A Classic Lowcountry South Carolina Wedding For Two New Yorkers

Lindsey and Josh

When the best-laid plans go off the rails, you might end up with something even better than you imagined. That's what Josh Green, the CEO of a tech company partly based in New York, learned when he showed up at his sister's dinner party to meet a woman she hoped to fix him up with—and fell for that girl's friend. "He stopped me mid-sentence to ask me out," recalls Lindsey Kotler, a producer for The Dr. Oz Show.

She agreed, and a year and a half later, Josh was ready to propose. This time, he was the one with the scheme. "When I visited Italy, I saw a restaurant with a table overlooking the mountains," he says. "I thought, 'If I find the person I want to spend my life with, I'll ask her to marry me here.'" Ten years after that first trip, he returned with Lindsey, but the restaurant had closed. Thinking on his feet, he had their hotel set up dinner for two outside a villa in the hills of Tuscany and popped the question. "There was no way the other table could have topped it," says Lindsey.

After searching all over for a venue, the Manhattanites found their dream location: a bridge on the grounds of The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, in South Carolina.

Stately Stationery

Save-the-dates showcased the allée of oaks that lead to the venue. Offset-printed invitations were topped with tea-stained organza.

Tasty Treats

In lieu of receiving welcome bags on arrival, guests woke up to a delivery of warm biscuits on the wedding day.

The Setting

The wedding venue, the Inn at Palmetto Bluff in the lowcountry of South Carolina, includes wetlands and old maritime forests on its property. At the rehearsal-dinner oyster roast, they saw that the forecast for the next day looked grim and reconsidered the bridge, but "Josh said, 'Let's roll the dice,'" Lindsey recalls.

The Ceremony

Sure enough, as they were signing the ketubah in a cabin nearby, rain started to pour on their 150 guests. It stopped after several minutes, but moisture damaged the instruments that were set to be played as the bride and groom stepped onto the bridge from opposite ends. Instead, they entered to the sound of Lindsey's laughter, meeting in the middle for a Jewish ceremony performed by the rabbi who officiated at Josh's bar mitzvah. A swath of linen tied to four potted trees formed the huppa; this was the second version (the first got drenched).

Just as Josh kissed his bride, it started to rain again. It was right after the vows, says Lindsey, when "the skies opened up, and all these green and white umbrellas popped open with guests sitting underneath them, smiling."

Man's Best Friend

Josh's niece and nephew walked the pair's bow tie–wearing dog, Einstein, down the aisle.

The Bridal Bouquet

"I really wanted lily of the valley for my bouquet, which was hard to get given the time of the year and how fragile it is," says Lindsey. But she got her wish with this pretty posy.

Escort Cards

During cocktail hour, waiters circulated carrying trays of calligraphed cards with guests' seating assignments.

A Special, Spicy Cocktail

The signature sipper was jalapeño margaritas. "We like a little kick to our drinks," says Lindsey.

A Tented Reception

Wooden lamps with raw-burlap shades illuminated centerpieces of greige cement pots filled with dahlias, hydrangeas, and ranunculus.

"Lindsey said she wanted a unique event, and I thought that was impossible, because everything has been done before. But of course, our wedding, like everybody's wedding, was unique because it was ours."

Reusable Keepsakes

"We now have 150 monogrammed napkins," says Lindsey of the beige linen numbers that rested on every plate at the wedding, topped by a sprig of rosemary.

The First Dance

Lindsey and Josh's first dance was to Van Morrison's "Crazy Love."

The Wedding Cake

The three-tiered white confection had a layer of lemon, coconut, and raspberry.

Sources

Location and Catering: The Inn at Palmetto Bluff
Event Design, Coordination, and Flowers: Tara Guérard Soirée
Photography: Corbin Gurkin
Videography: Artistic Eye Productions
Officiant: Rabbi Alvin M. Sugarman
Stationery: [save-the-date and website] designed by Rachel Yoo Digerness and printed by Lettered Olive; [invitation suite, welcome booklets, menus, escort cards] Tiny Pine Press
Calligraphy: Laura Mendoza
Cheesecakes: Ferrara
Cookies: Levain Bakery
Music: [ceremony] Robbi Kenney and Corinne Billings; [band] Atlanta Party Band; [DJ] A Sound Celebration
Tent and Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals
Hair: Lawrence Martinez
Makeup: Misha Shahzada
Bride's Gown and veil: Oscar de la Renta
Accessories: [shoes] Manolo Blahnik; [after-party shoes] Lanvin; [earrings] Harry Winston
Groom's Tuxedo and shirt: Ralph Lauren Black Label
Menswear: [shoes] Ralph Lauren; [tie & cummerbund] Charvet; [socks] Paul Smith
Accessories: [watch] Rolex; [cufflinks] Tiffany & Co.
Dresser: Cacky's Bride + Aid
Transportation: Old Savannah Tours
Ketubah: Danny Azoulay
Flowergirl's Dress: US Angels
Ring Bearer's Tuxedo: Lester's
Ceremony Coordination: Lori Lethco of the First Baptist Church of Charleston