! For our reception food, we stuck to our Georgia roots and went with a southern theme — complete with a mashed potato bar, fried chicken, and green beans. We decided to forego the wedding cake tradition and instead serve southern cobblers — blackberry and peach — in mini mason jars, topped off with homemade vanilla ice cream. They were a hit! The next day, we were sad that our day was over, but we are lucky to have some amazing photos to remember what a special day it was for us!

Wedding Photography: Laura Deas Photography / Ceremony: St. Simons United Methodist Church in St. Simons, Georgia / Reception: Frederica Boathouse in St. Simons, Georgia / Wedding Planning: Caroline Carter Events / Floral Design: The Vine / Catering: Frederica Golf Club / Band: Mo’ Sol Band / Spa: Island Day Spa /  Golf Club: Sea Palms Golf and Tennis Resort / Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza via Bridals by Lori / Bride’s Shoes: Nina / Bride’s Jewelry: Bridals by Lori / Hair: Amy Jenkins / Makeup: Judy Crouch / Bride’s Dress Hanger: Etsy / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Children’s Clothing: J.Crew / Flower Girl Halo: Designed by the Bride’s Mother

We featured this darling St. Simons Island wedding last fall and fell in love with its simple beauty, charming bride and groom and wildly wonderful details.  We were thrilled when Jason Avery Films‘ video landed in our mailbox bringing the spectacular handcrafted celebration to life.  In spite of the rain and wind, this happy couple enjoyed a love-filled day bursting with personality!

From Jason of Jason Avery Films… Patsy and Jeff were married on St. Simons Island, Georgia, at a private estate named “Itylldoo.”  St. Simons is part of Georgia’s “Golden Isles,” which are the beautiful islands that make up Georgia’s coast.  It was a very rainy weekend but in the end it made the wedding even better as they had a beautiful clear tent put up and had the most amazing first kiss as husband and wife in the rain!

Wedding Cinematography: Jason Avery Films / Wedding Photography: Allison Reisz Photography / Wedding Venue: Itylldoo House on St. Simons Island, Georgia

St. Simons Island is fast becoming one of my favorite destinations on Style Me Pretty Georgia… and it’s lovely affairs such as this one captured by the wonderful Allison Reisz Photography that have me so enamored with this Southern island paradise.  Held at a private estate that simply screams beautiful, these nuptials were a DIY dream come true… from the wildflower centerpieces and bouquets to the cute as can be jam favors, every moment was handcrafted with love by the bride and groom.  There’s nothing I adore more than a wedding in which the couple’s personalities really shine through… and this one will leave you smiling for days.  Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Allison Reisz Photography… Patsy and Jeff’s wedding took place in St. Simons Island, Georgia. St. Simons is part of Georgia’s “Golden Isles” which make up Georgia’s coastline. Patsy and Jeff came down from Kentucky for their destination wedding.  Above all things, they wanted their wedding day to represent them and who they are as a couple.  They wanted all of their details to be personal, homemade, and everything that the two loved in life.

The feel of the day was rustic, and had an overall laid back and fun charm.  This was seen most of all at the couple’s chosen venue, a beautiful private home on the ocean named “Itylldoo.”  This enchanting home surrounded by large trees, had a spacious backyard and deck that looked directly over the rock jetties and crashing waves of the ocean.  This is were Patsy and Jeff wanted their intimate ceremony and reception to take place.

As rain was in the forecast all day, a few last minute changes were made, including putting up a full clear tent with twinkle lights to cover the reception.  No matter how much it would be raining however, Patsy and Jeff wanted their ceremony out on the deck overlooking the ocean.  The rain held out till just before the couple was declared husband and wife, and almost in celebration it started to rain! It was a beautiful and fun way to end the ceremony.

All of the details throughout the day were made or designed by Patsy and Jeff themselves. Starting with the custom designed stone necklaces that each family member and Patsy wore herself, to the flowers and boutonnieres that were chosen and picked by Patsy and arranged by family members.  Each table had wild flower centerpieces surrounded by engraved wedding glasses and homemade jams, made by Patsy, and Jeff being a wine maker, guests got to take home and enjoy wine made by Jeff himself!  As labels for the wine bottles, the couple used their Save the Date cards!

