Lauren ♥ Tyler
Allowing the mysterious ocean to be their inspiration, Lauren and Tyler chose a color palette that mirrored its brilliant hues. From light shades of sea foam to deep shades of teal, Lauren and Tyler stayed true to a modern beach theme. Calla lilies, hydrangeas, and roses also added pop to their big day. Congratulations, Lauren, and Tyler! May your days be as ever beautiful and calm as the ocean!
Our Story:
On the first day of eighth grade, we were assigned as partners for an assignment in our English class. Tyler asked me to be his girlfriend shortly after, and I adamantly refused. He claims it was love at first sight. It took me a few years to discover exactly what that meant. We attended different high schools and colleges, but always managed to reconnect. Fast forward 10+ years, and here we are!
We are a Perfect Match:
We’re compatible and truly balance each other. We have very similar values but appreciate having different points of view. We’ve learned over the years how to make our relationship work for us. We laugh all the time and enjoy being together. It’s easy to love Tyler and to be his wife.
The Proposal:
Tyler: I knew I wanted to propose somewhere special to the both of us. We have been going to the Outer Banks with our families for years, and I knew that was the perfect place. I had my brother and his friend sneak over to the dunes and get set up with a camera to catch the moment. I proposed right next to the Avon pier where we had spent many summers. Lauren: The summer before I graduated from Auburn, we went on vacation with Tyler’s family to Avon, North Carolina. One of the first nights we were there, we went down to walk on the beach after dinner. When we reached the Avon pier, he asked if I was sure I wanted to be with him forever. Before I could respond, he was down on one knee holding out a little box!
The Planning Process:
We got engaged on August 4, 2013, and married on September 27, 2014 — so just over a year worth of planning. I wouldn’t have wanted to spend any more or any less time planning. I felt like we did everything we could to make the wedding exactly how we wanted, and we were both very ready to get married after so much planning.
Best Advice We Received:
Slow down — You only get to plan your wedding once. Take the time to make it exactly how you envisioned.
The Challenges We Faced:
Since our wedding was a destination wedding, it was a challenge to prepare everything hours away from the venue. We exchanged many phone calls and e-mails with all of our wedding vendors.
The Wedding Décor Inspiration:
Our wedding décor was all beach themed. The color palette was ocean tones, and the wedding style was beach chic. We wanted the wedding to reflect the surroundings.
Money Matters:
$40,000
The Guest List:
We invited about 175 people and had a final guest count of 125.
The Outfit Inspiration:
Lauren: I wanted all of the wedding day outfits to reflect the overall beach theme. For my bridesmaids, I chose long, one-shoulder chiffon dresses, and they each wore a different ocean shade, from a teal blue to light green. The groomsmen wore simple tan suits with just vests, no jackets. Tyler wanted for them to be comfortable, especially in the heat.
Favorite Part of the Day:
Lauren: One of my favorite memories was our first dance. It was one of the only times during the evening when we were able to have a conversation, just the two of us, without people running up to congratulate us! As strange as it was to be the only two dancing in a room full of people, for those few minutes, it felt like it was just us.
The Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Projects:
Lauren: My mom was the master planner behind most of the wedding, and there were many DIY projects. She made the wreaths for the church doors and many of the flower arrangements. She painted signs and seashells, made ribbons for the cocktail tables and molded chocolates for each place setting. We made the ceremony programs, menus, table cards, the “thank you” sign, and much more.
Most Memorable Moment:
Lauren: We wanted our day to be a celebration not only for the two of us but for all of our family and friends who helped us get to that day. We made sure the day would be laid back and enjoyable for all of our guests. From carefully choosing the hors d’oeuvres to the compiling music we knew would keep people dancing the night away, we were sure to keep our guests in mind. Tyler: All of the wedding vendors and our families worked so hard to get everything set up just right and from the moment guests arrived, you could tell how much fun they were having. All night long we heard how beautiful everything was and how much people were enjoying themselves. I have always felt like weddings should be a great night for everyone, not just the couple getting married, and it was very easy to see that everyone was having a great time.
VENDORS
Photographer: Mary Basnight Photography
DJ: Coastal DJ & Video
Caterer: Enchanted Cuisine
Other Location: Koru Village
Beauty: Koru Village & Spa
PR Rep: Magnolia Media Public Relations
Equipment Rentals: Ocean Atlantic Event Rentals
Band: One Love Caribbean Steel Drum Band
Ceremony Location: Our Lady of the Seas Catholic Church
Cinema and Video: Reel Love Weddings by Baldwin Video
Floral Designer: renee landry events
