A Floral Fairytale St. Simons Island Wedding

Real Weddings

Nick and Julie’s St. Simons Island wedding is where floral dreams were brought to life in a captivating display of colors and elegance. This floral fairytale of a wedding consisted of a beautiful cool-toned color palette that mesmerized guests throughout the celebration. Below we share some highlights of the beautiful blooms that adorned the ceremony and reception spaces, adding an aura of romance and enchantment to this special day.

Simons Island Wedding Floral Design

Nick and Julie had a specific vision in mind for their wedding day and wanted their florals to showcase a beautiful palette of white, blue, and purple blooms. During our consultation, when Julie expressed interest in incorporating some color into her design, we let the creative juices flow and created a captivating symphony of colors and textures. Our team set out to find the most exquisite lilac flowers, which complemented the white and blue blooms splendidly. 

The Ceremony

For the ceremony at Saint Simon’s Presbyterian Church, we had the opportunity to showcase our creativity with big beautiful urns, which we designed on-site. Designing these magnificent displays on-site was so fun, allowing us to customize these pieces for the space and our couple. The result was nothing short of glorious, with the ceremony space brimming with the lush beauty of the white, blue, and purple flowers.

The Reception

To create a seamless transition from the rehearsal dinner to the wedding day, we repurposed the florals from the previous evening. With a different color palette for the rehearsal dinner, we carefully incorporated pops of blue to harmonize the look and feel. 

In the reception space at Forbes Farm, lush long arrangements we displayed on the long guest tables while billowing blooms were displayed in gold vases on the round guest tables. The addition of gold accents in the containers and candle holders elevated the entire design bringing an air of elegance and sophistication to their color scheme. The wedgwood colored taper candles were the perfect finishing touch, adding a warm and romantic glow to the reception space. 

One of the highlights of this wedding was the addition of greenery to all twelve chandeliers in the reception space. The verdant foliage brought a touch of nature’s charm indoors, creating a magical ambiance that left guests in awe.

Bringing Your Floral Dreams To Life

Nick and Julie’s St. Simons Island wedding was a true testament to the power of floral artistry in creating unforgettable moments. It was an honor to bring their vision to life, weaving together the delicate beauty of white, blue, and purple blooms with the elegance of gold accents and lush greenery.


As floral designers, we love working with couples who are not afraid of incorporating color into their designs; it is always so fun to work with the exquisite colors of nature! If you are looking for a floral designer who loves to execute gorgeous events that wow your guests, you are in the right place! Ask us how we can work together to create a one-of-a-kind design for your wedding!

Bride and groom exiting St. Simons Church ceremony
St. Simons Island Wedding reception with blue and white tables and greenery chandeliers
Blue and white linen with gold charger plate, gold cutlery, blue water goblets and floral runner
Wedding table with blue and white pattern linen with gold charger plate, gold cutlery and blue water goblet
Blue, purple & pink wedding floral centrepiece
Blue velvet couch with white chairs and gold glass table
Sparkler exit at St. Simons Island Wedding

Vendors

Planning: Beth Williams and Company
Ceremony venue: Saint Simons Presbyterian 
Reception Venue: Forbes Farm 
Makeup: Felicia Cammon Beauty 
Rentals: Beachview Event Rentals + Eventworks Rentals
Videography: Jeff and Mollie 
Catering: Halyards Catering 
Cake: Serendipity Bakery 
Band: Emerald Empire Band
Transportation: Lighthouse Trolleys 
Invitation: Paper Daisies Stationery 

A Dreamy Colleton River Club Wedding

Real Weddings

We are so excited to share with you some of our favorite highlights from this stunning Colleton River Club wedding. The day started with the perfect weather for a classic Southern wedding, with a gentle breeze rustling through the lush greenery of the golf course. Little did we know this wedding would present us with unexpected challenges and delightful surprises that would forever be remembered. 

Colleton River Club Wedding in South Carolina

South Carolina Wedding Floral Design

The bride had envisioned a wedding of timeless elegance with a theme of classic simplicity. The chosen color palette consisted of pristine whites and verdant greens, accentuated by subtle hints of silver and pewter. As the floral designer, it was our job to bring this vision to life, creating an enchanting atmosphere that would leave a lasting impression on the couple and their guests. So, during the planning process, we worked alongside Sincerely Yours Events to ensure every detail matched the bride’s vision in creating her dream wedding.

The selection of flowers for this grand occasion was nothing short of breathtaking. Roses, dahlias, tulips, and campanula added delicate layers of beauty, while stock, carnations, and Spanish moss provided textural depth to the arrangements. Delphinium, ranunculus, hellebore, and smilax effortlessly intertwined throughout.

To ensure longevity and freshness throughout the day, we incorporated preserved Italian ruscus into the design. Mums, astrantia, spray roses, and peonies introduced lush textures and intoxicating fragrances, while the whimsical touches of scabiosa and tweedia added a sense of enchantment to the overall aesthetic.

On The Wedding Day

The morning of this Colleton River Club wedding started out with perfect weather for an outdoor ceremony. So our team worked tirelessly to arrange the beautiful meadow floral arrangements on the ground for the ceremony. However, the wind proved to be stronger than anticipated, adding an element of unpredictability to the proceedings. Undeterred by this challenge, we resourcefully secured the arrangements using bricks from Andrea’s backyard, ensuring that every detail was fastened and would withstand the winds.

The reception held its own set of trials. Despite our best efforts, the tall arrangements in the reception tent repeatedly succumbed to the gusty winds. So, with a quick change of plans, we transformed the tall arrangements into bar arrangements that looked stunning as ever.

One of our favorite details of the reception tent was the floral chandelier that hung above the dance floor. For this, we added long strands of Spanish Moss to the chandelier bringing in a touch of the South and a hint of whimsical romance.

A Dreamy Day

Despite the unexpected challenges presented by the wind, this Colleton River Club wedding was an undeniable success. Our team’s unwavering commitment to bringing the bride’s vision to life, coupled with their creativity and adaptability, resulted in a celebration that surpassed all expectations. 

The experience gained from this wedding reaffirmed our belief that even the most meticulously planned events can surprise us with unforeseen circumstances. It is in these moments that the benefits of working with professional wedding vendors shine, thanks to their true creativity and resourcefulness. 

So, if you are building your team of professional wedding vendors for your South Carolina wedding or beyond, we’d love to help you with your floral design! Check out our portfolio for some examples of recent floral design projects.

Bridesmaids in champagne silk bridesmaid dresses with white flowers
white bridal and bridesmaid bouquets
Bride and groom kissing at Colleton River Club wedding ceremony
Bride and groom with flower petal exit at Colleton River Club wedding ceremony
Tented wedding reception with floral chandelier and wedding cake

Vendors

Photography: Holly Felts
Planning: Sincerely Yours Events 
Cake: Wicked Cakes of Savannah 
Rentals: Ranco Event Rentals 
Venue: Colleton River Club

Valentine’s Day-Inspired Wedding on Jekyll Island

Real Weddings

As a florist, I have been privileged to witness countless love stories come alive through the beauty of flowers. However, Megan and Jacob’s wedding on Jekyll Island at the exquisite Jekyll Island Club Resort was truly something extraordinary. From the Valentine’s Day-inspired color palette to the unexpected thunderstorm, every moment of their special day was etched with a touch of elegance and resilience.

