Wedding at Pawleys Plantation with a ceremony on the beach in Pawleys Island

This time of the year, I love to look back at some beautiful weddings I didn’t have time to post on my blog. Elizabeth and Tyler were married last summer on May 29th. Their wedding was a little unusual for Pawleys Plantation. Instead of having the ceremony on the golf course, they wanted a wedding on the beach. So they rented a home on the beach in Pawleys Island and had a trolly take everyone back and forth from the beach. They even had their dog as the ring bearer during the ceremony, which I think is one reason they wanted it on the beach. They were such a happy couple, and everyone had a blast at the wedding.

I first met Elizabeth and Tyler in 2021 and took engagement pictures with them at the Huntington Beach State Park. I have included a few of their engagement pictures below. I always recommend doing engagement pictures if possible. It’s a great way to get to know each other. It can make you more relaxed at the wedding because you already know my personality and that I’m easygoing and fun to take pictures with. I especially liked the surprise ring pop “proposal” at the end of the engagement pictures.

Featured Vendors:
Planning – Cheers and Champagne
Videographer – Francis West Studios
Hair and Makeup – Salon and Spa 18
Officiant – Myrtle Beach Wedding Officiant

Getting ready pictures and the first look at Pawleys Plantation

When I first arrived, I met up with Elizabeth, and she was still getting her hair finished up by Wing Wong of Salon & Spa 18. I always love seeing him because he prepares everyone on time and does a beautiful job. After a few wedding dress pictures, my wife helped me collect all the bride’s details for some close-up shots. I always love when brides have a collection of small items for me to add to the pictures. They are big Georgia Bulldog fans, as you can tell from the engagement pictures, the bride’s garter, and the groom’s cake.

After pictures with the bride and her mother putting on her veil, we did a first look with the bridesmaids and then some photos outside the side clubhouse doors. I took some beautiful portraits of the bride standing in the doorway with her dress flowing from behind her. After this, Elizabeth and Tyler did a first look together. We knew the time would be a little tight later in the evening after the beach ceremony. So we wanted to get some pictures done before the ceremony. I always love having a big bridal party for photos. You just have to plan a little extra time in the schedule. After this, everyone loaded up on the trolly and headed to the beach.

Ceremony on the beach in Pawleys Island

As I mentioned, the bride and groom rented a beach house for the ceremony. I usually recommend a couple to have their wedding ceremony at Pawleys Plantation, it’s such a beautiful spot, and it takes so much extra time to get everyone down to the beach. However, Elizabeth and Tyler wanted a beach ceremony, so they planned the extra time needed. Eric Hunt, one of my favorite officiants, had a beautiful arch setup for the wedding on the beach. I don’t get myself in photographs often, but my wife got a nice shot of me working during the sand ceremony.

After the first kiss, everyone threw flower petals at the bride and groom as they walked down the aisle, and they even stopped for another kiss under the petals. After a few beach pictures with the wedding party, family group portraits, and some cute ones with the couple and their dog, we headed back to the clubhouse at Pawleys Plantation just in time for sunset pictures on the golf course.

Sunset pictures on the golf course at Pawleys Plantation

I always love the summer sunset at Pawleys Plantation. The sun is at just the right angle to get the warm light filtering through the trees in front of the clubhouse. They always provide me with a golf cart to take the bride and groom out on the golf course. Some scenic spots are a little ways down the course, with ancient oak trees on the marsh covered in hanging moss. In the summer, I love the angle you see below with the light filtering through the trees. In the fall and winter, a different angle is also beautiful for framing the couple with the trees in the background. I’ve been to Pawleys Plantation so many times I know all the best spots, even depending on the time of the year and the sunset angle.

Fun reception in the ballroom

The wedding party had a lot of fun with the introductions, even a little Gangnam Style on the way in. I haven’t seen that in a while. My wife was running our photo booth, and everyone had a great time with the silly hats and props. After a couple of hours of fun partying and dancing, Elizabeth and Tyler had a private last dance while everyone prepared for the sparkler exit. I hope you enjoy the pictures. If you are planning a wedding at Pawleys Plantation, please let me know. I’ve photographed so many weddings there over the last 15 years that I can help you with your planning.