Hilton Head Monthly Voice Voice of the Lowcountry 
HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS SAVOR THEIR DREAM WEDDING
In high school, Abby Hicks greeted Parris Winstead as she was walking down the hall to class. Little did she know the impression she made in that moment. Parris was instantly in love.
“I knew I was going to marry her from the moment I saw her,” he said.
A SUNSET WEDDING CELEBRATES THE BLENDING OF TWO CULTURES
Alyssa Gillis and Humberto Garcia Cruz got lucky: their wedding took place just before South Carolina’s Gov. Henry McMaster prohibited large gatherings due to the coronavirus. But the bigger stroke of luck, according to the Hilton Head couple, is that they found each other at all.
Gillis grew up on Hilton Head Island with her twin sister and parents. Garcia Cruz grew up in Morelos, Mexico, just south of Mexico City. Her determination to become fluent in Spanish brought them together as co-workers at a Mexican orphanage in 2013.
Every destination wedding requires a fabulous wedding destination, of course. But it takes a savvy couple like Lucie and Kyle Duffy to truly honor and capture the magic of both.
The Duffys, who met in Chicago and now reside in London, were married at Sea Pines Country Club on May 4, 2019. But playing the role of good Hilton Head Island hosts to their 130-plus guests began days earlier. From rounds of golf to beach outings, as well as a cocktail reception, an intimate bridal luncheon and a wedding-eve welcome dinner for 125 people at Dockside, the couple helped their loved ones take full advantage of the getaway and the island before the wedding day even dawned.
The types and combinations of popular wedding flowers come and go, but one trend with staying power is the bridal bouquet. We asked local wedding florists for the inside scoop on today’s trends, inexpensive alternatives, timeless wedding flowers and the latest ways couples are letting nature beautify their nuptials.
Many brides already have an idea of what they want their wedding dress to look like before they even begin shopping. And, maybe more importantly, they often have in mind what they don’t want their dress to look like.
But whatever your preferences, it’s easier for that perfect dress image to come into focus if you understand the styles and hues that flatter you to the fullest. We asked Christina Vicaro of Lowcountry Bride & Gown and Cassandra Gamble of Blush Bridal & Formal Wear to help us help you.
Your wedding day is just that: 24 hours that seem to be over in a flash.
Thankfully, a skilled photographer can capture the best moments from that whirlwind day, providing a lasting way to relive the magic for years to come.
DANCE INSTRUCTION HELPS COUPLES FIND THEIR RHYTHM
It’s becoming more popular to have your wedding dance professionally choregraphed. Some brides and grooms are even building their wedding themes around the dance. People are also willing to spend more time preparing for this special moment, which gives them more “together” time to get know each other in a different way.
Sunday, February 16, 2020 1:00PM – 4:00PM, Sonesta Resort Hilton Head
FRIENDSHIP FOLLOWED BY MARRIAGE IS A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
There is something to be said for marrying your best friend. Combining romance with companionship brings out the best qualities in both types of relationships. It seems couples that have this connection have it figured out — couples like Jennifer and Vinny Matalavage.
Jennifer and Vinny met in college at Penn State Hazleton, sitting next to each other in class and working together on group projects. They really connected as friends and when Vinny began looking for a roommate in 2014, he was excited to learn that Jenny had a job in the same area: “We cleared it with our parents first and then became roommates.”
OUT OF TRAGEDY COMES A SECOND CHANCE AT LOVE
The Lowcountry is a small community where lives intersect in wonderful and terrible ways. For example, take Bluffton resident Daniel Harms, who was battling cancer in the summer of 2017 when he and his wife, Holly, heard about a three-car accident on Buck Island Road that took the lives of local teacher Jesse Floyd and her unborn son, Eli.
Daniel was overcome with emotion after hearing of the tragedy. He didn’t know Floyd’s husband, Ryan, but he told Holly that he could feel his pain.
BRIDE AND GROOM PLANNED A WEEKEND OF CELEBRATION
When a wedding invitation includes an entire weekend full of events including a beach day, you know it’s going to be a good time. And that was the goal for Bluffton residents Ashley Smith and Douglas Lindblad when they were planning their wedding after getting engaged in 2018.
Like many modern-day couples, the pair first met through a dating app. But Hurricane Matthew delayed their first date when Ashley and her children evacuated to North Carolina, and Doug, who was doing tree work at the time, stayed on Hilton Head Island to help in the aftermath of the storm. Doug was also a member of the National Guard and was waiting to hear if he was going to get called up.
The 13th annual Hilton Head Bridal Show will be the premier event of the year for brides, grooms, families, and wedding parties. Come see the best vendors Hilton Head has to offer to give you the wedding of your dreams!
With dozens of fantastic vendors under one roof, you can meet many bridal professionals, see their work and get an idea of who would be the best fit to help you bring your vision to life. You can taste cakes, view wedding portraits, and see the latest in bridal fashions — including bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, tuxedos, and suits.
Hilton Head, Bluffton & The Lowcountry listings of local WEDDING PROFESSIONALS.
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Some brides and grooms are currently planning their perfect 2020 weddings, while others are making last-minute adjustments to plans for a wedding that’s just a few months away. Whether your nuptials are next year, in a few weeks or not till 2021, it’s fun to keep an eye on the trends highlighted on wedding websites across the country that are having a moment — or are about to.
