An early wake-up call for Tess and Howie’s sunrise Palmetto Dunes wedding was well worth it! I had recommended to them that the lighting at sunrise is absolutely perfect when having a beach wedding.
Howie and Tess met through an online dating app, and they are so thankful they each decided to swipe right. They were inseparable after about two months of dating; the rest is history! I took their engagement photos, and they let me know that I made each of them feel super comfortable in front of the camera, so they decided also to hire me as their Hilton Head wedding photographer.
Hilton Head Island is Howie’s favorite place in the world, so naturally, he introduced it to Tess. The beach is their happy place, and they enjoy all the senses of being next to the ocean. It made perfect sense for them to get married here! I provided recommendations for all their fantastic wedding vendors since they aren’t local.
Their Hilton Head Island wedding was just a few days after Hurricane Ian. The storm wouldn’t stop these two from becoming husband and wife. The beach at Palmetto Dunes is perfect for an intimate wedding ceremony. As Tess walked down the aisle, the sun started to peak above the water. They had their dogs at the wedding, and they all lay perfectly on the sand and watched the ceremony take place. One of the dogs was in honor of Tess’ late father, as it was his service dog.
After they exchanged rings, we found a magical space for photos. It was extra dreamy, with large oak trees lining the drive and the sun shining through. The two had written personal vows to one another and decided to read them after their ceremony in private. It was such a sweet moment for them. We got some truly stunning just-married photos for the newlyweds!
They moved their wedding reception to Centre Court at Palmetto Dunes, a luxury vacation rental. This space was the perfect location for their Palmetto Dunes wedding reception. All their closest friends and family gathered to celebrate their marriage with toasts, dancing, and laughter. Intimate wedding celebrations are always so much fun, and they often are some of my favorites to photograph!
Howie and Tess have such sweet personalities, and it showed off with what they decided to do as guest favors. Instead of giving a small favor to each guest, they made donations to a couple of foundations that meant so much to them.
I am so grateful that Tess had messaged me right after they got engaged and that I was available to take engagement photos for them and then be there for their wedding day! Check out some of my favorites from their Palmetto Dunes wedding!
Palmetto Dunes Sunrise Beach Wedding
Hilton Head Wedding Photographer
Palmetto Dunes Wedding Reception
If you’re considering having your own Hilton Head Island Wedding, I’d love to send you all of my recommendations for wedding venues and vendors I love working with. Many of my couples come from out of town, and helping them find the best vendor team means a lot so that they can have their dream wedding. If you’d love to learn more about my wedding packages, contact me here!
Kind Words From the Couple:
“We were in South Carolina, and my fiancé proposed! I knew I wanted my engagement photos in Hilton Head, and Ashta messaged me back IMMEDIATELY and met us the next day before we left! We had such an amazing time with her that we told her on the spot we wanted her to be our wedding photographer no matter where we had it! We picked our date and secured my photographer before anything else. Ashta is your GO TO GIRL! She made sure we were comfortable, and happy, and had given us all the advice, and been a huge part of our wedding planning!”
Ceremony Venue: Palmetto Dunes Beach
Reception Venue: Centre Court at Palmetto Dunes
Photographer: Ashta Harler Photography
Florals: Coastal Floral & Events
Cake: Bold Confections by Laura
Hair and Makeup: Blushing Belle Beauty Bar
