Sara Infield and Kelan Drake-Lavelle
April 4, 2021• Caledonia Golf and Fish Club

For Sara Infield and Kelan Drake-Lavelle, their chance meeting seemed inevitable once the pair got to know one another. Despite a number of mutual friends and interests at Clemson University, the pair actually did not meet until their first week of medical school in Columbia.

From there, the pair spent their time studying and learning about each other. They soon realized they had a shared love of many things, with their favorite topics being food and football. Ice cream dates and tailgates became commonplace for the couple, which would eventually translate into a storybook wedding, complete with a visit from the Mister Softee Ice Cream truck.

Kelan proposed during their residency season, adding a bit of excitement and joy to a usually stressful season in any MD’s life. Caitlin Purvis and Pooja Toolani, Sara’s childhood friends, rescued the day not once, but twice—first, by helping Kelan plan the proposal, and then again by capturing the moment the proposal happened.

Originally, Kelan planned for a sunset proposal while visitng their friends in Myrtle Beach, but holiday shopping kept pushing back dinner plans and, quite literally, the proposal plan ran out of daylight! Not to be deterred, Kelan convinced Sara to get up very early the next morning to watch the sunrise on the beach. With Purvis and Toolani hiding in the dunes to snap the perfect pictures, Kelan made his move, and the rest is history.

The wedding was held at the gorgeous Caledonia Golf and Fish Club in Pawleys Island. They were lucky enough to be wed during the peak of azalea season, adding a naturally beautiful backdrop to their ceremony. The event marked the first time many of the bride and groom’s family and friends could travel post-Covid, so the celebration was doubly important.

“It was truly a celebration of family and friends,” Sara notes.

Kelan’s father, Judge Gerard Lavelle, performed the ceremony, adding another layer of intimacy to the affair. He was delighted to recount his own heartfelt take on Sara and Kelan’s love story.

In addition to this, Sara’s grandfather, George Noll, built a joggling board that served as ceremony seating for the seven members of the “Flower Flock.” Kelan’s sister Maeve recited a traditional Irish Blessing, made especially relevant and heartfelt as a few raindrops fell during the ceremony.

The party continued at the Caledonia Golf and Fish Club, with their tented reception providing the perfect environment for the celebrations. Natural spring blossoms and branches graced the interior, continuing the theme of natural beauty.

Guests were treated to traditional Southern fare, including favorites such as shrimp and grits and macaroni and cheese, among other delicious dishes for dinner.

For Sara and many of the guests, the highlight of the evening was their entertainment. The Park Band, from Alabama, performed the event, bringing a fun and lively energy to the entire affair.

“It was their first event post-COVID and they were thrilled to be performing live again,” Sara says. “The crowd responded to their genuine excitement!”

The Mister Softee Ice Cream truck also made a late-night appearance, offering guests the opportunity to enjoy a sweet treat to end the night. Even the bride and groom got in on the ice cream action, reminiscing about the ice cream trips and study dates that brought them to this moment.

The couple happily resides in Greenville, South Carolina, where both are working to complete their second-year residencies at Prima Health Greenville. Sara works in psychiatry, and Kelan works in emergency medicine.

Key Vendors:
Photographer: Kristy Roderick Photography
Ceremony Venue: Caledonia Golf and Fish Club
Harpist: Rebecca Nissen
Planner: Stunning & Brilliant Events, Sara McCall
Dress: The White Magnolia
Hair and Makeup: Myrtle Beach Hair and Makeup
Cake: Incredible Edibles Bakery
Entertainment: The Park Band/Music Garden Bands and Global Truth Entertainment
Transportation: Carolina Limousine
Catering: Inlet Affairs
Sweetgrass Baskets: Christal’s Creations, Charleston
Linens: La Tavola Linens 
Equipment Rentals: EventWorks