The phrase “beach wedding” can stir up some cheesy connotations, but I daresay that people whose minds automatically go to Hawaiian shirts and stargazer lilies have never been to a coastal wedding in the South! From Rosemary Beach to the Outer Banks to St. Simon’s Island (where today’s gorgeous celebration was held), Southern brides certainly know how to turn a beach locale into a completely elegant place to tie the knot. Lindsey and Daniel chose St. Simon’s Island for their wedding because her small hometown wasn’t easy to travel to from New York or DC, where Daniel’s family lives. That was only the first of many ways they infused their day with Southern hospitality, and I imagine their Northern guests left both totally enchanted with the South and grateful to have witnessed such a meaningful union.
Thanks so much to The Willetts for sharing this beautiful day with us!
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! By accident, after a day of shopping with my Mom in NYC, I found a pair of blue shoes that I loved. They ended up being my wedding shoes. Danny gave me a pair of pearl and diamond earrings, and I borrowed my maternal grandmother’s pearl bracelet.
I always loved my mom’s long-sleeve lace wedding dress, which she actually borrowed from her best friend. Once I was engaged, I asked my mom if she thought it was possible for me to also borrow it for my wedding. Unfortunately, the dress had not been preserved well and I couldn’t get it zipped, so I began looking for my own version of a long-sleeve lace dress. I finally found it in New York City and I love it more than anything! Nothing would make me happier than to see my sisters wear it someday too.
My favorite part about any wedding is seeing the groom’s face when the bride walks down the aisle. It is such a beautiful and emotional moment to watch. I definitely wanted to experience that moment at my own wedding, so being the traditionalist that I am, we did not do a first look.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Our ceremony. From the beginning, I knew I did not want a big wedding, and our ceremony turned out perfectly. It was in a small white chapel overlooking the water, and we were surrounded by 130 of our closest family members and friends. Of course, arriving at the reception was a lot of fun too, because I finally got to see all of my ideas brought to life. Everything was just perfect!
I’m from a small town in southwest Georgia, and it is not the easiest place to travel to from New York City or DC (where Danny’s family lives). I’m too traditional and practical to have a true destination wedding, so we finally decided on St. Simons Island, Georgia. It was still close to home, and it was at the beach, and a place I grew to love during my college days. Getting to St. Simon’s was easy for everyone too, so it made perfect sense for us.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? The best Southern combination, in my opinion, is boiled peanuts and beer, preferably at the beach. I made sure that a big bucket of fresh boiled peanuts was at the bar so everyone (including the Northerners in attendance) could indulge in my Southern favorite with me!
My best friend in New York City, Emily Ellison Sharp of Emily Ellison Studio, is a florist. She has the best taste and unbelievable talent. I knew from the beginning that I wanted her to do my flowers and I completely trusted her with all of my ideas. The flowers are something people are talking about today. Everything was absolutely gorgeous!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Just wait until you are married! It is SO much fun!
How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Danny and I were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend in New York City. Our first date was dinner at a cute West Village restaurant on Banks Street. Unfortunately, a new restaurant opened in its place, but we still go back on March 29 (the anniversary of our first date) every year!
Tell us all about the proposal! Danny knows how much I love the beach (summer or winter–it doesn’t matter!). For Christmas, he gave me an overnight trip to our favorite place in The Hamptons. Before dinner, he insisted that we go to “our” beach to see it in the snow–a phenomenon I’m not familiar with, being from the South. Not expecting what happened next, I looked down and Danny was on one knee in 12 inches of snow, with more snow falling on the windy beach. It was like being in a real life snow globe! I said yes, and we ran back to the car so that he could officially put the ring on my finger. That night, we enjoyed a beautiful dinner at an old inn in East Hampton by the wood-burning fire. It was magical!
When did y’all get married? April 11, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 130
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? No, we did not write our own vows. However, Danny and I agreed that the ceremony was the most important part of our wedding, so we had our preacher from New York City marry us so that it was someone we both knew well and who knew us as a couple. During our ceremony, our preacher said, “Love must act as light must shine and fire must burn.” I find the quote so beautiful and relevant in our very practical day-to-day life and relationship.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We are in the process of buying an apartment in New York City (gulp!). I can’t wait to start our life together in our new home and enjoy living in one of the greatest cities in the world! Of course, decorating our home will be fun too! We are truly so grateful!
Photographer: The Willetts / Videographer: Todd Urick Films / Ceremony Venue: Lovely Lane Chapel at Epworth by the Sea / Reception Venue: Village Creek Landing / Florist: Emily Ellison Studio / Caterer and Cake Baker: Halyards Restaurant / Rentals: Beachview / Band: Sandy B and the Allstars / Painted Details: Ashley Curry / Paper Product Printing: Dabney Lee / Bride’s Fascinator: LeFlowers / Bride’s Shoes: French Sole New York / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J. Crew / Groom’s Attire: Custom by Holland and Sherry Bespoke
Beautiful pictures, and I love the advice from their preacher!
I’m in love with the bride’s dress! Could you tell me what label it is ?
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