Hilton Head Monthly Magazine Voice of the Lowcountry 
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.
Love at First Sight
In the summer of 2007, which many of their close friends and family call “The Summer of Love,” Ryan Olson and Abby McDougall met at a fish fry at the McDougall home. Olson's brother, Erik, had just moved in across the street and he was visiting for the summer. To this day, Olson claims there was a light shining specifically on McDougall’s head when he first saw her. It’s his version of love at first sight.
Alli Meany was born and raised in northwest New Jersey, but was drawn to South Carolina as a young adult and attended the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where she studied criminal justice. Even at an early age, Alli displayed a passion and aptitude for planning.
Getting engaged is a momentous event and something that you’ll never forget. Whether the proposal is incredibly elaborate or perfectly simple, it is that life event that changes everything.
Some brides know exactly, word for word, what her fiancé said or did while proposing. For other brides, it’s a bit a blur. In any case, when the dust has settled and you are, in fact, officially engaged, all brides-to-be ask: “Now what?”
