A German-Inspired Beach Wedding at Old Baldy Lighthouse in Bald Head Island, North Carolina

Fabienne Schulz (28 and a program manager) and Ben Hansen (29 and a head of business development) wanted to reflect their fascination with nature, so the pair planned a rustic-chic wedding with a view of the water and nods to the bride’s German background. “We didn’t want our wedding to be over-scripted,” Fabienne says. They decided to convert the venue’s seaside deck into a German beer garden to pay homage to Fabienne’s heritage and time spent abroad in Hamburg. But they didn’t forget the South: A summery signature drink of muddled peaches and gin, dubbed the Georgia mule, was a favorite among guests. The couple exchanged vows beneath the Old Baldy Lighthouse among trees draped with flowy white linens. The bride carried a natural mix of blooms that included garden roses and dusty miller. “I wanted it tailored to the occasion,” Fabienne says of her beachy bouquet. Ben and his groomsmen sported navy-blue jackets with a mix of neckties and bow ties for a formal nautical look. In fact, one of the groomsmen actually organized all the attire, and Ben gifted each guy a pair of socks to wear along with a traditional German beer stein.