Hilton Head Monthly Connecting the Lowcountry 
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.’”
SHOW YOUR STYLE WITH THE PERFECT FIRST DANCE SONG
Some couples come to the altar with a tune that’s always been “theirs,” while others hem and haw over finding a first dance song that fits. Lowcountry couple Halle and Nicholas Keiffer didn’t select their first dance song until the week before the wedding, when Nick happened to hear Brad Paisley’s “Then” on the radio.
The humidity may be starting to dissipate (or will soon, we promise!), but love is always in the air on Hilton Head Island. The area’s natural beauty, endless amenities and five-star resorts and clubhouses offer brides and grooms from near and far the perfect place to get hitched.
No matter where you’ll be standing when you say “I do,” there are tons of trends to take into consideration — or just use as inspiration — that shift a bit from season to season. Here are some of the top wedding trends for fall 2017 to help create the vision for your perfect “first day married!” celebration.
A few notes on etiquette for the out-of-town bride.
You know you live in a beautiful area when it’s on the list of top destination wedding sites in the United States. Brides from Maine to Michigan choose the Lowcountry as the locale for the most important day of their lives, and with that decision comes a significant amount of special circumstances and unique wedding planning decisions.
Once your engagement is announced, the planning process begins. This timeline will help keep you on track when it comes to planning a stress-free wedding. (Yes, it’s possible, right?)
While most toasts are for the bride and groom, there is much to be celebrated at a wedding. The newlyweds may toast their bridesmaids and groomsmen, as well as their families, friends and guests.
Build a buzz around your wedding with photos, videos and other digital tools.
The band or DJ will stop playing, the cake and food will be eaten, the flowers will sadly die. How will you make your memories of this day last? Turn to your photos and videos. This area is home to many fantastic photographers to fit any budget — from students to celebrity photographers who have retired to the Lowcountry.
