BROOKE & RYAN
An Oldfield Club wedding in Okatie, SC
Sometimes the person you’ve been waiting for lives just across the pond — ask neighbors, Brooke Bishop and Ryan Atwood! The couple met in high school when Brooke, just 15-years-old at the time, and her brother Blake transferred to nearby Hilton Head Christian Academy and quickly became fast friends with the Atwood brothers — Ryan & Kyle. The two younger siblings quickly hit it off thanks to mutual interests, and it wasn’t long before Brooke & Ryan were spending their evenings collaborating on pre-calculus homework; by November 28, 2009, they officially became a couple.
Almost two years later, Ryan surprised Brooke with a proposal aboard the Schooner Pride and the two set out to plan a personalized Lowcountry celebration. Brooke grew up on the water, with views of the marsh in her backyard, and wanted to replicate the same ambiance for her wedding day. They toured multiple venues in Hilton Head and Charleston, but it was Oldfield Plantation Club that sealed the deal. They set the date for June 25, 2016, and tapped Haley Kelly of A Charleston Bride to create Brooke’s vision of “Old Hollywood Glam meets Southern Plantation” with a romantic color palette of blush and rose gold. As a hint of what was to come, the couple sent their 275 guests beautiful save the dates from Studio R. “I was obsessed,” explains the bride, regarding the gorgeous watercolor painting of The River Club with pink and green tones and rose gold foil.
Brooke’s gown fit perfectly with the glamorous Southern affair. She was smitten with the vintage-inspired, Jenny Packham design, falling instantly for the sheer beaded sleeves and rhinestone-accents. To show off the keyhole back, Brooke chose a low loose bun for her hair, paired with a smoky eye, pretty pink lip and ombre bouquet. Her bridesmaids all wore long dresses from Two Birds, in the perfect shade of rosewater, and styled their neckline to their own personal preference.
Brooke & Ryan skipped tradition to spend a few private moments together before the ceremony. “We had written each other letters and read them as we stood back-to-back,” says Brooke. After they turned around for the big reveal, they spent the remaining moments washing each other’s feet to symbolize how they would serve and unconditionally love one another in marriage. “It was the most intimate part of the day and the only time Ryan and I really had to ourselves,” recalls Brooke. Two sweet ring bearers, dressed in black bow ties and suspenders, kicked off the procession with a hand-lettered “Here Comes the Bride” balloon. After which, Brooke’s father escorted her down the staircase where she met Ryan in front of a floral-adorned wooden cross to say, “I do.”
After enjoying cocktail hour inside, guests moved out to the back lawn where Brooke & Ryan’s personalities were on full display with custom “his” and “her” sections. On Ryan’s side, guests enjoyed a Westbrook Brewing Company beer wall including some of his favorite brews on tap. Guests poured their choice in the custom cups, featuring the same image from the couple’s save the dates. As a nod to her love of photography, Brooke’s side included a polaroid photo booth with lyrics from “La Vie en Rose” by Louis Armstrong — the couple’s first dance song — on the backdrop. The dinner menu was packed with Southern favorites including a full biscuit bar and macaroni and cheese, and after guests had their fill they made their way to the dance floor where DJ Natty Heavy set the party in motion. As the evening came to a close and the guests had polished off the late-night chicken and waffle treats, Brooke swapped her Jenny Packham gown for a short, beaded number as she and Ryan set sail for an evening cruise on the Okatee River.
HILTON HEAD WEDDING VENDORS - Ceremony & Reception Venue: Oldfield River Club ll Photographer: Landon Jacob Productions ll Event Planning & Design: A Charleston Bride ll Floral Design: Stephanie Gibbs Events ll Gown: Jenny Packham ll Dress Boutique: White on Daniel Island ll Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Twobirds Bridesmaid ll Hair: Salon Karma ll Catering: Oldfield River Club ll Cake: Signe’s Bakery ll Paper Goods: Studio R Design ll Rentals: Snyder Events, Ooh! Events ll Linens: Nüage Designs ll Lighting: EventHaus ll Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Music: Bob Williams Duo ll Reception Music: DJ Natty Heavy ll Balloon: J.Lily Design ll Event Painter: Chloe Strickland ll Videographer: Caravan