2010 Bridal Showcase Venue: Colleton River Plantation Club

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the wedding albums from Colleton River Plantation Club are priceless. The private community in Bluffton offers the quintessential Lowcountry backdrop of towering live oaks, meandering marshes, tidal creeks, lakes and the majestic Colleton and Chechessee rivers flowing into Port Royal Sound.

“The views are fabulous for a wedding ceremony,” said David Spivey, director of operations. “We are blessed with the best property in the Lowcountry.”

Indeed, Colleton River is one of South Carolina’s most prestigious private golf communities located only a few miles from Hilton Head Island. It’s tucked back more than four miles off U.S. 278 into a natural preserve, where it’s common to see some of the Lowcountry’s finest wildlife, including foxes, deer and wild turkey.

Colleton River plays host to a very select 10 to 12 weddings a year, and it serves more than the ceremony and reception. “Due to our close proximity to the island, we attract destination weddings,” Spivey said. “Frequently what happens is a bridal luncheon on Friday afternoon, a rehearsal dinner at one of the clubhouses that night, a golf outing for the groomsmen Saturday morning, ceremony and reception that evening and sometimes a party or brunch the next day. We really can manage everything. The fact that we have two different clubhouses really changes it up and provides the feeling of distinct locations. They make it feel like you’re not in the same location.”

The Nicklaus Clubhouse has more than 30,000 square feet of elegant Lowcountry architecture. With the ballroom, dining room and adjoining pub, Colleton River can accommodate small and large weddings. The veranda off the main dining room provides added seating or a special place for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while watching the spectacular sunsets over the finishing holes of the Nicklaus golf course and the scenic Colleton River. The Dye Clubhouse is 18,000 feet of true Lowcountry character with a huge wrap-around veranda and views of Port Royal Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. With seating for more than 100 guests, the Dye Clubhouse is another unique venue for those special occasions.

“It’s very serene and relaxing,” Spivey said. “We try to make it difficult for members to leave.”

Often, out-of-town guests make the wedding their vacation and it’s easy to see why. Guests can rest their heads in uniquely designed private cottages. Cottages may be rented as a whole or in combinations of one to seven bedrooms and are situated near both clubhouses for easy access. The heart of Colleton River is two championship golf courses, designed by Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye, and both ranked by Golf Magazine’s “Top 100 Greatest Courses in the U.S.” For the outdoorsmen, there’s tennis, swimming, hiking, biking, fishing and boating. Or for those who want to sit back, relax and be pampered, Colleton River’s professional staff provide facials and massages.

A wedding is not complete without delectable food. Among Colleton River’s staff is Executive Chef Frank Chiasera, a graduate of Hyde Park, N.Y.’s Culinary Institute, who cooks up exquisite, cutting edge cuisine. He has spent the past 15 years in private membership clubs, including Harbour Club, Charleston, S.C., University Club, Jackson, Miss. and the Citrus Club, Orlando, Fla.

“The people here are fabulous,” Spivey said. “The members are gracious. The cottages are beautiful and well-maintained. The amenities are exceptional. We have a service staff that is the most attentive in the area and a culinary team that does a fantastic job. We have it all.”