A Valentine’s Day-inspired Wedding Design

With cranberry, mauve, and blush as the primary hues, the Gray Harper team created a romantic ambiance reminiscent of a fairytale. Our goal was to set the tone of the day and create an atmosphere that would capture the essence of Megan and Jacob’s love story. A touch of gold was incorporated into the design through votives and vases, adding the perfect amount of elegance and sophistication. 

Jekyll Island Club Resort Wedding

After meticulously setting up the ceremony floral arrangements, we eagerly awaited the moment when we could transfer the ceremony flowers to the reception space. However, fate had other plans. As we sat down for dinner, the sky opened up, unleashing a storm of thunder and rain. It seemed as if nature itself was putting their love to the test.

Thunder roared, and lightning cracked, resulting in a delay that prevented anyone from entering the tent. But as the rain subsided, the skies cleared, revealing a glimmer of hope for Megan and Jacob’s wedding on Jekyll Island. With newfound determination, everyone rallied together to ensure that the celebration continued on.

With the turmoil of the storm behind us, it was time for the reception to commence. Inside the tent, the head table was a vision of bounty and romance. We achieved this by scattering fruits like grapes, figs, and pomegranates along the table to provide a lush, overflowing look that perfectly complemented the floral arrangements. 

Floral Design

Inside the reception tent, we designed an exquisite medley of cranberry, mauve, and blush blooms. The mixed arrangements included garden roses, tulips, ranunculus, Cala lilies, and freesia. While above the head table was a romantic floral installation intertwined with crystal chandeliers. We used red hanging amaranthus, eucalyptus, eleagnus, chocolate cosmos, and spray roses to create a statement piece dripping in romance. The contrast of the bold floral tones against the neutral palette in the wedding tent made a delightful surprise and was a design to remember! 

Megan and Jacob’s wedding on Jekyll Island will forever be etched in my memory as a testament to the power of love and resilience. Despite the storm’s interruption, their commitment to one another and the strength of an incredible vendor team helped bring this couple’s vision to life. Through the language of love and flowers, we painted a picture of romance and elegance that will test the times to come. If you are planning a wedding on Jekyll Island, we’d love to help you make it the wedding of your dreams! Learn more about our full-service wedding floral design service and if it’s right for you! 

Jekyll Island Club Resort Wedding Ceremony with white flowers & white chairs
White wedding ceremony flowers

Flowers on metal gate at Jekyll Island Club Resort
Tented Wedding on Jekyll Island with hanging floral chandelier

Hanging floral installation with chandeliers
Wedding on Jekyll Island in a tent
Bud vases with burgundy flowers and fruit on table
White wedding table with burgundy and mauve flowers
White wedding cake with burgundy flowers

Vendors

Planning + Design: Emily Burton Designs
Photography: Brooke + Paul Roberts
Linens: Nuage Designs
Rentals: Beachview Event Rentals
Venue: Jekyll Island Club Resort

Bright & Colorful Sea Pines Resort Wedding

Real Weddings

As the florist for Joanna and Eric’s Sea Pines Resort Wedding, I couldn’t have asked for a more delightful couple to work with. Joanna had a clear vision in mind: she wanted bright, happy colors without an overwhelming amount of greenery. With her guidance, I carefully selected a stunning array of flowers that would bring her vision to life and complement the beautiful surroundings of Hilton Head Island in October.

The Wedding Day

The day of the wedding was absolutely perfect. The weather was ideal, with a gentle breeze and clear blue skies. Joanna and Eric’s ceremony was a true Southern vision and took place under a majestic moss-draped Liberty Oak tree. The aisle was lined with colorful meadow arrangements filled with bright pinks, soft peaches, and pops of yellow.

While setting up the tented wedding reception on the 18th lawn, I couldn’t help but appreciate the breathtaking backdrop of this Sea Pines Resort Wedding. With a stunning ocean view in the background, this South Carolina wedding venue does not disappoint! I loved how the vibrant green grass of the golf course served as a canvas for the explosion of colors we were about to create.

Sea Pines Resort Wedding Flowers

The flowers I chose for Joanna and Eric’s wedding were a true celebration of nature’s beauty and a celebration of Joanna’s happy and colorful design. We incorporated a variety of blooms, including pink peonies, garden roses, delphiniums, ranunculus, dahlias, campanulas, and preserved Italian ruscus. These flowers added layers of depth and texture to the arrangements, creating a visually captivating display. To enhance the overall aesthetic, I included yarrow, ferns, Italian variegated pittosporum, solidago, spray roses, snapdragons, tulips, and butterfly ranunculus. These additional elements added pops of color and an organic touch to the design.

Each centerpiece and bouquet was meticulously crafted to reflect Joanna’s vision. The vibrant hues of pink, yellow, and orange danced harmoniously together, creating a joyful atmosphere that mirrored the couple’s love and happiness. For the centerpieces, we opted for a combination of white ceramic and rustic gold vases, which paired beautifully with the votive candles on the tables. Tall taper candles and fresh bowls of citrus fruits provided additional bursts of color on the guest tables.

Sea Pines Resort Wedding Venue

Working with the staff at Sea Pines Resort was an absolute pleasure. Their professionalism and attention to detail ensured that everything ran smoothly. From the initial planning stages to the final execution, their expertise and cooperation made my job as a florist even more enjoyable. If the impeccable level of service isn’t enough to choose this South Carolina wedding venue, then the immaculate property with picturesque views is.

Being part of Joanna and Eric’s Sea Pines Resort Wedding was truly an honor. Their trust in my ability to bring their vision to life was deeply appreciated. As a florist, there’s nothing more fulfilling than bringing designs to life that reflect a couple’s unique love story. And in this case, I’m confident that the vibrant colors and elegant designs added an extra touch of enchantment to their unforgettable day. If you are planning a Sea Pines Resort Wedding and are looking for a floral designer to bring your vision to life, we’d love to hear from you!

Vendors

Photography: Justin Leon Brown 
Venue: Sea Pines Resort 
Day-of Coordinator: Folie à Deux Events 
Rentals: Beachview Event Rentals

A Garden Party Wedding At The Ford Field & River Club

Real Weddings

We had a blast working with Design Studio South on Olivia and Sean’s garden party wedding at The Ford Field & River Club. Olivia envisioned a retro London Tea Party with lots of color and pattern to fill the space, and Design Studio South did an excellent job bringing this vision to life!

On the wedding day, we were blessed with surprisingly warm weather for the last weekend in March, which led to some additional preparations. To keep as much heat as possible out of the tent, we kept tarps on the clear-top tent, then moved them right before the ceremony. Unfortunately, with the warm weather came a storm warning, so we moved everything from the cocktail hour space under the tent until the storm passed. Luckily it quickly passed, and everything was back to normal just in time for the guests to enjoy.

Garden Party Wedding Floral Details

Olivia’s flowers were a florist’s dream! The design included the best of Spring, and the couple was not afraid of color. 

