Charleston attorneys Meg and Richard married at Bowens Island Restaurant, just down the street from her parents’ home on James Island. “There is something so beautifully simple and genuine about Bowens,” says Meg. Indeed, as the bride, her mother, and her wedding party made their way to the site’s covered pier for the ceremony, patrons at the iconic seafood dive cheered, “Go girl!” And she did just that. Meg and Richard were joined by family and friends in a celebration of unity and life. When the bride shared her wedding photos with us, we were struck by the image below. We asked her to tell us about it. Her story follows.
Images by Kimberly Florence Photography
EDITOR'S NOTE: Meg Sawyer and Richard Doelling picked Bowens Island Restaurant for their April 27, 2019, wedding not just for its iconic, rustic setting, but also because it is near her parents’ house on James Island and the “commute” would be easier on her father, who was battling cancer at the time. (They had canceled their first planned wedding in Virginia when he fell ill; they rekindled the arrangements and moved the affair close to home as his disease progressed.) When he passed a few weeks before the ceremony, the couple and their families decided to gather as a testiment to life everlasting. We were struck by this poignant photo, snapped when Meg’s mother walked her down the aisle and her cousin reached out to squeeze her hand. Meg explains what was going on.
“It was the perfect Charleston day," says Meg. “There was a beautiful breeze coming from the river,the sun was soft, and all the bugs had miraculously disappeared. I waited with my mom and sisters in a hidden room as guests filled into the dock house for the ceremony. Needless to say, my dad's passing so shortly before the wedding was devastating. None of us were sure if we could truly embrace a celebration in the midst of so much grief.
“I knew the moment of truth would be walking down the aisle without him; I was all too aware of the possibility that I might cry (heaving, ugly cries) the entire way to the altar. Still, the five of us rallied around one another, taking turns holding our new nephew (my sister Emily’s son, Jack, who was born only three weeks prior) and gushing over the lovely view.
“Those minutes leading up to the ceremony were full of mixed emotions: sadness, excitement, joy, grief ... When it was finally my turn to walk down the aisle, my mom and I linked arms and slowly headed towards the dock house. As we walked, our tense breathing was broken by a joyous cheer, “Go, girl!” I looked up to see the long line of patrons waiting outside the restaurant smiling and clapping for us. My mom and I instantly laughed; it was oddly heartwarming, as if the whole place was there supporting us in that moment.
“As we stepped inside the dock house, we were welcomed by the warm smiles of our closest friends and family, all packed together in the intimate space. I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and peace. Everyone looked so happy and sincere. They knew the enormous loss suffered and understood the significance of the moment for our family. And I think every person in that dock house—friends from childhood, friends from adulthood, cousins, grandparents, colleagues—simply wanted to come together to share in that moment and celebrate life. There was a beautiful, unspoken bond between us all, and I think that’s reflected in the photograph. The woman squeezing my mom’s hand is her cousin, Iris, one of several “inner circle” family members who, especially given the recent death of my father, would have traveled through Hell or high water to be there in that moment with us. That small organic gesture was one of many that gave the wedding a poignancy unlike others.
“The intensity and bond fueled our celebration in the best of ways. Once the Motown started, we blew the roof off of the dock house. There was something so magical and healing about dancing under the stars with the marsh breeze tousling our hair. It was a special night for me and my husband, and even though my heart was broken, it still felt incredibly full surrounded by so many loved ones.”
