21 Jun Absolutely Distinctive! {Jenn and Micah at Wild Dunes Resort}
I must apologize…it is truly not fair. The wedding line up we have this week is so tantalizing, so inspiring, so incredibly over the top, that we are all a flutter. I am so in love with this week’s features that I am tempted to post them all at once…but they are all unbelievably worthy of their own stage that I will restrain myself. So hold on to your hats, mark your calendars and put on your running shoes because we are embarking on a matrimonial marathon brimming with the most insanely gorgeous weddings and festivities. We cannot think of a better way to begin than by introducing a new Wedding Row darling, Distinctive Events. They have earned their name time after time. Their mission is to absorb, translate and transform ideas and wishes into the perfect total wedding experience making unique visions a reality. Jenn and Micah’s wedding at Wild Dunes Resort was yet another feather in their cap! With no further adieu, please enjoy Jenn and Micah’s destination beach soiree photographed by Marni Rothschild.
And then comes Aunt Marjorie….Not only did she actually marry the happy couple, but she is also known for her antics…and she took a spin on the dance floor with a beer bottle a top her head. Jenn’s family has apparently seen this trick and came prepared. Suddenly, the other guests were given plastic versions on head bands so that they could play along too! And fun was had by all. Marni Rothschild, who has photographed weddings for ten years, credited this fun festivity with why weddings do not ever cease to impress her.
….personally, I think that the Grandmother takes the prize, I just adore this picture!
Their Story….
Being from Northern Kentucky neither Micah or Jenn have ties to the low country, but Jenn’s family has truly fallen in love with the Charleston area over the years for its Southern Charm, Old World History, and Southern Hospitality. So it is no surprise that when Jenn introduced Micah to the area a few years ago that he fell in love with it as well! After a family vacation to Wild Dunes Resort in May of 2009 they began talk of a possible destination wedding after being onlookers to numerous weddings around the resort the week of their stay. Then after a later visit that summer it seemed the perfect place to make their 11 year courtship official and Micah proposed a few weeks later and the wedding planning began!
Although of course there are SO many gorgeous venues in Charleston and its’ surrounding areas, none seemed more fitting for Jenn and Micah’s May 2010 ceremony and tented reception than the Wild Dunes Resort for its convenience and accommodations for all of their family and friends travelling to their destination wedding. And after meeting with Samantha Martin, the wedding specialist, at Wild Dunes over Halloween weekend Jenn knew that there was no one else she would rather work with than Samantha and her team at the resort. Samantha assured Jenn that almost anything was possible and all you had to do was ask! Samantha is truly the wedding specialist and SO much more. She was such an integral part in the planning and executing of this event and it just could not have been accomplished without her and her fabulous team. She truly became not just someone helping to plan the day but became part of the day! She felt like family!
So having already decided upon the ceremony and reception site Jenn knew since she could not be travelling to Charleston numerous times she needed to have someone tie her vision together. And it was that same Halloween weekend that Distinctive Events happened to be setting up an event at Wild Dunes Resort. Jenn, her mom and her sister immediately fell in love with the design, décor and floral for this wedding. Although Jenn had a completely different vision for her own wedding she knew after talking with Sha Sha Harnik, owner and lead event designer and Leesa Phipps, lead floral designer of Distinctive Events that they would have no problem achieving her vision. Jenn basically just wanted a romantic, candlelight vibe with whites, ivories, and different shades of pinks and greens. She knew she wanted an outside ceremony underneath the palm trees, on the lawn, just beyond the dunes where you could still hear the ocean waves rolling in and feel the refreshing ocean breeze and a gorgeous draped candlelit tented reception. From there Sha Sha and her team truly outdid themselves and exceeded every expectation of the bride and groom. The romantic, but elegant feel was achieved by stringing antique-looking lanterns from the tent ceiling along with beautiful Lilly Pulitzer pom pom balls in two shades of pink and a vibrant green hung with crystal ribbon. The floral was truly amazing from the bride and bridesmaid bouquets and boutonnieres to the low square vase table centerpieces and the tall centerpieces filled with orchids in water.
Jenn had fallen in love with the bridal creations of Modern Trousseau. She located a bridal shop in Cincinnati, OH, European Bridal, that carried the designer. She scheduled an appointment and it was absolutely fate to walk thru the door and meet Shannon Pryor-Barnes. They got to talking and immediately realized Shannon herself got married in Charleston! And it is so fitting that the understated, but exquisite Modern Trousseau gown Jenn decided upon for its elegance, feminity, fit-to-flare shape with its cascading, tiered train with ruffle and tulle detail was actually named Scarlett!
Not only did Shannon get married in Charleston but actually worked as an assistant photographer to Marni Rothschild before relocating to Cincinnati. So of course Shannon HIGHLY recommended the wonderfully creative Marni Rothschild. It was determined in Jenn and Marni’s very first email exchange that she was “the one” to document their very special day and she did NOT disappoint in ANY aspect! Her artistic vision and expertise at being able to truly capture the moment are irreplaceable, and her extremely fast turnover in getting the photos to the bride and groom is something that every bride can appreciate. They will certainly cherish her work and the experience they had with her each time they look at their photographs!
The incredibly delicious and classic wedding cake was from Ashley Bakery. Jenn fell in love with this ruffle look she found in a magazine and they did an amazing job recreating it.
Palmetto Strings Duo provided the music at the ceremony and cocktail reception. They were able to play a combination of contemporary and classical pieces, which allowed the flexibility to customize the set list and make it unique for the event. Jenn and Micah were thrilled with their beautiful performance and received numerous compliments from their guests.
Matthew Stadnicki with Easy Breezy Entertainment DJ’d the reception. Not being able to have a band was a limitation of the lawn chosen for the tented reception, but Matt certainly gave any band a run for their money. His set up was so amazing with his records and turntables… He kept the party going all night! Micah had an extensive list of song recommendations, and Matt graciously handled all requests. He was such a pleasure to work with! Jenn and Micah are still hearing from their guests how absolutely amazing Matt was at anticipating just what the crowd wanted to hear!!
The custom design for the invitations, programs, and seating cards was created by Mary Hopple & Co., Cincinnati, OH, to go along with the event’s focus on pink flowers with a touch of green.
The only thing that could not be planned for turned out perfectly! The weather was low 80’s for the ceremony and by the end of the night had dropped into the mid-70’s with a nice breeze. It just could not have been more perfect for a Saturday in the middle of May!
Jenn and Micah would like to say a personal thank you to Samantha Martin, Melissa Moxley, their team and the rest of the staff of the Wild Dunes Resort. They could not possibly have been more accommodating, helpful, or exude more Southern charm and hospitality. Their guests had nothing but wonderful things to say not only about their event but about the graciousness of all of the staff and the wonderful accommodations. To Sha Sha Harnik, Tiffany Rossman, Leesa Phipps and their team at Distinctive Events, you truly were such a pleasure to work with and it is a dream to do it all over again someday! It was a truly perfect day and there is absolutely not one thing that Jenn and Micah would have changed and the memories will live on through the beautifully, artistic photography of Marni Rothschild!!!
