Saidah and Julian | June 25, 2016

Guests often struggle with what to wear to a wedding, especially when it includes a ceremony on the beach.  Long dress or short dress?  Suit and tie or khakis and a collared shirt?  The bridesmaids are wearing pink, does that mean I need to choose a different color?  White is out . . . don’t want to upstage the bride. What about black . . isn’t that the color of mourning? What exactly is “beach formal?”

Miss Emily Post may disagree, but I like the idea of setting specific dress codes for guests on wedding day.  Guessing is stressful. Personally I like instruction (and included dress code information on my wedding invitations). If you want guests to wear a jacket please specify, if not let them know a collared shirt is ok.  Most guests appreciate a little bit of direction.

When it comes to color typically guest try to avoid the brides pallet, but how do you know what colors she’s using? As a general rule the bride’s colors are typically splashed across the invitation and wedding website. If you don’t know, it’s ok to ask.

What are my thoughts on creating a color palate for bridal party and guest alike? Love it! I’m a big fan of the new monochrome trend. It makes your guests feel like they are part of the wedding party and results in great pictures. Just give plenty of notice and stick to colors or hues in a common wardrobe.

I loved the way Saidah’s vision of navy wedding came to fruition.  It certainly created a cohesive and nautical look.  Perfect for a ceremony on the beach!

Location: Wrightsville Beach, Access #2

 

Ingrid & Neal | June 16, 2016

Yes, the majority of
our weddings do take place on location as planned, but when the weather doesn’t cooperate it’s always nice to have a good “Plan B”.  Deciding to move the ceremony inside is ultimately up to the bride and groom, but we try to make it easier by offering a professional option and preparing for both possibilities so the couple can make that decision as late as possible.

On the morning of Ingrid and Neal’s wedding there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, however; sustained winds of 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph had this bride and groom reconsidering their ceremony location.  We had discussed the possibility of moving their ceremony inside during the rehearsal, but decided to wait until a few hours before start time to make the call.  We arrived onsite prepared for both options, and invited the couple to meet us on the beach.  A few minutes later we were headed inside to talk to the banquet manager.

Fortunately the Courtyard Marriott has a great ballroom and a wonderfully accommodating crew.  Kudos to the Nellie and her team for helping make this ceremony so beautiful.

Location: Courtyard Marriott, Carolina Beach

LaDester & Tavaris | June 12, 2016

Our brides are always the talk of the beach!  From the moment we place our first chair until the ceremony starts curious onlookers come down to check out the action and ask questions about the ceremony.  The hotel balcony is always full of guests with iPhones in hand hoping to capture a shot of the bride for their vacation reel.  Little girls wrapped in towels stand by the pool fence and cheer as the bride walks out the door.  It’s definitely fun to share in the bride’s special day, and even come down for a quick picture in front of the arbor after the ceremony.  The BSO crew is always happy to step back and take your picture.

I’m not sure if it was the 150 chairs dressed in hot pink sashes or the beautiful flowers provided by Carolina Beach Blooms but this ceremony definitely drew an impressive crowd.  Onlookers came out early and many stayed until the end (watching quietly from a safe distance of course)!

The bride and groom were just as vibrant and fun as their fuchsia color palette painted across the beach.  What can I say, pink was definitely the color of love on this beautiful day.

Location: Courtyard Marriott, Carolina Beach

 

 

 

 

Leslie & Dustin | June 11, 2016

Picking a wedding dress is one of the most important decisions a bride has to make.  It is after all the most talked about and photographed item of the day.  The wedding dress often dictates the formality of an event and influences other key decisions such as flowers and decor.

The trends are ever changing and I love seeing what each girl picks to wear down the aisle.  This year’s bridal fashion has also been particularly fun for beach brides as we’ve seen a move to lighter fabrics and ever shortening hemlines.  I’m convinced the “high low” (longer in the back, shorter in the front) look splashed across cover after cover of bridal magazines is designed with the beach bride in mind.  This hemline certainly lends itself well for an easy barefoot walk through the sand.  When it’s time to head to the reception step into some chique pumps (perhaps in a fun color) and your ready to dance the night away.

Nice job Leslie.  Your dress certainly tops our list of favorites for 2016!

Location: Courtyard Marriott, Carolina Beach

Deanna & Mark | June 4, 2016

White doves provide a unique and memorable way to symbolize two becoming one.  Typically they perform perfectly on queue flying high above the ocean in sweet unison as a beautiful representation of eternal love.  However, even the best trained and most rehearsed do have a tendency to go rouge every now and then as was the case at this wedding.

The bride and groom loosened their grip and presented the doves for flight, but the birds had other plans.  Hopping to the ground for a closer look the snowy white doves strutted up and down the aisle in the light of the photographer’s flash for a good 90 seconds before taking flight and disappearing into the sky.