The reception details were completed with a four-piece blue grass band, a gourmet dinner, ice cream bar, and lots and lots of wine and dancing!

Wedding Photography: Allison Reisz Photography / Wedding Cinematography: Jason Avery Films / Wedding Ceremony + Reception Location: Itylldoo House

We are sending you off to your weekend in style with this gorgeous St. Simons Island wedding by Light Love Laughter Photography. To say that these beautiful nuptials have captured my Georgia loving heart would be an understatement.  I am more than smitten with the vibrant color scheme, the hydrangea-filled mason jars by English Gardens and the travel-inspired table numbers.  Not to mention that I now have a slight obsession with the bride’s stunning gown.  Seriously, how gorgeous can one gown be?  It’s a whole lot of amazing details and it all makes for one pretty fabulous Friday.  Join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Light Love Laughter Photography… Kimberly is the most easy going, considerate and loving bride I’ve ever met. Ben is her perfect match, a true gentleman and her constant support. It’s in little glances and the way he speaks to her that make it clear he not only loves Kimberly but he treasures her.

Kimberly dreamed of a small intimate wedding celebrating with her closest family and friends so through her first year of law school she used any free minutes she could find in planning her dream wedding. She loves buttons but then realized that they both love traveling and it’s something they plan to do a lot of together so she took the maps of countries they’d visited together and those they plan to visit soon and created picture frames with them. They also served as the backdrop for the escort cards.

Kimberly is a brave woman and there’s not much that can shake her. Just weeks before the wedding her mom was told her remission from cancer was over and she’d be going through Chemo just weeks before the wedding. Although this meant some of the final details and decor would have to be left behind Kimberly was not only there to support her mom but to pull the final details of her destination wedding together. St. Simons was the perfect location for their intimate wedding celebration and I was honored to share the beautiful day with such a sweet couple.

Wedding Cake: Betty Zeigler Cakes / Flowers: English Gardens / Venue + Catering: The King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort / Groom’s Pies + Catering for Bridal Party: Cafe’ Frederica / Hair: Bienvenue Salon / Make-up: Catherine Taylor / Guest Book: Cookbook from Barbara Jean’s / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Wedding Photography: Light Love Laughter Photography

We’re clearing out our overflowing inboxes today and lucky for you guys…that means one gorgeous wedding after another. Pick and choose the ones you want to devour or fall in love with them all. It’s totally up to you! This next one come from St. George, Florida and is the epitome of modern tradition. A traditional black and white color palette, paired with modern centerpieces (by Whole Foods!?) and a simple but stunning style. And the cupcakes? Beyond. Click here to see all of the gorgeous details.

click here to see the full wedding gallery!

When I thought of our wedding I wanted our family and friends to walk away from it all just as happy as we were. My goal was to have great authentic southern food, cold drinks and a live band to make our guests feel comfortable and relaxed. Our venue, attire, and decor helped us achieve our other goal, to create a classic, antique and elegant environment that reflected our style and taste. The Ribault Club is a beautiful clubhouse set on 100 acres that was established in 1928. It gave us the complete package we were looking for. It had that historical charm, wonderful architecture and amazing waterfront views, we barely needed to do any decorating at all. Our colors (black, ivory, and white) and a lot of our table decor being from local antique shops helped give our modern wedding an antique vibe.

Photography: Brooke Images / Ceremony + reception: The Ribault Club / Wedding coordinator: Aurora Rezeau / Catering: Southern Soul (St. Simons Island, GA) / Rentals: GT Party Rentals / Violinist: Jordan Mixson / Band: Darin Peckham (Access Church) / Cupcakes: camicakes / Limousine: Dana’s Limousine / Hairstylist: Erica at Sutra / Make-up: Paulina Perez / Dress: Lazaro (CC’s Boutique)  / Shoes: Emilio Pucci / Tux: J.Crew / Grooms shoes: Cole Haan / Flowers: Whole Foods / Invites: Pineapple Post / Jewelry: Miriam’s Jewelry