Mama might know best, but sometimes compromise is the name of the game. “Lanier wanted a boho wedding with barefoot maids in flower crowns, and her mom wanted a formal gala,” says photographer Marni Rothschild. Laughs Lanier’s mom, “We worked really hard to merge the two.” It was no easy feat, considering there were events at Kiawah Island’s well-heeled Cassique Club, Ocean Club, and River Course for WED to plan, along with a ceremony at Lanier’s parents’ home. In the end, guests were rewarded with a one-of-a-kind jaunt throughout the island, and as for that ceremony, it was especially unforgettable. Lanier walked down terraced steps (where Luke had first professed his love to her two years prior) to exchange vows in the backyard as 250 guests looked on. “Lanier and Luke could see everyone whichever way they looked,” her mother says. Sounds like they struck the perfect balance.
Tips
• Blend in. White blooms flanked the home’s terraced steps for a lush aisle that didn’t upstage the natural scenery or existing plantings.
• If you use family heirlooms like china, take out insurance, make a list of the pieces, and deliver them to your planner a week beforehand.
• Work in soft hues via subtle ways, like this wedding’s drink with lavender sprigs and bridesmaids in pale lilac pashminas.
• To make a dining area feel formal yet familial, mix table shapes and sizes, as if each were pulled from your own collection.
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