Danika in an Intimate South Carolina Wedding | Courtney + Derek

Call it fate, destiny, or simply meant to be. Sometimes the stars align, and two people meet. For Courtney and Derek, it all began one weekend at Coastal Carolina University. “Our meeting was truly a stroke of luck!” shares Courtney, “One red light, one extra drink, one delayed elevator and we probably would’ve never met because we were in different colleges at CCU!”

Like a Calla Lily Come to Life

While planning her intimate South Carolina wedding, Courtney knew Calla Lilies were central to her florals and decor. She hoped to find a timeless wedding dress whose clean lines and elegant silhouette echoed that of her favorite bloom.

After shopping at several bridal salons, Courtney arrived at Elizabeth Cole Bridal. There, the boutique owner, Betsy, suggested our strapless fit-and-flare wedding dress, Danika. Courtney slipped it on and, “I saw the draping on the bodice, the delicate points at the top of the neckline, the trumpet fit of the skirt, I felt like a calla lily come to life. I knew she was the one. I felt beautiful, confident and delicate.”

An Intimate Wedding at The Jasmine and River Road House

Everything about their day, from the space to the details, was guided by the warm vibe they wanted to create. Their vintage venue, The Jasmine and River Road House, was perfectly sized for their guest list, and their officiant and MC were close friends. To add to the family feeling, Courtney and Derek set up their Polaroid camera and asked their guests to snap a selfie and write a note. Their photo-guestbook turned out to be one of their favorite details. “Seeing all our guests so happy in those brief moments between the ceremony and reception brings a smile to my face every time!”

Get the story on how Courtney and Derek got engaged, their love letter lockbox, and more from our sweet bride below.

Tell us about finding your bridal gown!

I had always known I wanted my florals for my wedding day to be calla lilies. There was something about the Danika dress, when I tried her on and I saw the draping on the bodice, the delicate points at the top of the neckline, the trumpet fit of the skirt, I felt like a calla lily come to life. As soon as I put her on I knew she was the one. I felt beautiful, confident and delicate. She incorporated everything I ever wanted in a wedding dress. Timeless, textured, and fitting. I had tried on every dress under the sun, shopping at 4 different bridal stores, and while each had a dress or two that I liked, Betsy at Elizabeth Cole found the one I loved. She made the process seamless and pulled the dress of my dreams.

How did the two of you meet?

Derek and I met our first weekend at Coastal Carolina University. My best friend and I had gone to a party in her apartment complex and after a couple of drinks I wanted a smoke break so I went downstairs to the front of the apartment building. After about a minute, Derek and his roommates pull up in an Uber (hammered because they were coming home from a house party) and as they walked past me, Derek stopped to ask if he could bum a cigarette. I said yes and we proceeded to get locked into a 2-hour conversation outside the front door of this apartment building. When it was 3 am we decided it was time to return to our respective apartments, but he got my number before parting ways. Us meeting was truly a stroke of luck, one red light, one extra drink, one delayed elevator and we probably would’ve never met because we were in different colleges at CCU!

When did you realize Derek was special?

Two moments, both our first “I love yous”. First, Derek’s. We had been exclusively seeing one another for about 2 months. After spending the night, he walked me to his front door and after our goodbyes, as he’s closing the door behind me, I faintly hear him say I love you. Quickly and quietly enough that I second guessed him saying it! I never really brought it up because I didn’t know if maybe I had misheard! I was so confused and shocked that I never mentioned that moment until like years after when he confirmed he did in fact say I love you! He said that it just naturally came out and he got nervous mid-sentence hence the quick and quietness of the statement. Second, mine. New Year’s Eve, 2015. Derek and I had been officially dating less than a month (exclusive for about 4 months at this point) and this man decided he wanted to fly all the way to New York to spend the week between Xmas and New Year with me. We were in PA at my grandmother’s home for New Years Eve and when we went to bed I wanted to start the new year by telling him I love him. I wanted to take the jump, open up, and fully commit to this man so he knew how much love, care and devotion I had for him, but my example of love and marriage wasn’t ideal and I was scared to start something and it end like that. He was patient with me that night. Comforting me when my anxiety peaked and encouraging me to take the jump into our relationship. He allowed me to commit to the “I love you” in my own time and never rushed me into it so he could feel validated.

