Open-Air Elegance

WRITER CREDIT:

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

Open-Air Elegance | Head to Spring Island for a stunning open-air fete where style meets sweet Southern details

Charleston Wedding Berlin’s for Men Aqua outdoor wedding wedding wedding cake Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal Bella Bridesmaid Spring Island Studio R ooh! events Snyder Events gown maddison row Quiana Parler runnymede Shoes Stems WED

Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography on Spring Island.

Stationery by Studio R. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography.

Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography at the Spring Island Tabby Ruins.

FIELD OF DREAMS: Simple wooden chairs gathered around the ruins formed a hallowed ceremony site.

Florals by HB Stems. Rentals by Ooh! Events and Snyder Events. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography.

Ceremony music by Ian Grimshaw. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography at the Spring Island Tabby Ruins.

Flower girl dresses from Janie and Jack. Florals by HB Stems. Bridesmaid dresses by Amsale from Bella Bridesmaids. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography.

Wedding design and coordination by Katie Huebel of WED. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography at the Spring Island Tabby Ruins.

Florals by HB Stems. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography.

Bridal gown by Romona Keveza from Maddison Row. Groom’s attire from Berlin’s for Men. Florals by HB Stems. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography at the Spring Island Tabby Ruins.

Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography on Spring Island.

Caroline wore Legends by Romona Keveza from Maddison Row; Edward wore a tuxedo from Berlin’s for Men.

WELL-SUITED: Caroline wore Legends by Romona Keveza from Maddison Row; Edward wore a tuxedo from Berlin’s for Men.

Bridal gown by Romona Keveza from Maddison Row. Groom’s attire from Berlin’s for Men. Florals by HB Stems. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography at the Spring Island Tabby Ruins.

Flower girl dress from Janie and Jack. Florals by HB Stems. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography at the Spring Island Tabby Ruins.

LUXE LIFE: The dining hall tent, with its honey-toned wooden floors, mercury-glass drum shades, and gently gathered fabric draping, was an oasis of elegance in the open field.

HB Stems married fresh blooms with driftwood pieces; displaying them in glass took the look from rustic to sophisticated.

The bird-and-branch fabric runners tied the day’s color palette and nature-meets-elegance style together.

Tables set outside the tents encouraged guests to explore the site.

Florals by HB Stems. Specialty décor from WED. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography.

Florals by HB Stems. Linens and specialty décor from WED. Wedding design and coordination by Katie Huebel of WED. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography.

Florals by HB Stems. Linens and specialty décor by from WED. Wedding design and coordination by Katie Huebel of WED. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography.

Linens from WED. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography on Spring Island.

Florals by HB Stems. Linens from WED. Rentals and lighting by Ooh! Events, Snyder Events, and TEC. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography on Spring Island.

Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal’s buttercream confection sported a pattern inspired by the table linens.

Florals by HB Stems. Linens from WED. Rentals by Ooh! Events and Snyder Events. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography.

Rentals by Ooh! Events, Snyder Events, and TEC. Wedding design and coordination by Katie Huebel of WED. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography.

Bridal gown by Romona Keveza from Maddison Row. Groom’s attire from Berlin’s for Men. Reception entertainment by Quiana Parler & Friends. Rentals by Ooh! Events, Snyder Events, and TEC. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography.

Lighting by TEC. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography on Spring Island.

Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography on Spring Island.

Rentals by Ooh! Events, Snyder Events, and TEC. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography on Spring Island.

Lighting by TEC. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography on Spring Island.

Bridal gown by Romona Keveza from Maddison Row. Groom’s attire from Berlin’s for Men. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography.

Lighting by TEC. Image by Elisabeth Millay Photography on Spring Island.

Photographs by:

Elisabeth Millay

Caroline McMahon & Edward Taylor

May 11, 2013, Spring Island Tabby Ruins

Caroline McMahon was born in Winnetka, Illinois, but she seems meant to be a Southern belle. Case in point: the first time the Southern Methodist University grad met Clemson student Edward Taylor, she told him she was from Beaufort. “No, you’re not,” said the native of the sleepy fishing village, “I know every girl in town.” Caroline’s wishful thinking wasn’t pure fiction; she’d grown up visiting nearby Spring Island, and her parents have lived there for years. Add in SMU, and she says she was just trying on her Southern persona. It was a great fit with Edward, and the two were pretty much inseparable after their first encounter. Two weeks later, he picked her up by boat to meet his family, and a year after that, he proposed on his parent’s dock. Spring Island had been Caroline’s dream wedding spot since girlhood, and “that Edward was born and raised in the area sealed the deal,” she says. Aiming for an outdoor wedding in view of the 1850s plantation house tabby ruins there, the couple recruited Katie Huebel of WED to build a tented dining hall and dance club in the otherwise bare fields. “Though it involved a lot of logistics and the anxiety of an entirely outdoor ceremony and reception,” says Caroline, “Katie and WED did a phenomenal job of relieving us and our families of any ounce of stress.” The final verdict on the day vows were exchanged? “It was beautiful,” says Caroline.

Island: Spring Island
Distance from Charleston: 90 miles south
Personality: Barrier island golf resort
Best Bet to Wed There: Resort membership or sponsorship by a member
Info: SpringIsland.com; (843) 987-2200
Like Spring Island? You’ll Also Dig: Kiawah Island Golf Resort (800/654-2924; www.KiawahResort.com); Runnymede Plantation (843/737-6117; www.EventsatRunnymede.com)

Vendor List:

Bride’s Gown: Romona Keveza from Maddison Row, www.maddisonrow.com

Bride’s Shoes: Tory Burch, www.toryburch.com

Bridesmaid’s Attire: Amsale from Bella Bridesmaids, www.bellabridesmaids.com

Cake: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal, www.weddingcakesbyjimsmeal.com

Catering and Pie Baker: Spring Island, www.springisland.com

Ceremony Music: Ian Grimshaw

Ceremony and Reception Location: Spring Island Tabby Ruins, www.springisland.com

Flower Girl’s Attire: Janie and Jack, www.janieandjack.com

Florist: HB Stems

Groom’s Attire: Berlin’s for Men, www.berlinsclothing.com

Hair: Aqua Medspa and Salon, www.aquamedspaandsalon.com

Linens and Specialty décor: WED, www.charlestonevent.com

Photography: Elisabeth Millay Photography, www.elisabethmillayphotography.com

Reception Entertainment: Quiana Parler & Friends, www.quianaparlerandfriends.com

Rentals: Ooh! Events (www.theartofcreating.com), Snyder Events (www.snyderevents.com), TEC (www.technicaleventcompany.com)

Stationery: Studio R, www.studio-r-design.com

Wedding Design and Coordination: WED, www.charlestonevent.com

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