The Happy Couple
After five years of dating, Jeffrey McKee proposed to Katherine Bakker in her hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. The couple decided to hold their nuptials on the grounds of Katy's parents' 1,000-acre property on the Combahee River.
Here, the couple pose under an oak tree dripping with moss. The groom sports a suit by Grady Ervin; the bride is wearing a Carol Hannah gown and veil.
Warm Welcome
Guests were driven around the gated property in golf carts.
Welcome Gifts
Guests were welcomed with exceptional Southern hospitality: boxes filled with venison sausage and honey from the property, Charleston Breakfast tea, and a bottle of wine from the family's Bakker Estates in Mendoza, Argentina.
The Programs
The program, made of wood veneer and accented with a quail feather and tea-stained organza ribbon, outlined the evening's events.
The Stationery
A quail feather embellishes each save-the-date, and the envelope liners feature bird drawings from an Audubon book. Guests were given rice to toss at the newlywed. Simple, sophisticated invitations hint at the pastel palette. The wedding planners surprised the couple with monogrammed thank-you notes. Reception cards were letterpressed onto silk-backed wood veneer.
The Bouquet
Katy had the plans sketched for her custom gown a year in advance of the wedding, but she didn't see the finished dress until just six weeks before the big day. Its delicate bodice matches the mood of her bouquet of sweetpeas, roses, peonies, and white feathers.
Boutonniere
The groom's boutonniere was fashioned from quail feathers, scabiosa buds, and tuberose, its stems wrapped in blush dupion silk.
Grand Entrance
The bride made her entrance at the outdoor ceremony on the arm of her proud father.
The Sun-Dappled Ceremony
Katy and Jeff were married at 6:35 p.m., precisely when the sun set.
Festive Headpiece
Fine feathered guest Meryiel Edge, wearing a hat of her own creation, crafted the bridesmaid's fascinators and the mother of the bride's hat.
Mother of the Bride
Katy's mom wore a custom hat for the occasion.
Soft Touches
Bridesmaids wore feather fascinators with their sherbet-colored gowns.
Drink Options
The couple offered three signature drinks: Kir royales, classic mint juleps, and strawberry soda made with vodka and muddled locally grown fruit.
Cocktail Hour
Family friend Karl Smith savored a sip of his Kir royale.
Dress Designer
Charleston native Carol Hannah Whitfield, designer of the bride's wedding dress and bridesmaids' gowns (and wearing one of her own designs), was once a finalist and fan favorite on "Project Runway."
Guest Book
"Audubon's Birds of America: The Audubon Society Baby Elephant Folio" doubled as a guest book.
Unexpected Guest
The mother of the bride's horse, J. B. (for Jim Beam), got his photo op.
Farm Animals
Lambs on the land were originally bought for the purpose of meat, but after their mothers died, the Bakkers bottle-fed them and raised the sheep as beloved pets.
The Romantic Reception
The tent's dramatic fabric ceiling was inspired by the draping on Katy's dress; "it took a lot of work to construct, but it softened the entire room," she says.
Centerpieces
The elegant centerpieces overflow with pastel peonies, ranunculus, roses, and lilacs; vintage brass birds found on Etsy.com hold table numbers.
Cake Display
Katy and Jeff's wedding cake featured tiers of lemon-raspberry and pistachio, while a smaller cake presented chocolate and orange, and a third offering is fruitcake -- a traditional English dessert -- made by Katy's British grandmother.
The Send-Off
The couple set off into wedded bliss -- and an epic honeymoon adventure. "Elephants are Katy's favorite animal, but she'd never seen them in the wild. So I surprised her with a 10-day safari in Kenya," says Jeff. "I'll never forget the look on her face."
Sources
Event Planning and Design: Kristin Newman Designs
Catering: Chef Sean Brock of McCrady's
Flowers, Lighting, Furniture, and Decor: Gathering Floral and Event Design
Stationery: Sideshow Press
Wedding Cake: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal
Tent and Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals
Tent Fabric Installation: Blossoms Events
Wedding Photography: Elisabeth Millay Photography
Gown, Veilm and Bridesmaids' Dresses: Carol Hannah
Menswear and Accessories: Grady Ervin
Ceremony and Dinner Musicians: Music for a Moment
Cocktail Hour Musicians: The Gradual Lean
Calligraphy: Elizabeth Porcher Jones
Lighting and Sound: Technical Event Company
Hair: Valecia Lahr at Magnolias Salon & Spa
Makeup: Carrie Lafontaine at Magnolias Salon & Spa
Bridemaids' Fascinators: Meyriel Jill Millinery
Cake Knife: Croghan's Jewel Box