STEPHANIE & JASON
A Wachesaw Plantation Wedding
Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Stephanie Franza was a freshman at the College of Charleston when she first met Jason Marks. “Jason was a sophomore and living with a high school friend of mine who introduced us,” remembers Stephanie. This fateful introduction turned into a close friendship and the two quickly bonded over their love of the water and surfing. A few years later, Stephanie had just completed nursing school and was preparing to start her first day of work when Jason whisked her away to San Diego for a surprise vacation. Excited to blow off some steam after a stressful few months of studying, an unsuspecting Stephanie had no idea a proposal was coming. On their last day of vacation, Jason took Stephanie to Swamis Botanical Gardens where he popped the question, the beach they both love so much serving as the perfect backdrop.
The next chapter of their love story brought the couple back to the East Coast (and the neighborhood Stephanie grew up in) for their seaside-themed wedding at Wachesaw Plantation. When it came time to make their Lowcountry wedding a reality, the couple worked closely with designer Jacin Fitzgerald who expertly combined natural details and foraged greenery with their coastal-inspired color palette. “Jacin helped us bring our vision to life by designing the perfect wedding to fit our personalities,” says Stephanie.
When Stephanie and her girl squad visited Lovely Bride in Charleston, she knew she wanted a romantic, flowing gown that would allow her to dance throughout the evening. “I went into my appointment with a totally different dress in mind, but as soon as I tried on my gown I knew it was the one,” admits Stephanie. The show-stopper was an effortless Leanne Marshall dress with a halter top neckline, paired with a cathedral-length Rue De Seine veil and embellished belt from Untamed Petals.
Stephanie wore her hair half up with big waves and, adding a subtle element of greenery, pinned three small succulents loosely in the back. “I felt like a mermaid,” says Stephanie of her beachy look. She toted a bouquet of white peonies and garden roses, succulents, and astilbe with greenery accents. “It felt like a wild bouquet and I could not have been happier,” recalls Stephanie of the dreamy Scarlet Begonia Florals creation. Her bridesmaids continued the ocean trend in long, tulle Jenny Yoo dresses in the perfect shade of Mayan Blue to enhance the day’s overall vibe. “I loved how the dresses could be worn in a variety of ways, so everyone could feel comfortable in a style they liked,” said Stephanie.
The ceremony took place on the bluff overlooking the Waccamaw River where Jacin and her team designed a stunning floral horseshoe to serve as the altar. “She used lots of different flowers to create it, but my favorite was the astilbe that reminded me of a coral reef,” remembers Stephanie. After a heartfelt ceremony, the newlyweds departed under a shower of rose petals to the tune of “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” by the Beach Boys.
Inside, the organic motif continued throughout the table settings. Round tables were topped with tall arrangements of white blooms and foraged greenery from nearby riverbanks, while long tables featured driftwood from local beaches surrounded by air plants, succulents, oyster shells and sea ferns. As cocktail hour began, guests sipped on the couple’s specialty drink, a grapefruit margarita they coined “The Washout” as a nod to a well-known surf spot on Folly Beach — a place Stephanie & Jason frequent on weekends. After an elegant seated dinner, all eyes were on the dance floor as Tru Sol turned up the tunes. Guests kicked off their shoes and joined in the dance party, only stopping to grab late night treats — hot, soft pretzels with all the dipping sauces!
MYRTLE BEACH WEDDING VENDORS - Ceremony & Reception Venue: Wachesaw Plantation ll Photographer: Pasha Belman Photography ll Event Planning & Design: Jacin Fitzgerald ll Event Coordinator: Jessica Rourke ll Floral Design: Scarlet Begonia Florals ll Catering & Bar: Wachesaw Plantation ll Gown: Leanne Marshall ll Veil: Rue De Seine ll Dress Boutique: Lovely Bride Charleston ll Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jenny Yoo from Bella Bridesmaids Charleston ll Hair & Makeup: Paper Dolls Wedding Hair & Makeup ll Men’s Attire: Black by Vera Wang from Men’s Wearhouse ll Rentals: EventWorks ll Cake: Pawleys Island Bakery ll Invitations: RSVP Shoppe ll Transportation: Carolina Limousine ll Ceremony Music: Strand Strings ll Band: Tru Sol ll Videographer: Jason Wheeler Video ll Officiant: Wesley Peyton ll Rehearsal Dinner: Inlet Affairs ll Rings: Croghan’s Jewel Box