For her bouquet, we incorporated poppies, sweet peas, allium, ranunculus, spirea, and phlox together to create a light and ethereal design. Olivia’s bouquet was tied with a floral embroidered ribbon, while the bridesmaids carried similar petite bouquets tied with wide lilac-colored silk ribbon. 

Ceremony

For the ceremony, we made a wooden a-frame wedding arch adorned with bursts of pastel-colored blooms. The entrance to the aisle was designed with similar blooms, and it felt like the ceremony was nestled amongst a lush garden. It was the perfect setting for a magical garden party wedding ceremony.

Reception

One of our favorite features of this garden party wedding design was the recessed bar at cocktail hour. For this feature, we placed vibrant Spring blooms inside the recessed window in the bar to create a true focal point for this portion of the reception. We especially loved the dancing purple allium flowers, which made this design element feel so playful.

As the cocktail hour drew to an end, guests were invited inside a magical garden party wedding tent. At the entrance of the tent, guests were greeted by billowing baskets of blooms, lush Spring trees, and the cutest little bistro tables. Inside the tent, the reception bar featured two Dutch Master-style arrangements with tulips and hyacinths overflowing from the vase. Guest tables featured long arrangements with bountiful blooms in blush and pastel tones. Subtle yet delicate details, such as edible florals in the signature cocktails and butterflies on the cake, helped bring this garden party wedding reception to life.
We love working with couples who have a unique vision for their day and love florals as much as we do! We are so thankful to have worked with Olivia and her incredibly kind family to bring her wedding vision to life! If you are planning a tented wedding in Georgia or beyond, we’d love to work with you! We want to help you make your dream wedding design a reality through thoughtfully designed florals! Be sure to reach out to learn more about our full-service floral design experience!

Vendors

​​​​Photography: Justin Leon Brown
Videographer: Ardsley Park Productions
Planning + Design: Design Studio South
Florals: Gray Harper Florals
Venue, Catering, Bar + Baker: Ford Field and River Club
Hair + Makeup: Royal Makeup and Hair
Ceremony + Reception Music: Equinox Orchestra
Baker:  Vanilla and the Bean
Tent + Flooring:  Eventworks Rentals
Custom Rentals: Crush by Eventworks Rentals + Snyder Events + Amazing Event Rentals + Curated Events Charleston
Printed Linens: Stradley Davidson
Solid Linens + Napkins:  Nuage Designs
Restrooms: Royal Restrooms Savannah
Bride’s Dress: Jenny Yoo NYC
Groom’s Attire: The Black Tux
Invitations + Day of Paper Goods: Linden Illustration
Escort +Place Cards: Mela Design Co.
Transportation: Old Savannah Tours
Vinyl Decals: Reids Custom

Get To Know Your Floral Designer

Uncategorized

Meet Andrea, Andrea is our fearless leader and lead floral designer at Gray Harper. Andrea has always shared a love of floral design and can often be seen busy in the studio creating beautiful designs or on site bringing those designs to life. We thought it’d be fun to take this opportunity to get to know Andrea a little better with a fun interview! 

Meet Andrea

Andrea Gray, Floral Designer in floral dress

Where are you from?

I was born in Atlanta, Georgia but grew up on an island off of Miami, Florida called Key Biscayne. There are parts of Miami that I really miss. Particularly the food, people, and social activities, but I can’t imagine living there now. I much prefer the slower, easier life of this Southern city. If someone could just drive up here with ceviche from Miami for me every day that would be great.

What did you want to be when you grew up? 

As a child I wavered between Artist and Veterinarian, but eventually art took the lead. I attended the Savannah College of Art and Design for one year straight out of high school, but inevitably followed my sole mate (and now husband) to Halifax, Nova Scotia where I attended and graduated from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. I graduated with a Bachelor of Design in Textiles with a minor in Fashion. After graduating I knew I wasn’t done learning, and together we moved back to Savannah where I pursued and obtained a Master’s Degree in Fibers from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Do you have any kids?

Yes, I have a son, Remy, who is seven and a daughter, Beatrice, who is one. I love what I do but providing them with a good life is the core that drives every decision I make in business.

What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

When is that, haha! Work-life balance has always been a struggle for me. I’m driven and it shows, but on the rare occasion that I am not in my studio designing flowers or running through the logistics of an upcoming event, I enjoy traveling (well, actually my favorite part about traveling is planning the travel) with my family, watching my son surf at our local surf competitions, and dining at restaurants with friends.

How did you get into Floral Design for Events?

I have always loved flowers and would often re-arrange flowers my mother received from friends and family. I started out in the wedding industry as a Planner and Designer for my planning company Gray Harper Event Maker. Offering floral design as a service to my event planning company seemed like an obvious progression for me. Soon the floral design aspect of the business started to take over – in a good way. It brought me a lot of joy and also took me back to my art and design roots, except I was trading in my paints for flowers. Shortly after we dropped “event maker” from the name, and Gray Harper was born. 

Are you a classically trained floral designer?

Nope. My background is in art and design. After graduate school I look a variety of classes from acclaimed floral designers all over the country. The mechanical aspect of floral design can be learned and I continue to learn and perfect my craft each day with each event we create. Having an eye for design, composition and color balancing is something I have always felt was within me.

What is your approach to designing florals for your clients, and what makes it unique? 

I consider a variety of factors. Designing doesn’t start the moment you pick up a flower, it actually starts when pen hits the paper and I begin putting together my flower order for the event. I consider the season, overall event style, color palette, and feeling that I want to flowers to convey. Some designers have specific flowers that they always work with, that they rely on heavily in a design, I’m not saying that I don’t have my favorites, but I do try to make the design for each event unique, just as each of my clients are unique. We won’t copy designs, even our own. 

What do you think is the biggest misconception clients have about what you do?

We don’t “play” with flowers all day. In fact, we maybe do that 5% of the time we are working. So much of what I do takes meticulous planning. I spend many hours on the computer answering emails, filling out an endless amount of spreadsheets and planning the logistics of each event. 

Where do you draw inspiration from when it comes to creating your designs for your clients/ couples? 

It depends, sometimes I am inspired by the venue, space or overall feel for the event. Sometimes I am inspired by a story my clients shared with me, like a garden their grandmother grew or a place they traveled. Sometimes I am inspired by the flowers themselves. 

Share with us some of your greatest achievements/ career highlights as a floral designer? 

Honestly I think my greatest achievement is being able to support my family through a career that I actually like and that I built from the ground up. Career Highlight would be designing flowers for Mindy Weiss and her incredible team last month.

What advice do you have for your clients or couples when it comes to incorporating florals into their celebrations? 

Think about how flowers can enhance a space, not overwhelm it. If you aren’t sure what you want or where to start, start by finding a designer whose work resonates with you and let them lead the way. The best gift my clients can give me is the gift of trust. When I don’t have the full trust of the client, I start to doubt my decisions and it can hinder the creative process.

Savannah floral designer creating a bouquet

Photographers: 

Meredith Ryncarz
Dana Cubbage
Justin Leon Brown 
Ian Santiago 
JB Marie Photography

Savannah Wedding Vow Renewal

Real Weddings

It’s no doubt that we love celebrating love. So, when Susan approached us to help celebrate her 30-year vow renewal, we were smitten with the idea! Susan has been a long-time client of ours. We typically design flowers for her coaching retreats whenever she is in the Savannah area. So we were thrilled and honored when she reached out to us for help with her Savannah wedding vow renewal.

