Georgia weddings are amazing! Our Cocktails & Details® team knows that regardless of the craziness of the world, wedding cancelations, and postponements, we are so blessed to work where we work.
Outdoors and Physically Distant
As the world and weddings start to slowly reopen, we know that when it comes to being safe, social distancing is enhanced by being outside.
And, whether you are looking at a wedding on Jekyll Island, Saint Simons Island, or anywhere along our coasts, there are spectacular outdoor spaces to host your wedding.
Historic mansions with sprawling lawns set the ideal backdrop for wedding ceremonies. They offer space for extra-wide aisles and to space out seating. Beautiful courtyards and opportunities for tented receptions take full advantage of our fantastic weather and picturesque scenery.
Smaller Weddings, Not Small On Details
While interpretations on reception sizes seem to differ from place to place, our Cocktails & Details® team sees a trend toward smaller, more intimate weddings.
Just know that smaller weddings are still overflowing with incredible details. They are the perfect opportunity to focus on the guest experience.
For many couples, smaller guest counts translate into some of those splurges on their wedding wish list. Everyone’s wish list is unique, from upgrading to personalized custom invitations to infusing the day with multiple touches of live music.
This is the perfect opportunity to bring in those incredible local culinary treats or craft beers and liquors. Nothing says southern hospitality like a curated bourbon tasting or a dessert display filled with homey coastal Georgia treats.
Southern Charm
Beyond those tempting taste treats, you might want to consider having us create a spacious, physically distant lounge setting.
With some guests choosing not to get up and dance, creating a comfortable area a few steps away from the action can add to guests’ comfort. Vintage furnishings, woven rugs, and throw pillows offer a tranquil getaway.
We love the addition of beautiful textured linens, local flowers, and greenery in unique vessels. They pair beautifully with vintage glassware and eclectic china. There are literally as many options for personalizing the details of your wedding as there are weddings.
With intimate weddings of family and close friends, pull out the stops and include those details that really tell the story of you as a couple and reflect your personalities.
Our Cocktails & Details® design team looks forward to working with you on these and lush additions to your wedding day.
COVID-19 restrictions, postponed weddings, venue changes and grey skies couldn’t keep Lauren, Christian or our Cocktails & Details® team down.
Save the Drama
With gathering restrictions changing weddings’ size and scope, this adorable couple was forced to change wedding venues. A blessing in disguise, Lauren’s dream wedding venue, Crane Cottage, was available.
Then, forty-five days before their wedding date, mandatory COVID-19 restrictions caused a postponement. So, an October 31st wedding was set in place.
Girl Time
With the Jekyll Island Club’s expansive accommodations, our couple was able to relax and enjoy time with their wedding parties at opposite ends of the resort.
Lauren spent her morning with her bridal party getting ready in the Crane Cottage’s beautiful bridal suite. Lauren chose a form-fitting white strapless dress for her wedding gown with a flared bottom and sweeping train.
We love the dusty blue tones of her bridesmaids’ dresses, a color carried through the wedding as a soft accent color. It paired perfectly with the sage tones of the lush greenery and white floral accents.
The bride’s bouquet was a loose Boho-inspired design with luscious white peonies, ranunculus, Eskimo roses, and white lisianthus. The look was finished with French wired ribbon and a unique, very personal touch. Lauren’s mother gifted her beautiful vintage-inspired lockets and a gold coin to honor her grandparents on her wedding day.
Silly with a Splash of Seriousness
Christian, who admits his favorite article of clothes, is a pair of broken-in grey Converse sneakers and randomly breaks into song and dance {. Something that always makes Lauren smile} was all business today.
He spent his day getting ready at the Jekyll Island Club Resort. His classic tuxedo with a shawl lapel and bow tie was the look of the day.
As a wedding gift for his bride-to-be, Christian chose a stunning pair of emerald earrings. For her gift, Lauren gifted Christian adoption papers for her dog- a gift that brought her groom to tears.
