Fantastic Folly Beach



Fantastic Folly Beach | Jacquelyn Glover & Jeremy Hiott; June 5, 2009, Folly Beach

“We were the designers, coordinators, and stationers,” says bride Jacquelyn Glover, who married fellow Charleston native Jeremy Hiott last summer on Folly Beach, and celebrated afterward at the waterfront park’s Pelican Watch Shelter. The pair says about 30 percent of the wedding was DIY, 50 percent was gifted, and 20 percent came from hired help. “Everything was so personal and meant so much because it was all done for us by someone we love,” says Jacquelyn. “The cake (baked by a bridesmaid), the centerpieces (assembled by friends), the invitation map (drawn by Jeremy’s mother), the huppah (built by Jeremy and his dad), the first dance (choreographed by a bridesmaid)—they weren’t just pretty details at our wedding, “ says Jacquelyn, “they were the time and effort of our family and friends.”


Cost-Saving Tips

The Location

It cost $400 to book the Folly Beach County Park shelter from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Had the couple rented it all day (till 11:30 p.m.), the rate would have been $825, and they would have had to hire mandatory night security, too.

The Attire

The Bride’s Gown: Jacquelyn’s gown, from local dressmakers LulaKate, cost less than most from national designers.
The Bride’s Hair: The bride (a photographer) bartered a portrait session with her stylist in exchange for an updo.
The Bridal Party: Bridesmaids chose off-the-rack summer dresses in coordinating greens.

The Details

The Décor: The bridal party assembled florals in containers the couple gathered from Big Lots and the Community Thrift Store.
The Stationery: The groom and his mother created the entire stationery suite, and the couple addressed envelopes themselves.
The Food: Serving a light brunch was less expensive than a bigger, more elaborate meal.
The Tunes: The couple created their own playlist but rented a sound system and hired a sound pro to oversee music during their reception.

What they learned

Research: After buying expensive muslin curtains they found out that stapling anything to the park structures was against the rules.

Total Spent: $7,000


Vendors

Bride’s hair: Sarahdina Parker, Broadway Images, (843) 553-3260
Bridal bouquet & flowers: Lotus Flower
Catering and rentals: Cricket & Kyle’s Catering
Photography: Karyn Iserman Distinctive Portraiture
Stationery supplies: If It’s Paper, (843) 763-4423
Sound operator: ARP Studio
Sound equipment: Fox Music House
Wedding gown: LulaKate
* Non-listed aspects of this wedding were done by the couple, their families, and their wedding party