The Design

Susan has such a creative eye and knew exactly what she wanted for her vow renewal. She described the style aesthetic for the event as “Dynasty (the original) meets Beyonce meets “The Great Gatsby”. As part of the design, Susan picked all of her favorite things, including pink and peach ranunculus and roses and white anemones with navy centers. 

The Gray Harper team designed a circular meadow arrangement for Susan and Scott’s Savannah wedding vow renewal ceremony. The low-lying and vibrant blooms were the perfect addition to their ceremony in Monterey Square. During the ceremony, Susan held a delicate bouquet of white and pink pastel blooms while Scott wore a boutonniere made with peach ranunculus. 

After the ceremony, guests were led by a second-line parade and headed to a reception in the Historic Savannah district. As part of the reception, we designed florals to complement Susan’s design, including a stunning floral table runner and beautiful mantle arrangements.

From the custom-designed gown to the bagpipe entrance and dance performance, Susan and Scott’s Savannah wedding vow renewal embodied this couple perfectly! It was such an honor to work with our long-time client to help celebrate this special milestone! If you are planning a wedding vow renewal, engagement party, or milestone celebration, we want to be there with you! We love creating one-of-a-kind designs for our clients that goes beyond just the florals! So, reach out today to learn more about our event design services!

Floral table runner a Savannah Vow Renewal

Vendors

Officiant: Reverend Schulte
Cake: Vanilla And The Bean
Ceremony Music: New Arts Ensembles
Planning: LM Event Coordination
Hair+Makeup: Royal Makeup And Hair
Photography: Justin Leon Brown

A Timeless & Elegant Jekyll Island Club Wedding

Real Weddings

Abby & Micheal’s wedding on Jekyll Island took place on the most beautiful day in June here in Georgia. Their Jekyll Island club wedding featured an all-white color palette with timeless and elegant details. Follow along as we share some highlights from this timeless and elegant Southern wedding!

Jekyll Island Club Wedding Day Details

The Day

The wedding day began with Abby & Micheal getting ready with their closest friends and family in Crane Cottage. Before heading to the ceremony, the couple exchanged intimate vows during a first look which was then followed by some very dreamy and romantic couple portraits.

The Design

For Abby & Micheal’s Jekyll Island Club wedding, we opted for an all-white color palette with pops of green through lush greenery. In addition, black and gold accents were incorporated into the decor and stationery to add a modern and romantic element to the design.

The bride loved hydrangeas and requested them in her floral design. At first, we were concerned as it can be very challenging to work with hydrangeas outside in the south in 90F weather. But we did it, and they looked great! Other flowers we incorporated into the design included white delphinium, spray roses, spirea, and lisianthus. We had a fun time selecting the white blooms for this design based on their texture and size.

The low-lying arrangements designed for the ceremony were later repurposed and were the perfect addition to the tent entrance and stage. Flowers from the rehearsal dinner were also repurposed into bud vases mixed amongst the guest’s tables.

We believe there is something so elegant about an all-white wedding, from the textures of the lush white blooms to the stylish linens and candles. If you want help with your floral wedding design, we’d love to help you! Whether you are planning an elegant white wedding or a vibrant wedding with pops of color, we want to hear from you! Fill out our inquiry form and tell us all about your dream wedding to see if we are a good fit for you.

Bride and groom portrait in front of vintage car

Jekyll Island Club wedding ceremony at Crane Cottage
Jekyll Island Club wedding reception tent entrance
White tent with white tables and gold chairs

Wedding table with tall flower arrangements

Bow wedding cake

Vendors

Photography: Kati Rosado Photography 
Florist: Gray Harper Florals
Venue: Jekyll Island Club
Rentals: Beachview Event Rentals

An Intimate & Classic Crane Cottage Wedding Rehearsal

Events

Abby & Michael approached us looking for help with their floral design for their wedding at Jekyll Island Club. During the planning process, they decided to host an intimate Crane Cottage wedding rehearsal for family and friends and asked the Gray Harper team to help with the florals! It is always fun working with our couples on their wedding weekend events, especially when it is at the beautiful Jekyll Island Club!

Crane Cottage Wedding Rehearsal

Crane Cottage At Jekyll Island Club

Crane Cottage is a beautifully designed Italian Renaissance-style cottage surrounded by lush gardens and immaculate lawns. The exterior of the building includes a sunken lawn perfect for your ceremony and a picturesque courtyard ideal for a cocktail party. Inside, the living room and library are hosts to ornate architecture embellished with wood detailing. The living room is the perfect place to host guests for dinner for your wedding or rehearsal. Our team can transform it into a romantic and dreamy backdrop with beautiful flowers for your wedding.

One of our favorite things about working with Jekyll Island club is when you plan a Crane Cottage wedding; you get the entire cottage for your wedding weekend. As a vendor, this is extremely helpful as we have a space to store things, allowing us a greater opportunity to maximize your florals. 

The Design

For their rehearsal dinner, Abby & Michael wanted to keep things classic with simple white blooms to accentuate the already ornate and beautiful ballroom at Jekyll Island Club. The white blooms set atop the white linens were the perfect look for this beautiful, warm June day. After the Crane Cottage wedding rehearsal, our team deconstructed the rehearsal arrangements and prepared them for the wedding day. This clean and simple design was the perfect choice as it allowed us to repurpose all of the blooms on the wedding day. 

We love working with our clients on their multi-day wedding weekends. If you are planning a wedding rehearsal or welcome party, we’d love to help create a floral design that flows seamlessly throughout your wedding weekend events! Head on over to our Contact Us page and share some of your wedding weekend details! We can’t wait to hear from you!

Engagement ring

Crane Cottage wedding rehearsal party

White cocktail tables linens with white flowers on top

Long tables with brown chairs and white linens at Crane Cottage wedding rehearsal dinner

Long tables with brown chairs and white linens

Vendors

Photography: Kati Rosado Photography 
Florals: Gray Harper
Venue: Jekyll Island Club
Rentals: Beachview Event Rentals

Forbes Farm Wedding on St. Simons Island

Real Weddings

We first met Brittany and Bob when they began planning their fall wedding at Forbes Farm on St. Simons Island. Their Forbes Farm wedding was to be filled with rich fall colors and be set amongst the most beautiful St. Simons Island backdrop. It was truly the perfect southern venue for a one-of-a-kind day. 

Floral Design Details

For their floral design, Brittany wanted to embrace the rich and romantic colors of fall with pops of light blue throughout. With this floral design, we tried to emphasize the flowing movement of the blooms. From the scaling florals on the wedding cake to the various lengths of buds used in the floral arch, it was as if the flowers were meant to be there.

Saint Simons Island Wedding Ceremony

Our favorite part of this wedding was the aisle design. The bride trusted us to work our magic on designing low meadow aisle arrangements using a technique called color blocking. Color blocking is when we use clusters of the same color and contrast them again with an alternate color to create a bold look. By doing so, the flowers feel more natural, and they look as if they would appear in nature in clusters of lovely groupings. We loved how it turned out! 

