1. Real Weddings

A Modern, Casual Wedding at The Inn at Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina

Molly Coleman (28 and a yoga instructor) and Michael Frank (27 and an executive health care recruiter) chose The Inn at Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, So

Molly Coleman (28 and a yoga instructor) and Michael Frank (27 and an executive health care recruiter) chose The Inn at Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina, for their relaxed Southern-inspired wedding. “We always knew we wanted a destination wedding,” says Molly, whose family and friends are mostly from Philadelphia, where she and Michael live. “We wanted our wedding to feel laid-back and casual, to reflect who Michael and are and to embrace the South. Family and friends are the two most important things to us, and we wanted a whole weekend, not just one night, to celebrate.” Throughout the wedding weekend, The Inn at Palmetto Bluff provided numerous activities to keep the couple’s 135 guests entertained, from kayaking and paddleboarding on the Harbor River to boccie on the grounds. When it came time for the outdoor ceremony, Molly and Michael said their vows on The Inn's grounds overlooking the May River. "It was so beautiful and serene," Molly says. "Our chuppah was all baby's breath—I wanted a very romantic look and to break up some of greenery from the trees and the grass." For the palette, Molly and Michael kept things simple, opting for whites, creams and greens. “I wanted everything neutral and natural,” Molly says. “My flowers were all different shades of white with greenery, and all my linens and furniture rentals were cream tones.” After a sparkler exit, Molly surprised her late-night-snack-loving husband with a food truck serving hot dogs emblazoned with “Celebrate the Franks with a frank!” —Carolyn Meers

In their welcome baskets to guests, Molly and Michael supplied beer koozies that read “To have and to hold and to keep your beer cold.”
"Our welcome baskets were very personal," Molly says. Most of her and Michael's guests were coming from Philadelphia for the South Carolina wedding. "We had maps created of Palmetto Bluff by an artist and then put personal details on them," she says. "On the back was the itinerary for the weekend."
"We had maps created of Palmetto Bluff by an artist and then put personal details on them—like where we got engaged, Thailand for our honeymoon, our favorite restaurant," Molly says. "On the back was the itinerary for the weekend."
Molly and her wedding planner designed the simple black-and-white-striped invitation suite, which were then printed by Savannah Print Factory.
Molly's bridesmaid sported gray dressing gowns as they prepped for the day—matching the subtle hues of their bridesmaid gowns.
In a nod to the South Carolina location, Michael wore a lightweight custom blue suit accented with a patterned pocket square and brown shoes.
Michael's light blue suit (worn with a pocket square instead of a boutonniere) was a relaxed yet refined complement to Molly's form-fitting, beaded Inbal Dror gown.
"I wanted my bridesmaids to feel comfortable. Since it was a destination wedding, I tried to be conscious of how much they were spending," Molly says. "So I let them choose whichever dress they wanted, as long as it was a shade of gray and long. I love the new trend of wearing one color but different styles. I think it looks great and is what bridesmaids prefer, so it’s a win-win."
After their ceremony, following the Jewish tradition, Molly and Michael signed a ketubah. Theirs was made in an elegant white lace motif, perfectly suited to the couple's modern style.
Molly and Michael said their vows in an outdoor ceremony at The Inn at Pinebluff in Bluffton, South Carolina, overlooking the May River. Their baby's breath chuppah was crafted by florist Sue Burden. "I wanted a very romantic look to break up some of greenery from the trees and the grass," Molly says.
Florist Sue Burden crafted the simple greenery-rich centerpieces, which perfectly fit the white and green palette at The Inn at Pinebluff in Bluffton, South Carolina.
The indoor reception was decorated with crisp white linens and simple white flower centerpieces. "I wanted everything very neutral and natural," Molly says. "My flowers were all different shades of white with greenery, and all my linens and furniture rentals were cream tones."
"I loved our reception because it was in a room that was surrounded by French doors that led to a massive veranda," Molly says of The Inn at Pinebluff in Bluffton, South Carolina. "It had a natural flow of indoor outdoor and made it feel like one big space."
Instead of a wedding cake, Molly and Michael served Dippin' Dots and cookie shot glasses filled with milk. "They were a huge hit," Molly says.
At the end of the evening, Molly surprised Michael with a food truck. "One of my favorite details was my surprise for Michael. He is really obsessed with late-night food. He always mentioned how he wanted late-night food served at the wedding, and I would just tell him we had enough food," Molly says. "When we made our sparkler exit at the end of the night, sitting at the end was a hot dog truck that read 'Celebrate the Franks with a frank!' "