ELIZABETH & MICHAEL
A Kiawah Island Resort Wedding at The Sanctuary Hotel
Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Q: How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.
A: We were introduced by a close mutual friend, who was making a connection for a professional purpose, and would have never guessed we would have ended up together! We got engaged on a Friday night after a quite dinner at a cozy French restaurant walking distance from our house. I was absolutely surprised and couldn't have been happier that it was so low-key and just us.
Q: Let's talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look? Describe the looks in detail.
A: My dress was the Forever dress by Monique Lhuillier, which was the fourth dress I tried on the first day I went shopping. It very obviously reflected my style - a classic, structured design but with a slightly ethereal touch that felt appropriate for a beach wedding setting. I wore the same pearls I have worn every day for a decade, silver Aquazurra sandals and a vintage, vine-shaped hair pin that I had asked my best friend to save for me from her wedding. My husband wore a custom made, light grey Sid Mashburn suit, white french cuff shirt with cufflinks I bought him in London and sky blue colored Hermes tie.
Q: Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette? Did you incorporate any cultural or religious traditions in any part of your day?
A: We were inspired by Kiawah Island itself -- it is one of our favorite places and one of the first places we ever vacationed, as well as having spent many summers on the beaches in and around Charleston before we ever met. Our wedding was outside so our color scheme was meant to mimic the natural colors of the island itself - greens, blues, light grey with some pink and coral accents.
Q: Let's talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?
A: Not one bit was DIY - huge thank you to A Charleston Bride for helping me identify all -- and I mean ALL -- the phenomenal vendors we used! It definitely took a village. The wedding was tented with a stunning Sperry Tent, chandeliers, candles, hydrangea and magnolia leaves flower arrangements and tablecloths alternating between light blue, off white and light grey. It was intended to be romantic and elegant without being overly ornate or stuffy.
Q: What were the florals like in your wedding? Did you use flowers in any of your design elements like the bridal bouquets, centerpieces or ceremony backdrop? Did they play an important part in the overall style of your wedding?
A: Hydrangeas were the primary flower we used, accented by magnolia leaf runners on the tables. They are our favorite flowers and they did play an important role. With the exception of the actual invitation, every other piece of wedding paper had a reference to the hydrangea and/or magnolia leaves. My matron of honor and I carried bouquets of pink and coral peonies and dahlias for a punch of color. The men in the wedding party wore white ranunculus which were understated and elegant.
Q: Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?
A: I think one of the most fun way we personalized the wedding was with our welcome boxes - they were full of our favorite junk food and/or hangover remedies, including personalized Coca-Cola cans that had our wedding hashtag #ihartthompson printed on them. We also splurged on a Veuve Cliquot (my well-known favorite) station during the cocktail hour and a cigar bar during the wedding that featured Cuban cigars we brought home from Spain earlier in the year. Most importantly, our wedding was personalized because of who participated in the ceremony: our two best friends were our only attendants, our goddaughters were our flower girls, our nieces and cousins did the readings and carried the rings and my aunt, a minister in England, hopped the pond to marry us.
Photographer: Pasha Belman Photography // Event Designer: A Charleston Bride // Musicians: DJ Natty Heavy – Ear for Music // Musicians: Charleston Virtuosi // Linens and Coverings: La Tavola // Equipment Rentals: Ooh! Events, Eventworks, Snyder Events // Lighting: Technical Event Company // Floral Designer: Palmetto Bloom // Other: Ice Age Ice Sculptures // Oysters: Oysters XO // Makeup Artist: Paper Dolls Wedding Hair & Makeup // Hair Stylist: Paper Dolls Wedding Hair & Makeup // Shoes: Ferrragamo Shoes // Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Sid Mashburn // Shoes: Aquazurra// Jewelry: Shah & Shah Inc // Dress Designer: Monique Lhuillier // Reception Venue: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Resort
Submitted via Two Bright Lights
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