Southern Weddings

Just like a wedding means the coming together of two families, planning a wedding can mean bringing together two, or more, different sets of opinions and priorities. It can certainly be a challenge, but with a focus on the true meaning of the day, a little bit of grace, and a willingness to compromise, everyone involved can pitch in to create something magical and memorable. Bolling and Moultrie worked together with Bolling’s sweet mama and the talented folks at Ooh! Events for their Charleston wedding, and from the custom invites designed by Moultrie’s cousin, to the sweetgrass-esque cake inspired by the wedding’s locale, everyone’s vision for the day came together beautifully!

Thanks so much to Britt Croft for sharing this Bolling and Moultrie’s special day with us!

Moultrie and I have actually known each other since we were little. He has a HUGE family and one of his cousins has always been a best friend of mine. Growing up, she would invite me to places with her family, like summers at the beach, and Moultrie would be there too.I developed a huge crush on him in middle school and let him know one bold afternoon over AOL Instant Messenger. He let me down gently, admitting later that he couldn’t imagine getting teased for dating “Bolling Ball!” Through the years, our circle of friends always tended to overlap somewhat, so we kept in touch. It wasn’t until the summer before senior year of college that we finally connected. I am a very private person, and my most favorite person in the world (my dad) passed away that summer. I didn’t tell a soul about what had happened, not even my closest friends. We had just pulled up to the church and stepped out of the car for the funeral when I saw Moultrie pulling up in his car. That’s absolutely the moment I fell head over heels for him, and I’ve loved him every minute ever since!

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! After hearing that I wasn’t quite sure about wearing a veil, my godmother generously gave me her veil to use as my something borrowed. For my something blue, I used the same garter my mom and my aunt used in their weddings. For my something new, Moultrie surprised me with a beautiful gold necklace that he asked I wear on our big day.

Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? We very much debated over this. We had been in friends’ weddings when they did a first look, amd not only did the pictures turn out great, it freed up a ton of time for them to enjoy more of the reception. But, Moultrie was pretty adamant on the fact that he wanted to be completely surprised when I walked down the aisle. In the end, seeing his reaction was priceless and we loved that it was something we were able to share with all of our guests.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? Thinking about everyone staring at us during the ceremony already gave me plenty of anxiety, so we decided to stick to the easy, repeat-after-me vows.

The venue fit our criteria perfectly. It was outside, by the water, and most importantly, it required the least number of decisions! So much was included, which made for a much less stressful planning season.

What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? Choosing Dunes West as a venue really helped us out with this. Not having to rent a tent, linens, or chairs truly made the whole day more affordable. The price is VERY competitive for the space and the team is so kind and accommodating. I’d choose them again in a heartbeat!

Our first dance was a no-brainer. We had chosen a band for our reception and were worried they wouldn’t be able to play our song, but the Right to Party band nailed it with their rendition of Bob Marley’s “Is This Love.”

Tell us all about the proposal! Moultrie’s biggest wish was that I be surprised when the time came for him to propose. He figured out the perfect way for me to not suspect a thing: propose without any fluff or fancy stuff! Moultrie and a few of our friends were already out at the beach one Friday afternoon, and the plan was for me to meet up with them once I was off of work. When I got there, Moultrie was ready for me to head out with him to try and surf before the sunset. Not understanding why he was so eager to go RIGHT then, I followed him out to the water and bent down to get my leash on. It was really tangled and I asked Moultrie what the deal was. He headed on over and got down on one knee to help me out. I still didn’t’ think anything of it, but then he started telling me how much he loved me. I was still wondering what the heck was going on when he pulled out a ring! I didn’t snap back to reality until I heard one of our friends screaming in the background! Obviously, I said yes and here we are now!
When did y’all get married? April 11, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? Around 150
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our handmade invites from Moultrie’s cousin and the logo he made along with it. We tried to use the logo throughout the wedding to tie everything together.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Merging all parties’ opinions into one. My mom, Moultrie, and I are all VERY strong-willed individuals. My mom did a great job of dividing up the decisions equally. For instance, Moultrie very much wanted his cousin to design our wedding invitations, but my mom prefers traditional designs. They compromised and my mom to chose the wording, while Half & Half designed the suite. In the end, we really worked well together and consistently reminded each other that we were all on the same team, trying to create lasting memories through the wedding.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? BRITTANY CROFT! Oh my goodness there are not enough sweet words in the dictionary to describe our photographer. Not only is her maiden name “Bowling,” so I knew we were meant to be, but she just got us. Y’all this woman is talented, but she doesn’t let that go to her head. She is so grounded and family-oriented and just a great human being. She works so hard and got us our pictures back in record time. She helped make our wedding experience perfect!

Photographer: Britt Croft Photography / Planner and Florist: Ooh! Events / Venue and Catering: Dunes West Golf and River Club / Cake Baker: Ashley Bakery / Band: Right to Party of East Coast Entertainment / Invitations: The Half & Half / Bride’s Gown: Christos / Bride’s Earrings: Sara Gabriel / Bridesmaid Earrings: Currie Jewelry / Hair and Makeup: Paper Dolls / Bride’s Shoes: Michael Kors / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “Bridgette,” “Lulu,” “Wren,” and “Harlow” by Jenny Yoo / Groom’s Attire: Ralph Lauren / Groomsmen Attire: Jos. A. Bank / Calligraphy: Giovanna Alvino Calligraphy / Transportation: Lowcountry Valet

East Coast Entertainment is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Written with love by Lisa