This is my first time photographing a wedding at the remodeled Grande Dunes Ocean Club in Myrtle Beach. It always looked nice, but they did make some changes that give a lot more space inside the ballroom and dining area. They completely removed the fireplace which really opens up the area for a larger number of guests and more tables. They also painted everything, put down new carpets, lights and other things. One of the changes I especially noticed, because I do a lot of pictures there, is the new doors at the front. The glass doors really do make a nicer background for shots around the columns. Overall I think the remodel turned out really well and I look forward to photographing more weddings there.
The bride for this wedding said she picked out the longest veil the had when she bought her dress. It was really pretty, but I think she realized a long veil is not always the best idea for the beach. It turned out to be a very windy day as you can see in the pictures below. The veil was constantly flipping around and wrapping around the bride, that is why you see her laughing in some of the pictures below. Thankfully everyone was really easy-going and didn’t let the wind or veil problems bother them. Even with the difficult weather I was able to get a lot of nice shots with the couple on the beach. Something nice about the Ocean Club is the many sheltered areas from the wind. Up around the front columns is almost completely blocked from the wind, so we were able to do a lot of pictures there with no wind problems at all. If the bride requests it for some pictures, I can also do some hair touch-ups to get rid of the flyaways.
Something I was playing around with for the first time was my new 24mm Sigma Art f1.4 lens. I love the Art series of lenses from Sigma, some of these actually blow away what you can get from Nikon or Canon for certain types of primes. It’s fun to have such a wide-angle but still at f1.4. The shot of the Ocean Club behind the pool below was hand held, I wasn’t even on a tripod for a long exposure. Around f1.4 you can just let in so much light that some pretty amazing hand-held shots are possible, it also came in real handy for shots of the entire group on the dance floor.
I hope you enjoy the pictures below, let me know in the comments if you do.
Trying out my new Sigma 20mm art lens, having a really wide angle still at f1.4 give a really near look. – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Dress hanging in the window – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bridesmaid dresses hanging in doorway – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Dresses together by the window – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Details of bridesmaid flowers – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Details of tables in main ballroom – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Details of tables in main ballroom – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Wedding cake – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Details of tables in main ballroom – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Mom helping bride with earrings – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Brides diamond anklets – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bridesmaids taking with bride on couch – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Mom helping bride with dress – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride standing in the doorway light – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Beautiful bride in window light – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride posing – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride and bridesmaids before ceremony – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bridesmaids laughing together – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
First look with bride and groom – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
First look with bride and groom – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
First look with bride and groom – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
First look with bride and groom – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride leaning against the column – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride leaning against the column – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Happy bride walking with father – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride and groom giving vows – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride and groom giving vows – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride putting on grooms ring – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
First kiss by the ocean – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride and groom walking down the beach with long veil – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride and groom walking down the beach with long veil – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Groomsmen picking up the bride – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bridesmaids walking down beach holding flowers in the air – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Happy couple on the walkway to the beach – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Groom leaning into bride – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride and groom by clubhouse columns – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride and groom by clubhouse columns – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride and groom by clubhouse columns – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride and groom by clubhouse columns – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Romantic pictures on the lawn – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Romantic pictures on the lawn – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Groom lifting bride into the air for a kiss by ocean – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Groom dipping bride for a kiss by ocean – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride and groom looking out at ocean – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
After wedding portraits by the dunes on the beach – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
After wedding portraits by the dunes on the beach – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
After wedding portraits by the dunes on the beach – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Clubhouse in background of couple kissing – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Wedding decorations – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Wedding decorations – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Wedding decorations – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Wedding decorations – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride and groom introductions and first dance – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride and groom introductions and first dance – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride and groom introductions and first dance – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride and groom introductions and first dance – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Bride dancing with her father – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Nightime at clubhouse – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Fun wedding reception dancing – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Fun wedding reception dancing – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Fun wedding reception dancing – Grande Dunes Ocean Club
Grande Dunes Ocean Club at Night – Myrtle Beach
Fun wedding reception dancing – Grande Dunes Ocean Club