47745000-SC-Fashion-Mini

ROMANCE ON THE LOW SEAS
On Brianna: Gown, $3,740,
Farah Angsana. On Eduardo:
Suit, $1,900, Brooks Brothers.
Shirt, $180, and tie, $100, Thomas
Pink. Ring, $1,700, Kirk Kara.
princess
of
tides
photography by Shannon greer
With its fairy-tale landscape of rivers and
marshland, coastal south carolinA
inspires activity by day and romantic sparks by
night. It also provides a playful backdrop for some
unconventional Southern-belle style.
styling by Rodney hall
ART DIRECTION by Michael Goesele
spring 2009 65
IN FULL SWING On Brianna: Gown, $2,200, Nicole Miller Bridal. Necklace, $448, Alex Woo. Bracelet, $175, R.J. Graziano. Ring, price on request, Roberto Coin.
Ring, $2,625, Kirk Kara. Shoes, $92.95, Nina. On Eduardo: Suit, $6,995, and tie, $175, Ralph Lauren Purple Label. Shirt, $150, Thomas Pink. Shoes, $480, Fratelli
Rossetti. Cuff links, price on request, Dolan Bullock. Ring, $1,160, Kirk Kara. MAKING FRIENDS AT LONGFIELD STABLES (opposite) On Brianna: Gown, $4,700,
Atelier Aimee. Earrings, $280, Nicole Miller Bridal. Bracelet, $578, Alex Woo. On Eduardo: Suit, $6,995, Ralph Lauren Purple Label. Shirt, $180, Thomas Pink.
Cuff links, price on request, Dolan Bullock. Ring, $3,000, Hearts On Fire.
66 destination weddings & honeymoons
spring 2009 67
LOVE AMONG THE RUINS On Brianna: Gown, price on request, Vera Wang. Necklace, $950, Dennis Higgins. Ring, $3,839, Ritani. On Eduardo: Jacket,
$200, and pant, $170, Perry Ellis. Shirt, $135, and shoes, $598, Brooks Brothers. Bow tie, $60, Thomas Pink. Ring, $1,440, Ritani. MORNING DEW
OUTSIDE THE CHAPEL (opposite) Gown, $6,900, Elizabeth Fillmore Bridal. Headband, $330, Stephanie Browne. Ring, $1,980, Michael C. Fina. Shoes,
price on request, Vera Wang.
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spring 2009 69
A VEIL OF SPANISH MOSS Gown, price on request, Vera Wang. Headpiece, $285, Cheryl King Couture. Earrings, $8,000, Whiteflash.com. Necklace,
$280, Isaac Manevitz for Ben-Amun. Ring, $3,265, Michael C. Fina. A VISION IN WHITE (opposite) Gown, price on request, Vera Wang. Necklace, price
on request, Kristina Fine Jewelry. Ring, $2,794, Ritani.
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spring 2009 71
LACE UNDER THE LIVE OAK Gown, $4,840, Monique Lhuillier. Veil, $525, Cheryl King Couture. Earrings, $175, Dennis Higgins. Necklace, $889, Keren
Jewelry. Ring, $3,265, Michael C. Fina. IGNITING THE FLAME (opposite) On Brianna: Gown, $1,600, Nicole Miller Bridal. Headpiece, price on request,
Lia Terni. Necklace, price on request, Kristina Fine Jewelry. Ring, $2,400, Whiteflash.com. Ring, $11,230, Ritani. On Eduardo: Jacket, $4,695, shirt,
$425, pant, $695, and tie, $175, Ralph Lauren Purple Label.
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spring 2009 73
6 7
palmetto bluff, south carolina
What we discovered on location
M
ove over, Scarlett O’Hara. For this spring’s fashion
shoot, we headed to quaint Bluffton, South Carolina,
where the Low Country landscape is dotted with
emerald marshes and a maze of rivers and streams.
