A Kiawah Island Wedding with the Most Upbeat Colors and Unparalleled Views of the Atlantic Ocean

Trending Videos

lauren dan wedding couple smiling with floral bouquet — Perry Vaile

Daniel's plan to propose to Lauren while on a wine tasting trip in Willamette Valley, Oregon, was very nearly thwarted by the weather. "It rained the first two days we were there, but on the third day the sun finally came out!" says Lauren. Daniel said he wanted to take advantage of the weather and drive to the coast, so the pair headed to the beach—where he proposed at sunset. "The next night, back in Portland, he surprised me again—all of our parents had flown there to celebrate with us!" recalls the bride.

Wedding planning commenced once the duo returned to their home in Houston; the pair put a lot of thought into the locale. "Our families and friends are spread out across the country," says Daniel. "Since we knew so many people would have to travel regardless, we wanted to pick a place that was not only important to us, but would be a fun destination for everyone." Kiawah Island in South Carolina ultimately fit the bill. "I've been going there for vacation with my family since I was in middle school," says Lauren, "and Daniel has joined me for the family trip every year since [we got together]." With its ocean views and emerald green lawns, the Kiawah Island Golf Resort quickly became their first pick for the event.

With the location locked in, the couple was able focus on the overall feel of their nuptials. "Our running joke on the theme was that it was 'beach-adjacent'—the Ocean Course [lawn] overlooks the ocean, but we wanted to make sure that nothing felt beachy or nautical," explains Lauren. "We also knew that we wanted all the color and nothing too traditional. Having the entire event feel fun and comfortable was our biggest priority." The pair had a great time planning the details. "Everyone always says to step back and remember the wedding as it is happening, but I feel like it's important to also do that with the planning," says Daniel. "There are a lot of fun elements (like the tasting) that are great memories."

On August 30, 2019, Lauren and Daniel were married in an outdoor ceremony in front of 150 guests. "Keeping the guest list small was really important to me," says the groom. "I knew it was going to be such a special day and I wanted to make sure everyone there was someone special to us and our families." As planned, the day was filled with color, family, friends, and music—all of which were important to the pair. "The band was phenomenal," says Daniel. "The dance floor was packed the whole night."

"I think the color was the most special thing about our wedding," adds Lauren of the day's bright hues. "It definitely helped our big day feel like it represented the two of us!"

01 of 19

Vivid Wedding Stationery

lauren dan colorful wedding invitation suite orange yellow and pink — Perry Vaile

The brightly-hued backing on the couple's wedding invitation suite by Yonder Design was reflected in the envelopes, setting the tone—color-wise—for the entire wedding. "We wanted our invitations to give a hint at what people could expect for the wedding. They were bold and fun," says Daniel.

How to Choose Your Wedding Invitations Based on Your Color Palette

02 of 19

A Bright Bridal Bouquet

lauren dan pink, yellow, and orange wedding bouquet — Perry Vaile

Full roses, sweet peas, and ranunculus blossoms in shades of peach, pink, and gold starred in the bride's lush bouquet by Philo Floral.

More Ultra-Romantic Peony Wedding Bouquets

03 of 19

Colorful Bridesmaid Dresses

lauren dan wedding bridesmaids in colorful yellow and pink dresses — Perry Vaile

When it came to her bridal party's ensembles, Lauren had a very specific overarching vision in mind. "I knew I didn't want them to match or be traditional bridesmaid dresses," she says, "and I knew I wanted color!" She chose golden yellow dresses with a fun, bohemian vibe for her sisters before helping her other bridesmaids select bright pink gowns for the big day.

The bride's own ensemble came together unexpectedly. "I fell in love with the embroidered texture of one particular wedding dress, but it had a plunging neckline and I knew I wanted something with more coverage," she explains. I decided to try it on backwards and fell even more in love with it. That way, the neckline was high but had a fun dip in the back." Seamstresses at Casa de Novia were able to make the garment's long sleeves removable, so that she could switch up her look for the reception. "It was truly one of a kind and wouldn't have been possible without their awesome team!"

More Looks That Prove Bridesmaids' Dresses Can Be Chic

04 of 19

Unique Tuxedos

lauren dan wedding groomsmen in front of fireplace — Perry Vaile

Daniel wanted his half of the wedding party to feel equally nontraditional, so he chose navy blue tuxes for himself and his groomsmen.

