1. Real Weddings

A Romantic Southern Wedding at Dunes West Golf and River Club in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

<b style="font-weight: normal;">Gladys Velasquez (28 and a resident physician) and Tony Clarke (34 and an account manager) exchanged vows at the ocean

Gladys Velasquez (28 and a resident physician) and Tony Clarke (34 and an account manager) exchanged vows at the ocean, a scene that resembled the day they met. The beach-loving duo hosted a romantic Southern-inspired wedding under century-old oaks at Dunes West Golf and River Club in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Since this was a destination wedding for a majority of their guests, South Carolina native Gladys knew that Charleston’s antebellum charm would be the perfect setting for a winter wedding full of Southern romance. “Charleston and the Lowcountry are just naturally beautiful, and we really wanted our guests to experience this, since most people were traveling from around the world and had never visited this area,” she says. Gladys and Tony kept decor to a minimum, using soft candlelight and lanterns with Spanish moss and baby’s breath at every opportunity. Tall glass vessels, ivory hydrangeas and willow branches were placed at the center of each table, and subtle shades of ivory, blush and gray became the delicate winter palette. Gladys embodied classic Southern femininity in a Paloma Blanca ivory gown with Chantilly lace, a sweetheart neckline and a keyhole back. “I have always loved pearls, so it was fitting that I wear them on my wedding day,” the bride says. A pearl and diamond pendant necklace with pearl drop earrings completed her timeless look. Guests spent the evening dining on quintessential Southern fare, including shrimp and grits and fried green tomatoes.—Juliette Cheatham

Gladys’s engagement ring is a round solitaire diamond on a platinum pave diamond setting, which contrasts beautifully with her rose-gold wedding band with pave diamonds. Tony's wedding ring is a simple dark tungsten brushed band.
Ivory hydrangeas, blush spray roses, white garden roses, white Estelle asters and baby’s breath came together elegantly to from the bridal bouquet. “I loved the ivory flowers for the Southern winter romantic wedding,” Gladys says.
Wanting to create a romantic winter style, Gladys choose a floor-length blush pink gown for her maid of honor. “I let the other girls choose whichever color, from the taupe palette, and the style they liked the most as long as they were long and chiffon,” she says.
Gladys and Tony’s beloved Pomeranian, Dobby, made an appearance in several of their wedding portraits and in the ceremony. “My cousin, a bridesmaid, walked with him down the aisle,” Gladys says.
Gladys was a Southern belle in a Chantilly lace ivory Paloma Blanca gown with a sweetheart neckline and keyhole back. The dress had an ivory silk belt with a bow and a pearl and diamond broach to accent her waistline.
The waterfront Dunes West Golf and River Club in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, accommodated Gladys’s desire for a romantic Southern wedding and offered the ideal setting for Tony, an avid golfer. “We really loved the Spanish-moss-covered trees and the plantation-style clubhouse. We also loved the ability to keep the ceremony and reception in one area,” Gladys says.
Gladys and Tony’s flower girl wore a flower crown of fresh baby’s breath and held a pomander of ivory cushion flowers. These sweet details helped to extend the romantic essence of the wedding beyond just the decor.
“We chose the location under several Spanish-moss-covered trees with a view of the creek since this highlighted the Southern rustic feel that we were trying to achieve,” Gladys says. Few decorations were used so as not to draw attention from the beauty of the trees at the ceremony site.
Gladys’s sister, also the maid of honor, hand-painted signs on rustic wooden planks leading guests toward the ceremony area.
Besides what nature provided on the creekside lawn, two shepherd’s hooks holding mason jars filled with flowers were used at the end of each aisle for the ceremony. The ivory hydrangeas, blush spray roses, blush pink Estelle asters, baby’s breath and a touch of greenery provided a romantic touch and reflected Gladys’s bouquet.
Tall glass vases with ivory hydrangeas and willow branches rested on the center of each table at the reception. The minimal centerpiece embodied a look that was simple, classic, and Southern.
Lanterns of varying sizes rested on beds of Spanish moss and baby’s breath, both found in nature in Charleston, South Carolina. These casual centerpieces cast romantic lighting throughout the reception.
Gladys and Tony ordered blush-colored custom koozies from Etsy.com for guests to use at the reception and then take home as favors after. An outline of South Carolina along with their wedding monogram and date of marriage adorned the front.
Wanting a classic-looking cake, Gladys had three tiers with multiple flavors, including red velvet, carrot cake, chocolate and marble iced with plain white buttercream frosting. “Simple flowers provided by our florist adorned the cake, and we had no other topper,” Gladys says.