Hilton Head Monthly Voice Voice of the Lowcountry 
Mark your calendars! Monthly Media proudly presents the 2016 Hilton Head Bridal Show hosted by The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa on February 7, 2016.
Whether your dream wedding is a small and intimate beach gathering or an extravagant country club affair, Hilton Head Island is the perfect destination.
It’s no secret that Hilton Head Island and Bluffton are full of wedding venues. Couples travel from all over the country to get married here for that very reason. Depending on the size of your wedding, your budget and the style and vibe you are looking for, you are sure to be able to find something in the area. One of the most sought-after venues is The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. Stretched along the island’s pristine sandy beaches, this AAA Four-Diamond oceanfront resort is an ideal wedding location for a variety of reasons. Because of the endless options, exceptional food and service, comfort of the resort, and oh — that spa! — The Westin is one venue that should not be missed.
Preparation for the wedding day started months, maybe years ago … and it is finally here! The bride walks down the aisle to her smiling (or crying) groom and everything is perfect. But where will the biggest and happiest day of your life take place? And how do you choose?
Here in Hilton Head, weddings are more of a weekend getaway rather than a single day event. They can involve a rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception and even a farewell brunch for the family and friends of the bride and groom. Because of the trending multi-event wedding, couples are booking at all-in-one venues more often to simplify wedding planning. An all-in-one venue is most often a full-service hotel, country club or private club that is capable of hosting all the weekend events the bride and groom are looking for.
After years of Pinterest trends morphing weddings into more casual or uniquely themed events, this summer’s weddings are returning to tradition in everything from décor to flowers to cakes.
Locals know it’s not uncommon to walk by three weddings on the beach on a typical Saturday in the summer. Locals also know that while the Lowcountry’s beauty shines through no matter the season, the summer gives us temps that hover in the 90s and humidity so thick it forces many of us inside. So what makes June, July and August so popular for destination weddings on Hilton Head?
Love in the Lowcountry
Allison Wessel and Nick Cuca wanted to treat their guests to an authentic Lowcountry wedding. Though Wessel grew up in the Lowcountry, her groom was from Chicago, where the couple lives, and for many of their guests, the wedding would be their first time on Hilton Head Island.
“We wanted to make it feel like you weren’t just anywhere, you were in the Lowcountry,” said Wessel, 28, a digital manager for the McDonald’s Corporation. “There’s no better place for that than Honey Horn. It being an outdoor venue was just perfect.”
We asked couples who attended Hilton Head Monthly's 2015 Hilton Head Bridal Show to submit an engagement photo for a chance to have their wedding featured in an upcoming issue. Photos were posted to our Facebook page and readers voted on their favorite couple using "likes."
When planning a wedding, one area you won’t want to overlook is the food. Next to how the bride looked or how great the entertainment was (or wasn’t), the food that is served at weddings is one of the top talked-about topics among guests.
When you hear “‘green’ wedding,” does the image of a barefoot, hippie bride with a flower halo getting married in a field come to mind? Think again. “Green” weddings — which incorporate environmentally friendly practices — are on the rise all over the country with all types of people.
As many people become more conscious about their environmental footprints, even brides and grooms are finding ways to go “green” at their weddings. Whether you’re incorporating just a few eco-friendly practices or you are planning an all-out eco-friendly affair, there are a variety of ways to have a “green” wedding. From flowers, décor, food, paper and even transportation, rest assured you can feel good about your wedding’s impact on the earth on your big day — and here are a few tips on how:
2015 Hilton Head Bridal Show a must-attend event for those planning weddings
Calling all those who are planning weddings. Feb. 8 is for you. For the second year in a row, Monthly Media Group is partnering with The Westin Hilton Head Resort & Spa for the annual Bridal Show. The show is from 12 to 5 p.m. in The Grand Ballroom and promises to be the preeminent source for wedding inspiration and information in the Lowcountry.
The stars of every wedding are the bride and groom. But if there were a third star at the reception, it would have to be the wedding cake. Traditionally, a white multi-tiered cake has been the go-to for many brides. But today's brides have a wider range of options, and many are choosing cakes that better match their style. Cupcakes, colors and more now rule the wedding cake table. With the wider variety of styles, choosing the perfect cake is easier than ever. Below are five trends that we are in love with.
All About Family
What’s your favorite part of a wedding? When asked this question, so many people love to answer: “Seeing the groom’s reaction to his bride.” The look on the groom’s face when his bride walks down the aisle says everything, doesn’t it? With all the focus on the bride, sometimes it’s so spectacular to see what the groom has to say.
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.