05 of 19

A Site to Behold

lauren dan wedding ceremony site by the water — Perry Vaile

Located on the green of a world-class golf course, the site for the couple's ceremony featured an arch paved with blush pink baby's breath. Large ferns marked the entryway, enhancing the emerald green of the lawn.

More Beautiful Ceremony Arches

06 of 19

Lovely Live Music

lauren dan wedding ceremony musicians on green grass — Perry Vaile

A string trio played a slowed-down version of the song "Just Like Heaven" by The Cure for the bride's processional.

07 of 19

A Personal Ceremony

lauren dan wedding ceremony officiant and couple by floral arch — Perry Vaile

The pair's pastor from Houston officiated the moving ceremony, which featured two religious readings and a book passage. For Lauren, it was the best part of the day. "Finally getting to hold Daniel's hands once I got up to the altar was my favorite moment," she says. "I had specifically said to the pastor beforehand that I wanted to get to the part where I could hand off my bouquet and hold Daniel's hands as quickly as possible!"

The ceremony was also the first time the couple saw each other that day. "Our first look was as Lauren was walking down the aisle," says Daniel. "It was a moment I had been waiting for all day because I had missed her so much. My heart felt full."

08 of 19

Back Up

lauren dan wedding ceremony recessional kiss — Perry Vaile

Lauren and Daniel newlyweds recessed back up the aisle to "Flowers in Your Hair" by The Lumineers.

Everything You Need to Know About Picking Recessional Music

09 of 19

An Elegant Escort Board

lauren dan wedding colorful floral seating chart — Perry Vaile

Guests found their seating assignments on a colorful board designed to reflect the couple's wedding flowers. "The escort board was 100% our wedding planner's idea and it was perfect!" says Lauren.

More Unique Wedding Seating Charts We Love

10 of 19

A Graceful Reception Tent

lauren dan wedding tent with wooden floor and reception tables — Perry Vaile

A towering white tent trimmed in multicolored flowers housed the couple's reception.

Here's What Every Type of Wedding Tent Looks Like

11 of 19

Handsome Lounge Areas

lauren dan outdoor wedding lounge area in front of beach house — Perry Vaile

Indoor furniture was arranged to mimic mini living rooms (table lamps and all!), creating lovely outdoor lounge areas for guests to gather around.

12 of 19

Coordinating Flowers

lauren dan wedding pink floral arrangement in lounge area — Perry Vaile

Tiny hyacinth arrangements matched the pink in the pillows used throughout the lounge areas.

13 of 19

A Spectacular Floral Arrangement

lauren dan wedding reception wooden column filled with flowers — Perry Vaile

Under the tent, however, floral arrangements were super-sized. The center of the space was marked by a wooden stand overflowing with fresh, colorful flowers. Lush ferns were suspended from the ceiling overhead.

More of Our Favorite Tent Decorating Ideas

14 of 19

Vibrant Reception Tables

lauren dan wedding reception tables with hanging ferns — Perry Vaile

Swathed in white linens and draped with gingham runners, the reception tables were dotted with vibrant flowers in shades of yellow and pink. "We knew we wanted long tables and family style service," says Lauren. "The linens were, again, fun and bold."

Discover More Statement Linens That Will Take Your Reception to the Next Level

15 of 19

Rosy Reception Seating

lauren dan wedding reception tables in tent — Perry Vaile

Blush Lucite chairs surrounded the tables left without white linens for a splash of color.

The Best Lucite Wedding Ideas

16 of 19

Pretty Place Settings

lauren dan wedding colorful place setting with floral place card — Perry Vaile

Each place setting featured personalized décor. "The week before the wedding, we decided to do Lucite place cards for every guest and I'm so glad we did," says Lauren. "They were fun keepsakes and looked so beautiful on the tables!"

17 of 19

A Classic Wedding Cake

lauren dan simple white wedding cake with pink flowers — Perry Vaile

The couple was decidedly hands-off when it came to choosing a wedding cake. "All we knew was that we wanted it to look simple and taste good—my mom actually picked the rest!" says Lauren. The confection's three tiers were iced in white buttercream and dotted with fresh blooms.

18 of 19