Southern Weddings

Kelly and Ted’s Palmetto Bluff wedding was full of soft and sweet details, from pastel flowers to the most charming chapel ceremony. Sentimental details, like the “starstruck” ceremony references (Ted proposed during a blue moon!) and bits of lace from Kelly’s grandmother’s gown wrapped around her bouquet, made this destination wedding feel right at home. Hugs to Kay English for sharing!

Kelly and Ted’s invitation suite, designed by Reverie, featured cafe lights in gold foil with gray letterpress on blush Arturo paper. Gray envelopes were calligraphed in blush-colored ink. The cafe lights served as a hint of the celebration to come, and cafe lights were overhead at both the welcome dinner and the cocktail hour on the wedding day.

Kelly’s bouquet featured cafe au lait dahlias, garden roses, anemones, ranunculus, chrysanthemums, silver brunia, gilded seeded eucalyptus, sword ferns, dusty miller, and lemon leaf. Her bouquet was wrapped in velvet ribbon and a swatch of lace from her grandmother’s wedding gown. A gold pin– treasured by her late grandfather– was pinned to the ribbon. The groom’s boutonniere featured white ranunculus, silver brunia, gilded seeded eucalyptus and a sprig of rosemary.

The ceremony was held in a little white chapel, and we surprised guests with a full gospel choir, singing and clapping their way down the aisle just when the doors opened and guests expected to see the bride! Kelly was then escorted by her dad down the aisle to the music of the choir, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the chapel.

As the sun set, guests enjoyed cocktails under cafe lights strung between big oak trees dripping in Spanish moss. Their semi-circle-shaped bar and vintage furniture lounge under a black and white striped tent were enjoyed by all (as were the ‘his’ and ‘hers’ southern signature drinks!). Big, blush cafe au lait dahlias in mercury glass vases graced the tables covered in mint Irish linens.

When guests were escorted inside for the reception, they were greeted with miniature bourbon bottles with hand-calligraphed escort tags. Rustic farm chairs and peach Irish linen runners were complemented by long wooden boxes filled with Kelly’s favorite blooms and accented with mercury glass. Instead of a cake topper, Kelly and Ted’s cake featured individually-cut sugar letters placed around each tier that read, “Once in a blue moon, something extraordinary happens.” Guests danced to a live band, as well as a DJ, and they bid farewell to Kelly and Ted via a sparkler send-off before enjoying s’mores around a bonfire.

Location: The Inn at Palmetto Bluff | Photographer: Kay English Photography | Cinematography: Cinema Weddings | Floral and Event Design: Reverie Events | Invitations: Reverie Events | Wedding Gown: Jenny Packham

Written with love by Emily