Now would be the perfect time to tip our hats to the Sea Island wedding planner extraordinaire, Melissa Ippensen. First up on the SW marvel list? Flowers, flowers, flowers! The long-stemmed white and green arrangements of tulips, hydrangeas, and calla lillies at Erin + Patrick’s swanky reception in the Cloister Grand Ballroom are over-the-top amazing and the delicate ring of ivory garden roses between the layers of the Sea Island pastry chefs’ five-tiered confection an elegant touch. While this Georgian affair certainly was a masterpiece, the seafood spread is a work of art in itself. Considering the newlyweds’ romantic exit in a classic car surrounded by sprays of fireworks was Erin + Patrick’s favorite part of the night, it only seems appropriate that we take a moment to again marvel at Laura Negri Chiders’ talented work behind the camera. Lara and Emily are hot-footing it to Atlanta as we speak to put on a wedding of their own. Wish them luck!
Our favorite details of the wedding were: Our entrance and exit were two of our favorite details. The Sea Island signature bagpiper escorted us into the ballroom and onto the dance floor for our first dance, “You Send Me” by Sam Cooke. At the conclusion of the reception, the horn section of our band, Bobby and the Aristocats, paraded us out of the ballroom to the music of jazz song “Satin Doll.”
Were there any wedding traditions or new ideas you included in the wedding? One of my best girlfriends from home purchased a beautiful Belgium lace handkerchief while living in Europe. Her hope was that the five best friends would each carry it on our wedding day with our new initials monogrammed on the handkerchief in the order that we married. The girls presented it to me during the wedding week, and I carried it around my bouquet. Later, we gifted our guests with old-fashioned handkerchiefs that my mother and I had collected throughout the year. The handkerchiefs were monogrammed with our wedding date and venue as a keepsake for our guests who had traveled to the island to celebrate with us.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Walking in to the kitchen at 4 a.m. because I could not sleep and finding my father in the kitchen because he couldn’t sleep either! It was a sweet moment that I will forever cherish.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? Appreciating the many blessings, opportunities, love and support surrounding us and living our lives honoring God, our vows and being a blessing to others.
Wow! What a wedding! Congratulations, Erin + Patrick.
I would have loved to have had a bagpiper at my wedding.
such a lovely wedding — i was ooohing and ahhhing at every photo!