Southern Charm



WRITER CREDIT: 
PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT: 
Southern Charm | Enjoy this simple, sweet wedding by the water in Rockville, where the oaks tower, roads are unpaved, and romance is always in the air

Allison Sill & Robert Bowden

September 28, 2013, Grace Chapel & Sea Island Yacht Club

 

Poseidon has taken a special liking to Allison Sill and Robert Bowden—how else to explain the couple’s fateful meeting at an oyster roast at the Beaufort Yacht Club, their first kiss aboard Robert’s boat, the Sea Wolf, and, eventually, a wedding reception on Wadmalaw’s Bohicket Creek? “It’s definitely a thread that weaved throughout our courtship,” laughs Allison. Their nautical history, plus Robert’s wish for a getaway on the Sea Wolf, meant that a waterside venue was a must for their reception, and Rockville’s Sea Island Yacht Club fit the bill. “We fell in love with the sleepy oaks and marsh view,” says Allison. “The sea breeze and rustic facilities make you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time.” Over a whirlwind four-month planning period, Robert locked down a host of local vendors and the venues, including the white-washed 1840s Grace Chapel, while Allison worked out the décor—succulents handpicked from local nurseries, string lights twisted into Mason jars, and burlap pillows she sewed herself. Of the special day, Allison says, “We felt like we had a little corner of the world all to ourselves.”


Island: Wadmalaw Island
Distance from Charleston: 23 miles south
Personality: Founded in 1784, the tiny village, with its dirt roads, picket fences, and live oaks, is old-school Southern charm personified.
Best Bet to Wed There: Membership (or local connections) at the yacht club and churches
Info:  www.TownofRockville.com
Like Rockville? You’ll Also Dig: Charleston Tea Plantation, (843/559-0383;  www.CharlestonTeaPlantation.com); McClellanville (843/887-3712;  www.TownofMcClellanville.com)



Vendor List:
Baker: Cupcake DownSouth, www.freshcupcakes.com
Bar Service: Mix Charleston, www.mixcharleston.com
Bride’s Gown: Fabulous Frocks, www.fabulousfrocksbridal.com/charleston
Bride’s Shoes: Phillips Shoes, www.phillipsshoes.com
Bride’s Earrings: Janine Gibbons Designs, www.etsy.com/shop/JanineGibbonsDesigns
Bride’s Hair Accessory: LulaKate, www.lulakate.com
Bridesmaid Attire: Jean’s Bridal, www.jeansbridalcharleston.com
Bridesmaid Jewelry: Nana Zola, www.etsy.com/shop/nanazola
Catering: Butcher and Bee, www.butcherandbee.com
Ceremony Venue: Grace Chapel, www.stjohnsparishchurch.com/grace-chapel
Florist: Forget Me Nots by Horst Flowers, www.forgetmenotscharleston.com
Flower Girl Attire: Magnolias Bridal Collections, www.magnoliasbridal.net
Groom and Groomsmen’s Suits: Brooks Brothers, www.brooksbrothers.com
Groom and Groomsmen’s Ties: High Cotton, www.highcottonties.com
Groom’s Shoes: Allen Edmonds, www.allenedmonds.com
Linens: Snyder Events, www.snyderevents.com
Hair and Make-Up Artist: Bellezza Salon, www.bellezzasalonspa.com
Musicians: The Bushels, www.thebushels.com
Photography: Anne Liles Photography, www.annephoto.com
Reception Venue: Sea Island Yacht Club, www.seaislandyachtclub.net
Rehearsal Dinner Invitation and Thank-You Notes: Open House, www.openhousecharleston.net
Wedding Invitations: Oak and Orchid, www.etsy.com/shop/oakandorchid

The Wedding Row

September 19 2018
The sparks flew for Cole and Nick one fateful night at a mutual friend’s New Year’s Eve party. Truth be told, both admit to not wanting to attend the festivities, but the two tell us that when they...

September 18 2018
Two weeks before Mike graduated from Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts, he met fellow student Taylor, who was wrapping up her freshman year. After six years of dating, the two had a thriving...

September 17 2018
So we’re back to the offices after having evacuated Charleston due to Hurricane Florence. While we’re thankful that the Lowcountry was spared devastation, it’s obviously bittersweet relief given so...

September 12 2018
From a flying groom (you’ll see) to a floral installation of 875 tulips (yep, we’re totally serious), our Instagram page was certainly filled with excitement during the month of August. As a little...

September 11 2018
Hot times calls for haute trends. From custom newlywed crests to one cutie of a bar-on-wheels, here are our top five takeaways from the current issue of Charleston Weddings magazine. Click here to...

September 10 2018
The Wedding Row: Tell us about the beginning of you as an item. Emily: In 2014 I was home from grad school and I went to the gym. That’s where I met Justin–a new guy who had just moved from...

September 7 2018
A last-minute opening at Carlos Hernandez’s autumn photography workshop at Lowndes Grove Plantation led to today’s minimalist and moody post shot by Rachel Craig. Her big takeaway from the styling,...

September 6 2018
Lindsay and Andrew, who both grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, first met at the Charleston Animal Society’s Firefighter Calendar Debut party and auction. Yep, you read that right. A PG-version of a “Magic...