Coastal Elegance at Sea Pines
Three words describe the wedding of Maria Curran and RJ Williams: classic, beautiful and coastal. Isn’t that every Hilton Head Island bride’s dream? A destination wedding of sorts for Curran and Johnston, who reside in Raleigh, North Carolina, but who frequent Hilton Head because of a family home, this wedding reflected the natural environment of Hilton Head and the beauty of Sea Pines. Of course, it was also reflective of the love the couple share and their families.
“I have always thought the marsh in the backyard is extremely calming, and the porch is the first place I go when I arrive in Hilton Head for vacation. RJ and I both love the wildlife in the marsh and at the beach, so we envisioned a coastal but also elegant and classy wedding, just like Hilton Head,” Curran said.
The day of their Oct. 4 wedding, the bridesmaids got ready at the family home. Curran presented her bridesmaids and mother with monogramed robes, and they relaxed on the porch before the ceremony and festivities. The women also had a special luncheon hosted by Curran’s aunt. It was a perfect start to the day.
The ceremony took place at Holy Family Catholic Church. It was a traditional ceremony. The bride wore a beautiful lace and satin gown that fit her tall, slender physique perfectly.
The couple knew they wanted to host their reception at the Sea Pines Country Club because of “the beautiful views and amazing food,” according to Curran. The bride’s mother found some large clamshells that they wanted to incorporate into the coastal design of the wedding. They explained their vision to Dawn at A Floral Affair, and she created a centerpiece more beautiful than the bride could have imagined.
From there, Curran and her wedding planner, Beth Baldwin of Baldwin Events, helped the couple incorporate sand, sand-colored linens, driftwood and candles to complete the look. The overall look was coastal elegance at its finest.
Touches of yellow and light blue also were incorporated into the wedding design. Curran wore a small yellow flower in her hair and the bridesmaids wore off-the-shoulder dresses and carried long calla lily stems.
The bride danced with her father for the first dance, and the emotion was not lost on the guests and was clearly captured by the photographer, R.L. Morris. Curran says her biggest splurge on the wedding was the band, as she and Williams wanted her guests to really enjoy the party. Most important to the bride and groom when planning the wedding? Enjoying a good meal and dancing the night away.
Curran had this piece of advice for other brides planning their own weddings: “The biggest advice I would have would be to work out months before the wedding to reduce stress, stay organized by making lists then checking them off, and try to do everything that you can ahead of schedule so you can enjoy the last few weeks before the wedding with each other. Everyone needs Beth Baldwin in their lives because we couldn’t have kept all of the details straight. She kept us on track while planning, and the wedding day went off without a hitch.”
The couple recently got a puppy named Nilla and frequently visit Hilton Head. Curran said she is blessed to be married to her best friend and said married life has been amazing. From a beautiful wedding to a beautiful marriage, this couple has it all.
Vendor Information:
Wedding Planner: Beth Baldwin
Florist: A Floral Affair
Photographer: Lee Morris of R.L. Morris Weddings www.rlmorrisweddings.com/curran
Hair/Makeup: All About Me Salon
Transportation: The Sea Pines Trolley
Cake: Frankie Cakes
Band: Gentlemen and Their Lady (East Coast Entertainment)
Event Rentals (chairs, linens, bar, etc.): Amazing Event Rentals
Dress: Alexia’s in Raleigh, North Carolina
Invitations: Page Stationary
Host Hotel: The Inn at Harbour Town
Men’s Suits: Jos. A. Bank
Mother of the Bride Dress: Porcupine on Hilton Head
