The venue: Jekyll Island Club Resort

The Jekyll Island Club Resort sits on a barrier island off the Georgia coast, in a National Historic Landmark district. The club opened in 1887 as a hunting retreat for some of America’s wealthiest families, and the clubhouse still carries that era: a Queen Anne-style building with a Victorian turret, a deep arched porch, and a wide lawn running out toward the river. On the day of this wedding the sky was gray and heavy with rain, and the cream-colored clubhouse stood out softly against the clouds and the dark green of the oaks.

The grounds are the setting’s greatest asset. Live oaks hung with Spanish moss shade the lawns, and the ceremony took place beneath one of them. They offer so many beautiful options, but this wedding held its rehearsal and reception at the Morgan Center, a beautiful indoor option perfect for transforming.

The design: W Events Co.

Event design by W Events Co. kept the day quiet and rooted in its surroundings. The palette was white, green, and warm bronze, with nothing competing against the oaks. A pale wooden platform carried the ceremony, set low beneath the branches. Dark-wood chairs with brown satin ribbons lined the aisle, and small “reserved” signs marked the family rows, a gracious detail that helped guests know where to sit without a word.

Originally the couple planned for an outdoor reception but with rain in the forecast for the weekend they used the Morgan Center to transform a beautiful western and coastal inspired reception. Inside, the reception was draped floor to ceiling in white draping, with soft lighting that picked out the florals. Ivory tufted lounge seating, potted palms, and candlelight on the tables gave the room a calm, residential feel that suited a historic club.

The florals: Amanda Jewel

Florals by Amanda Jewel were abundant and restrained at once. White hydrangea, roses, delphinium, and spray roses were gathered with magnolia leaves, whose bronze undersides tie the arrangements to the Southern landscape and to the brown ribbons on the chairs. At the ceremony, low floral groupings flanked the platform and rose from the ground rather than from an arch, so the oak remained the focal point. At the reception, tall white vases carried tiered arrangements, with lower arrangements running across the tables. The couple’s bouquet continued the theme with white roses and magnolia leaves.

Filming a rainy day on Jekyll Island

Overcast skies are a gift for white florals and green foliage. Without hard sun, there are no blown highlights or squinting, and the moss and grass take on a deep, saturated green. For the film, the gray light gave the ceremony a soft, painterly quality, and the recessional, with the couple’s arms raised and guests applauding, reads warm against the wet green backdrop. A weather plan is part of every coastal wedding, and rain on the day does not have to mean a lesser day.

Frequently asked questions

Where was this wedding held? At the Jekyll Island Club Resort on Jekyll Island, Georgia.

Who designed the wedding? Event design was by W Events Co., with florals by Amanda Jewel.

Can you hold a Jekyll Island Club wedding in the rain? Yes, with a plan. The resort has indoor and outdoor spaces, and a good team prepares a rain plan well in advance.

What flowers suit a Spanish moss and live oak setting? White and green palettes, such as hydrangea, roses, and delphinium with magnolia foliage, let the trees stay the focus.

About The Hulls: The Hulls is an East Coast wedding photography and film studio. Hilary photographs and Randy films as one team, across film, digital, and motion, for thoughtful, design-minded couples.