In the late 1800s, a collection of the country’s most wealthy businessmen banded together to create The Jekyll Island Club on the small island with the same name. With founding members boasting such illustrious names as Morgan, Pulitzer, and Vanderbilt, Georgia’s Low Country was now garnering national attention.
Several years later, the expansion continued, adding a small boutique hotel aptly dubbed “The Cloister” located on nearby Sea Island. These impressive resorts perfectly blended privacy and opulence, ensuring that the country’s elite would continue to flock to these secluded vacation destinations for years.
Nestled snuggly between the marshlands and the ocean, Sea Island now boasts various properties and resorts. While the island remains private, there are opportunities for visitors as well, thus making it a coveted destination for special events and weddings. Indeed, some of the properties even spill over into neighboring St. Simon’s Island, giving guests a varied experience.
With past ties to the area, local bride Merrell Bowden was instantly drawn to the idea of hosting her wedding there while still incorporating familiar elements from her current hometown of Auburn. She quickly realized that sourcing local vendors, such as her photographers and her design team, would ease some of the stress too often associated with long-distance planning. It also ensured that she was ultimately surrounded by familiar faces, making the celebration even more personal and comfortable.
She expounds, “We took a slightly different approach to vendor selection regarding destination weddings. When planning and executing the big day, we knew vendors were a top priority, and we could incorporate our must-have vendors from home, even on St. Simons Island–and for that, I will forever be grateful!”
Local wedding planner Katy Blackburn Knight concurs: “It often makes more sense to source vendors locally and thus capitalize on solid relationships, already tested and tried. Your wedding day should be as seamless and stress-free as possible.”
When it came to the overall look and feel of the wedding, Bowden had a clear vision. “Our goal for the wedding as a whole was to combine coastal elements. To achieve this, we strongly emphasized black and white tones to lend a classic feel, punctuated by pops of island greenery to lend the coastal feel. Ultimately, we could not have been more pleased with the result.”
Indeed, the timeless nature of the gowns enhanced the natural beauty of both the bride and her party. The same was true of the elegant but subtle décor throughout the ceremony, which was simple and traditional, with the bulk of the floral elements mainly comprised of white orchids and roses, accented by bold bursts of native foliage such as palm fronds.
The reception followed similarly, with copious candle-lit accents added throughout and a crisp black and white tiled dance floor, cementing the overall ambiance and tying together the classic theme.
The entire wedding party swayed and sang into the night as a full band played a myriad of festive selections. And while the weather may not have been ideal by some standards, it certainly did not dampen spirits. The bride said, “Our wedding day was nothing short of a dream.” Most brides might be worried about cloudy or rainy weather, but the overcast skies added a beautiful and mysterious element, with fog gently peering through the sea pines.”
An additional and perhaps obvious benefit to hosting a destination wedding is that friends, family, and vendors can explore and enjoy a new area, lending an even more celebratory feel to the occasion.
Designer Karen Porter of Auburn reflected, “Being able to break in the evening to explore The Lodge and enjoy a sunset cocktail made for very special memories. There, we toasted to success against the sound of live bagpipes and were fascinated at the sight of soaring Spoonbills. The ambiance was magical, and I can only imagine that wedding guests experienced the same.”
The happy couple was first introduced through mutual friends while attending Auburn University. It is little surprise that the pair continues to make their home here on the Plain. Surrounded by family and friends, the two are invested in the community and eager to continue their journey together.