No Rain No Rainbows
Grey skies the afternoon of their wedding prevented our couple from heading off as initially planned for their first look. However, the beautiful architecture and wrought iron detailing of their wedding venue swept them away to the Italian villa of their fantasy wedding. Our Cocktails & Details® team thinks their wedding portraits that followed are pretty amazing.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
With the weather not cooperating, their wedding ceremony in the Sunken Garden was moved into Crane Cottage’s living room. Our Cocktails & Details® design team quickly transformed the space. The incredibly detailed fireplace mantle became a focal point of the wedding ceremony with the addition of several dozen chunky pillar candles and lush white hydrangea – one of the bride’s favorite flowers.
Lauren’s little brother, our fabulous ring bearer, brought Christian the rings to begin the wedding ceremony with wedding guests in place. Lauren smiled ear to ear as she made her way down the aisle to her anxiously awaiting groom.
Despite the weather outside, the couple exchanged their vows in a touching ceremony surrounded by close family and friends. They sealed their wedding vows with a kiss and the perfect recessional song for this fun couple – Signed, Sealed, Delivered.
Cocktails & Details®
With skies clearing, the newlyweds headed off for a few additional photos. At the same time, guests were welcomed with a glass of champagne.
The cocktail hour was filled with tasty treats and specially selected signature cocktails, and monogrammed cocktail koozies.
The outdoor tented reception allowed for a physically distant design that still incorporated all of the beautiful details the couple envisioned. Tables we dressed in crisp with linen with dusty blue napkins as accents. Gold-toned containers and votive candles alongside the lush white and green floral arrangements and pillar candle clusters created a classic, elegant tablescape.
Thriller!
The wedding reception under a starry sky began with introductions, and the newlyweds first dance to “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”
The evening was filled with delicious food and sweet toasts. The couple’s fun side was brought out with some Halloween Candy as their wedding favor, pizza as a late-night bite for wedding guests. When the wedding band played Thriller, they brought down the house.
Lauren and Christian’s evening came to a close after enjoying this simple, elegant, and yummy four-tiered white wedding cake. The groom’s cake was the perfect choice for Christian – a 007 inspired modern gold cake.
Following their grand exit under a shower of white rose petals, our couple headed off into the night. Congratulations, Lauren and Christian!
Take a fun couple who loves live music and travel and whose got planning underway, and Cocktails & Details® will pull it together and make it fabulous!
Meet Jennie and Alex
This fantastic couple selected not one but two unique Jekyll Island venues for their wedding day.
Historic Villa Marianna would be the site of their wedding ceremony and outdoor cocktail reception. Then guests would be transported to the Westin Jekyll Island for dinner and dancing under the stars with an afterparty to follow! The stage was set for a fabulous day.
Get Ready
Jennie looked spectacular in her form-fitting wedding gown. One of two dresses for her wedding day. She chose an off the shoulder gown with crisscrossing fabric in the bodice. Her hair, worn down, and pulled to one side, created an elegant but relaxed look.
Her loose hand-tied bridal bouquet consisted of lush greenery, white garden roses, and touches of deep burgundy-including hanging amaranthus.
Alex and his guys went for a very classic look – black tuxedo, bow tie, and suspenders. Boutonnieres of white roses and eucalyptus seeds got a rustic touch with organic ribbon.
First Look and Fabulous Portraits
Midafternoon, the couple were each transported to Horton house for their first look, some spectacular wedding portraits, and some photos with their wedding party.
The Jekyll Island settings for their portraits are swoon-worthy and some of our favorite moments of the day!
Bird Seed, Flower Petals, and an Old Oak Tree
The couple chose a two-hundred-year-old oak tree at Villa Marianna as the backdrop to exchange their wedding vows.
The processional included an entourage of young boys tossing birdseed and a young lady sprinkling flower petals.
Escorted by her mother, Jennie made her entrance to Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. The ceremony included several readings, lots of laughs, and several tears. The tranquil outdoor setting was just perfect for these happy newlyweds.
Cocktails & Details®
A Must-Have for Jennie and Alex were shots and cigars with their wedding party immediately after the wedding ceremony. The list also included a killer oyster bar and appetizers reflecting their travels from around the world.
The cocktail reception in Villa Marianna’s mosaic courtyard included a live jazz trio and two signature cocktails. A French 75 made with gin, lemon, and champagne, and a Hemmingway Daiquiri with rum, lime, and grapefruit.
Sunset Photos
As the cocktail hour drew to a close, guests were transported to the reception. The newlyweds took a few minutes for some stunning sunset photographs and a quick change.
