Cally & Scott
Every so often the feelings and sentiments of the bride and groom and guests just pop through images. The guiding principles of the bride, groom and their families’ and the intimacy of this gathering of the fifty-one guests ensured a very meaningful day of beginnings, bolstered by traditions.
The bride Cally as a little girl was more interested in sports and keeping up with her older brother/best friend than visualizing her perfect wedding day. In her words, “Scott and I wanted our family and close friends to share in our joy. Most importantly, I wanted Scott to be at the end of the aisle when I walked down, and I wanted us to walk back together, hand-in-hand.”
The themes of family, connections, all hands on deck, helping hands, sharing (southern, for hand-me downs and previously loved), and hand-made added to the significance of every detail.
Cally, Cathryn Lucia, the 5th Lucia in her maternal line of Lucias, chose a Lilly Pulitzer white caftan lace dress for her wedding gown. Cally’s grandmother, one of the Lucias and her four daughters had been the best customers of the Pawleys Island Lilly shop from the 1960s. They all loved colorful clothes (and flowers) for every occasion and would often all dress in their Lillies for Pawleys celebrations. For this Pawleys celebration the mother of the bride also donned a Lilly dress. Cally’s jewelry for the wedding day consisted of diamond earrings from Scott, a diamond necklace from her father and a ring of star sapphire and diamonds which belonged to her grandmother. Her colorful bouquet designed by Lee Jones from Carolina Charm was wrapped with a wedding handkerchief hand embroidered by her aunt with Cally’s initials and the wedding date.
Building new connections and introducing Scott’s Midwest family to the traditions of the South were important to Cally. Pawleys Island to be specific – no apostrophe, please! Pawleys, the home of arrogantly shabby chic, even has its own shell for which mother and daughter combed the beach, then used these on the guests’ place cards. Honoring Scott’s roots were cufflinks Cally had made from old public transit tokens from his hometown of St. Joseph’s, Michigan and a gift to him of a Shinola watch handcrafted in Michigan, both of which he wore with his Hugo Boss suit.
The first look for the bride and groom was at the gates of Brookgreen Gardens among the poetic moss covered trees.
Guests were greeted at the Brookgreen Garden gate by two colorfully decorated iron figures – a bride and a groom “holding” the wedding invitation with the logo of the wedding: the iron gate of Brookgreen designed and drawn by calligrapher and artist Elizabeth Porcher Jones. The adorable iron bride and groom have traveled for at least ten years now to friends’ and family weddings.
The setting for the ceremony was a brick courtyard outside of the Holliday Cottage in Brookgreen Gardens of Murrells Inlet, SC. It was a beautiful day in October. Bright, colorful flowers in hanging baskets flanked the center arrangement (Carolina Charms) and were made by the helping hands of the bride’s aunts. The baskets, custom made of Charleston sweetgrass for a cousin’s wedding in Tennessee, will now also travel to Spokane Washington for another cousin’s wedding.
Covering the cake table was great grandmother Lucia’s cut-work lace cloth used previously at a cousin’s wedding. The sterling silver engraved cake knife (from an aunt’s 1972 wedding) and Loving Cup (yes, a cousin’s) were old, while the cake plates and goblets were also old but treasures found in a thrift store! Cally loved her cousin’s cake so much that she chose the same style exactly but with a little change in the color of the flowers. And, the elegant, mirrored cake plateau was a DIY project previously made by the bride’s uncle for his daughter’s wedding.
The ceremony was very intimate with the 51 guests as the only bridal party. The officiant, a close friend, had introduced Cally and Scott six years ago for a blind date. This Chicago friend was key to sealing the deal especially since he had known them during their entire friendship and courtship. Cally and Scott exchanged their handwritten vows in front of their dearest family and friends.
Following the ceremony an hour–long cocktail and champagne reception was held in the courtyard of the Holliday Cottage. Cake cutting and the bride and groom toasts were enjoyed by all with the background music of a three-piece string ensemble from Charleston.
A dinner celebration was held at The Chive Blossom Cafe, a Pawleys Island favorite restaurant featuring local cuisine. Dinner and toasts were enjoyed inside the intimate space, followed by dessert, drinking and dancing outdoors under twinkly lights and starry skies.
With all hands on deck of the Steel Magnolia women, the groom’s brother to hang the lights in the trees, the hand-me-downs and treasures from cousins, Cally and Scott were married and celebrated. They were able to spend significant time with each guest and overwhelmed by love from start to finish. But, most importantly, they were hand-in-hand at the end of the aisle and at the end of the evening as they begin their lives together.
Ceremony & Cocktail Hour: Brookgreen Gardens – Murrells Inlet, SC – Kym Bailey Reception Venue: Chive Blossom – Pawleys Island, SC Event Coordinator: Tara CramerCaterer: Chive Blossom
Cake: Myra – Incredible Edibles
Florist: Carolina Charms – Lee Jones Calligrapher: Elizabeth Porcher Jones Bride’s Dress: Lily Pulitzer Bride’s Hair & Makeup: Hennigan Hair – Connie Hennigan Grooms Attire: Hugo Boss