Forbes Farm Wedding Reception 

Inside the ballroom, wood and white accents were selected to complement the space’s wood beams and white walls. We opted for mixed table designs, which included three different looks that flowed seamlessly together. The tables with rose-colored velvet linens had a sage green taper candle and a singular floral centerpiece in the middle. The tables with the ivory linens had pewter-colored pillar candles and clusters of bud vases. While the long wood table featured low-lying arrangements on each end, groups of blush taper candles and lush long floral arrangements aligned the table. Each table’s design was unique, yet they all tied together beautifully!

We love it when our clients trust us to create a one-of-a-kind floral design, and Brittany and Bob allowed just that! The uniqueness of the color-blocked floral arrangements in their ceremony not only looked breathtaking but was fun to design! If you are looking for a floral designer to work with you and create an exquisite floral display for your wedding, we’d love to chat with you!

Vendors

Venue: Forbes Farm
Planning and Design: Kellie Ryan Designs
Photography: Brooke Roberts Photography
Cinema: Imagine Video Productions
Caterer: Halyards Restaurant
Entertainment: Island Sound Djs
Entertainment: Evolution Party Band
EventRentals: Beachview Event Rentals

What Makes Gray Harper Unique as Your Floral Designer

Tips & Tricks

When choosing to work with Gray Harper Florals, you not only get a skilled and passionate floral designer, but you also get our knowledge of working in the wedding industry for over ten years as a planner. That’s right! Owner and lead floral designer Andrea used to be a wedding planner! You may recognize her from the Design Studio South team; she is always organized and busy planning the next big thing. 

It is no surprise that there are some crazy talented floral designers in our industry. However, they do not bring the well-rounded knowledge of events and level of organization that Gray Harper does, which sets us apart from others!

Benefits of Working With a Floral Designer Who Use To Be A Planner

With several different wedding florists and floral designers to choose from, we wanted to share with you the benefits of working with a florist who used to be a planner.

1. We are organized

As a past planner, planning and organization run in Andrea’s veins, so there is no doubt that she will be organized. As a result, you can be guaranteed that your experience working with us will be seamless and stress-free! Andrea runs a pretty tight ship in her studio and is always looking for ways to improve her systems to work smarter, not harder. 

2. Planners like working with us 

When you and your planner decide to work with the Gray Harper team, they can rest at ease and know that we are organized and on top of things. They don’t have to micromanage us or worry about the details. We have been in their shoes, and they appreciate how easy we are to work with. We aim to make each of our client’s floral experiences run smoothly during their planning, design, and on-site to help all involved.

3. We understand how to be flexible 

One skill that a planner learns through their experience is how to be flexible and adaptable on site. For example, when the timeline says to set up florals at noon, but the venue still needs to set the linens, that is no problem! We are team players and will gladly lend a helping hand to get those linens set so that your florals are ready in time for your event.

We believe in providing a beautiful and quality product for our clients and working as a team with your fellow vendors. We understand that while we provide a very pretty product, it’s not about us but how all the vendors work together as a team to get the job done for our clients. We absolutely love bringing our client’s visions to life through flowers and working with all the incredibly talented vendors in our industry! Head on over to our Portfolio to check out some of our most recent work! 

Vendors

Planning: Design Studio South
Photographer: Jade + Mattew Take Pictures

A Simple & Timeless Jekyll Island Club Rehearsal Dinner

Events

When working with Julia and Chase on their Jekyll Island Club tented wedding design, they also asked us to be a part of their Jekyll Island Club rehearsal dinner, and we could not resist! As we went with a design with pops of blue for their wedding day, we wanted to go with a more simple and clean design for their rehearsal dinner. So, we chose a timeless white palette with subtle green accents from the blooms.

Jekyll Island Club Rehearsal Dinner

On arrival day to Jekyll Island, guests were invited to a fun and casual afternoon playing croquet. After the rehearsal, the couple and their guests then headed to Cherokee Cottage at Jekyll Island Club for a beautiful rehearsal dinner on the lawn. 

Our team designed simple arrangements of single-bloom groupings, coincidently foreshadowing what would come the next day at the wedding. On the guest’s tables, bundles of white hydrangeas were incorporated into the centerpieces. I loved how they looked like clouds of vanilla ice cream scoops so delicately placed. The head table was simply styled with a plethora of white pillar candles and vining greenery.

As the sunset, the bistro lights above the lawn illuminated the rehearsal dinner while the white pillar candles twinkled below. It was the perfect start to this wedding weekend!

It was so fun to be on-site for Julia and Chase’s wedding a day early and help with their Jekyll Island Club rehearsal dinner. We love a good multi-day destination wedding where guests come from all over to enjoy multiple events! Be sure to check out the highlights from Julia and Chase’s wedding day here; we know you will love their blue and white wedding design as much as we did!

If you are considering planning a multi-day wedding and want to welcome your guests with a stunning welcome reception, we’d love to help! Our team can work with you to create a simple yet elegant design to kick the weekend festivities off in style! So, check out our blog for some highlights of our recent events, and fill out our inquiry form to share more about your wedding plans!

VENDORS

Photography: Melissa Toms Photography
Planning + Design: Sarah Lillie Designs
Florals: Gray Harper
Printed Materials: Tiny Shindigs
Venue: Jekyll Island Club
Transportation: Light House Trolley Tours

What is Full-Service Floral Design?

Tips & Tricks

Are you newly engaged and trying to navigate all the different wedding terms? At Gray Harper, we get how confusing it can be! That is why we are here to help explain what it means to work with us on a Full-Service Floral Design.

What is Full-Service Floral Design?

When you hire Gray Harper to be your wedding florist, your wedding will be the only wedding we take on that day and usually that week. This is because we want to ensure that our clients get the utmost attention to detail from our team. That is why we limit the number of clients we take on each wedding season.

What You Can Expect With Your Full-Service Floral Design

Months leading up to the wedding, we work with you and your wedding planner to create the floral design of your dreams. About two months before your wedding, and once your design is finalized, we start to gather supplies. From vases and vessels to candles and votives, we will help select the perfect elements for your wedding design! Finally, your floral orders are placed with our suppliers one month before your wedding.

The week of your wedding is when all the magic happens. On Monday and Tuesday, we are busy prepping your containers and processing the flowers as they arrive at our studio. Then on Wednesday and Thursday, our team is starting on your designs and pulling the individual pieces together. By Friday, we will begin working on any installation pieces for your event either in the studio or on-site if the venue allows.

On Your Wedding Day

On your wedding day, our team will bring everything to the venue and install any large-scale installation pieces on-site. We will also bring all the candles and vessels required and set them up along with your flowers. In addition, our team delivers and styles any personal flowers that are part of your design. During this time, I personally walk around to each flower location to ensure everything is set to perfection. 

During set up, we are there to help move any flowers and installations that might need to be moved last minute due to weather. We can also be present during the event to move any florals being re-purposed in two locations. For example, moving your ceremony backdrop or aisle flowers to the reception space. Once everything is done, we return at the end of your event and clean everything up.

Our Full-Service Floral design aims to create not only a one-of-a-kind custom floral design for your wedding but also to provide an elevated and stress-free experience. You can see some examples of our full-service floral designs here. If you have any questions or want to book a consultation, fill out our inquiry form here to start the process.  