Alex changed to a Navy-blue tuxedo jacket with a shawl collar, keeping his bow tie- a simple white pocket square was the only accessory needed.
Jennie chose a white two-piece look with a long white mermaid skirt and a modern lace off the shoulder top – she was ready to dance the night away.
Oceanside Dinner and Dancing
The reception was held in the ocean side courtyard of The Westin Jekyll Island. The outdoor space was set for dinner and dancing with outdoor space heaters added for the crisp night.
Following introductions, Alex began the evening with a welcome and a toast. The toast was followed by a delicious dinner and cutting of an awesome two-tiered drip wedding cake and a selection of incredible custom donuts.
Love, Love, Love!
Following dinner, the couple opened the first dance to Lay Down by Son Little and Alex’s dance with his mother.
In honor of her late father, Jennie and her brothers sang a karaoke of his favorite song – We Didn’t Start the Fire by Billy Joel.
The fantastic band kept the dancefloor packed all night and included several custom covers of the bride and groom’s favorite songs.
After a sparkling sendoff wedding, guests joined the newlyweds for an afterparty in the hotel ballroom.
Congratulations, Jennie and Alex. We wish you a lifetime filled with great food, music and new adventures!
Diana and Drew told our Cocktails & Details® team they envisioned ‘southern charm with a European twist’ for their Jekyll Club Hotel wedding. ‘We are sophisticated but not stuffy, love fun details, and Drew is down with my glitter obsession.’
The Jekyll Club hotel was the perfect backdrop for their wedding. From the southern charm of its mature trees draped in Spanish moss to its iconic architecture, it had everything they wanted.
The Library at Crane Cottage
The spacious cottage allowed lots of space for Dianna and her wedding party to have hair and makeup services on site.
Dianna wore an A-line wedding gown with a v- neck and natural waist by Enaura Bridal. She carried a loose hand-tied European style bridal bouquet with cream dahlias, Ocean song roses, ivory garden roses, lavender lisianthus, dusty miller, and silver dollar eucalyptus.
Her crystal and rhinestone Badgley Mischka pumps were the perfect accessories!
Meet Drew!
Drew looked handsome in a dark navy vested suit. The notched satin collar and white bow tie added a touch of sophistication.
After getting ready, Drew took a little walk under the incredible trees to get ready for his first look at his bride-to-be.
The setting, the anticipation, and their first look are EVERYTHING!
Crane Cottage Wedding Ceremony
The couple chose the sunken garden at Crane Cottage for their wedding ceremony. Steps away from the cottage, the lawn was set with large garden urns overflowing with florals in shades of purple and blue. White garden chairs lined the aisle trimmed in floral petals.
Dianna, escorted by her parents, made her way to her husband-to-be to the sounds of Canon in D. By the sweet look on Drew’s face, you would never know he had just seen his bride a short time before.
The couple exchanged their wedding vows surrounded by family and friends before heading off to ‘All You Need is Love’ by the Beatles.
Cocktails & Details®
After their cocktail hour around the reflecting pool, wedding guests made their way to the hotel’s courtyard. The wedding reception was set with tables along the covered walkway, with the buffet reception set around the center fountain.
Tables were dressed in white linens lined with greenery roping with cream and purple blossoms to add pops of color. Gold candlesticks intertwined with floating candles and votives completed the tablescape. Guest tables were named for cities worldwide, with a map of the world as the seating chart.
Dancing the Night Away
A white frame tent with lounge seating and black and white dancefloor created the perfect space for dancing after dinner.
The newlyweds opened the dancefloor with their first dance to Thomas Rhett’s ‘In Case You Didn’t Know.’
Shortly after the dancefloor opened, Diana had a little surprise for Drew! She planned a reunion with the ladies from her acapella singing group. A quick change into matching outfits, with a bit of glitter for the bride and their performance of an ABBA song, was the highlight of the reception.
The couple closed the reception by cutting their beautiful four-tiered white and gold wedding cake before making their exit!
The Send-Off and After Party
The couple may have ended the reception with a traditional send-off- but the party continued at Crane Cottage. The afterparty included a fantastic DJ, glow sticks, and some late-night sliders and fries.
Our Cocktails & Details® team loved this incredible couple, and we wish them a lifetime of happiness.
