A Perfect “Pear”

Two lawyers negotiate a binding contract at luxe, lovely Palmetto Bluff.

Photography by Jade and Matthew McCully.

When Mario Meeks proposed to Kristen Aiken at a romantic restaurant in Washington, D.C., these two attorneys realized they had conflicting ideas about what would constitute the perfect wedding.

“Originally, it was my idea to go to Vegas and do something small and intimate,” says Kristen. “But that wasn’t something Mario or my family wanted.”

Mario expressed an interest in getting married near the water. Kristen, a native of Columbia, S.C., felt strongly about tying the knot in the Palmetto State. The couple — who currently reside in Alexandria Va., and originally met in law school at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill — found the ideal compromise at Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, S.C.

“Palmetto Bluff was the first place we saw, but nothing else compared,” raves Kristen. “It’s absolutely beautiful. It felt like the kind of place where my whole family could come and feel comfortable and relaxed. I love the trees and how you can go everywhere by bike or golf cart.”

Kristen worked closely with wedding planner Carla Eustache, the owner of Style Perfect Weddings and Events, to ensure that every detail would be flawless. “Love, laughter and beauty were must-haves for the wedding,” says Carla. “Kristen collected pictures from wedding websites and magazines and knew what she wanted but also knew that she needed help with achieving her wedding day look and style.”

On the day of the nuptials, Kristen stayed at a private home with her family and enjoyed a quiet morning tea with her mother and sister. The bride read a love letter from her fiancé while she got dressed in her custom Monique Lhuillier wedding gown. She rode in a golf cart to the quaint chapel at Palmetto Bluff, which overlooks the May River, for the Sunday morning wedding.

“My father walked me down the aisle, which is something I’ll always cherish,” she says. “We’re really close.”

Jumping the Broom

Kristen’s father also spoke at the ceremony, discussing the beauty of marriage and the power of love. After a moving, heartfelt service, this blissful couple lit a unity candle and jumped the broom, carrying on an African-American wedding tradition that dates back to the early days of slavery. “Jumping the broom is a symbol of leaving the past behind and entering a new married life,” the bride explains.

Immediately following the ceremony, 175 guests attended a cocktail reception, where they sampled hors d’oeuvres inspired by special moments in the couple’s relationship. A menu card explained the dishes and their personal significance for the bride and groom.

She Crab Soup Shooters brought back memories of when Mario asked Kristen’s parents for her hand in marriage. Cheese and crackers topped with grapes evoked the couple’s late nights in law school, studying together for exams. Bite-sized chicken and waffles referenced the couple’s first vacation together in Los Angeles.

While they nibbled hors d’oeuvres, guests sipped Arnold Palmers in Mason jars in a nod to the couple’s shared cultural heritage. “We’re both very Southern,” says Kristen, who currently works as a prosecutor for the District of Columbia. “We wanted to keep that aesthetic throughout the wedding.”

For dinner, guests dined on classic Southern comfort food, from fried chicken and collard greens to cornbread and berry cobbler. Instead of having a formal seated dinner, the couple opted for open seating with food stations, which helped create a casual atmosphere.

For Mario, a successful attorney from Wake Forest, N.C., it was important to have his family and friends feel as relaxed as possible.

“Kristen and I are down-to-earth people,” he says. “Even though the venue was upscale, we wanted everyone to feel comfortable and at home.”

That Magic Moment

During the reception, Kristen danced with her father to the Motown classic “My Girl,” while her godfather sang the lyrics with a live band.

“That was really a special moment,” she enthuses.

After dancing and cutting the cake, the party continued throughout the day, with guests taking turns snapping pictures in a do-it-yourself photo booth. After a busy day, the wedding culminated with champagne around the fire pit in the evening, where everyone made a personal toast to the bride and groom before they departed for a honeymoon in Italy.

“Kristen and Mario’s wedding was very special because of the level of detail we were able to infuse into the design and décor, which was truly a reflection of their personalities and uniqueness as a couple,” said Carla, the couple’s wedding planner. “The wedding was a glimpse inside their fun and loving relationship.

As a parting gift, the couple gave each guest a “Perfect Pear,” which consisted of a single piece of fruit from Harry & David encased in a clear plastic box and tied with a satin ribbon.

“We didn’t want to give people another mirror or another picture frame,” the bride says. “I liked the idea of giving our guests something delicious and juicy. It’s something they could really enjoy and not worry about what to do with it later.”

In the end, Mario got his wish to be married near the water, while Kristen fulfilled her dream of saying “I do” in South Carolina.

“It was a beautiful day,” Kristen muses. “It was perfect in every way. I didn’t want a big wedding. My only regret is that is that it went by so fast.”