High school sweethearts Caitlyn and Jon celebrated their love with the most romantic South Carolina wedding right outside of Charleston. Their waterfront venue, Dunes West Golf and River Club, was framed by quintessential live oaks and serene river views—an unforgettable setting for a destination wedding.
Caitlyn chose mismatched pastel gowns for her bridesmaids, perfectly complementing the soft floral arrangements they designed themselves just days before the celebration. One of the sweetest moments came during Caitlyn and Jon’s first look, where they shared private vows filled with emotion and authenticity. Their heartfelt ceremony took place under a sprawling oak draped with Spanish moss, followed by a joyful reception inside where family and friends gathered to toast, dance, and celebrate late into the night.
From personal touches honoring loved ones to a final private dance before their sparkler exit, Caitlyn and Jon’s wedding was filled with intentional, meaningful details that reflected their kind and generous spirits.
“Love feels like being known inside and out and being accepted and cherished despite your flaws.”
How did you two meet? What were your first impressions of one another?
I think we’ve known each other most of our lives, going to the same schools and being friends with the same people. We got really close in middle school, but didn’t start dating until the end of high school! It’s really been a blessing to grow up together, learning new things about life and each other at the same time.
Tell us a funny story relating to your wedding day or relationship!
Jon had decided to propose on a trip we took to Ireland with our friends. He had the whole thing planned for the day of our big hike to the Cliffs of Moher—but I had absolutely no idea.
That morning, it was freezing. I was too busy piling on layers and layers of clothes to care about anything else. My girlfriends, on the other hand, were very invested in what I was going to wear. They kept suggesting I “maybe wear something cute,” which I immediately shot down. If you know me, you know I am always freezing. Plus, the idea of Jon proposing this trip had literally never crossed my mind.
I didn’t realize it then, but Jon was so stressed out knowing I would cherish these photos forever and would look absolutely ridiculous in them unless my friends were able to get me to change.
After some persistent nudging, and twenty “we just want to be able to take cute photos” later, they finally managed to convince me to put on an outfit that was at least somewhat presentable and 50% less puffy. I didn’t realize it then, but they were all in on the plan—and I was about to have the surprise of my life.
Any special ways you incorporated your family or family history into your wedding day?
We tried really hard to honor the people who could not be with us at our wedding. The ring bearer pillow was made by my mom using pieces from my late grandmother’s wedding dress. We ate and drank off of a china set, that my late grandmother had passed down to me, for our first meal as a married couple. My mom also found and ordered us a custom statue of our dog, Nala, that was incorporated into our cake. My grandfather custom built a card box for us of Rainbow Row, one of the iconic spots in Charleston. My grandmother also hand painted our cake topper because we could not find any for sale with the groom in a beige suit to match Jon’s wedding suit. We think a marriage is more than just two people joining, but rather two whole families and it was really special to see everyone involved in giving us the perfect day!
What part of your wedding day was/is most important to you?
We were so happy to have all of our family and friends together in one place for a weekend. We have loved ones spread out all over the country and them all driving or flying to celebrate our special day with us was so meaningful.
From the beginning the florals were really important to us. We had a really specific vision in mind and actually decided that we could do the florals ourselves. Two days before the wedding us, our families, and bridesmaids got together and had the best day creating all the bouquets, centerpieces and aisle arrangements.
One of our favorite parts of the day was our last dance. Everyone had left the venue to line up outside for a sparkler exit and we had a last dance to “Cover Me Up” by Morgan Wallen. It was such a surreal moment and a special way to end our night. Side by side, slow dancing and reflecting on all of the joy and love we had experienced that day. We really cherished those final few moments embracing each other and closing out such a monumental day.
What is the best thing you’ve learned from one another?
The best thing that I have learned from Caitlyn is that no matter how busy life gets, you make time for the ones you love. Whether it’s as simple as a brother’s or sister’s sporting event, or an important holiday, you make time to spend time with the ones you love.
The best thing I’ve learned from Jon is the power of true generosity through his willingness to help anyone in his life without hesitation or the expectation of getting something in return. He gives his time and energy to others so freely. His heart is open in a way that inspires me to show up for the people in my life more fully.
What was your favorite part about planning your wedding?
Our favorite part of wedding planning was the date nights we made out of everything! It really helped to keep everything in perspective. We would go on dates to breweries to talk about what cake flavors we wanted to go with and to the Home Depot to get supplies to make all the signage. It made checking things off of our to-do list fun and really reminded us of the love we wanted to celebrate in the first place.
What is the most honest thing you can say about love?
Love should come easy, but it requires constant effort and patience. Love feels like finally being able to take a deep breath once you’re back with your partner at the end of a busy work day. It feels like being known inside and out and being accepted and cherished despite your flaws.
Venue: Dunes West Golf and River Club / @duneswestgolfandriverclub
Photography: Torianna Brooke Portraiture / @toriannabrookeportraiture
Bridal Gown: Verita. A Bridal Boutique / @veritabridalcharleston
Hair & Makeup: Lashes & Lace / @lashesandlacechs
DJ: DJ Stix Events / @djstix843
Transportation: The Black Cab Company / @charlestonblackcab
Cake: Sugared Magnolia Charleston / @sugaredmagnoliacharleston
Event Rentals: Dunes West Golf and River Club / @duneswestgolfandriverclub
Catering: Dunes West Golf and River Club / @duneswestgolfandriverclub
Videography: Southern Studios / @southernstudiosllc
Flowers: Designed by the Bride
Stationery & Signage: Designed by the Bride & Groom
Publisher at The White Wren and Bajan Wed, Award Winning Photography + Videographer at Live View Studios, Dad, 80s music lover, crunchy health advocate
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