Written By Melissa Reardon
Photographs By Lucy Cuneo
A transplant from Virginia, Weston “Wes” McAfee vividly remembers the first time he saw his future bride-to-be. Charleston native Dana Elaine...
With a pile of shared passions—from boating and skiing to golfing, cooking, and entertaining—it’s no wonder Jacki Petrozelli and John Bainton hit it off when introduced at a happy hour in the spring of 2010. After a year-long courtship spent sharing those common interests, John proposed to Jacki aboard The Drifter—his 22-foot lobster boat—during a sunset cruise around the Norwalk Islands of Norwalk, Connecticut, where the couple lives. When it came to picking a place for their nuptials, Jacki says she knew just the spot—Bluffton, South Carolina, where she grew up vacationing with her family. For a venue, they chose The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, which offered the Waterside Chapel for their ceremony and the River House Ballroom for the reception. Of The Inn, Jacki says: “It was so charming, and perfect for John—he and his friends could arrive to the chapel by boat!”
On the Big Day, nautical touches like that, along with Vineyard Vines groomsmen attire and a map of the Lowcountry laid out for guests to sign, mixed with a clean palette of fresh green, bright blue, white, and cream, to deliver the simple, preppy effect that Jacki had envisioned for the day. With that came a heaping dose Southern charm, says Jacki: “The Inn has a gracious ‘old South’ feel, with big oaks, Spanish moss, gas lanterns, the ruins of an old plantation and lots of quaint porches with rockers. As the night came to a close, the happy couple departed through a tunnel of sparklers, and afterward, guests retreated to the River House’s outdoor fire pits, where s’mores, bourbon, and cigars were served. Of the day Jacki says, “Honestly, I don’t think I’d change one thing.”
Vendor List
Baker: Minette Rushing Custom Cakes; www.savannahcustomcakes.com
Bridal attire: Oscar de la Renta from the Plumed Serprent Bridal; www.plumedserpentbridal.com
Bridesmaids’ attire: LulaKate from Bella Bridesmaid; www.bellabridesmaid.com
Caterer: The Inn at Palmetto Bluff; www.palmettobluffresort.com
Ceremony and reception location: The Inn at Palmetto Bluff; www.palmettobluffresort.com
Ceremony music: Alyssa Jae Duo (strings), via Hilton Head Entertainment www.hiltonheadentertainment.com and Rosemary DeWolfe, vocalist
Florist: Sue Burden; www.sueburden.com
Groom and groomsmen’s attire:Vineyard Vines bow ties and cummerbunds; www.vineyardvines.com
Hair: House of Color; www.houseofcolorsalon.com
Wedding coordination: Kelli Corn of The Inn at Palmetto Bluff; www.palmettobluff.com/weddings; Amanda Spencer of Spencer Special Events; www.spencerspecialevents.com