Wood head table with greenery

Photographer: Jade + Mattew Take Pictures
Planning: Design Studio South

A Daufuskie Island Wedding at Haig Point

Real Weddings

Kailin and Jeffery approached the Gray Harper team for help with designing their destination wedding in South Carolina, alongside planner + designer Pejy Kash. The couple was planning a Daufuskie Island wedding at the stunning Haig Point. For their Haig Point wedding, we assisted Kailin and Jeffery with their floral design, as well as sourced and supplied all rentals for their celebration.

Fall Floral Design

The Gray Harper team worked alongside Pejy Kash from Pejy Kash Events to create a natural, fall-infused design. Kailin, the bride, put total trust in us to create something beautiful that she would love, and we did just that!

For the ceremony, we chose to stick with natural florals that fit into the surrounding landscape. Since the ceremony at this Daufuskie Island wedding took place on the beach, we opted for light and airy florals with greenery and dried grasses. We filled the ceremony arrangments and backdrop with warm-toned blooms and grasses, which were complimented by the wood chairs and surrounding sand on the beach. It was the perfect neutral and natural design for this setting.

The couple gave us the creative freedom to create a floral design focused on fall tones for their wedding reception at Haig Point. It was such a breath of fresh air to be able to let our creative juices flow and create a one-of-a-kind fall floral design for this couple. One of our favorite wedding reception features was the floral installation on the ballroom ceiling and chandelier. For this, we used lots of textured florals in deep burgundy and warm copper tones. We then draped lush greenery, including spanish moss, over the chandelier to create a cascading effect. The result was absolutely stunning!

Logistics of a Daufuskie Island Wedding

Daufuskie Island is an island between Savannah and Hilton Head Island. This unique southern region is beautiful for a destination wedding; however, there are lots of logistics to consider when planning a Haig Point wedding.

As the island is only accessible by boat, everything sourced and supplied for the wedding must be brought on a barge or the island’s ferry system. In the days leading up to the wedding, we loaded a truck with the rentals we sourced and supplied. That truck then had to be brought over to the island on a barge. Finally, in the early morning hours on the wedding day, our team loaded Kailin and Jefferies florals onto a ferry to arrive at Haig Point. Along with the additional logistics of getting the items onto the island comes the additional cost of staffing, transportation, and time. Even though there are more details to consider when planning a Daufuskie Island wedding, the results will far exceed expectations!

Our team had an absolute blast pushing the creative boundaries for this fall floral design. Thank you, Kailin and Jeffery, for trusting us with your design and helping to bring your Daufuskie Island wedding to fruition.

If you are planning a destination wedding and are looking for a floral designer who can make a one-of-a-kind wedding design, we’d love to connect with you! We offer full-service wedding floral design, where we will work with you to create a unique and customized design that feels like a piece of artwork! Be sure to check out some examples of our full-service wedding floral design here!

Bride getting dress buttoned up

Daufuskie Island wedding ceremony

Beach wedding ceremony backdrop
Beach wedding ceremony on Daufuskie Island
Black and white photo of couple kissing at beach wedding ceremony
Bride and groom portraits on the beach
Blackand White Bride and groom portraits at water fountain
Haig Point wedding reception with blue tables and wood chairs
Haig Point wedding reception
Three tiered naked wedding cake with fall flowers

Vendors

Designer/Planner: Pejy Kash Events
Photography: Medialand NYC
Venue: Haig Point
DJ + Lighting: Crush Entertainment
Florals + Rentals: Gray Harper
Officiant: Sarah’s Hilton Head Vows
Hair: Bride’s Side Beauty
Makeup: Stephanie Perez
Cake: Custom Confections
Dress: White House Bridal- Justin Alexander 
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Custom Suit: Enzo
Custom stationery: Pink Champagne Design

Beautiful Blue Jekyll Island Club Tented Wedding Design

Real Weddings

We first met Julia and Chase during a consultation with the fabulous Sarah Lillie Designs. Julia came to us with a specific vision for her Jekyll Island Club tented wedding. She wanted rich textures and lush blue booms. So, we created a blue and white design that was showcased beautifully in her garden ceremony and tented wedding reception.

A Blue & White Floral Design

Julia and Chase’s wedding took place in the sunken gardens of Crane Cottage at the beautiful Jekyll Island Club. This Georgia wedding venue is a dream for anyone wanting to marry in a garden surrounded by romantic architecture. For this wedding, we focused on a blue and white color palette with several varieties of blooms.

Julia’s favorite flower was the blue delphinium, which was such a beautiful bloom to base the design around! During our design consultation, she shared that she wanted dark blue delphinium blooms, which is not a common request. So we were absolutely delighted to be able to design something unique and different to bring Julia’s vision to life.

Jekyll Island Club Tented Wedding Details

Julia and Chase had a large wedding party; Julia alone had 14 bridesmaids! For each bridesmaid, we designed unique bouquets for each of them using completely different blooms. Each bridesmaid carried a bouquet of a single flower type in white. Then Julia’s bridal bouquet had blooms from each of her 14 bridesmaids’ bouquets incorporated into it. It was such a sweet and sentimental way to honor her wedding party.

For the ceremony, we used her favorite flower as the base of the design and then incorporated six different varieties of delphinium flowers into her wedding aisle. The billowing blue blooms that filled the wedding aisle were absolutely stunning! Later in the evening, the ceremony flowers were re-purposed in the tent and placed in front of the stage. I love how the florals truly transformed the dance floor and brought Julia’s blue floral vision to life inside the tent.

We wanted to incorporate other flower varieties into the tented wedding reception as dark blue is not a common color in the flower world. So, we went with the blue cornflower, which was perfect! We designed some bud vases using the blue cornflower and other white blooms that looked stunning in the tented reception space at Jekyll Island Club

Working with Julia and Chase on their Jekyll Island Club tented wedding floral design was an absolute pleasure. We loved working with the less common color palette of blue blooms and how the design turned out! 

If you have a unique wedding vision and are looking for a floral designer to help bring that vision to life, we’d love to hear from you! Head on over to our contact us page and fill out an inquiry form to get the process started!

watercolor wedding invitations
Black and white photo of dad tieing grooms bowtie

Bride and groom kissing infront of wedding party
Wedding ceremony with blue and white flowers lining the aisle
Wedding ceremony at Crane Cottage

Bride and groom kissing in middle fo wedding aisle

Entrance to tent with bleu flowers and candles
White wedding cake with white sugar flowers

Bride and groom entering tent
Bride and groom champagne tower
Black and white photo of bride and groom with wedding veil blowing

Vendors

Photography: Melissa Toms Photography
Planning + Design: Sarah Lillie Designs
Florals: Gray Harper
Printed Materials: Tiny Shindigs 
Venue: Jekyll Island Club
Cake: Vanilla and the Bean

An Elegant Forbes Farm Wedding on Saint Simons Island

Real Weddings

It was an absolute joy getting to work with Delaney and Mikey for their elegant Forbes Farm wedding on Saint Simons Island. It was one of our first times visiting this new one-of-a-kind wedding venue, and it did not disappoint. 

