Elizabeth Ayd & Michael Pallotta
October 30, 2021 • Runnymede
Elizabeth “Lizzy” Ayd and Michael Pallotta were two sun-soaked 16-year-olds when they met on Nantucket. Having both grown up summering on the island, they were introduced on Cisco Beach by their best friends who happened to be dating at the time. That beach meetup turned into Michael and Lizzy hanging out the rest of the day—and then the remainder of the season—together. They’d soon part ways, as Lizzy returned home to Philadelphia and Michael to Boston. But their friendship picked right back up where they left off each time they returned to Nantucket throughout high school.
The two stayed close in the years to follow, and during college each made their way to the Holy City after transferring to the College of Charleston. But it wouldn’t be until shortly after Lizzy’s 21st birthday that they decided to date in earnest. This chapter of their story unfolded in New York City, where they shared a tiny apartment with just one closet and launched their careers together. Six years later on a return trip to Nantucket, Michael proposed at Cisco Beach—the very spot it all began.
Ever in love with Charleston, the couple set their eyes on a Lowcountry venue for their October nuptials. Runnymede’s understated elegance quickly caught their eye. Wanting the landscape to shine on their special day, the couple asked planner Tara Guérard of Soirée to create an atmosphere that captured the magic of the setting. “We wanted it to feel elegant yet organic,” Lizzy says.
Beneath a canopy of live oak limbs and sweeping Spanish moss, a woven runner led Lizzy and Michael down the aisle to their riverfront “I do’s.” “The beauty of the ceremony blew everyone away,” she says. After exchanging rings and a kiss before friends and family, the couple joined guests for an unforgettable evening of dinner, drinks, and dancing. Lizzy recalls the magic of it all: being surrounded by the most important people in their lives, brought together for one joyous night. “You probably won’t have them all in the same place again,” she says. “Remember to take a step back and appreciate all of it!”
Vendors
Planning, Design, & Florals: Tara Guérard Soirée
Photography: Corbin Gurkin Photography
Venue: Runnymede
Catering: Cru Catering
Cake: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal
Bridal Attire: Lihi Hod Bridal
Dresser: Cacky’s Bride Aidl
Beauty: Madison LaCroy
Groom’s Attire: Dolce & Gabbana
Entertainment: Taylor Pace Band
Rentals: Snyder, Ooh! Events, EventWorks
Stationary: Lettered Olive
Sound/Lighting: DVA
Transportation: Marquee Limo Co.
