Off the Grid | A private ceremony on Wadmalaw Island proves that a wedding just a hop, skip, and sail away from where you grew up can be as remote as it is romantic
November 4, 2017 • Rockville & Sea Island Yacht Club
Who knew that a miniscule, 12-pound Maltipoo named Floyd would be the impetus behind such a weighted question as “Will you marry me?” Certainly not Anna West, who, after being jarred awake one leisurely Saturday morning by Britt Alexander, bolted outside to help him dislodge a bone that he said was locked in Floyd’s jaws. “The scenario wasn’t far-fetched so I hurried up and out to see what was going on,” says Anna. Barefoot and pajama-clad, the Holy City native was stunned to find her boyfriend, not a panicked pup, outside and kneeling in the backyard. As if that weren’t enough to wake Anna up on the right side of the bed, Britt next-leveled the day with a congratulatory brunch with their families at her parents’ home in the Old Village in Mount Pleasant and a subsequent surprise party in downtown Charleston with local and out-of-town friends.
And while the couple says their memory of that giddy day was nothing short of special, it was also a bit hazy, what with the hullabaloo unfolding around them. There was one aspect, though, that Anna had extreme clarity on from the get-go. “My mom is an incredible cook and has a knack for hosting with ease,” says the Clemson grad. “I knew I would want to channel her and her aesthetic wherever I could.”
With that at the forefront, Anna headed some 40 minutes outside of town to the sleepy fishing village of Rockville, where her family has long had a weekend home, and locked down the unassuming Sea Island Yacht Club for the reception. Then, since her sister is her other biggest style icon, Anna hired a planner who had worked alongside Sarah West at Spoleto—Blake Sams of Gregory Blake Sams Events, known for making the festival’s A-list celebrations effortlessly elegant.
From there, Anna and Britt’s autumn nuptials fell into place seamlessly, at least save for where to host the ceremony. With a guest count of several hundred that precluded the use of the couple’s first pick—the nearby Rockville Community Chapel, built in 1851 with room for 100 people—Blake worked the local angle to secure a private island adjacent to the reception site and accessible via one skinny, sandy path. Anna and Britt thought it was perfect, perfectly Lowcountry, and perfectly Rockvillian with its stately “boneyard” tree and surrounding marshes. Plus, as the day faded, golden beams of the setting sun acted as a spotlight on the patch of ground where they would exchange vows.
“We celebrated with a lot of my favorite people who I’ve met along the way here in Charleston,” says Anna, satisfied. “And,” she adds, “in one of The Lowcountry’s most naturally beautiful spots.” So it happened, another twosome putting down their own roots in the Lowcountry with Mother Nature as the most gracious of witnesses.
Here’s a sweet-as-pie love story for your Monday. These newlyweds first met in college at Furman University after Ashley asked for Emily’s help in their shared computer class. Little did Emily know,...
Happy Friday, lovelies. To start the weekend off on a high (and crazy pretty) note, we present to you the wedding of Alexandria and Chandler. University of South Carolina alum Alex met her future...
When Hurricane Florence hit, Jacqueline and Matthew, only a week out from their wedding, feared the worst. With their hometown of Southport, North Carolina, completely flooded, it seemed like...
Funnily enough, romantic gestures aren’t the only way to find love. New York natives Lauren and Austin met when he boldly cut in front of her in line outside of a bar in the Hamptons. She took notice...
Believe it or not, produce (yup, apples and oranges!) is what brought Emily and Anthony together. The pair met online and had their first date at the SoWa Market, the Boston equivalent of our 2nd...
Dockside just happens to be our best side and it seems to be Franzi and Martin’s, too. The duo, who both hail from Germany, flew all the way to our beloved Charleston just to document their...
After meeting at Wake Forest University in 2009 and being drawn together by what she describes as fate (more about that later … ), Stephanie and Greg officially tied the knot here in the Holy City....
Although high school sweethearts Maddie and Jackson may not be evenly matched on the athletic field (the pair’s first encounter involved Maddie whipping Jackson’s tail in a game of volleyball) they...
One of the Lowcountry’s most iconic venues might be known for massive weddings, but see how they are throwing open their storied gates for microweddings and elopements
Wedding cakes may be a centuries-old tradition, but that hasn’t stopped them from evolving right alongside wedding design. Here, we share a few swoon-worthy styles by local pastry chefs.
