Small in size but mighty in charm, the coastal oasis of Hilton Head Island has a special way of capturing the hearts of Lowcountry lovin’ folk. At a young age, Rachel decided she would get married on Hilton Head. She’s always loved the winding tidal creeks, slow moving pace and family-friendly essence of the town. After being set up by mutual friends, Josh and Rachel felt sparks fly and began planning trips together. Keeping her childhood wedding wish a secret, she took Josh to Hilton Head to see how he liked it. Once on the island, Josh smugly mentioned “this would be a great place for our wedding.” Stunned to hear him take the words right from the depths of her heart, Rachel knew it was fate.

With the salty breeze rolling off the Atlantic coastline, and sweeping through the sun soaked property of the Sea Pines Resort, we knew it was going to be a glorious day for a wedding. We met our beaming bride and her family for some getting ready photos in one of the suites. Rachel made us swoon with every sentimental detail she had prepared, including a deck of playing cards with each suite customized by an image precious to the couple. With Grammie, mom and sister showering Rachel with encouragement and support, she was already radiating with pure love. She stepped into her a-line floral embroidered dress with sweet, petal accents and a plunging v-neck. She stunned us all with her enchanting blue eyes, kind smile and perfectly fitted gown.

After freshening up with his entourage, Josh was ready to see his bride. He looked sharp in his tux, and was proud to be sporting his late grandfather’s cufflinks that his mother gifted him that morning. The couple met on a piazza overlooking the ocean. Rachel was grinning ear to ear as she walked up to Josh and tapped him on the shoulder. After taking his breath away and holding him close to revive him, Rachel and Josh exchanged wedding gifts and read their letters to one another. Per wedding tradition, Rachel had a special “something blue” planned to accompany her on her wedding day; she had nine of her closest girlfriends dressed as a mosaic of blue prints, textures and tones. The blue crew jumped for joy when they saw Rachel. They anointed the moment by shaking up a bottle of Prosecco and showering the limestone floors with bubbles. The gals in blue then raised a toast to Rachel, and wished her well before the ceremony.

Guests graciously grabbed flutes of champagne and took to their seats, enjoying the view of the coastline and the island’s signature red-and-white-striped lighthouse. Fresh Weddings and Events helped to elevate the natural environment with lush arrangements of soft pink roses, blue snapdragons and green eucalyptus. An elegant, crescent shaped floral ground cover was placed where the couple would soon be saying their vows. Once the orchestra began to play, and the little flower girl had given one last smooch to her Uncle Josh, the ceremony began. Josh made his way to the front, dignified and ready to commit to a life of love with his Rachel. Rachel came down the aisle with her father at her side, the salty wind whipping at her beautiful blonde locks and voluminous wedding skirt. The couple met hand in hand, at one of the most unforgettable moments of their lives. In the peaceful sanctuary of a place so dear to their hearts, Josh and Rachel said their vows and shared their first kiss as Mr. and Mrs. Kanney.

We met the elated newlyweds on the beach for a romantic, oceanside photoshoot. An ethereal, dewy mist had rolled onto the coastline during the ceremony, softening the lighting on the beach and making the landscape look continuous. We followed Rachel and Josh to the hidden spot where they had buried their bottle of Woodford Reserve a few months back. They took down two shots from the dirty whiskey bottle and got ready to greet their beloved guests at cocktail hour.

The planners from Cheers Darling had prepared the pavilion with a dining area fit for a queen and king’s beach vacation. The tables were adorned with gold flatware, touches of chinoiserie and romantic shades of blues, creams and golds. The cane back chairs and woven straw placemats provided a relaxed, coastal touch to this opulent setup. Fresh Weddings and Events tied the entire spectacle together with floral centerpieces blossoming with hues of blue and white, and an occasional pop of rose red. Feeling like royalty, the guests took their seats at their assigned tables and awaited for Rachel and Josh’s grand entrance.

The guests cheered loudly as their new favorite couple emerged onto the dance floor. The band queued Frankie Valli’s “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” and the couple melted into their own world. Under a sparkling sky of string lights, they twirled, dipped and laughed. Once the first dances were finished, everyone cozied up for some unforgettable speeches given by the honorary guests. The band then serenaded everyone as they dined on delicious bites from porcelain plates and mouth-watering drinks from crystal chalices.

Eventually the band magnetized all guests to the dance floor. Between the soulful music and the brass horns, everyone caught a boogie fever. The father of the bride was particularly overtaken and out-danced every wedding guest. A conga line wove in and out of the pavilion, growing in length and then combusting into a big party. Rachel changed into a fabulous off-the-shoulder party dress with a high slit and marabou trim. This rockstar bride even took to the stage and sang a song with her blue crew!

Laughter and joy permeated the entire night, never faltering, even when the band warned the last song was approaching. The grateful couple took to the stage and expressed their dearest thanks to their friends and family for joining them on one of the most special nights of their lives. A night when they realized that lifelong dreams really do come true, and can somehow turn out to be more beautiful than imagined.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Kanney!