Chicago Couple Treats Wedding Guests to Southern Romance

Photography by Jade and Matthew McCully

Lauren Hughes had been dating Ryan Perry for two years and two months when she came home to a sweet treat—a custom engagement ring hidden inside a cupcake box from Chicago’s Magnolia Bakery.

“I turned around and Ryan was kneeled next to our dog, Norman, ready to pop the question,” Lauren recalls.

Having always dreamed of a Southern outdoor wedding, Lauren began scouting locations in Hilton Head, South Carolina. With wedding planner Tara Skinner of Posh, Petals and Pearls by their side, the couple planned a romantic Lowcounty event at the Oldfield River House, surrounded by live oaks and Spanish moss.

Eschewing the formality of a black-tie event, Lauren and Ryan chose a classic color scheme of blush, gold and navy blue, accented with authentic Southern touches such as oyster shells, sea fans and a driftwood chandelier hung over the dance floor. As for more personal elements, Lauren carried a bouquet wrapped with a piece of fabric from her mother’s veil, and the couple cut their wedding cake with a knife that Lauren’s mother received as a gift from her own mother at her bridal shower.

My earrings from BHLDN and headpiece by Jennifer Behr were both my ‘something new.’ It was important to wear timeless pieces as I hope to pass them on to a daughter someday. – Lauren Hughes