Location: The Point, Oak Island

Jennifer and Richard | May 22, 2016

Although many of our couples live outside the immediate vicinity, Jennifer and Richard’s beachside ceremony certainly gave new meaning to the term destination wedding.  Their journey to Wrightsville Beach included about 20 hours of airplane travel and drew guests from at least two other continents around world.

The coolest part of this wedding, other than the couple themselves, was the story behind Jennifer’s wedding dress.  Her gown was made in South Korea by a woman the bride never met based on measurements and a description Jennifer provided over the phone.  Fortunately it was a perfect fit!

Location: Access #43, Wrightsville Beach

 

Andrea & Harry | May 20, 2016

Although the bride is the star of the show, when small kids are involved they definitely share the spotlight. With four nieces and nephews of my own (and two more on the way), I definitely understand the desire to include these little darlings in the ceremony. There is nothing more adorable than a crinoline clad two year old toddling down the aisle. However, for most kids under five the odds of achieving this goal unassisted and staying put during the ceremony aren’t very high.

Being separated from mom and dad during the processional can be upsetting.  The long walk through the sand into a sea of unfamiliar faces is often scary or distracting. Not to mention remaining still and quiet for 20-45 minutes isn’t something most 2-4 year olds have mastered.  There are ways to include toddlers in the ceremony and with proper planning the experience can be a positive one for all.

Kids under 3 do best when escorted by a familiar family member or friend.  Holding signs and throwing petals on command while walking on uneven surfaces can be challenging.  Consider decorating a wagon and having older kids pull the younger ones.  Wagons with thick tires actually do quite well in the sand.  Once down the aisle, allow little ones to play quietly on the ground.  A few plastic toys placed strategically to the side typically does the trick.  Assign an adult not involved in the wedding party to chaperone and keep them entertained during the ceremony.  Remember, a wandering child under adult supervision is alway better than a crying child sitting in the audience.  Lastly, recognize kids are cute regardless of what they do.

Although an impromptu hug wasn’t in the plan I think Aunt Andrea and Uncle Henry would agree it definitely made for the perfect ending to their ceremony.

Location: Courtyard Marriott, Carolina Beach

Stacey & Chris | April 24, 2016

When you work a ceremony where the couple has this much fun, loving your job is easy. Yes, wedding planning definitely involves a lot of time and details, but when the big day arrives its best to relax and enjoy. However, this is often easier said than done.

For many brides the ceremony is the stressful part. Walking down the aisle with every eye on you can be a bit intimidating. Tripping over the dress, getting tongue-tided during the vows and botching the first kiss in front of family and friends are frequent worries all brides share. However, these worries rarely materialize.

My advice… sweat the details during the planning process, it will definitely pay-off.  However, when the big day arrives, relish the moment. Stacey and Chris certainly did, everyone did (including our crew)!

Location: Holiday Inn Sunspree Resport, Wrightsville Beach

Stacy & Lee | April 16, 2016

Trading the safety and predictability of an indoor ceremony for a spectacular setting only mother nature can provide does come at a risk.  However, with countless picture perfect nuptials and more than a few last-minute miracles under my belt I can generally say the odds are pretty good if you plan a beach wedding in North Carolina it will most likely happen on the beach.  Nevertheless, every now and then mother nature throws us a curveball we just can’t work around.  Hours of relentless rain, unyielding gale force winds and yes even the occasional hurricane may foil your vision of the perfect seaside ceremony, but it doesn’t have to ruin your wedding.  On days like this its best to order another glass of champagne, try and relax and trust your vendors to handle it.   

Standing inside Stacy’s beach house a few hours prior to the ceremony, all seemed well.  It was a perfect 81 degrees and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, but down at the shore it was a different story.  With 20mph sustained winds and blasts of sand whirling about we all agreed it was time to consider other options. 

Although a veranda wedding wasn’t exactly what the bride had envisioned it turned out to be the perfect alternative.  In the safety of the dunes about 100 yards from our intended location we found just enough wind to give our flags some movement, but not enough to tussle the brides hair.  Not bad for a last minute Plan B!

Location: Wrightsville Beach, NC

 

Natalie & Jason | April 2, 2016

Yes wedding planning is primarily the bride’s domain, but the best weddings are those that take both people’s ideas into account. After all, marriage is all about teamwork. So if your groom is interested in being part of the process, let him and if he isn’t, encourage him to become involved.

Giving your groom special
projects that cater to his interests can really help get him in the wedding spirit and excited about the planning process. It will also show that you value his opinion and trust his judgement. Of course I’m not suggesting handing over full reign of vision and decor, but most grooms are more than capable of helping out with a few specific projects and appreciate being asked to participate.

Natalie and Jason’s seaside ceremony was the perfect mix of her vision and his ingenuity. She handled the music, flowers, food and reception decor. He helped out with the wedding ring selection and directional signage which included a nod to his favorite pastime, fishing!

 

Location: Holden Beach, NC