Southern Weddings

There aren’t enough good things to say about this South Carolina wedding held at The River Course at the Kiawah Island Club, but can you tell what we really love about Ashley + Craig’s nuptials?  We’re a little bit obsessed with the bright, full blooms from Dalia Design, and I’m an especial fan of the bride’s decision to offset her bridesmaids’ dark pink bouquets with fresh, white blooms of her own.  Fun + sophisticated, all at the same time!  Props to day-of coordinator Emmy Loyd Brooks of Peacock Events for pulling the beautiful details together! Though a loyal subscriber to the wow-power of the LBD, I’m liking the call for rich, navy bridesmaid dresses (like the Twobirds Bridesmaid frocks Ashley chose for her attendants) more and more every time I see it.  The alternating navy and white table coverings were the perfect way to accent the bridesmaids’ dresses and the bride’s Jean’s of Mount Pleasant gown and, of course, it’s the bright peonies that really complete the elegant Cakes by Kasarda four-tiered confection.  Special thanks to Heather Forsythe Photography for sharing her awesome work with us!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. We met at a wedding in Manhattan on June 19, 2004.  I was living in Chicago at the time and Craig was living in Charleston.  We dated long distance for a little over a year, seeing each other only about once a month, before I made the move to Charleston in December of 2005.  
Describe the proposal. Craig proposed one November afternoon while we were taking our dogs for a walk on Folly Beach.  I knew he had the ring hidden somewhere in the house for a while, but was thankfully surprised when he finally popped the question. It was perfect.
Three adjectives that describe the day are:  Fun, overwhelming and magical.
What was the design inspiration for your wedding?  Simple, but elegant.
What was your favorite design element of your big day?  The carpet of bright pink flower petals lining the aisle.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was:  Our outdoor ceremony.  It was a perfect Spring day on Kiawah Island.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: My first dress was one that my mother had purchased for me in Scottsdale, AZ.  I had this dress for about six months before we were engaged and I just figured it was the dress I would wear on my wedding day.  I had it altered and had even purchased shoes and accessories, but, about four months before the wedding, I freaked!  I tried on the dress, shoes, veil, and jewelry to see what I might look like on my big day.  When I looked in the mirror, I started crying.  I immediately realized this was NOT the dress for me.  I got online to find a bridal shop that does not require an appointment and raced over to Jeans of Mt. Pleasant.  I tried on just a few dresses before finding the ONE!  Yes, it was off the rack, but perfect and brand new to the store so it was in pristine condition with few alterations required.  
Describe your wedding flowers: I carried a bouquet of ivory peonies and roses mixed with other ivory flowers.  My bridesmaids held bright pink bouquets of peonies and roses.
Describe your wedding cake: Fantastic!  The wedding cake had four tiers of alternating almond and vanilla cake with butter cream icing.  It was a simple white cake adorned with pink flowers.  We served with raspberries.  Yum!     
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Not spending a fortune on my dream wedding!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Walking down the aisle with my father while admiring all of my amazing friends and family, and then focusing on my future husband.  He looked scared to death!  
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are thrilled to be married and enjoying life with our dogs on Johns Island, SC.  We look forward to having children one day!

Congratulations, Ashley + Craig!  Enjoy this special time together as husband and wife!