Two words come to mind when I think about Wendy, and that’s style and grace. Scheduling a time to speak was a little bit difficult, as she is a Captain in the U.S. Air Force and was deployed. However, we seemed to make it work, and ever since my first discussion with her 11 months ago, Wendy has been an awesome person to work with. She is a southern belle to the core, which meant that it was only right that she married a gentleman like Charlie at the Beaufort Inn, in South Carolina.
Beaufort Inn Wedding
Complete with insights from the bride!
Charlie + Wendy
November 5, 2016
The Beaufort Inn
Share with us how you two met:
Charlie and I met through the online dating site POF (plenty of fish) We went out on a few dates before he moved away to start a new job with an oil company. We stopped dating because I didn’t want a long distance relationship. A year later he accepted another job offer in Illinois and we started dating again.
Tell us about your proposal:
Charlie proposed on the balcony of our hotel during a trip to Costa Rica. He was sweating and so nervous! It was private and perfect.
Tell us about your hair & makeup:
My makeup was also simple and elegant. My MUA, Alexandria Butler, created a toned down smokey eye and nude lip. She did an amazing job! My hair was in a natural twist out style.
How about your wedding shoes and jewelry:
I wanted simple elegant jewelry to compliment the classic theme of the dress. I chose a blue Badgley Mischka pump with a dramatic heel and I wore diamond teardrop earrings.
Describe your wedding dress. What was wedding shopping like for you?
Wedding shopping was actually pretty easy. We set the wedding date for November so I knew I wanted a dress made of lace that also had sleeves. My mother is also very conservative so I wanted a classic timeless look. I found the dress online and went to the only boutique in SC that carried the line. It was the first dress I tried on and I fell in love with it.
Was there any particular theme or style for your wedding:
We didn’t have a specific theme but we did want a modern look. The bridesmaids and groomsmen all wore black and there were red accents (Charlie’s tie, the bouquets, and boutonnières).
How / why did you choose your ceremony venue:
We chose The Beaufort Inn for our ceremony venue because it gives a sense of my hometown. Beaufort is a beautiful historic area in the low country. I wanted guests to be able to experience that. The ceremony was held in the courtyard of The Tabby Place at The Beaufort Inn.
Tell us about your bridesmaids:
The bridesmaid consisted of my cousin, great friends, and step-daughters.
Tell us about his groomsmen:
The groomsmen consisted of Charlie’s great friends and nephew.
Tell us about your flowers:
Our wedding color was traditional black but we wanted red accents (Charlie’s favorite color). So all of our flowers were deep colored red roses. We had all fresh flowers and the florist did an excellent job.
Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding? If yes, tell us more.
We incorporated the “jumping of the broom” at the end of the ceremony. We also included 2 bible scriptures with importance to love and joining of two souls.
What is your best memory from your wedding?
Walking down the aisle as husband and wife.
Tabby Place
Favorite item on the reception menu:
We loved the teriyaki glazed salmon. The hor d’oeuvres were also amazing!
How about the wedding invitations & stationery:
The wedding invitations and save the dates were all created by Wedding Paper Divas. The save the dates included engagement pictures. The invitations were on black stationary with gold embellishments.
Tell us about your reception venue
The reception was held in the Tabby place. It’s a new venue built at The Beaufort Inn.
And your decorations:
Everything was black with red accents. Black tablecloths and chairs. Red roses, voltaire crystal vases, and tea light candle holders.
Any bridesmaids/groomsmen gifts?
The bridesmaids were given earrings and the groomsmen were given mini bottles of Moet and red/black socks.
What’s your favorite image from your wedding day, and why:
I love the images taken during our first dance. They were candid and beautiful.
And your cake:
Simple and modern. 3 tier cake (coconut and vanilla with a buttercream frosting), plus red roses to accent.
Any wedding favors:
We had a photo booth and a candy bar.
What songs did you choose for your wedding ceremony and reception, and why:
I chose “Flaws” by Kierra Sheard to walk down the aisle. It accurately describes the way Charlie loves me. He loves my flaws, doesn’t see them as flaws at all. Our first dance was to “Gotta Be” by Jagged Edge. They’re an R&B group we both loved growing up.
Tell us about your wedding photography:
Dajuan was an excellent photographer. We gave him control to go in whatever direction he wanted. We wanted to see his vision for our wedding/location and he produced stunning pictures. He captured candids and still photographs that were beyond beautiful!
Any advice for future brides:
Don’t compromise on the things that are important to you but definitely prioritize what matters most.
Tell us about your honeymoon:
We honeymooned in Bali, Indonesia for one week. We had a private villa. It was hot but very relaxing and beautiful.
What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples?
Don’t stress over the little things. It all seems to work out in the end.
Any final thoughts:
Enjoy the time because it does go by quickly.