Nearly a year ago, our Cocktails & Details® team had the pleasure of working with Amber and Brittany on their Saint Simons Island wedding at Captain’s Bluff.
This fantastic property along the Frederica River was owned by Amber’s family since the revolutionary war. While it had recently been sold and used for weddings and events, Amber always knew she wanted to be married there.
Here Come The Brides
Amber spent the morning with her wedding party, at what used to be her old bedroom in the Family House, one of several buildings on the historic property.
She and her wedding party had their hair and makeup done and got ready, taking some time for a few photos.
For her wedding gown, Amber chose a lace and tulle ballgown. She wore a fingertip veil to compliments her beautiful strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline. Her loose handtied bouquet of white florals and greenery was the perfect accent to her attire.
Her wedding party’s floral creations were a simple, elegant hoop style of lush greenery dotted with white flowers—a great choice for the relaxed yet elegant outdoor wedding.
Across the property at the Boat House, Brittany spent the morning with her wedding party, her brother, and Amber’s son. Brittany and her wedding party dressed in light-colored suits with contrasting ties and pocket squares. Rustic white ranunculus and rose boutonnieres with greenery popped against the light-colored suits.
It Was Always You…
The riverside ceremony was set in a clearing surrounded by Spanish moss-covered trees. The space was set with dark wood benches with the aisle accented with greenery and white hydrangea.
Escorted by her brother, Brittany and the wedding party made their way down the aisle to ‘Speechless.’ The song continued for Amber’s entrance-making her appearance exactly at Brittany’s favorite part.
The waterfront views were an incredible backdrop for the brides to exchange their wedding vows.
Cocktails & Details®
A short walk away, the Boat House Lawn was set for an intimate wedding reception. Long tables draped in white linen surrounded the dance floor. Each table’s center was filled with long low centerpieces with magnolia leaves, greenery, white flowers, and pillar candles. Wooden chairs, scallop-edged charger plates, and S’mores wedding favor completed the rustic yet elegant look.
Shortly after the guests had gathered, the brides made their entrance. A welcome, blessing, and delicious buffet dinner of comfort food were followed by toasts and the cake cutting.
As nighttime fell, candlelight and overhead market lights added a soft glow to the reception. The brides opened the dance floor with their first dance, surrounded by family and friends with sparklers.
Congratulations, Amber and Brittany! Our Cocktails & Details® loved being part of your elegant rustic wedding at Captain’s Bluff.
The Team
Thank you to the team of local wedding professionals who made Amber and Brittany’s wedding day so special.
The Cocktails & Details® team loved working with Sarah and Chris to design their Jekyll Island wedding at Crane Cottage.
Sarah freely admits that she had picked the wedding venue before Chris proposed. After all, ‘we had been together five years,’ she joked. The holdup was realistically because Chris designed the ring and took great pains to source the main stone ethically.
This environmentally conscious couple picked Crane Cottage for its historic architecture, natural beauty and because everything could happen in the same location. They wanted to have the feel of an epic house party.
Here Comes The Bride!
Sarah spent the morning with her bridal party relaxing, having some fun together, and getting ready. Her wedding gown was a smooth satin organza creation with clean lines and a sweetheart neckline. A shoulder-length lace applique veil and cascading European hand tied bridal bouquet completed her elegant look.
The stunning bridal bouquet included garden roses, white ranunculus, Sahara roses, white lisianthus, and long, loose natural greenery tied with French wired ribbon.
Thank You For Your Service
Chris, who is currently serving in the military, wore his dress uniform as did several members of his wedding party. He was actually deployed during the wedding planning and only returned home a week before the wedding.
The guys dressed and relaxed, with sabers at the ready, for the ceremony to begin.
Wanting to infuse a little personality into his wedding day, Chris had a custom tuxedo shirt created. A huge Star Wars fan, this custom shirt had the sleeves removed and a bold Star Wars print fabric added in its place. The collar, front panel, and cuff were all business with the sleeves hidden away until he removed his jacket.
With This Ring
Outside, the ceremony preparations were in place. Our team utilized the rich, topiary hedgerow to frame the wedding ceremony. White roses accented the center portion of the hedge with white garden chairs, creating an extra-wide aisle.
