Kaitlin & Allan | The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island



The latest Charleston Weddings magazine features the journey of Kaitlin and her hubby Allan, who defied the odds and overcame a traumatic brain injury to join his bride at the altar on their Big Day. (To hear the details of their amazing story in Kaitlin’s words, check out this post featuring their engagement session.) Today, we’re sharing tons of bonus wedding photos that we couldn’t fit into print, plus a few behind-the-scenes stories from that special day on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island that put a smile on all our faces here at the TWR offices.

The Wedding Row: Why did you choose Kiawah for the venue?

Kaitlin: Choosing our venue was much like choosing each other … when you know, you just know. In fact, Kiawah Island is largely to thank for Allan and I being together. When I was a senior in high school, I was dead set on attending college on the West Coast and had been admitted early decision to my first-choice school. However, after spending a week on Kiawah Island on a family vacation the spring of my senior year and experiencing the magic of the island and seeing all that Charleston had to offer, I decided to attend the College of Charleston instead … a change of heart I will be forever grateful for since it led to me finding my amazing husband.

TWR: Holy smokes. You all are poster children for fate. Hmm. Can you tell us how Chase (your sweet, fluffy pup) participated in the day?

Kaitlin: Early on in our planning, Allan dubbed our dog Chase “the Ring Bear,” and there couldn’t have been a more perfect title. We adopted him together five years before our wedding and couldn’t have imagined the day without him. He walked down the aisle with our nephew and even spent some of the evening with our bagpiper, Jimmy. I think it’s safe to say that, between all the affection and passed hors d’oeuvres, he had just as wonderful of a day as we did!

TWR: Sweet. Now tell us about the confetti—that looks like such an exuberant moment!

Kaitlin: Allan and I had talked about including the confetti cannons for months leading up to our wedding and we were so excited about that particular element … it just felt like us! Unfortunately, the wind was quite strong on the morning of our wedding, and our planner Margaret [from WED] told us that we would have to pass on the cannons, which were supposed to be launched when we were announced at the altar. Little did I know that she had sneakily arranged to set them off when we walked onto the dance floor and were announced as husband and wife. It was truly a surprise and one of those moments that was better than anything I could have planned.

Wedding Design: WED | Florals: SYG Designs | Photography: Caroline Ro | Videography: Thomas Brothers Productions | Venue and Catering: The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island | Rentals: Ooh! Events (chairs); Snyder Events | Linens: Nüage Designs | Lighting: Technical Event Company | Cake: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal | Invitations: Dear Jane Designs | Stationery and Calligraphy: Citrus Press Co. | Ceremony Music: Ashley Hunter Music | Reception Music: Mr. Potato Head – EastCoast Entertainment | Bride’s Gown: Hayley Paige from White on Daniel Island | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Show Me Your Mumu | Beauty: Paper Dolls Wedding Hair & Makeup | Groom’s Attire: Trunk Club; Brackish Bow Ties | Groomsmen’s Attire: Generation Tux | Transportation: Lowcountry Valet & Shuttle Co.

The Wedding Row

October 11 2018
Check out these all-time best engagement rings from our vaults Does your SO need a little hint-hint, nudge-nudge in the engagement ring department? Have no fear, because we’ve rounded up our top...

October 10 2018
During the summer of her junior year at College of Charleston, Lauren studied abroad with a pair of fellow Cougars who kept telling her she had to meet their friend Dante when they all got back home...

October 9 2018
One Monday night, at an East Carolina University bar in Greenville, North Carolina, Pirates Nina and Brett bonded over, as she sheepishly jokes, their love of a good deal on beer. But there was...

October 8 2018
The Wedding Row: Start us at the beginning. How did you two meet? Kate: Edward and I met through work in 2014. We were both living in Washington D.C. and Edward needed some software configured on his...

October 5 2018
We love a groom who goes above and beyond for his bride-to-be, and JP did just that when he scooted down to Charleston from Charlotte, North Carolina, and back again in the same day to ask his...

October 4 2018
For shutterbug Kate Timbers, the 200-year-old The Unitarian Church in Charleston is the perfect location for romantic portraits, timeless ceremonies, and more. With the church’s pastel-blue arched...

October 3 2018
We love a pair who embrace big, bold statements and big, bold flavors with all the mannerly trappings in their Big Days. Enter Amanda and Preston, who not only hosted a posh wedding at The River...

October 2 2018
Some of the best romances we know of are rom-coms, and Amanda and Will’s story is no exception. While Will tried to stage the world’s dreamiest proposal, complete with a romantic dinner,...