Cassandra & Marc | August 1, 2015

August 1st marked our first wedding of the year at Shell Island Resort.  I love this location because even at high tide there is always plenty of beach. Summer days are usually hot and active so many brides opt for morning weddings to avoid the heat and the crowds.  Cassandra and Marc’s 10:00am wedding did just that.

Morning weather is pretty predictable, but today was a bit unusual.  The coast was buffered by clouds masking the sun and making for very little wind.   Interestingly, the milky iridescent sky illuminated the beach with an intensity similar to that of a cloud free morning sun.  Parasols were out in full force as the bride made her way down the aisle.  At the conclusion of the ceremony, guests gathered at the end of the aisle for a bubble send-off.  The still air resulted in a great concentration of bubbles creating a fun effervescent effect.  Another fun wedding at Shell Island, can’t wait to post more north end weddings this year!

Location: Shell Island Resort, Wrightsville Beach

Evangeline and Vincent | July 18, 2015

For most brides a wedding
on the North Carolina coast is a destination event that requires several months of logistical planning.  Although some live within a few hours drive, we’ve worked with brides as far away as California and Mexico.  Many make the trip to check out the ceremony location and meet us prior to booking, but a handful don’t lay eyes on their venue until a few days before the big event.

For this North Carolina groom and his Filipino bride micromanaging the details was not an option.  Although we exchanged e-mails and photos in the weeks leading up to their special day it wasn’t until two days before their wedding that we actually got to meet.  For a laid back couple like Evangeline and Vincent the surprises that unfolded during their wedding made it all the more special.

Location: Access #19, Wrightsville Beach

 

Lindsay & Collin | June 20, 2015

Access #12 is not a great spot for parking.  However it’s ideal for a beach wedding if you happen to secure the house located at 11 Sandpiper Lane for the weekend and hire a shuttle service to transport guests to and from your reception venue. June can be a bit warm and today was no exception.   Fortunately the couple planned ahead setting up a refreshment stand in the shaded garden adjoining the first floor of the beach house.  After a quick ceremony on the beach it was back to the air-conditioned shuttles and off to Bluewater Grill for an intracostal front reception.

Although the couple now resides in sunny California they chose to to come back to beautiful North Carolina to say “I do.”  I can’t say I’m surprised.  Spend four years at UNC-Wilmington and you’ll most likely be a life long Wrightsville Beach girl too!

Location: Access #12, Wrightsville Beach

Melena & Dave | June 5, 2015

I love gold on the beach.  It photographs really well and goes great with almost any other color.  Although the majority of our brides typically select a color package to match their bridesmaid dresses I must admit, some of my favorite weddings include color packages in contrasting shades.  This is great advice especially for brides with unique color selections.  Instead of driving yourself crazy trying to match your maids consider introducing a second color.  Navy, gold and plum top my list of favorites as they compliment almost any shade.

June 5th was a beautiful day for a beach wedding.  Aside from perfect weather there were very few people visiting the beach creating a intimate feel.  With almost no humidity and an ever so subtle breeze even those in full suits looked cool and dry as they left the beach and headed to the reception.

I loved how this couple decided to include their moms in the sand ceremony.  It certainly made for a touching moment and a sweet photo.  As the couple recessed down the aisle to “A Beautiful Day” by U2, I couldn’t help but smile.  I can’t imagine a better song to describe this wedding.

Location: Holiday Inn Sunspree, Wrightsville Beach

Jen & Courtney | April 18, 2015

First wedding of the year at the beautiful Wrightsville Beach Holiday Inn Sunspree. One of my favorite things about this property is the dramatic staircase down to the beach. The hotel is shaped like a giant “V” with a pool in the middle and staircases on either side which lead from the third floor dining deck all the way down to the ocean. A two-staircase design is perfect for weddings as it provides beachgoers an alternate route to and from the hotel during the ceremony. From just inside the third floor lobby a bride can watch all the action below; guest seating, bridal party processional and even the groom waiting anxiously at the end of the aisle for a first glimpse of his new bride. However, the glass has a slight tint so those on the beach can’t see the bride. I also love the gazebos at the beach end of each staircase, which create a beautiful frame for the bride to walk through.

Typically, it is the bride’s walk down these stairs, which tops my list of favorite moments at Holiday Inn weddings.  However at Jen and Courtney’s wedding it was the couple’s recessional back up the stairs which I loved most about this special day.

Although Wrightsville Beach’s renourishment efforts were just completed in June 2014, we have already seen the shoreline begin to shrink. So to stay out of the tide line during certain times of day we have started setting up our pavilions  a bit closer to the dunes. With less beach space and a record number of guests participating in the bubble send-off we elected to line everyone up the stairs starting at the beach and ending at the access to the pool. With bubbles flying the happy couple walked through this impromptu “tunnel of love” on their way to the reception.

