SARAH & MICHAEL
A Grande Dunes Ocean Club wedding in Myrtle Beach, SC
Seven years after they were introduced through mutual friends, Michael Meginniss surprised his girlfriend, Sarah Bernhard, with a ring just before they departed to Mexico for a relaxing vacation. The beach-loving couple had a destination wedding in mind but were worried their friends and family wouldn’t be able to make a lengthy trek. After a little hunting, Michael & Sarah were thrilled to find Grand Dunes Ocean Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — the perfect oceanfront venue for their intimate group of 65 guests. Smitten by the unobstructed views of the Atlantic, the couple were eager to scope it out in person and quickly scheduled a scouting trip. “When we took a tour, we knew instantly it was the perfect place for our wedding,” remembers Sarah. The couple locked in an early summer date and began planning the effortless beachside wedding of their dreams.
Unfortunately, finding the perfect dress wasn’t quite as easy as finding the perfect venue. After visiting six different boutiques and trying on what felt like thousands of dresses, Sarah became convinced her perfect gown didn’t exist. So, she settled on her favorite of the bunch — a sheath-style, Casablanca design with a low back and lace detailing — hoping it would do the trick.
But it wasn’t until her wedding day that the doubt finally disappeared. “Once my hair and makeup were done and I slipped into the dress,” recalls Sarah, “the look was exactly as I imagined it.” The team at The Spa on Main fashioned her hair in a loose up-do, accented by a dainty flower crown, and completed the look with natural makeup. Adding an unexpected accessory to accentuate the plunging back of her gown, Sarah wore a custom Sarah Cornwell backdrop necklace. The final touch was a pink peony-infused bouquet full of garden roses, orchids, and tulips wrapped with ribbon and tied with a personalized locket.
Keeping in line with the beach mood, her three bridesmaids wore strapless sage dresses with sweetheart necklines and hi-lo hems, and carried smaller versions of Sarah’s bouquet, adding a pop of color against the soft green of their dresses. Michael and his groomsmen kept with the coastal vibe wearing tan suits — the groom’s accented with a champagne-colored tie and the groomsmen sporting a deep green shade. Anticipating the pre-ceremony jitters, Sarah & Michael planned for a first look, which not only put them at ease but also carved out time for pre-ceremony photos.
After a touching ceremony on the terrace overlooking the ocean where a close friend presided over their vows, the celebration moved indoors to the contemporary ballroom. Seating tables were fitted with white linens and surrounded by gold chivari chairs which perfectly complemented the gold lighting fixtures hanging overhead. Little Shop of Flowers created modern centerpieces in gold-rimmed, geometric containers of white, blush and pink blooms to complete the summer décor. The crowd indulged in an island-inspired menu of mahi-mahi with mango salsa, jerk chicken, plantains and a tropical fruit salad. The Caribbean flavors were followed by a simple, yet elegant, three-tiered cake from Croissants Bistro & Bakery featuring layers of vanilla, almond marzipan, and lemon — a little something sweet for everyone before they spent the rest of the evening dancing the night away!
Are you having a wedding in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina? Check out the fabulous Myrtle Beach wedding vendors who created the magic?
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Grande Dunes Ocean Club ll Photographer: Gillian Claire Photography ll Gown: Casablanca ll Dress Shop: Darianna Boutique (Warrington, PA) ll Bridesmaids’ Dresses: David’s Bridal ll Hair & Makeup: The Spa on Main ll Men’s Attire: Calvin Klein from Men’s Wearhouse ll Floral Design: Little Shop of Flowers ll Catering & Bar: Grande Dunes Ocean Club ll Cake: Croissants Bakery ll Lighting: DJ Scott and Company ll Invitations: Minted ll Ceremony & Reception Music: DJ Scott and Company ll Rehearsal Dinner: The Wicked Tuna ll Officiant: Steven Buse