Forbes Farm

Forbes Farm is the newest wedding venue on Saint Simons Island and is a must-visit. This marshside wedding venue provides a stunning southern backdrop with the perfect Lowcountry atmosphere.

With indoor and outdoor event spaces to choose from, you truly can’t go wrong with this Georgia wedding venue. The outdoor area features immaculate lawns, open-air patios, and classic southern views. While the indoor spaces are truly exquisite. The indoor reception space is an elegant wood frame structure with crisp white walls and exposed wood accents. One of our favorite features in this venue is the breathtaking chandeliers in the ballroom. We can’t wait to bring these ceilings to life with beautiful blooms!

Elegant Fall Wedding Design

For this Forbes Farm wedding, our couple opted for a warm, rich-colored palette with autumn tones. We used lots of burgundy, chocolate, dusty pink, and white blooms in the floral design.

Deep burgundy tones were incorporated throughout the design, from the velvet bridesmaid dresses to the wedding day stationery. Even the groom’s outfit change featured a velvet burgundy jacket.

This autumn-inspired color palette popped in the reception space, where it was paired with white textured linens and natural wood accents.

Forbes Farm Wedding on Saint Simons Island

Delaney and Mikey’s wedding ceremony took place on the Forbes Farm lawn overlooking the marsh. The couple opted for low-lying floral arrangements as the backdrop to their ceremony, which were brought to life with autumn-colored florals.

After the ceremony, guests headed indoors to the reception space for an elegant evening of dinner and dancing. For the guest tables, Emily Burton Designs went with a tasteful neutral design where the floral centerpieces were a focal point and were a warm pop of color. We opted for clean, classic, and crisp ivory tapered candles to not take any attention away from the romantic florals.

No detail was forgotten for Delaney and Mike’s elegant black tie affair on Saint Simons Island. We were so thankful to get to work with one of the newest Saint Simons wedding venues and would love to help bring your Forbes Farm wedding to life! Reach out to see if we are available on your wedding date and to book your consultation call today!

Burgundy and white bouquet
Southern bride in veil
Bride and groom at Forbes Farm
Bride kissing groom at Forbes Farm wedding ceremony
Fall wedding reception
Wedding Table At Forbes Farm Wedding Reception
Bride and groom kissing at sparkler exit
Bride and groom in vintage car

Vendors

Plan + design: Emily Burton Designs
Photo: Esther Griffin 
Venue: Forbes Farm 
Dress: Bridals By Lori 
Shoes: Jimmy Choo 
Rentals: Beachview Event Rentals

An Autumn Jekyll Island Club Wedding At Crane Cottage

Real Weddings

Lindsey and Jonah were married on an early fall day in the sunken gardens of Crane Cottage at Jekyll Island Club Resort in Georgia. Their Jekyll Island Club wedding featured the most gorgeous blooms with muted fall tones and lush textures. It was the perfect fall wedding on Jekyll Island.

Jekyll Island Club Wedding 

Lindsey’s family frequently visited Crane Cottage at the Jekyll Island Club Resort during family vacations. They knew the picturesque lawns and gardens on the immaculate resort property would make a wonderful place to invite their friends and family for their wedding. 

The couple loved the southern setting of this Georgia wedding venue and the exceptional service that the club provides. This ocean club wedding venue provided space for a beautiful garden wedding ceremony and intimate al fresco reception. One of our favorite things about the Jekyll Island Club Resort is the stunning oceanfront views that are perfect for couple portraits during golden hour.

Fall Wedding Flowers

For this fall wedding, our couple opted for a wedding color palette with dusty rose and navy blue. So, we incorporated muted fall tones that matched their wedding color palette into the bridal bouquet and bridesmaid bouquets. In addition, our team opted for a mix of textured florals ranging from Scabiosas to Delphiniums and even Butterfly Ranunculus for the bouquets and finished them off with delicate silk ribbon.

Their asymmetrical floral wedding ceremony arch included a mixture of roses, spray roses, and lush greenery. We lined the aisle with large arrangements billowing in fall blooms and repurposed them later in the reception at the head table. The wedding ceremony flowers were breathtaking and looked beautiful in the garden backdrop of Crane Cottage.

On the guest’s tables, we opted for medium-sized floral arrangements in white ceramic vases that paired perfectly with the white architecture of the cottage. These floral centerpieces included similar blooms to the ceremony with the addition of white dahlias and a pop of red from coffee berries. We loved how the contrast of the floral arrangements looked on the navy blue linens.

If you are planning a Jekyll Island Club wedding, we’d love to talk with you! Our team loves to bring your dream wedding florals to life through gorgeous designs and flawless execution. So, head over to our contact page to fill out our inquiry form to start the process!

Southern wedding party in matching Pjs
Jekyll Island Club Wedding ceremony
bride and groom at Jekyll Island club wedding
Crane cottage wedding reception
floral centrepiece on blue linen tables
Jekyll Island Club wedding reception
Southern bride and groom with vintage car

Vendors:

Photographer: Shauna Veasey
Planning + Design: Browne + Towers
Venue: Crane Cottage Jekyll Island Club
Hair + Makeup:  Paulina Perez 
Cake: Sweet Luncheonette 
Linens: BBJ La Tavola
Rentals: Beachview Event Rentals 
Signage/Paper Goods: Em Paper Co. + Sugared Fig Paperie

A Rose-Infused Crane Cottage Wedding at Jekyll Island Club

Real Weddings

Danielle and Tucker’s rose-infused Crane Cottage wedding at Jekyll Island Club turned out beautifully! From the beautiful Georgia wedding venue to romantic wedding design, this couple and their guests were treated to a magical southern summer wedding. 

Crane Cottage Wedding at Jekyll Island Club

Nestled in the private gardens of the Jekyll Island Club lies Crane Cottage. It is an Italian renaissance style building that is a dream wedding venue for a romantic garden-inspired wedding. Crane Cottage is the perfect place for a southern wedding, with indoor and outdoor spaces for guests to enjoy. The Gray Harper team loves any opportunity to design a Crane Cottage wedding at the Jekyll Island Club. We have designed many ceremonies in the sunken gardens in the past but loved how Emily Burton Designs used the space differently. The planning team opted for a tent in the sunken gardens and the ceremony on the lawn under an old Live Oak tree covered in Spanish moss. Thus making this an completely outdoor wedding.

Southern Summer Outdoor Wedding 

It was a challenge pulling off an entirely outdoor wedding in July in the South. However, due to inclement weather, we had several plans to ensure our couple’s vision went off without a hitch.

On the wedding day, it was stormy and rained on and off. So the entire vendor team kicked into full gear to transition from plan A to plan B and set the ceremony up under the tent. Thankfully the skies cleared just before the ceremony, and we could pivot back then to plan A so that our couple could have their dream wedding ceremony on the Crane Cottage lawn.

Southern Floral Design

The floral design for this Crane Cottage wedding was lush and romantic, with lots of roses. Yellow roses were significant to the couple, so we incorporated pops of yellow garden roses throughout the design.

A soft pink, peach, and yellow pastel color palette was incorporated throughout the space, and it looked beautiful in the tent. We included a mixture of tall and short floral arrangements at the guest’s tables. We also accentuated key areas like the bar and stage with lush blooms of Delphiniums, Smilax, blush pink Hydrangeas, peach roses, and lush greenery. The ceiling installation above the dance floor was a favorite feature and a stunning focal point in the tent. Filled with pink and white Delphiniums and lush greenery, this ceiling installation took the guest’s breath away.

