Katie & Mike | The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island



Katie and Mike met through work (she was the chief of staff for the Republican National Congress and he was her predecessor), so it made sense that his proposal was touched by politics as well, albeit across the pond. As she explained to St. Louis magazine, Mike is half-British and one of their first photographs snapped together was in front of 10 Downing Street (headquarters of the Prime Minister). After they’d been dating for some time, he invited her to a New Year’s Eve party at 10 Downing; the party was a ruse, the address and his proposal there wasn’t. Because Katie always dreamed of a beach wedding, they headed to Kiawah Island for the festivities. Why Charleston for this well-traveled pair? “I was shocked by how many hotels up and down the East Coast didn’t have great venue space that incorporated the beach and ocean,” says Katie. “After visiting what felt like dozens of venues one of my very best friends (the gentleman who walked me down the aisle) recommended I visit The Sanctuary. It was exactly what I had envisioned.” Add direct flights from Washington D.C., the Lowcountry food she and Mike love, and everything came together. On the day itself, Katie’s vision—“To have all of the people we love in one spot, with the beach and ocean in the background, for a special getaway weekend where we celebrated not only our love for each other but all of our friends and family who had helped us get to that point in our lives…”—played out in stunning fashion. Curious? Let the photos from Perry Vaile introduce you to the elegant day styled by Ooh! Events.  

Floral: Out Of The Garden | Images: Perry Vaile Photography | Videography: By Design Films | Venue: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island | Catering, Cake + Drinks: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island | | Ceremony Music: Charleston Virtuosi Quartet | Reception Music: Atlanta Groove Factory | After Party Music: DJ Illumination | Dishware Rentals: Polished | Officiant: Doug Farmer | Hair + Makeup: Paper Dolls

The Wedding Row

March 4 2019
Even though Anna, a Wilmington native, and Bobby, who is from Mount Pleasant, dated for over four years after swiping right on each other, they never really talked about getting married … they just...

March 1 2019
Kitty and Kyle met during their freshman year at Clemson, but they didn’t begin dating until they got to know each other as study partners a few years later. After two years, a move to Charleston,...

February 28 2019
Bissell and Jack may live in Atlanta, but Charleston has played a large part in their relationship, from their dating days through their engagement and now with their wedding. Bissell’s mother is...

February 27 2019
Today’s styled shoot takes place on the patio of 5Church, a downtown church-turned-restaurant that doubles as a wedding venue. Nicki Paige, owner of wedding planning company Nicki Paige Collection,...

February 26 2019
Christa met Andrew when she first moved into the same Charlotte, North Carolina, townhome complex as him in 2013. For a while, they were just passing acquaintances, until he asked her out for drinks...

February 25 2019
We’ve got the world of modern dating to thank for this gorgeous celebration at Boone Hall Plantation. Christiana and Bud met on Tinder, and after chatting on the app for a while, they met up for a...

February 22 2019
Nadja and Ryan both grew up in Sarasota, Florida, but they didn’t meet until they were in college (and on her 21st birthday, no less). A decade of dating later, he surprised her with a 10th...

February 21 2019
We so want to be friends with these two Charleston high-school sweethearts. Ask when they met and Jackie will tell you it was went they were 15 years old, she was in braces, and neither could drive...