When it came to day’s end, it wasn’t hard to embrace the peaceful
pace by taking in golden sunset vistas from our plantation-era
porches. In short, we found it to be the perfect place for couples
looking for a setting deeply rooted in old-fashioned romance. Bluffton is just inland from Hilton Head, South Carolina; to get there, fly
into Savannah or Charleston. The coastal area is easily accessible
and by no means just for the Southern-belle bride.
k Where to stay Our home base was the sumptuous Inn at Palmetto Bluff, An Auberge Resort. Photogenic backdrops, from
the slow-moving May River to gracious live oaks draped in Spanish
moss, fill the 20,000-acre property. The centerpiece of the resort is
1
a picturesque village, complete with a town square, general store,
bakery and 50 storybook-like homes (5) with wraparound porches,
chef-worthy kitchens, cozy gas fireplaces and multiple bedrooms,
perfect for families or groups of friends. Hotel guests can stay in
one of 50 adorable white clapboard cottages (2), which feature king
beds, gas fireplaces, separate master bathrooms with steam showers
and screened-in porches overlooking the river or marsh lagoon.
The area’s natural beauty exudes an effortlessly romantic charm.
(Check out page 67 to see the rope swing we found in our backyard.)
Outdoor weddings can take place anywhere on the grounds. We loved
the stone ruins (4) in front of the River House (the only remnants
of the original mansion that lorded over the property in 1910), but
many couples come for the 90-seat chapel (1) whose lancet windows overlook the May River. For an evening event, lamps light the
cobblestone way to the grand ballroom and expansive porches of the
2
5 8
4
3 4
74 destination weddings & honeymoons
shannon greer (1,5,8); joshua savaje gibson (3,6,7)
3
River House. The inn’s onsite event staff is ready to handle everything from catering to personalized decor. Vendors are top-notch,
especially A Floral Affair in Hilton Head, which does gorgeous
customized bouquets and boutonnieres.
k What to do Bike, run or just wander through the property’s
120-acre River Road Preserve (6), a forested sanctuary set along
the May and Cooper rivers. Bikes are available for rent at the Carriage
House (3). For croquet, tennis or bocce ball, stop by Wilson’s Lawn &
Racquet Club. Or take a dolphin-watching cruise aboard the Grace, a
1913 wooden motoryacht, or a Hinckley picnic boat (7). Longfield
Stables offers 173 acres for everyone from seasoned equestrians
to novice riders. (After falling in love with our horse model, Jackson,
we were all ready to take up riding.) The May River Golf Course
features 18 acclaimed holes, or venture offsite to the 27-hole Hilton
Head National, set on 300 acres of Carolina countryside.
k Where to eat Our two favorite restaurants were located right
in the Village Square. Casual lunches at Buffalo’s Books & Bakery featured brick-oven-baked pizzas, slow-roasted pulled-pork
sandwiches, sweet-potato fries and homemade ice cream. For
dinner, we enjoyed rounds of fig martinis at the resort’s elegant
River House before dining on chef Blobaum’s Southern-inspired
SOUTHERN STEPS On Brianna: Gown, $2,420, Farah Angsana. Headpiece, $225, Tia
Mazza. On Eduardo: Jacket, $200, and pant, $170, Perry Ellis. Shirt, $135, and shoes,
$598, Brooks Brothers. Ring, $1,440, Ritani.
creations like she-crab bisque, chilled shellfish platters (8), rack
of lamb and completely addictive (and strikingly sophisticated)
fried chicken. Down the road in Bluffton, the cracked wooden floors
and overhead rafters of Pepper's Porch provide a great backdrop
for a casual gathering; items on this one-time barn’s menu include
fried pickles, bacon-wrapped scallops and fried green tomatoes.
In search of more Low Country recipes, we drove to Hilton Head
for the Crazy Crab Seafood Restaurant, whose weatherworn ambience recalls times gone by. For an appetizer sampler,
we shared the broiled seafood platter brimming with crab cakes,
stuffed flounder, scallops and shrimp — all washed down with mint
juleps in tribute to our Southern locale. Other menu picks were the
Crazy Crab Boil and the steamed seafood pot. Large-party events
can be held indoors or outside on the deck, which has seating for
up to 100. — Tara Bradley ■
for more info, see the 411 on page 116.
spring 2009 75