With their wedding party already in place, Sarah, escorted by her father, made her entrance to her favorite song Lady May by Tyler Childers. To say that Chris was blown away by the first glimpse of his beautiful bride might be an understatement.
Officiated by the bride’s grandmother, the touching wedding ceremony ended with a traditional arch of crossed sabers as the newlyweds made their departure.
Cocktails & Details®
The elegant outdoor reception was created along the parameter of the Crane Cottages courtyard. The expansive covered walkways allowed for placement of long banquet tables paired with rustic wrought iron chairs. Crisp white linens draped the tables, which overflowed with local greenery and clusters of candles. Gold metallic risers added a shimmer, brought height to the table design, and allowed for a lush overhead cascade of greenery.
The courtyard’s iron gate and an overhead chandelier made the perfect focal point to frame Sarah and Chris’ sweetheart table, incorporating design elements from the other tablescapes.
The newly married couple made their grand entrance from the balcony above the courtyard. Following their entrance, wedding guests enjoyed a plated dinner service with a coffee and dessert bar placed in the courtyard center.
In traditional military fashion, the couple opened the first bottle of Champagne using a military saber. Several toasts followed this by the Father of the Bride, Maid of Honor, and Best Man.
Death Of A Bachelor
After dinner, the couple and their guests made their way indoors for a night of dancing. Sarah and Chris opened the dance floor with their first dance to Death of a Bachelor by Panic! at the Disco.
This indeed was the epic house party the newlyweds dreamed about, with the dance floor remaining full throughout the evening. The night also included an impromptu choreographed dance number by Sarah and a few friends. Sarah and Chris closed the evening with a last dance to What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.
Congratulations, Sarah and Chris! This was absolutely an epic wedding!
The Event Team
Thank you to the incredible event team that made Sarah and Chris’s wedding so amazing.
Working with Michelle and David last year on their beautiful Jekyll Island wedding was an incredible experience for our Cocktails & Details® teams.
They are admittedly the perfect complement to each other. We were blown away by the time and thoughtfulness that went into their wedding and being surrounded by family and friends.
The Ideal Wedding Location
The Westin was the ideal wedding venue for them, with everything onsite so family and friends could spend time together. It was where they had their first vacation together and simultaneously their first iterations of ‘I love You.” So, it holds a lot of sentimental meaning, was a very low key, intimate beach setting.
During their time on the island, wedding guests had the opportunity to golf, fish, or relax on the beach.
Their Wedding Style
Michelle chose a show-stopping wedding gown by Casablanca Bridal. The fit and flare silhouette layered textures and textiles, combining satin, Chantilly lace, and touches of delicate beadwork with illusion lace back and a plunging V-neckline.
Our Cocktails & Details® team created a loose hand-tied European style bridal bouquet of ranunculus, spray roses, lisianthus, and mixed eucalyptus greenery. Blush garden roses began the color story of dusty rose and indigo blue that would flow through the wedding.
Her wedding party’s attire continued the story with the ladies wearing long, flowing, dusty rose dresses. The dresses allowed each lady to choose a neckline that complimented figure and personal style.
David and his wedding party were dressed in handsome indigo-colored suits with dusty rose ties to pair with the bridesmaid’s dresses.
The Ceremony
Michelle and David’s outdoor ceremony was set beyond the resort’s courtyard with sweeping lawns and rustic natural backdrop.
Four tall floral arrangements in blush and white rested on clear acrylic columns at the aisle entrance. White garden chairs and rose petals lead to the dark wood chuppah draped in flowing white fabric and accented with floral swags.
As wedding guests gathered on the lawn, David’s nephew played a prelude of classical music. The ceremony music selections included a processional of Canon in D, with the bride making her entrance to the Bridal Chorus.
Michelle and David exchanged wedding rings under the chuppah before a traditional glass breaking and sealing their vows with a kiss.
COCKTAILS & DETAILS®
Inside the ballroom, final touches were made to the reception decor.
Tall white and dusty rose floral arrangements on glass vases were intermixed with organic flowing centerpieces in gold pedestal bowls and florals in petite glass balls. Floating, cylinder, and votive candles filled the tables.
Gold Napoleon chairs, charger plates, and votive candles added a golden shimmer to the soft pink and white backdrop.
