I always love Fall weddings at Pawleys Plantation Golf and Country Club. It’s so lovely this time of year without the heat and humidity. Matthew and Taylor were a fun and relaxed wedding couple with a small bridal party of the groom’s brothers and the bride’s sister. They had my photo booth at this wedding, so I arrived about an hour early to help my wife set everything up. They had a custom backdrop with a wood lattice and some beautiful foliage. I ended up hanging my gold backdrop behind the lattice; this hid the wall in the background and perfectly matched the colors. I never mind if you want to do some customization like this.
When I arrived at the bride’s room, Mary with Makeup Artistry on Location was finishing up with Taylor. Near the end of the bride’s hair and makeup is usually a good time for me to start. I like to have time for these shots as well as pictures of the dresses, bouquets, and other details. Matthew and Taylor had done many of the decorations themselves, and I made sure to go around and get pictures of all the little details they had spread around the clubhouse. I also got some fantastic shots of Taylor standing in the double doors with her dress spread out behind her.
Bride’s dress hanging in the doorway – Pawleys PlantationBouquet with dress in background – Pawleys PlantationRings on the bouquet – Pawleys PlantationEngagement ring on the bouquet – Pawleys PlantationBride’s makeup – Pawleys PlantationBride looking in the mirror – Pawleys PlantationRing closeup – Pawleys PlantationRings in boxes – Pawleys PlantationLet love brew coffee favors – Pawleys PlantationTable details – Pawleys PlantationTable details – Pawleys PlantationMom helping bride with dress – Pawleys PlantationBride in doorway – Pawleys Plantation
First Look
Taylor and Matthew wanted to do a first look and get some of the pictures out of the way before the ceremony. With a small bridal party like this, we would have had enough time for photos after the ceremony, but it’s still a fun thing to do. It also gave the couple more time to enjoy the cocktail hour. There is a lot of nice shade down by the lake behind the clubhouse, so I usually try to take the bridal party and family pictures in that area. With the bridesmaids and groomsmen being all siblings, they had a lot of fun and were silly for the photos. I especially like the groom’s brothers picking him up with the bride’s sister helping from underneath. They were a goofy and fun bunch, and they had a great time.
First look with bride and groom by the golf course – Pawleys PlantationFirst look with bride and groom by the golf course – Pawleys PlantationFirst look with bride and groom by the golf course – Pawleys PlantationFirst look with bride and groom by the golf course – Pawleys PlantationBride and groom portraits by the lake before the ceremony – Pawleys PlantationBride and groom portraits by the lake before the ceremony – Pawleys PlantationBridal party with bride’s sister and groom’s brothers – Pawleys PlantationGroom and brothers picking up the bride – Pawleys PlantationPicking up the groom – Pawleys PlantationGroomsmen pulling on the suspenders – Pawleys PlantationGroom with his brothers – Pawleys PlantationBride and sister – Pawleys PlantationPortraits of bride before the ceremony by the lake – Pawleys PlantationPortraits of bride before the ceremony by the lake – Pawleys PlantationPortraits of bride before the ceremony by the lake – Pawleys PlantationCeremony location in front of the golf course – Pawleys PlantationFlower details for ceremony – Pawleys PlantationFlower details for ceremony – Pawleys Plantation
Ceremony on the Golf Course
The ceremony was held in the usual spot on the lawn behind the clubhouse, overlooking the golf course and lake. It was an unusually lovely day with a blue sky and soft puffy clouds. I believe the minister was an old family friend, so he told some stories and made everyone laugh during the ceremony. I always love weddings that are more casual and relaxed like this one. I usually tell clients, if they ask, that unity candles don’t work outside because of the wind. They had little LED fake candles for this wedding that they switched on during the unity ceremony. This gave everyone a laugh, and they worked.
After the ceremony, I took the bridal party back out for a few more pictures in front of the clubhouse. I knew we were going back out for sunset pictures later, but I still did a few portraits with Matthew and Taylor near the trees in front of the clubhouse. There are a lot of cars around this parking lot, but I’m pretty good at finding just the right angle to get that pretty sunlight filtering through the trees without distractions in the background.