Tell us about your engagement!

The day after Christmas 2021, Derek, my mom and I went to lunch at a nice restaurant in my hometown because we would be leaving back to SC the next day. Before we go in, we walk over to a cobblestone bridge to view the park and lake the restaurant is centered on. In the middle of the bridge, Derek stops me and answers a question I asked him a day prior (we have a thing where after I love you we say always and forever and for 3 days leading up to that moment it was almost every time he said I love you that he tacked on the second half which was unusual so the day before I questioned him about it!). He said there was a reason for all the “always and forever’s” and it was because he wants to truly spend the rest of his life with me.

What atmosphere did you want to create for your celebration?

In one word, intimate. We decided on our venue, our officiant, our guest list, our MC, etc. because they each encompassed and embodied that feeling. Our venue, which we held the ceremony and reception at, was vintage, green, small (but large enough to host our guests) and beautifully taken care of by the owners. Our guest list included 80 of our closest friends and family members. Our officiant and MC were both friends of ours, each of whom who know us personally. They both created the most perfect ceremony and party to have us and our love feel celebrated!

What little detail or decision are you especially glad you included?

Our Polaroid Camera! Instead of a standard guest book, we had guest take a Polaroid photo of themselves and tape it into our guest book and then write a message underneath! This has become my favorite memento of our night! Seeing all our guests so happy in those brief moments between the ceremony and reception brings a smile to my face every time I see theirs! Not only this, one of my good friends (a photographer) highjacked the Polaroid halfway through the reception to take candids of the party! He surprised us by taping them all into the back of our guest book and writing my husband and I a very nice message! Best wedding gift ever!! I look at that book more than my actual wedding album.

What unexpected moment brings a smile when you think back on your day?

Two moments. The first was at the rehearsal dinner the night before. My mother had purchased a baptism bonnet that turns into a wedding handkerchief. She had kept this small silk fabric safe for almost 28 years along with the original letter that came in the box which described the tradition of this gift. The second was the day of the wedding. My mom gifted me my grandmother’s pearls to wear. My grandmother (who passed in 2006) and I were extremely close. She was a steadfast in my life and my mom knows that, so she provided me with a gift to allow her to be close to my heart in my wedding day.

What part of your day felt most meaningful to you both?

The most meaningful part of our celebration was our love letter lockbox. Some people do pouring of sand, lighting a unity candle, hand fasting, etc. We decided on a love letter lockbox. My husband and I wrote letters to our future selves that we will open on our one-year anniversary, August 24,2025. Included in the box is also a very nice bottle of Cabernet that my dad gifted us and two engraved wine glasses so we can share a glass of red as we read our letters to one another.

Do you have any advice for couples planning their wedding?

Start planning early! The timelines that wedding planners provide you have been vetted and executed by these professionals so follow them to the best of your ability! Our day-of-coordinator, Sarah (who is one of the owners of River Road and Jasmine Houses) provided me with a wedding planning timeline, and day of timeline a year in advance. This allowed me, even with a busy schedule, to be able to plan and prepare for all things wedding related! I never felt overwhelmed or anxious because I had a timeline laid out from the start. That’s the best advice I can give couples planning their own wedding and not using a wedding planner or company! It is possible I swear, I did it myself! You and your partner are the best planners because you guys know what you want for your special day and the vendors you work with will be able to make your visions of your wedding day come true!

Courtney + Derek's South Carolina Wedding Vendors


strapless fit-and-flare bridal gown: Lea-Ann Belter Danika via Elizabeth Cole Bridal | venue, catering, cake, and DOC: River Road and Jasmine Houses | hair and makeup: Metropolis Salon | photographer and videographer: Lacie Richards Photography | florals: Tupelo Grove Events

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