Southern Weddings

I like to believe in fate. Do you? It makes everything a little more romantic, and it’s stories like Suzanne + Sean’s that seal the deal for me. (Just read their interview for details!) Their South Carolina wedding was full of fun and sweet details that are so completely Southern, like those screen printed linen bags, bike rides down the street and the serene white chapel. I love that Suzanne’s bouquet of orange tulips included a sentimental note. A single white rose was included in the bunch to honor her father who passed away.

Can we pause for a moment and marvel at this beautiful church? I love that the couple chose to decorate the interior with simple white and green florals that don’t distract from the church’s natural beauty. We can see why Suzanne described the ceremony as “a dream.”

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. I was out in California with some friends visiting my sister. We went out one night and ended up meeting Sean and one of his friends at a bar. We talked for a while and planned to meet up again during the trip but never did. When we were on our way home back to Michigan, we ended up on the same connecting flight to Phoenix! At this point we decided it must be fate and we all exchanged email addresses and phone numbers. We remained friends for a few years until finally realizing we were meant to be together.
Describe the proposal. We were down in Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, South Carolina visiting Sean’s family and they arranged for us to go out on a dinner boat. It was really windy, but we sat on the front of the boat and had a four course meal. It was delicious! Just before they were going to bring out dessert, Sean got down on one knee and popped the question! I, of course, said yes!
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I always knew I would wear a mermaid style gown. When my mom and I went dress shopping, I started to give up toward the last dress of the day and figured I would just try on the ball gown to make my mom happy. Little did I know that it would change my mind completely!
Describe your wedding flowers: My bouquet was made of orange tulips with a single white rose to honor my father who passed away.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Whimsical, unforgettable, fun.
In what month did you get married? April
How many guests attended your wedding? 88
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The late night snack! We had mini burgers, French fries, and milk shakes!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Planning the wedding in six months! Luckily we had a planner and family willing to help!
What range did your wedding budget fall into? $50,000-$75,000
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? When they opened up the doors to the chapel; Sean was standing at the end and the sun was glowing all around me. It was like a dream.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Enjoy every second because it goes by so quickly.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are closing on our first house this week!

Photographer: Amy Arrington Photography // Planner: Kelli Corn, Wedding Design Studio of The Inn at Palmetto Bluff // Ceremony venue: Waterside Chapel on the May River // Reception venue: The Inn at Palmetto Bluff // Florist: Sue Burden // Wedding Cake Baker: Custom Cakes // Caterer: The Inn at Palmetto Bluff // Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals // Linens: Cloth Connection // Paper Products: Gunther Gifts // Bride’s Dress: Oleg Cassini // Bride’s Hair Accessories/Veil: David’s Bridal // Bride’s Shoes: Mystique // Bridesmaids’ Dresses: David’s Bridal

If you like this wedding, you might like these:
Amanda + Brent’s blue and white wedding here and here.
Tara + Steve’s orange and pink wedding here and here.

Written with love by Nicole