Lauren + Jon | The Ocean Course @ Kiawah Island Resort
It’s always an honor when one of my friends asks me to be their wedding planner. Sure, I hear a lot of “but I want you to be a guest too!!” and to be honest—being their trusted confidant on their wedding day means more to me than being just a guest. I get to support them in a different way. I get to be behind the scenes, talk through logistics, brainstorm on solutions, and help them feel at ease going into one of the most important days of their lives. Its truly a joy for me!
Lauren + Jon’s wedding day was no different. This one was FUN! Lauren and I met through our small group a few years back. I got to see her relationship with Jon evolve from “I met this guy” to “we’re in love” to “I think this is my person!”. They moved to Charleston once they got engaged so naturally their new home served as a beautiful backdrop to their love story.
The Ocean Course @ Kiawah Island Resort is beautiful! The building itself is great with an easy flow for event guests, but the view (and that million dollar sunset) is what you are really paying for. I would say its worth every cent!
Guests were greeted with champagne on the lawn upon arrival with the acoustic guitarist softly playing in the background and the ocean breeze blowing across the sun-drenched terrain. For a February date, the weather was ideal for a southern wedding. Lauren included many personal touches throughout the day, but some of our favorites were the way she chose to honor Jon’s late father. In addition to the framed photo they placed on his reserved seat for the ceremony, Lauren created custom small gold charms showcasing his signature. These charms were attached to his son’s boutonnieres and also to his wife’s corsage. He truly was with them where they went that day and he was in every conversation. It was so special!
Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed cocktails + oysters and other coastal appetizers while watching the sunset over the course. They were then invited inside for dinner + dancing. They had the whole clubhouse to themselves and Brian the DJ kept the guests on the dance floor with his mashups and high energy tunes!
For the send off, Lauren had grand visions of a “champagne spray” (yes- something she saw on Pinterest and wanted to bring to life!). It didn’t exactly work out the way she wanted (ah-hem..JON) but in the end, it worked out better than she had dreamed. This was sort of a nod to the entire day: it was better than she had dreamed. And it was perfect.
Enjoy the photos below from the fabulous Jensen Larson Photography and remember: we are always up for an adventure! :)