Location: Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort, Wrightsville Beach

Elizabeth & David | October 25, 2014

The signing of the wedding license typically occurs at the conclusion of the ceremony after all the guests have departed for the reception. Although it is an important part of the wedding the license is rarely photographed or seen by anyone other than the best man and maid of honor.  They usually sign as official witnesses to the marriage just before it is sent to the clerk of court for recordation. A few weeks later the wedding license is returned to the couple where it gets tucked away at the back of file cabinet amongst old tax returns and appliance manuals (at least that’s where I keep mine).
However, in the Quaker tradition signing the wedding certificate is a central part of the ceremony, witnessed by all who attend the wedding and displayed in the home long after the festivities are over.  At this Quaker wedding, a special calligrapher was hired to hand inscribe the couples names, wedding date and marriage declarations on a linen like woven paper that stood nearly three feet tall. Following the exchange of rings the couple was presented with a pen to sign their commitment in ink. Elizabeth’s uncle took special care to ensure each guest then signed below beginning with the immediate family. What a wonderful keepsake of the couple’s commitment to one anther and the promise of support from all that shared their special day.

Location: Shell Island Resort, Wrightsville Beach

Christine & Jimmy | September 20, 2014

There’s no denying the bride is the star of the wedding, but when she opens up the bridal party to darling little ones she best be prepared to share the spotlight.

The ideal flower girl/ring bearer is approximately four to eight years old; young enough to be adorable, yet old enough to follow instructions. Of course when the bride’s favorite niece or nephew falls below the cutoff leaving him or her out may not be an option. Best piece of advice, if your going to include toddlers in your wedding have reasonable expectations and an attentive parent/grandparent nearby just incase things do go awry.

This probably isn’t the exit photo Christine and Jimmy had envisioned in the months leading up to their wedding, but it made for a cute moment which left everyone (including the bride and groom) in stiches. Dylan, the youngest of three kids in the wedding decided to go rouge during the last moments of the ceremony. Fortunately Grandma Liz was seated steps away. Just as the couple turned toward the crowd to be introduced for the first time as husband and wife, a gust of wind grabbed Christine’s veil sending it cascading to the ground. Maid of Honor Stephanie leapt to the platform in an attempt to capture the flailing veil, as Grandma Liz scooped little Dylan from the aisle.

Location: Shell Island Resort, Wrightsville Beach

Taylor & J Jay | September 6, 2014

Wedding friendly homes on Wrightsville Beach are few and far between, but when you’re lucky enough to have family on the island finding the perfect location isn’t a problem. Taylor’s grandparents purchased their vacation getaway more than 30 years ago but loved it so much that they ended up retiring here a few years back. After weathering several hurricanes the house was put on stilts to keep it safe from rising water which inadvertently created the perfect open air oasis for a beach wedding reception.

After a romantic seaside ceremony the couple and their guests adjourned to Taylor’s grandparents home just steps from the beach. The party continued well past sunset beneath the canopy of white lights highlighting a sprinkling of large round tables dressed in neatly pressed white linens. Starfish and burlap accentuated each table and were soon filled with the happy sounds of friends & family.

Favorite moment was watching Taylor and J.Jay pause just long enough to share a heartfelt moment with their parents before beginning the recessional. How sweet is that!

Location: Oxford Street, Wrightsville Beach

Chelsea & Aaron | June 26, 2014

“What happens if it rains?” is by far the most frequently asked question we receive, however believe it or not rain is rarely an issue.  Yes showers are a frequent occurrence, especially in spring and early summer but they rarely last long and it’s pretty easy to work around them.  Typically if a bride can be a bit flexible on her start time she can get married on the beach in North Carolina.  

The morning of Chelsea and Aaron’s wedding the weather forcast was less than ideal with a 90% chance of rain and scattered showers all afternoon.  Fortunately the bride and groom were pretty laid back and we had a retired air traffic controller on the guest list who added some expert advice about the speed and direction of the storm.  As luck would have it we got a break at the exact time the ceremony was set to begin.  Even with a longer than normal ceremony and 100 guests to seat we made it through the whole ceremony without a drop!

Location: Shell Island Resort, Wrightsville Beach

Jessica & Derick | June 26, 2014

Choosing that all important first dance song should be one of the easiest decisions of the wedding planning process, but with so many great options it can be hard to decide. A quick search of “perfect first dance songs” on Google yields more than 37 million results. Clearly this topic has brides-to-be buzzing.

From the classic and romantic to contemporary and cool, there are literally thousands of options, so best start thinking about this early. Also, keep in mind this is one wedding decision the groom will most likely want input so be open to compromise. Consider songs that remind you of a special event, lyrics that describe your relationship or a beat that allows you to flaunt some fancy foot work. Remember choosing a first dance should be fun, so relax, have a glass of wine with your sweety and let the search begin!

Jessica and Derrick’s first dance was certainly memorable and tops my list of most magical moments of the day. Immediately following the bubble send-off the officiate directed guests to circle the bride and groom as the couple shared their very first dance as husband and wife. Their pick, I Won’t Give Up by Jason Mraz. This poignant ballad about a long-lasting relationship with an unforgettable melody is sure to stand the test of time. Good choice guys!

Location: Access #43, Wrightsville Beach