A Warm Welcome

Event Design by Arden Sanders Events | Story by Terri Glazer | Photos by Dear Wesleyann Photography

Since guests were traveling from far and wide to attend their daughter Mary Margaret’s Rosemary Beach, FL, wedding to Davis Horton, Beth and David Skudder wanted to make sure family and friends were welcomed in style. They called on 30A wedding expert Arden Sanders and her team at Arden Sanders Events to make the welcome party a bright, colorful soiree that would set the tone for the weekend of celebrations to come.

The Setting

The family has owned a vacation home at Rosemary Beach for years, so bride Mary Margaret knew for a long time she wanted to be married there. Sanders says her goal was to showcase Rosemary’s various venues during the wedding weekend, starting with the welcome party at the charming Homeowners’ Pavilion. With the help of Myrtie Blue Event Design, Sanders and ASE lead planner Coleman Crye transformed the poolside area into a party paradise filled with color, pattern, flowers and fun.

The Theme

“Coastal chic” was the theme for the evening. The mother of the bride asked that the welcome dinner decor have a warm color palette to give it a look all its own, since the wedding was to be a formal affair with black, white and champagne tones. The ASE team ran with the bright, joyful look, punching up the pavilion with color everywhere. From the plethora of flowers to the festive patterned linens to the fun and funky furniture, guests were surrounded by saturated tones. Every little detail played into the look; the paper goods included bright colored napkins printed with fun facts about the bride and groom, and the koozies displayed a watercolor image of the family’s beach home.

The Flowers

“We had ALL the flowers!” says Sanders. Myrtie Blue worked magic with a huge variety of vivid blooms to create arches, swags, centerpieces and more. Peonies, anemones, ranunculus and roses were the stars of the show. 

The Menu

Coordinated by Townsend Catering, the menu kept the coastal and colorful theme in play. Guests enjoyed an extensive charcuterie selection, a raw bar—kept cool by custom monogrammed ice sculptures from Ice Dragon—classic Southern food and build-your-own pasta. Mini desserts were just right to satisfy after-dinner sweet cravings. A vodka bar stocked with a variety of fresh fruit-infused spirits was the hub for the evening’s beverages.

The Entertainment

Local acoustic guitarist Jamah Terry provided music for the event. The Skudders wanted to give their guests an idea of the beach experience they love, so they included an element that has been essential to their family fun over the years in Rosemary—games. From bocce to jumbo versions of Jenga and Connect Four, attendees could test their skills for weekend bragging rights.