The couple met through mutual friends while attending Furman University. After three years together, Whit picked Mary Pat’s favorite place—the beach—as the spot to propose. After dinner, they went for a walk on the beach in Pawleys Island, where the bride’s sisters had helped set up an area with candles and lanterns. The pair celebrated with champagne and by watching the full moon rise over the ocean. The ceremony was held at Pawleys Island Presbyterian with an outdoor reception at the Reserve. Family played an important role in the wedding, with the groom’s godfather acting as an officiant, the bride’s sisters serving as maids of honor, and the groom’s father serving as best man. The casual and rustically elegant ceremony featured a band, a buffet-style dinner and a white tent illuminated by white lanterns and café lights. The couple lives in Columbia.

Photo by Paula Player Photography