Wedding Ideas & Tips

I’m always wowed by the real wedding submissions I receive but - oh my lord, Megan and Jesse’s wedding made my heart skip a beat and took my breath away all at the same time! The darling couple wed on August 1, 2010, at the jaw-droppingly gorgeous Inn at Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina - one of my all-time favorite venues. Together, they incorporated vintage and classically Southern details to create a most beautiful event. Let’s take a look:

I don’t think you could squeeze another ounce of charm into this Southern venue if you tried - Can you get over how deliciously cute that little chapel is? I am loving every single detail … read on for a glimpse at how the day unfolded, as told by Megan … So many touching tidbits and even though I read about weddings every day, Megan’s story made me tear up just a tiny bit - It’s simply beautiful …

Tell us about your wedding style … :
I can’t help but laugh - I’m not even sure we had an actual ‘wedding style’. I suppose when planning I just wanted our wedding to fit the venue and represent us. The Inn at Palmetto Bluff is just as advertised - low country elegance - at its best!!

Personal touches … :
The most personal touches of our wedding ended up being surprises instead of plans. During the first year Jesse and I were dating he came home from a trip to Charleston with a gift for me … a brooch. Yes, a pretty brooch - but 5 years down the road he was still joking about the brooch I never wore. While packing for our wedding trip I was going through my jewelry and came across the brooch. The style of it went so well with my dress, I packed it and surprised him when it was attached to my bouquet. It took a while but I finally found its perfect use!!

Jesse decided he wanted to wear his grandfather’s (and namesake) wedding band and called his dad to see if that would be okay, given we wanted to have it engraved. When his dad got the ring out he discovered it was already engraved with the his grandparent’s initials (same initials as his grandfather, JGW), and the date……. 08-01-40. What are the odds? We were married on the same date as them 08-01-09, 69 years later. Such a neat thing …

Our personal planned touch would be our now 3 year old yellow-lab. She’s such a huge part of our lives, our wedding would not have been the same had she not made her way down the aisle … which she decided to do twice.. =)

I am still in love with our wedding guest book. A sweet friend (and neighbor) took our engagement pictures,  Erin Cobb. She is actually a children’s photographer which I believe helped capture the playful, fun loving side of my and Jesse’s relationship. These pictures were made into a coffee table book and guests left us the sweetest messages throughout the book.
What was your favorite part of the wedding day?
Goodness…so many things come to mind!!

My grandfather unexpectedly died the week before my wedding. He and Jesse had developed a very close, unique relationship and he had been wanting us to tie the knot for several years. He was so excited about our destination wedding. The chapel Jesse and I were married in sits on the water and as we left the ceremony, we came outside to find a beautiful rainbow stretching over the river. I knew exactly who had something to do with that rainbow! =)

I loved the gospel choir that surprised everyone as they entered the chapel ahead of me, singing me down the aisle to “This Little Light of Mine” and then again as everyone left the chapel to “Oh Happy Day!”

I loved the fact that my dad rarely left the dance floor during the entire reception!! And how our band had everyone circle around us and sing to us “Lean On Me” for the last song of the evening!

I loved the ‘after-thought’ of s’mores at the fire pits by the river in lieu of a grooms cake. My husband is up for a bonfire any night of the week and this was such a great time for him to truly hang out with his buddies.

What advice do you have to share with fellow brides?
Easy! This is your wedding day - remember this and keep everything else in perspective!! During the months of wedding planning, I heard from so many different brides how stressful their wedding day was, about the breakdowns they had leading up to the wedding, or how glad they were once it was all over. I am happy to say that with the help of my three wonderful sisters and mom - I truly enjoyed planning our wedding. There was not one moment of our wedding day that I didn’t feel complete happiness. Palmetto Bluff’s service is truly unparalleled! I woke up the next morning and the first thing I thought was ‘I hope every bride feels this way the day after her wedding!’ I understand now, without a doubt, why people say your wedding is one of the best days of your life!!!

… And the Details:
Photographer: Melanie Mauer
Ceremony and Reception Location: The Inn at Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina
Planner: Kelli Corn of The Inn at Palmetto Bluff
Florist: Sue Burden
Caterer: The Inn at Palmetto Bluff
Cake: Savannah Custom Cakes
Ceremony Musicians: Huspah Gospel Choir
Reception Musicians: Deas Guyz
Dress: Jim Hjelm
Shoes: J. Crew and Anne Klein

A heartfelt thank you to Megan and Jesse for sharing your big day with us and best wishes for a fabulous future together! And a special thanks to photographer Melanie Mauer for sending over these beautiful photos! Cheers!