Mother walking groom to the ceremony – Pawleys PlantationBridesmaid walking to the ceremony – Pawleys PlantationHappy groom – Pawleys PlantationBride and father walking through the doors – Pawleys PlantationBride walking with father down the aisle – Pawleys PlantationBride smiling at groom during the ceremony – Pawleys PlantationGroom smiling at bride during the ceremony – Pawleys PlantationCeremony behind the clubhouse – Pawleys PlantationCeremony on the golf course – Pawleys PlantationLaughter during the ceremony – Pawleys PlantationUsing electric candles during the unity candles – Pawleys PlantationGroom giving his vows – Pawleys PlantationBride listening to vows – Pawleys PlantationOfficiant holding up the ring – Pawleys PlantationGroom putting on bride’s ring – Pawleys PlantationLaughing during the ceremony – Pawleys PlantationFirst kiss – Pawleys PlantationHappy bride and groom after the ceremony – Pawleys PlantationBridal party in front of the clubhouse – Pawleys PlantationBridal party in front of the clubhouse – Pawleys PlantationBride and groom in front of the clubhouse – Pawleys PlantationCloseup in front of the clubhouse – Pawleys PlantationBride and groom looking into each other’s eyes – Pawleys PlantationKiss by the entrance – Pawleys PlantationTouching noses – Pawleys PlantationPretty decoration for the seating cards – Pawleys PlantationWedding cake – Pawleys PlantationCupcakes – Pawleys PlantationWedding welcome sign – Pawleys PlantationSweetheart table – Pawleys PlantationGroom’s brothers walking into the reception – Pawleys PlantationFirst dance – Pawleys PlantationGroom dancing with mother – Pawleys Plantation
Sunset Pictures on the Golf Course
Annie, the wedding coordinator at Pawleys Plantation, helped me out a lot that day. I knew the time would be tight, so she got everyone into the reception about 15 minutes early for me. This way, the bride and groom could do their intros and first dance and have enough time to make it back out for sunset pictures. I know it’s a pain for the couple to go back out for more photos, but it is so worth it if they can.
We started with pictures on the golf course with the clubhouse and ceremony location in the background. The groom played golf often at Pawleys Plantation, so I let him drive us around on the golf cart. We went to one of my favorite spots on the marsh, with some old mossy oaks hanging over the water. The angle of the Fall sun was in just the right spot. We got some fantastic pictures with the sunset filtering through the trees and moss in the background.
Something you will notice, which comes from a lot of experience, is that I try to frame the subject using the background. I always love that bright sunlight filtering through the moss and branches, but I’m also careful not to have branches and objects sticking out of their heads. If possible, I try to frame around them with the tree branches in the background. Of course, this isn’t always possible, but in most of my pictures, I’m conscientious about the environment as well.
Kiss on the marsh – Pawleys PlantationBride and groom with clubhouse in the background – Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country ClubBride and groom with clubhouse in the background – Pawleys PlantationDip with clubhouse in the background – Pawleys PlantationPortrait in front of the marsh – Pawleys PlantationLooking at each other in front of the marsh – Pawleys PlantationCloseup backlit by sunset – Pawleys PlantationTouching noses with sunset in the background – Pawleys PlantationKiss in the sunset – Pawleys PlantationKiss with sunlight filtering through the tree – Pawleys PlantationGroom touching bride’s face pulling in for a kiss with clubhouse in the background – Pawleys PlantationGroom touching bride’s face pulling in for a kiss with clubhouse in the background – Pawleys PlantationGroom lifting bride into the air – Pawleys PlantationHolding hands walking down the golf course – Pawleys PlantationHaving fun on the golf course – Pawleys PlantationBride and groom looking at each other framed by an old oak in the background – Pawleys PlantationKiss with moss and sunset in the background – Pawleys PlantationKiss backlit by the sunset – Pawleys PlantationGroom standing behind the bride – Pawleys PlantationPortrait on the golf course with marsh in the background – Pawleys PlantationFlowers in focus – Pawleys PlantationBig smiles in front of the marsh – Pawleys PlantationHolding hands looking out at the marsh – Pawleys PlantationWalking down the golf course together – Pawleys Plantation
Fun at the reception
This reception had a big drinking and partying group and kept my wife busy doing crazy things in the photo booth. They also had a great time on the dance floor. Even the older ones danced most of the evening. They finished the night dancing to Thriller, I haven’t seen that one before. I hope you enjoy the pictures. Please let me know if you are planning a wedding at Pawleys Plantation, and I would be happy to help!
Final hug of the evening – Pawleys PlantationFun dancing – Pawleys PlantationFun dancing – Pawleys PlantationHaving fun in my photo booth – Pawleys PlantationHaving fun in my photo booth – Pawleys PlantationGroom dancing with the guys – Pawleys PlantationCake cutting – Pawleys PlantationCake cutting – Pawleys PlantationCake cutting – Pawleys PlantationHaving fun in my photo booth – Pawleys PlantationLots of fun on the dance floor during the reception – Pawleys PlantationLots of fun on the dance floor during the reception – Pawleys PlantationLots of fun on the dance floor during the reception – Pawleys PlantationLots of fun on the dance floor during the reception – Pawleys PlantationLots of fun on the dance floor during the reception – Pawleys PlantationLots of fun on the dance floor during the reception – Pawleys PlantationDancing in my photo booth gorilla mask – Pawleys PlantationDancing in a circle – Pawleys PlantationGetting a little drunk on the dance floor – Pawleys PlantationGrandparents dancing – Pawleys PlantationGrandparents dancing – Pawleys PlantationHaving fun on the dance floor – Pawleys PlantationHaving fun on the dance floor – Pawleys PlantationHaving fun on the dance floor – Pawleys PlantationLast dance to Thriller – Pawleys Plantation
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