The newlyweds began the evening with their first dance to ‘Til Death Do Us Part by Brian Nhira. Their dance was followed by a few words from the groom and a delicious multi-course plated dinner with wine service.
One of Michelle and David’s requests was the have everyone up on the dance floor all evening, and our team delivered with a packed dancefloor.
The evening came to a close with the bride and groom cutting an elegant three-tiered white wedding cake accented with pink roses and a custom gold cake topper, before making a grand exit under a shower of sparklers.
Congratulations, Michelle and David! Our Cocktails & Details® team wishes you a fabulous life together!
The Event Team
Thank you to the wedding professionals who brought this Jekyll Island wedding to life.
You know that crisp, sweet bubbly taste that tickles your tongue and pulls a smile from the corner of your lips?
If that effervescence was a person, it would be Meg.
To describe her as bubbly and fun would be an understatement. We loved seeing her name in our inboxes during her planning because we knew that we were in for laughs and smiles. Bryan on the other hand seems quiet– but he is thoughtful and kind. It is his love for Meg that roars the loudest, even in the most subtle of touches, kisses and looks.
When Meg came to us help her design and manage her wedding day, she wanted us to know two things: She loved Kate Spade and she loved fun. We all thought, “Ok, girl! We got you!”. The more we got to know her and Bryan, their families (who are equally amazing) and their love story, the more enthralled we became with them and wanted to create the perfect wedding day. The design team sat around The White Table with wine and food, pouring over linens, colors, textures and concepts we wanted to use to make this absolutely perfect. We pulled inspiration from Meg’s love of Kate Spade, their classic love story and pops of color to create her dream wedding at Saint Simons Island’s King and Prince Resort.
Tabatha and Susan knocked it out of the park in composing our perfect floral and color palette into these stunning bridal and bridesmaids bouquets. The addition of textures with the berries and thistle was exactly what we needed to celebrate the concept while still being true to the season. (And just wait ’til you see how they look against the bridesmaids’ dresses!)
I love the above photo because it’s the calm before the storm– the hustle and bustle of getting ready, taking more photos, etc. The ladies are just relaxed while waiting for a sweet surprise: their first look of the bride in her wedding dress.
Meg and Bryan decided not to do a First Look, and it had to have been one of the most rewarding moments of the entire day. As we lined everyone up for the wedding processional, everyone was in good spirits– a little bit of wedding jitters, but all ready for the day. The wave of emotion that hits Bryan’s face when he sees Meg as she journeys up the aisle to become his wife, is breathtaking.
We always tell our couples at the rehearsal: “Don’t worry about being loud– the person who needs to hear you is right in front of you”. They took us to heart, but we were so glad that everyone could hear as they professed their love for each other. Their vows touched almost every single guest in attendance.
After the beautiful ceremony, guests nibbled on the amazing food from the King and Prince Resort as the waves crashed and the sunset over the glittering water. Soon after, it was time to bring everyone inside the resort’s beautiful Delegal Ballroom, where we got to take our color palette and and concepts even further. Check out the gilded welcome mirror that Elizabeth hand painted!
The reception was a party for the ages! Meg’s grandfather was a staple on the dance floor with the guests circling around him yelling “Opa! Opa!” (We’ve never met a cooler grandpa!) The dance floor was packed and the drinks flowed for the rest of the night!
Congratulations, Meg and Bryan!
You can see more over at Aisle Memories, where this wedding was published! Huge shout out to our amazing event team that partnered with us to create a phenomenal day:
Last fall, one week after Hurricane Matthew ravaged our beautiful coastal area, Sarah and Andrew were married in the gorgeous Millionaire’s District on Jekyll Island. The ceremony started in front of Villa Ospo, where after the ceremony, guests were greeted down the path by servers with champagne as a saxophonist played smooth tunes leading them to Villa Marianna for the reception. This was an amazing experience for guests as it allowed them to see some of the areas beautiful homes of the Gilded Era.
Once there, we created intimate connecting banquet seating under the large live oak, inspired by the Bouvier – Kennedy wedding. Across the reflecting pool, a starlight white dance floor under bulb lighting was ready to guests to dance under the stars!
