Pawleys Plantation in Pawleys Island, SC, is still one of my favorite wedding locations. The staff is excellent, and everything is always well organized. Sunsets are also beautiful in front of the clubhouse and out on the golf course itself. Kiely and Carson, the bride and groom, had some of the best smiles I’ve had with a wedding couple. In almost every picture, especially when they looked at each other, they had big natural smiles and looked very happy. This always makes it easy to get great photos.
Detail shots and getting ready pictures before the ceremony
This wedding had a small wedding party with only two bridesmaids and two groomsmen. I like smaller groups. It seems like those weddings are always more relaxed. Kiely didn’t want any pictures before putting on her dress, so I started with portraits of the groomsmen and detail shots of the location. I liked some of the photos with the groom helping his father with his tie and of the best man fixing the groom’s tie. After the bride was dressed, I did my typical portraits of her standing in the doorway light and then out on the private patio beside the clubhouse. Even though she had her veil on, I took pictures of her mom touching the veil and pulling it over her shoulders. These turned out especially beautiful with the soft light on the patio.
Ceremony programs Pawleys PlantationMemories table – Pawleys PlantationReception table – Pawleys PlantationPhoto Booth table – Pawleys PlantationGroom’s Army cake Pawleys PlantationDinner menu Pawleys PlantationTable decorations – Pawleys PlantationTable details – Pawleys PlantationCool Photo Booth masks Pawleys PlantationMe Too on groom’s shoes Pawleys PlantationGroom and groomsmen getting ready pictures Pawleys PlantationGroom helping father with tie Pawleys PlantationFather helping groom with tie Pawleys PlantationGroom and groomsmen getting ready pictures Pawleys PlantationGroom and groomsmen getting ready pictures Pawleys PlantationGroom and groomsmen getting ready pictures Pawleys PlantationGroom and groomsmen before ceremony Pawleys PlantationGroom and groomsmen before ceremony Pawleys PlantationPortrait of groom before ceremony Pawleys PlantationBride standing in doorway light Pawleys PlantationBride standing in doorway light Pawleys PlantationPortraits of bride on the patio beside the clubhouse Pawleys PlantationPortraits of bride on the patio beside the clubhouse Pawleys PlantationMom helping daughter with the veil Pawleys PlantationMom helping daughter with the veil Pawleys PlantationMom helping daughter with the veil Pawleys PlantationBride and bridesmaids before the ceremony Pawleys PlantationBride and bridesmaids before the ceremony Pawleys PlantationBride and bridesmaids before the ceremony Pawleys PlantationCeremony area Pawleys Plantation
Wedding ceremony overlooking the Pawleys Plantation golf course
The ceremony was held on the lawn behind the clubhouse, with a great view of the lake and golf course. The cute ring bearer forgot to hold up his “ring security” flag until he was almost down the aisle, so I barely got a shot of it. I loved some of the first-look pictures with the huge smile on the groom’s face and the bride getting emotional walking down the aisle with her father. They had big smiles during the ceremony, especially when giving their vows.
Ring-bearer and flower girl Pawleys PlantationRing security sign Pawleys PlantationBride and father walking from the back doors of the clubhouse Pawleys PlantationBride and father walking down the steps Pawleys PlantationHappy groom watching bride walk down the aisle Pawleys PlantationBride with father walking down the aisle Pawleys PlantationEmotional bride seeing groom for the first time Pawleys PlantationHuge smile on groom Pawleys PlantationHolding hands during the ceremony Pawleys PlantationBig smiles during the ceremony Pawleys PlantationGroomsman playing the guitar Pawleys PlantationHolding hands during the ceremony Pawleys PlantationPanorama of ceremony location Pawleys PlantationGroom listening to vows from bride Pawleys PlantationPutting on the bride’s ring Pawleys PlantationSand ceremony Pawleys PlantationFirst kiss Pawleys PlantationHappy just married couple walking down the aisle Pawleys PlantationHappy just married couple walking down the aisle Pawleys Plantation
After the ceremony, family and wedding party pictures
After the ceremony, we went to the shady area near the lake and did all the family pictures. It was a little early in the afternoon, so the sun was pretty harsh. I’m happy Pawleys Plantation has a lot of lovely trees to give some shade. I still have to be careful with the spots of bright sunlight that make it through the tree branches. It helps using my powerful dual Godox AD200 flash to give some fill light and balance out subjects in the shade from the bright background.
Even though the sun was bright and it was sweltering, the wedding party went out on the golf course and took some fun pictures. It can still look very nice, even in the bright sun, if you place the sun behind the subjects and use some fill light from a flash to balance the light. Finally, we took wedding party pictures in front of the clubhouse by the front door columns.
Groom getting kisses from Grandmothers Pawleys PlantationBride and bridesmaids by the lake Pawleys PlantationBridesmaids leaning out from behind the bride Pawleys PlantationBride with groomsmen Pawleys PlantationGroom and groomsmen picking up the bride Pawleys PlantationGroomsmen striking a pose Pawleys PlantationBridesmaids doing a fun pose Pawleys PlantationGroom with bridesmaids Pawleys PlantationWedding party walking down the golf course Pawleys PlantationBridal party with clubhouse in the background Pawleys PlantationBride and groom Pawleys PlantationWedding party on the back steps Pawleys PlantationWedding party in front of the clubhouse doors Pawleys PlantationMixing up the wedding party Pawleys PlantationPose with the wedding party in front of the clubhouse Pawleys Plantation
The first dance, reception, and fun photo booth pictures
Because it was still a couple of hours before sunset, we decided to wait until later in the evening for the bride and groom pictures. They went inside and did the first dances, ate dinner, and then the cake cutting. I also set up my photo booth for this wedding. There were a lot of kids at this wedding, and they loved going in the photo booth over and over again. The adults were having a great time with it as well. I had some new props at the time, including an Infinity Gauntlet, that everyone enjoyed. The stones even light up on the glove! Even the little kids enjoyed looking at their pictures on the nearby iPad after taking them in the photo booth. I’ve got a nice photo booth setup now, and I recommend adding it if you think it is appropriate for your wedding. Everyone always has a great time taking fun pictures.
