Today for Wedding Wednesday, we head to Sea Island, Georgia for this natural beauty. This was one of my favorite weddings to design, I love the location, and this bride had fantastic personal taste and style (see her custom made Austin Scarlett gown). Liz Banfield took all of the pretty photos. Since there are so many pretty images, we’re going to make this into a 2 part post. But, you can see more in the meantime over at Martha Stewart Weddings.
For the couple’s save the date, Lettered Olive designed a custom monogram incorporating some of Sea Island’s local flora and fauna. That theme plays throughout much of the rest of the paper and wedding designs. Ceremony programs were passed out to guests on trays lined with printed paper used in the programs and matched the invitation liners. Notice the Elvis Presley stamps on the reply cards- a nod to the bride’s hometown of Memphis, TN.
Guest bags were a canvas zipper pouch full of a mix of goodies and items from the groom’s native, Australia, and the U.S.- including a homemade chocolate chip cookies made by one of the bridesmaids’ mother.
Orchids are a favorite of the bride’s and her mother also had them at her wedding, so it was nice to continue that tradition. Special family members like grandmothers wore wrist flowers versus having to carry something.
The ceremony took place at a chapel at Frederica, and with the architectural elements of the church, Liz was able to get some spectacular images.
Guests made their way to the Ocean Forest Golf Club for cocktails, dinner, and dancing.
Sea Island is known for the Spanish influence in its architecture… The Club opens up onto a courtyard with a grand fountain, since our cocktail hour was to take place there, we incorporated the fountain by making cushions for guests to sit on and enjoy.
The elegant cocktail hour included little enclaves for guests to grab a drink and sit and enjoy conversation.
The couple takes advantage of the sunlight and scenery to get portraits and some moments alone to take in the day.
Since the venue itself is full of pretty scenery and architecture, we really wanted to incorporate some of it into the design elements. During cocktail hour, guests picked up their escort cards at a table anchored by a simple but lush floral arrangement. Escort cards are held in place by pieces Georgia granite.
The dinner tent was swathed in blue fabric, reminiscent of the traditional porch ceilings in the South. To bring the natural feel of the overall wedding design to the tent, trees were “planted” throughout and created a wall between dinner and the dancing portion of the tent.
Guests dined under strands of orchids accented by candlelight. Taking a note from the centerpieces, fern fronds decorated each place setting… Modern brass flatware keeps the table elegant but not fussy.
The wedding cake by Jim Smeal included intricate patterns similar to the windows at the Chapel where the couple were married. The hand made icing flowers add that feminine frill just perfect for a wedding cake.
The couple takes the floor for their first dance as husband and wife.
Ok, now this is one of my most favorite things we’ve ever done! We created a half moon cocktail bar with copper tops. Then, we had Spoonflower print fabric with the brides’ favorite painting from the St. Regis bar in New York. I mean…
Landscape lighting sets a moody tone for guests dining and dancing into the wee hours. To announce the bride and groom’s departure, a Dixie jazz band paraded everyone out to the front of the venue for the send off.
After a quick change in to a departure dress by Anaesia, guests tossed rose petals at the bride and groom…
A vintage convertible decorated with lush greenery made for a one of kind getaway..
As guests made their way into the dinner tent, they grabbed their escort cards which were attached to varying individual vases of florals.
After dinner, the couple cut the cakes, designed by Jim Smeal.
The main house at Runnymede no longer stands (only a few ruins remain), but we found an old photograph which we had screen printed to serve as the background to the band stage.
Because of the remarkable weather, we built an outdoor porch off of the main reception tent for guests to enjoy drinks, cigars, and late night treats if they needed a dance break.
With the couple living outside of Chicago, but the bride a Southern girl, favors were bags of local biscuit mix perfectly packaged with mini wooden spoons. And, because of their affinity for wine we got a bottle that would be a perfect addition to their collection and guests signed it.
Welcome bags for the hotel guests came with the perfect tag for the end of the night- Do Not Disturb…we had too much fun. Congrats to Katie and Paul!
