BRIDGET + TRENT

Beaufort Inn

October 17, 2017

Beaufort, South Carolina

Tell us how you met: Trent and Bridget first laid eyes on each other at Auburn University. Although they were both seeing other people, Bridget knew the minute she saw him, he was one of the cutest southern gentleman she'd ever seen! In the fall of the following year, after a hot Alabama summer and two breakups later, they resumed their love story and soon became "official". Numerous football games, sorority functions, and Toomer's Corner rolls later, Trent decided to pop the question!

Proposal details: Trent's proposal is what some see as the typical Auburn proposal on Samford lawn (an Auburn University landmark). However, anyone near and dear to Trent and Bridget saw the humor in this unconventional day. Bridget and Trent's family and close friends were in town for the Auburn vs. Texas A&M football game. Trent had mentioned to Bridget that she might want to get out of her work out clothes that morning, since her family was in town. Bridget finally gave in and changed into new workout clothes, since those were so much better. If you know Bridget, she loves to be in control and plan EVERYTHING (including wearing a fully planned out outfit for special events). After a delicious lunch at Mellow Mushroom, Bridget's Dad sent them to pick up tickets from some friends setting up their tailgate on campus. They took their time walking on Samford lawn, as this is one of their favorite things to do, talking about how much they both loved Auburn and how it had brought them together. Trent was calm, cool, and collected, so Bridget didn't expect a thing (even though she had a suspicionn it might happen that weekend)! After finally arriving at the "tailgate spot", Bridget realized what was going on. Trent had set up a beautiful table with Bridget's favorite flowers and a custom label bottle of Veuve Clicquot that said "Bridget, will you marry me?". (tears, tears, and more tears) Bridget said yes (looking her finest in yoga pants) and they happily joined their families to begin their future wedded bliss.

How did you select your venue: We have been visiting Fripp Island for 20 years and the Beaufort Inn is our favorite place to have brunch. We knew it would be the perfect location because all of its southern charm, hospitality, and location. All of the people who came to our wedding were from out of town so we loved that we could rent the whole place out and we wouldn’t have to worry about anyone driving after the reception.

Personal Touches: I am a calligrapher and did my own calligraphy for the invitations as well as the ceremony programs and signage for the reception. I designed the welcome boxes with our baby pictures, stuffed full of our favorite things!

Groom + Groomsmen Attire: Jos A Bank black suits with Ties from the Tie Bar.

Aesthetic + Color Palette: Gold, Cream, Blush.

The Décor: Sailcloth tent, sparkly linens, Spanish moss hanging grid my brother designed and made!, café lighting, lanterns, vintage china plates, kings table, wood x back chairs.

Ceremony Site + Personal Details: We had a full Catholic mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. I carried a bible down the isle that every woman on my mother's side has carried on their wedding day since the invention of the printing press!

What were the most important elements about your wedding day to you and your husband? We had spent months preparing to get married in the Catholic Church so the ceremony itself was the most important part. It was a fun surprise to us that when the priest said, “You may kiss the bride” everyone in the audience had Auburn shakers (pom poms) and chanted “War Eagle!”

Is there anything else our readers would love to know about your wedding day? Instead of doing a send off, we opted to ride into the reception on a horse and carriage! Our bridal party arrived first and were greeted by everyone out front of the Beaufort Inn followed by us!

What Lowcountry elements did you incorporate into your big day? Everything about our wedding was southern! In our welcome bags, we incorporated many things from our home states. He is from Alabama so we used Priester's Pecans and Alabama shaped cookies with a heart where Auburn is (where we met). We had Julio's Chips and Tito's Vodka from Texas, custom cups, of course Charleston Bloody Mary Mix to incorporate South Carolina. We had magnolia garland in front of the church and incorporated the leaves into our invitations. The hanging Spanish moss grid. We even had a friend green tomato bar and charcuterie display!

Guest Count: 200

The Favors: My dad and now husband both roast coffee as their hobby! They roasted coffee and we wrapped them up individually for the favors.

The Cake: My sister is a pastry chef and baker in Aspen, Colorado! She made my cake.

Bridesmaids Attire: Mix and Match by Bella Bridesmaid (Monique Lhuiller, Joanna August, Amsale) and Getting Ready Robes by Pretty Plum Sugar.

The Food + Beverage: Our bartenders were Carolina Cocktails and our caterer was Thrive Catering, for the cocktail hour we had a huge charcuterie display followed by stations when the reception started. The full menu included: Lavish Charcuterie & local cheese display, beef tenderloin and herb roasted turkey carving station, gourmet mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes, slow roasted pulled pork and local white fish taco bar.

The Gown & Accessories: Tara Keely by Larazo & Handbeaded belt. I actually had the top of the dress redone and added sleeves by Catherine Ryals out of Birmingham, AL

The Flowers: Vicki Sepielli at Kiwi Fleur. We used garden roses (David Austin), dahlias, ranuculus, roses, hydrangea, magnolia garland, and spray roses. The boots were ranaculus with seeded eucalyptus,

My family truly put their heart and soul into our wedding. My brother was building the Spanish Moss Grid, my older sister made the cake (and her husband was the best man!), my Mom hosted a hospitality suite all weekend with endless amounts of food and open bar for all our guests to come and go plus a Friday morning scavenger hunt for our guests on Fripp Island, my little sister kept me sane and was my roommate for the weekend, and my Dad planned golf for all the men on The Sanctuary plus financially supporting the whole thing!

Best Piece of Advice for Brides-to-be: Don’t get wrapped up in someone else’s “perfect day” on pinterest. Make your wedding something that features you and your fiancé!