Table details – Pawleys PlantationWedding cake Pawleys PlantationRing security Pawleys PlantationEntrances Pawleys PlantationBride and groom first dance Pawleys PlantationBride and groom first dance Pawleys PlantationBride and groom first dance Pawleys PlantationBride and groom first dance Pawleys PlantationBride and father Pawleys PlantationKids having fun in the photo booth Pawleys PlantationThanos mask – Pawleys PlantationBig group in the photo booth – Pawleys PlantationHorse head photo booth prop Pawleys PlantationCake cutting Pawleys PlantationCake cutting Pawleys PlantationCake cutting Pawleys PlantationReception dancing Pawleys PlantationKids looking at their pictures on the iPad – Pawleys PlantationPhoto booth pictures with gold background Pawleys PlantationPhoto booth pictures with gold background – Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country ClubPhoto booth pictures with gold background Pawleys PlantationPhoto booth pictures with gold background Pawleys PlantationPhoto booth pictures with gold background – Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country ClubPhoto booth pictures with gold background – Pawleys PlantationPhoto booth pictures with gold background Pawleys PlantationPhoto booth pictures with gold background Pawleys PlantationPhoto booth pictures with gold background – Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country ClubPhoto booth pictures with gold background – Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country ClubPhoto booth pictures with gold background Pawleys PlantationPhoto booth pictures with gold background – Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country ClubPhoto booth pictures with gold background – Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country ClubPhoto booth pictures with gold background Pawleys PlantationPhoto booth pictures with gold background Pawleys Plantation
Beautiful sunset pictures with the bride and groom
Finally, for the essential part of any wedding, we did the portraits of the bride and groom. We went out at the ideal sunset time to get the beautiful soft light coming through the trees in front of the clubhouse. Again, I used some fill flash from my studio lights to highlight the bride and groom against the bright background. Pawleys Plantation always provides me a golf cart to take the couple out on the golf course for pictures. Since the bride didn’t have high heels that would damage the greens, we could walk out and get some beautiful shots of them by the lake and fountain.
Next, we went further out on the golf course to one of my favorite spots by an old oak tree. I loved the composition of some of these pictures. I try to follow the rule of thirds when appropriate, although I don’t worry about this if a picture looks better with the subject in the center. This was an excellent opportunity to have the bride and groom on the left side of the image, with the sunset and reflection in the water balancing them out on the right. Finally, we went out to the beautiful golf course area overlooking the marsh on Pawleys Island. I always bring my 35mm lens when we go out there. There isn’t much room to back away from the couple in this location. Even with the wide-angle lens, I loved one picture of them kissing with the full moon in the background. I hope you enjoy the pictures. If you are having a wedding at Pawleys Plantation and need a photographer, please let me know!
Bride and groom smiling at camera with sunset filtering through the trees Pawleys PlantationBride and groom looking at each other backlit by the sunset Pawleys PlantationTouching the groom’s face under the trees – Pawleys PlantationKiss backlit by the sunset Pawleys PlantationBride holding her flowers in the sunset Pawleys PlantationBride with flowers around the neck of the groom Pawleys PlantationLeaning against the tree touching noses Pawleys PlantationKiss with some fill light from my off camera flash Pawleys PlantationKiss with some fill light from my off camera flash Pawleys PlantationSunset behind the clubhouse – Pawleys PlantationBride looking at groom Pawleys PlantationDip behind the clubhouse Pawleys PlantationWalking down the golf course holding hands Pawleys PlantationWalking down the golf course holding hands Pawleys PlantationSitting together by the fountain Pawleys PlantationBride looking back at groom sitting on the greens Pawleys PlantationBride with arms around the groom Pawleys PlantationKiss on the cheek Pawleys PlantationKiss in front of the fountain Pawleys PlantationGroom touching bride’s face backlit by the sunset Pawleys PlantationGroom pulling bride in for a kiss Pawleys PlantationKiss on the cheek Pawleys PlantationGreat composition with bride and groom balanced by the sunset Pawleys PlantationKiss in the sunset under the oak – Pawleys PlantationKiss under the old oak tree – Pawleys PlantationPortraits with clubhouse far in the background Pawleys PlantationPortraits with clubhouse far in the background Pawleys PlantationPortraits with clubhouse far in the background Pawleys PlantationGroom lifting bride into the air for a kiss Pawleys PlantationHolding hands walking down the golf course Pawleys PlantationHolding hands walking down the golf course Pawleys PlantationKiss on the marsh under the full moon – Pawleys PlantationSunsets are so pretty on the golf course marsh – Pawleys PlantationBig smiles looking at the groom Pawleys PlantationKiss by the marsh Pawleys PlantationDip back for a kiss Pawleys PlantationSparkler exit Pawleys PlantationSparkler exit Pawleys PlantationSparkler exit Pawleys PlantationSparkler exit Pawleys Plantation
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Pawleys Island wedding on the marsh with a reception at Pawleys Plantation
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Wedding at Pawleys Plantation with a ceremony on the beach in Pawleys Island
