New England Goes to Lowcountry at this Kiawah Island Wedding Complete with Oysters!

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The bride of this wedding grew up in New England and wanted warm, cozy autumn vibes reminiscent of a New England fall, but not in total contrast with the natural southern, coastal surroundings of the Lowcountry that the groom had a connection to. The groom’s parents have a home on Kiawah Island and the couple has always spent lots of time visiting, so a destination weekend wedding on Kiawah Island - with touches of New England influence - was perfect for them!

Keep scrolling to see all of the gorgeous images by Davy Whitener Photography of the wedding day at Kiawah Island Club . The day was planned by A Charleston Bride , and included flowers by On a Limb Florals , oysters courtesy of Oysters XO , and vibes by Sol Fusion/East Coast Entertainment .

Aerial photo of invitation and other stationery

Personalized wedding koozies Boutonnieres on silver plate

custom bridal shoes

Portrait of groom and groomsmen on top of hill Groom boutineere

Close-up of bridesmaids holding bouquets

Portrait of bride holding veil walking on lawn

The Welcome Party

The welcome party overlooked the banks of the Kiawah River and incorporated an earth-tone palette, as well as the greenery of potted plants that matched the natural surroundings.

Welcome party area with tables, picnic, tables, string lights, and herb centerpieces

Leather couches with table with herbal centerpiece

Close-up of herbal centerpiece Bride and groom holding hands at welcome party

Herbal centerpiece on picnic table with tablecloth and candles

Herbal centerpiece with small pots and candles in glass

Welcome party table with herbal centerpiece Close-up of herbal centerpiece and candles

Bride looking at groom on bridge in golden hour

New England Inspiration

For the wedding, the bride and groom brought in a touch of New England with the roaming oyster shuckers during cocktail hour. It was the perfect nod to their micro-wedding [due to COVID] on Martha’s Vineyard! Their original wedding date was in October of 2020, but early in the pandemic, they postponed it to September of 2021. However, they decided that they didn’t want to wait another year to be officially married, so they held a micro-wedding on Martha’s Vineyard in September 2020 with 11 immediate family members as their guests.

Close-up of cocktail hour oyster shucker

The Ceremony

One of the bride's favorite moments from the day were the ceremony. Since they were already legally married, the bride and groom decided to walk the processional together for a twist on tradition. They considered this day to be more of a vow renewal, and the bride's father “officiated” the ceremony.

Wedding ceremony location under large tree

Rattan fans on ceremony chairs Ceremony floral accents

Bride walking down aisle at ceremony

Bride and groom during ceremony Bride and groom kissing at end of ceremony

Bride and groom holding hands followed by wedding party

The Reception

At the reception, the couple enjoyed simply getting so much time with their closest friends throughout the weekend, who usually live scattered all over the country. The bride loved watching friends and family who had never met dance, laugh, and talk all night long. They splurged on the band, and this choice put the reception over the top and made it extremely memorable. It felt like a private concert, not just background music - 1000% worth it!

Cocktail hour setting with couches, umbrellas, and tables