1. Real Weddings

A Rustic Waterfront Wedding at Creek Club at I'On in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Inspired by their laid-back Low Country location, Amanda Helton (30 and works in development in the nonprofit sector) and Ben Baldwin (30 and works in

Inspired by their laid-back Low Country location, Amanda Helton (30 and works in development in the nonprofit sector) and Ben Baldwin (30 and works in production and sourcing) proved a wedding doesn’t have to be over the top to be gorgeous. The couple love hosting family and friends at their home, and wanted their wedding to have that same intimate, at-home feel. “Nothing too fancy,” Amanda says. “Just good food and drinks and nothing but fun times and good laughs. We hope our guests felt right at home in the Low Country with us, and that they got to see a little glimpse into our lives together.” Amanda and Ben chose Creek Club at I'On in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, because it had exactly the local aura they were going for. “Our wedding was in Charleston, where we live together,” Amanda says. “We loved the idea of hosting our loved ones in the town we call home. It was the perfect reason to have have all our favorite people in our favorite place. One of the prettiest things about Charleston is the water and the beautiful landscape around the water. We chose to have our ceremony overlooking a creek off the Cooper River to have that beauty as the backdrop.” With the help of wedding planner Laura Morgan from Elle Courtney Events, Amanda and Ben chose a simple ivory and green color palette accented with shades of pink and blue, which they completed with DIY details, such as burlap table runners and black-and-white photo decor along the wraparound porch. One of the best parts, though, was the ultra-local Low Country-themed menu. “Instead of a cocktail hour, we had an oyster roast hour and mini crab cakes,” Amanda says. “The bar options were important to us too. Charleston has some great micro brews that we wanted our guests to taste. Luckily the venue allowed us to supplement the beer menu with our favorite local selections. Westbrook One Claw is our favorite beer from here, and we were so excited to hear how much our guests enjoyed it as well.” See all our favorite details, beautifully captured by Diana Deaver Photography, below.

“It was very important that our wedding party be comfortable and relaxed,” Amanda says. “We did not pick out the attire for the wedding party. We simply told the bridesmaids to wear blue and the gentlemen to wear gray suits. The flower girls decided they'd rather wear teal, so if they were happy, we were happy. We provided the ties and socks for the fellas, and the jewelry and wraps for the ladies. Everyone got to wear what they liked and it surprisingly all came together beautifully.”
Amanda carried blush roses and seeded eucalyptus in her lush bouquet. The stems were wrapped in burlap for a rustic flair. Amanda and Ben loved how the bouquet complemented the neutral ivory, blush and blue color palette.
Ben and the groomsmen wore their own gray suits for the wedding and wore blue, purple and blush checkered ties to match the wedding colors. They completed their look with a braided green-vine boutonniere accented with baby’s breath and tied with burlap.
Creek Club Waterfront Ceremony Venue in South Carolina
Amanda and Ben exchanged vows under a simple wooden wedding arbor during their waterfront reception. They loved having the creek and lush, moss-covered trees as the gorgeous backdrop. Since the venue was stunning enough to stand on its own, the couple kept decor to a minimum with a simple wooden arbor and white folding chairs.
Amanda wore a simple sheath wedding dress for her spring wedding. She loved the lace detailing on the sides and back and the deep V in the front. But what she really loved was being able to move in her dress. “I am not a very frilly or fancy girl, but fun was the key for my dress,” she says. “All I wanted to be able to do was dance with all our guests.”
“When you are in the Low Country, there is a natural beauty and peace that takes over,” Amanda says. “We wanted to see that natural beauty in our ceremony and reception.” Amanda and Ben made the burlap table runners for the round tables and lined the wraparound porch with black-and-white pictures of their three years together. They completed the look with string lights for a romantic ambience.
Amanda wore her hair in a low updo for her spring wedding. She loved it being out of the way, and how it showed off the lace back of her sheath wedding dress. She completed her look with a strand of white pearls wrapping around one side to add a little glamorous flair to her look.