Event Team
Wedding Planning & Design: Cocktails & Details® Catering & Florals: Straton Hall Events Photography: Mac MacDonald Cinematography: Jonah Vox Hair and Makeup: Emma Collins Beauty Entertainment: Briteside Wedding Ceremony Venue: Villa Ospo Wedding Reception Venue: Villa Marianna
When we met with Jackie and Alex to discuss their wedding plans, we were just as excited as they were to be a part of their wedding. As you’ll see in their fantastic images from Brooke Roberts, they are so very much in love (just look at the way Alex looks at Jackie. #heartmelt). What made them the perfect Cocktails & Details® couple is that they are known for throwing parties back in their current hometown of Atlanta. To quote Alex, “Everyone fights for an invite to our parties!”. Instantly, we were in love. We also knew we had to make this wedding amazing.
Alex and his family vacationed on Saint Simons quite often when he was a child, so it held sentimental meaning for him. When he shared the King and Price with Jackie, they both knew this was they place they had to exchange vows. The mission was simple– a formal, classic affair that was full of details and surprises.
We wanted to create an event experience that was unforgettable, but also approachable and enjoyable for guests. Jackie and Alex wanted a Great Gatsby style affair, but the directives were clear– nothing cheesy or over done. We took the task of developing an event that immersive in the theme and location, while staying true to the details that made the couple who they were to family and friends.
Wanting to keep to tradition, they opted not to see each other prior to the wedding, but did take pictures at the beautiful Avenue of the Oaks near Sea Island. And, hello! How stunning are they! One of our favorite details were the girls’ custom made jewelry and Jacquelyn’s era inspired bohemian wedding bouquet.
Since they didn’t see each other during a First Look, I love how Brooke and Paul captured their first time seeing each other at their wedding ceremony at the King and Prince.
While Jackie and Alex were off taking fabulous pictures like these, guests were treated to a champagne tower that was popped upon their arrival, while listening to the sweet sounds of a jazz pianist and guitarist.
Along with champagne and delicious hors d’oeuvres, butlers passed around the guests’ escort cards, giving that beautiful white glove treatment that can be expected at a Gatsby wedding. Upon time for dinner, all of the doors to the ballroom were opened simultaneously with a formal dinner announcement from the head butler.
We designed an intimate table setting of estate and banquet tables around a diamond shaped dance floor. This was perfect for all of the guests to have a great eye line to everything in the room— from the cake cutting to the jazz trio on a bandstand.
While guests enjoyed dinner, unbeknownst to them, we had a few more surprises. As we whisked Jackie and Alex away for a little private time, we had black request cards passed out at different intervals to select guests throughout the evening. You can imagine how everyone’s curiosity was piqued when they received (or saw someone receive one) a card that told them they were needed upstairs.
Guests are led upstairs to the King and Prince’s Retreat Room, where they were met with avery real looking Prohibition sign, signaling something clandestine was ahead.
We turned the entire floor of the Retreat Room into a Speakeasy– incorporating the vintage bar, aged signs, bootlegger crate and barrels. There was even a bouncer, ensuring all patrons of the speakeasy would follow the rules.
Guests had no idea what was going on but were having a blast. Each was invited into the Speakeasy to see Jackie and Alex canoodling in their private club. Once all the guests were inside, the party began and was NON.STOP.
We weren’t necessarily done– while guests danced, smoked cigars and played in the Photo Booth, we sent in cigarette girls with late night bites for everyone to enjoy while the night winded down.
Overall, it was an amazing day!
Special Touch: Jackie & Alex’s dog, Carter made a special appearance in his little bow tie!
Fun Moment: Pretty much everything!
Unique Detail: Their first trip together, Alex met Jackie in New York, where he sent her dozens of lavender roses. We incorporated these in Alex’s boutonniere and Jackie’s bouquet.
Event Team
Wedding Planning & Design: Cocktails & Details® Florals: Straton Hall Events Photography: Brooke Roberts Photography Hair and Makeup: Emma Collins Beauty Dinner Entertainment: Phil Morrison Trio Speakeasy Entertainment: Party Solutions Entertainment Wedding Cake: Serendipity Bakery Dinner Menus: Minted Rentals: LUXE Wedding Ceremony Venue: King and Prince Resort (Delegal Room) Wedding Reception Venue: King and Prince Resort (Retreat Room)
