Hilton Head Monthly Voice Voice of the Lowcountry 
Kendra Collins was on Bluffton High School’s golf team when she met J.D. Allison, a native of Houston who was attending the International Junior Golf Academy on Hilton Head Island.
“He said he saw me and fell in love with me,” says Kendra, who married her high school sweetheart at Windows on the Waterway in Hilton Head Plantation.
On the following pages, we’re going to dazzle you with trends and tips on how to pull off the perfect Lowcountry wedding in 2016. We’ll tell you what colors are hot, and how to use technology to take your nuptials from now to wow! We’ll share real wedding stories from brides and grooms who tied the knot last year using many of the amazing vendors we have right here on Hilton Head.
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, may also be celebrated. The newlyweds may toast their bridesmaids and groomsmen, as well as their families, friends and guests. Make a toast sweet and short, try to include something personal, and consider throwing in a famous quote that will make those in attendance smile and or laugh.
Though plenty of people can pull o hosting a wedding on their own, especially with lots of DIY projects, almost every wedding will require hiring professionals.
Luckily, the area is chalk full of top notch wedding industry professionals that are here to serve the booming destination wedding market! There are professionals for every budget, style and personality.
Wedding traditions are as old or new as the couple wants them to be.
Here are seven common examples of bridal traditions:
Planning a wedding isn't all pearls, peonies and parties. Prenup discussions and marriage license applications are every bit as essential as the fun details.
You’ve met the love of your life and you’re ready to tie the knot. But how to propose, and what will you need to make it down the aisle? Here are a few tips to help you on the road to wedded bliss.
Who’s invited to the wedding? Who isn’t? Here are common-sense ways to get your guest list under control.
One of the biggest decisions in planning your wedding is the guest list. The size of your wedding can affect so many other aspects of your big day. If you are planning a large wedding, you’ll need a venue that can accommodate many people, while if you’re hosting a smaller gathering, you’ll want to find a more intimate space. Your guest list will also need to work with your budget — obviously, the more people you invite, the higher the cost.
Every wedding guest secretly hopes for amazing food. Planning a standout menu is easier than you think.
Trust us. The one component you won’t want to skimp on at your wedding is the food. Aside from the music (which often translated to “how the party was”) and how the bride looked, the food is one of the most talked about parts of a wedding. Ever been to a wedding with bad food? We have: rubbery chicken and cold mashed potatoes. Don’t let that be the menu on your big day.
There are a million ways to have flowers at your wedding.
Go over-the-top with mounds of arrangements in opulent vases or go for an understated look with simple blooms in mason jars. Here are a few tips to help you pick the best blossoms for your big day.
Though it’s possible to get any flower at any time of year, your costs will skyrocket if you select flowers that are not in season. Do your homework. Know what will be in bloom when you are getting married and go with those options for your centerpieces, boutonnieres, bouquets, petals for the flower girl and any altar decorations. On average, flowers usually make up about 5 percent to 12 percent of a bride’s overall wedding budget.
Wedding gown shopping can be overwhelming. Know your body type and style preference before you begin the search.
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. But how to find “The Dress” out of the millions of beautiful wedding dresses out there?
The ceremony is perhaps the most important part of your wedding. Make sure it’s both memorable and official.
Before you can walk down the aisle, you need to make sure you’ve filled out all the forms — dotting your “I”s and crossing your “T”s. The ceremony isn’t just a beautiful moment between two people in love; it’s a binding moment in the eyes of both the local government and, depending on your personal preference, your house of worship, and there are several things you need to do before you say “I do.”
Marrying the love of your life is a dream come true. But in all the fun of dreaming up the details of your big day, it’s easy to get caught up in the fantasy — and it’s easy to forget all those magical little elements really add up. That’s why it’s important to be realistic about your budget. What exactly does a wedding cost here in the Lowcountry? Here are some numbers that may bring you to reality.
Create more excitement and 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.
