Southern Weddings

Y’all, this post is probably going to sound like crazy hyperbole, but please trust me: it is not. In fact, I’m quite sure my description and photos will not do this magical place justice. The only solution? Visit and see for yourself :)

From the moment we passed by the entrance gate and began the four mile drive down the tree-lined avenue leading to the Inn at Palmetto Bluff, John and I knew we were in for something special. The drive crosses over beautiful inland marshes and through thick stands of trees, and is just long enough to have you squirming with excitement by the time you pull up in front of the Inn. It was a gorgeous day when we arrived (I think April is the perfect month to visit!), and we were quickly checked in and escorted via golf cart to our private cottage. Most guests stay in one of fifty individual cottages that are charmingly nestled in a village-type setting, and each has either a river or lagoon view.

Our cottage, ohhhh our cottage. The Inn’s Southern hospitality and extreme attention to detail is most evident in the design and furnishing of the guest accommodations, I think. From the complementary cruiser bikes waiting outside, to the high beamed ceilings inside, no detail is too small to go unnoticed. Keurig for morning coffee or tea? Check. Screened porch? Check. Fluffy robes and slippers? Check. Window seat for curling up and reading? Check. Fireplace for the cooler months? Check. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Here’s a peek at our cottage:

All photos by Meredith Perdue except for second row, left, and third row photos, which are personal

Also, it smelled amazing in there. John and I still talk about what it smelled like :)

As delightful as our cottage was, we spent most of our time outside, soaking in as much of Palmetto Bluff as we could. The full property stretches to more than 20,000 acres, and the sheer natural beauty is unparalleled. Our cruiser bikes got a work out, as we peddled through countless adorable neighborhoods, all around the village, onto numerous nature trails, and past the Palmetto Bluff tree house. Yes, this place even has a three-story tree house. And yes, we climbed to the top.

We also saw plenty of flora and fauna, including gorgeous live oaks, dripping Spanish moss, egrets and other waterbirds, and more than a few alligators. AND we hit a few balls on Palmetto’s championship croquet course. How fancy are we?!

All photos personal, except for second and third, which are by Meredith Perdue

Of course, we did our fair share of eating, too. We had lunch and breakfast at Buffalos, an adorable cafe in the heart of Wilson Village. We split a grilled chicken cobb salad for lunch, and enjoyed a fruit plate, “the classic” (scrambled eggs, potato hash, sausage, and toast – John), and buttermilk pancakes with vanilla berry compote (me) for breakfast.

Top photo by Meredith, bottom photo by me

We also had a lovely dinner at the Canoe Club, the less-formal of the Inn’s two main restaurants. The atmosphere couldn’t be beat – we were seated on the upper porch, and watched the sun set over the gorgeous May River marshes – and the service was superb. I don’t think I did the best job ordering – I expected my poulet rouge to be fairly similar to a standard chicken, but it was a very unusual consistency – but John loved his meatballs.

All photos personal, except for second two, which are by Meredith Perdue

Of course, we only scratched the surface of the activities available during our short stay. From the spa, to the championship golf course, to kayaking, fishing, watersports, yoga, tennis, fitness classes, horseback riding, hiking, etc., etc., etc., you simply could not run out of things to do if you were to visit for a year. I did want to mention that we made it to the pool, and we found the view from our deck chairs so exquisitely beautiful that we didn’t want to nap for fear of missing a minute of soaking in the view! True story.

Photo by Meredith Perdue

Finally, it goes without saying that the service across the board at the Inn was second to none. Every staff member we came in contact with was gracious, friendly, attentive, and relaxed – exactly what you would hope for, and more. We also enjoyed meeting with Kelli, the Inn at Palmetto Bluff’s wedding guru. I have a hard time picturing a more scenic chapel than the one on the Palmetto village green, and after seeing it in person, I can see why so many wedding photographers list shooting a ceremony at Palmetto on their bucket list! You can find more information about holding your wedding at Palmetto at this link.

No matter where you hold your wedding, I could not recommend the Inn at Palmetto Bluff more highly for a honeymoon destination. In fact, John and I are seriously considering scrapping our France plans in favor of returning to Palmetto for a week – it’s really that amazing!! If y’all have any questions about our experience, don’t hesitate to ask. I would be happy to weigh in!

Big thanks to the Inn at Palmetto Bluff for hosting John and I! For more from our trip, be sure to check out the Honey List!

P.S. Many thanks to my friend Meredith Perdue for sharing her photos, as well! For another take on the Inn, I would highly recommend checking out Meredith’s posts about her experience in South Carolina!

Meredith Perdue is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Written with love by Emily