Hilton Head Monthly Voice Voice of the Lowcountry 
CREATING A GREAT WEDDING VIBE WITH A MOOD BOARD
Once upon a time, when a couple decided to get married they set the date, bought a dress and a cake and picked colors they liked — traditionally two — to use in everything from bridal party attire to reception décor. While that still happens, these days couples are thinking more about the mood they want to set than the colors they’d like to use.
COUPLES STILL FALL IN LOVE WITH TRADITIONAL WEDDING CAKES
The sweetest part of a wedding is, of course, the moment when two people who love each other make that lifetime commitment with the words “I do.”
A close second, however, is the dessert guests are served hours afterward. And despite the national trends of candy stations, cookie-and-milk shooters and late-night sugary cereal bars, the traditional wedding cake still holds court at Lowcountry wedding receptions.
SOCIAL MEDIA HELPS COUPLES CUSTOMIZE THEIR CELEBRATIONS
A wedding is one of the biggest social events out there, and social media has ramped up every aspect, from the day she says “yes” to the propsal to the moment the couple says “I do” at the altar.
These days, it seems like an engagement isn’t official until it’s seen on social media.
1. The Threshold:
According to ancient tradition, the groom would pick up and carry his bride into the bedroom to protect her from evil spirits. In the old days, the bride would often resist and not give in to her new husband’s intentions.
2. Something Blue: The old saying “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe” dates back to Victorian England. The saying symbolizes purity, fidelity and love, and the silver coin in the shoe is a good-luck token to bring the couple wealth.
FIRST COMES LOVE, THEN COMES PAPERWORK
If you’re getting married in the Lowcountry, you’ll need to apply for a marriage license in person at the Beaufort County office of the probate judge. You and your fiancé will both need to be present and present your full names, Social Security numbers, ages and places of residence. This is a sworn statement, so you’ll both sign the document and it will be notarized in the office.
PROFESSIONALS CAN HELP EASE WEDDING STRESS
With a plethora of Pinterest ideas and other information available online, right at every bride’s fingertips, today’s couples can do plenty of wedding planning on their own. But things go smoother with the help of professionals. Bride Amy Loizides found this out when Hurricane Matthew battered Hilton Head Island one week before her planned Oct. 15, 2016, nuptials to Jason Loizides. In that moment, Celebrations Catering & Events coordinator Jackie Brino became more than a wedding planner: She became a miracle worker. “Jackie Brino really saved the day; she was a huge help,” said Amy, whose planned Honey Horn wedding went off without a hitch thanks to a last-minute move to Windows on the Waterway.
GREAT FOOD AND LIBATIONS ARE CROWD PLEASERS
When Maggie Lowther and Robbie Kelly got married, they wanted a truly Southern meal to match their casual Southern vibe. Jimmy Fitts Catering delivered just that, wowing the crowd at their September wedding at Honey Horn with fried chicken made on-site, baked chicken, mac and cheese and collard greens.
PETALS, GREENERY SHOWCASE LOVE IN FULL BLOOM
Wedding flowers are not just pretty accessories to have and to hold. They can also help showcase your personal style or your unique love story. Just ask Bluffton bride Halle Keiffer. For her May 2017 nuptials to Nicholas Keiffer at Maurene Plantation in Hardeeville, she carried a simple bouquet of greenery, light pink and white roses, and gold-tipped deer antlers, a personal touch that was the perfect nod to the couple’s love of the outdoors.
BE OPEN-MINDED TO FIND YOUR DREAM WEDDING WARDROBE
On the day of your wedding, all eyes are on you. You’ll want to look and feel your best, which means finding the dress that fits both your style and your personality. When Hilton Head Island bride Caroline Santorum didn’t find a single wedding dress she loved, she bought two and combined them to create the perfect princess gown.
TO KEEP YOUR CEREMONY ON TRACK WITH THESE TIPS
When Katherine and Mike Palmeri look back on their October wedding at Palmetto Bluff, their minds go immediately to one thing: the ceremony itself, which the couple wrote together, including their vows.
“Neither of us is religious, but it was really nice for us to write the whole thing together,” Katherine said.
THESE TECH TIPS WILL KEEP YUOR #WEDDINGGAME STRONGA
Social media is perfect for milestones like your wedding day. But before you announce your engagement by changing your relationship status on Facebook or sharing the perfect shot of your ring on Instagram, let your closest friends and family in on your big news. And then be ready to watch your social media channels light up with “likes.”
HOW TO KEEP THE GUEST LIST FAIR AND MANAGEABLE
One of the biggest decisions in planning your wedding is the guest list. It sets the mood for the rest of the planning, along with the party itself. Katherine and Mike Palmeri wanted an intimate event, so they stayed on the same guest list page, inviting only close friends and relatives.
PLAN THE BIG DAY WITH A REALISTIC BUDGET AND STICK TO IT
Casey and Joshua Tierney got married last July in Bluffton on a strict budget that necessitated a solid plan.
“Josh and I paid for the wedding ourselves,” Casey said. “And we really wanted a sit-down dinner and open bar at Callawassie Island Clubhouse, so that was most important to us. And everything else was ‘Let’s see what we can do.’”