Working on Danielle and Tucker’s Crane Cottage wedding was an absolute joy. We love any opportunity to work at beautiful Georgia wedding venues with as much character and personality as the Crane Cottage at Jekyll Island Club. If you are a Southern wedding planner or a newly engaged couple looking for help with your floral design, we’d love to speak with you! Head to our contact us page and fill out an inquiry form today!

Crane cottage wedding ceremony
Southern bride and groom
Wedding photos with vintage car at Crane Cottage wedding
Crane Cottage wedding tent at Jekyll Island Club
Beige and white lounge at tented wedding reception
Southern bride and groom
Wedding photos with vintage car at Crane Cottage wedding

Vendors

Photography: Anna Shackleford
Planning & Design: Emily Burton Designs
Catering: Jekyll Island Club Resort
Cake: Cathy Huber Cakes
Hair + Makeup: Paulina Perez
Wedding Dress: Henri’s Cloud Nine
Florals: Gray Harper
DJ: Island Sound
Lighting, Tent & Chairs: Beachview Rentals
Fireworks: Pyrotecnico
PaperGoods: Dogwood Blossoms
Videography: Danielle Shackleford

San Diego Destination Wedding At Westgate Hotel

Real Weddings

When Alex and Sarah approached us to design their wedding florals for their San Diego destination wedding, we were over the moon! We love working with our couples to create their dream destination wedding florals, and this wedding was no exception. Alex and Sarah’s wedding took place on the most beautiful sunny Southern California day. We can’t wait to share some details with you!

San Diego Destination Wedding Details

We met Alex and Sarah while they were living in Atlanta, Georgia. The two decided to get married in Sarah’s hometown of San Diego, which was an absolute dream. It was such a treat to be designing flowers in California, especially since most of the flowers we work with are grown in California. 

When working with our couples on their destination wedding floral designs, we work with them to create a unique floral design that will transform their wedding venue. With every destination wedding comes months of planning, sourcing supplies, sourcing working and living spaces, and packaging and transporting wedding day details. For Alex and Sarah’s San Diego destination wedding, we not only designed the florals, but we also brought with us the perfect mauve-colored taper candles.

Destination Wedding Floral Design

The focal point of this floral design was a color palette of romantic mauve blooms with pops of burgundy florals. In addition, we incorporated the bride’s favorite flower, white Delphiniums, into the aisle arrangements, which were later re-purposed in the reception space. 

Sarah’s bridal bouquet was a beautiful collection of white textured flowers with pops of peaches, pinks, and burgundy. We loved how this palette turned out and enjoyed incorporating it into smaller versions for the bridesmaid’s bouquets. For Alex’s groom’s boutonniere, we chose a unique textured flower called the blushing bride, which was very fitting for this wedding design. 

Before the reception, once the ceremony had ended, we moved the ceremony aisle arrangements to their new location at the Westgate Hotel. These arrangements were freshened up and re-purposed for the sweetheart table, DJ table, and cake table. Our team added additional blooms, including garden roses, butterfly ranunculus, and smokebush, to these new arrangements. It was like they were entirely new arrangements in the reception space, they looked so beautiful!

At Gray Harper Florals & Styling, we love the challenge of a destination wedding or event! Whether it be a San Diego destination wedding or a Southeast wedding, we will come to you! We love working with our couples to design their dream destination weddings. So, let us hear from you! Reach out and share your destination wedding location and dream design with us!

Textured groom boutonniere
Textured bridal bouquet with white, mauve and burgundy flowers
wedding bouquets with white, mauve and burgundy flowers
Rooftop wedding ceremony in San Diego
outdoor wedding ceremony in San Diego
Wedding ceremony kiss
San Diego destination wedding reception
Photo guest book
Wedding photos at the Westgate hotel

Vendors

Rentals: APR Boutique Event Rentals + Enticing Tables
Florals: Gray Harper 
Linens: BBJ
Hair + Makeup: Beauty By Nat
Photography: Carrie McGuire
Entertainment: High Profile Entertainment
Planning: House of Planning
Venue: Westgate Hotel
Cake: VG Donuts

Four Factors To Consider For Donating Your Wedding Flowers

Tips & Tricks

Do you have a plan for your wedding flowers at the end of your wedding? As wedding floral designers, we want to share with you some important factors to consider before you decide if donating your wedding flowers is right for you.

Consider This Before Donating Your Wedding Flowers

Consider the timing

For a Saturday wedding, flowers arrive in our studio on a Tuesday, which means they were shipped to us on Monday. With that being said, they were most likely cut at the farm the week prior. By the time we are able to donate the flowers (i.e., the following Monday), they are no longer in their prime condition and are most likely wilting. At this point, there is not much we can do to extend the life of these blooms.

Change the narrative 

I often hear from guests, “oh, what a waste all these flowers are now,” so I wanted to discuss this further from a florist’s perspective.

The flowers used for our floral designs are specially grown and cut for this purpose. You would not typically see this caliber of florals growing naturally on a hillside to enjoy. That is why we ensure that the blooms we use in our designs are at their prime during the event so that our clients and their guests get to enjoy them to their fullest potential. After the vast number of hours put into meetings, designs, and prep work for these floral displays, it is simply not a waste to only enjoy them at your event.

Consider the climate 

Given that most of our weddings are in a hot climate, this severely impacts the lifespan of your floral arrangements. Our client’s events are often outdoors; therefore, the flowers can spend an entire day in the heat. Typically after a day of sitting out in the heat and after a week since they’ve been cut, the flowers are starting to not look their best. So, by the time Monday rolls around when your flowers are donated, you are left with significantly fewer blooms that survived the heat.

Donating comes with additional labor 

As much as our team would love to donate every piece of floral and greenery used at your event, we simply do not have the time or manpower to do so, nor is it advised to.

When donating your wedding flowers, we do not donate the flowers “as-is.” At your event, each arrangement is broken down carefully, sorted by the good and bad, loaded back into our van, and returned to the cooler for the night (or the next day as many of our events are several hours away). Once your florals have returned to our studio, we then redesign everything in hospital/hospice-friendly arrangements and containers, then deliver it to your donation location. Due to this additional labor, manpower, supplies, and driving, we need to charge for this service. 

The Gray Harper team is more than happy to help you with donating your wedding flowers after your event. We will evaluate which blooms are in good condition and put together donation-friendly arrangements that may extend the life of your flowers by a day or two. During your floral design consultation, ask our team for more information on the additional cost associated with donating your wedding flowers and if it is right for you. 

Boho wedding ceremony arch
Fall wedding floral arrangements
Fall wedding reception decorations

Vendors

Photography: Yellow Bird Visuals   
Design + Coordination: Design Studio South  
Florist: Gray Harper Florals   
Cake: Vanilla And The Bean 
Venue + Caterer: The Alida Hotel  
Rentals: Savannah Vintage Rentals  
Linens: Nuage Designs  
Wedding Invitation + Signs: Idyll Paper  
Day of Paper + Signs: Low Country Paper Co

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