Written By Melissa Reardon
Photographs By Lucy Cuneo
A transplant from Virginia, Weston “Wes” McAfee vividly remembers the first time he saw his future bride-to-be. Charleston native Dana Elaine...
This August, our 2015 wedding giveaway winners Meghan D’Mello and Ryley McGillis are set to exchange vows at Seabrook Island Club. We caught up with Southern Protocol event designer Lizz Akerman to see how planning was going. “They’ve done a great job,” says Lizz, “and now we’re digging into the design.” With a wish to meld Irish touches (his heritage) with Indian accents (her background) and beach elements (their shared passion), the look honestly could have gone haywire. But that’s where inspiration boards—and professional help—come in. Placing elements side-by-side shows what makes sense together just as much as what’s incongruous or overkill. Take a peek at what they’ve paired up thus far. “We came up with amazing ideas since we have such cool things to work with,” says Lizz.
❶ FANCY PRETTY FABRICS
Peach, ivory, and gold-hued linens will dress tables, while the floral pattern will cover seat cushions atop gold Chiavari chairs. (Fabric: BBJ Linen)
❷ HEAP ON THE FLORALS
Peonies, hydrangeas, and garden roses in these hues will rule Meghan’s bouquet and the rest of the florals (Bouquet: Charleston Stems)
❸ LIGHTEN UP WITH VOTIVES
To add sparkle while pulling in cool, Celtic silver, mercury glass votives will sit in clusters on various surfaces. (Votives: One Kings Lane)
❹ DO YOURSELF A FAVOR
In homage to the couple’s love of great drinks, they’ll gift coasters printed with the recipe for a “McGillis Mule” and local ingredients like mini bottles of Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka. The drink will be served at the reception, too. (Coaster: Ancesserie)
❺ HOLD ONTO A CLASSY CLUTCH
Even the bride’s Taxidermy clutch adds a little gilded touch and a dash of bleached white beachiness. (Clutch: Southern Protocol Boutique)
❻ BE YOUR OWN ICON
Their monogram melds a classic Celtic patterned “M” with India’s national flower, the lotus. (Graphic: Ancesserie)
Vendor List:
Wedding design: Southern Protocol, www.SouthernProtocol.com
Florals: Charleston Stems, www.CharlestonStems.com
Photography: Rachel Doblin (swatches, Firefly, clutch, & votives), www.RachelDoblin.Wordpress.com; Tyler Boye (Flowers), www.TylerBoye.com; Marni Rothschild Pictures (Moscow Mule), www.MarniPictures.com
Clutch: Taxidermy from Southern Protocol Boutique, www.SouthernProtocol.com/Boutique
Coaster, graphics: Ancesserie, www.Ancesserie.com
Fabric: BBJ Linen, www.BBJLinen.com
Votives: One Kings Lane, www.OneKingsLane.com
