Colorful DIY-Filled Vintage Meets Garden Party Wedding at the Atalaya Castle

Floral Hoop Bridesmaids

We’re all for a good “Meet Cute” story and Lauren + Ryan’s is nothing short of that! It all started when Lauren made a major move to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for her job at a local college… She wanted to immerse herself in the beach culture + immediately went out searching for a new surfboard. When she walked into a local surf shop, she fell in love with a shiny pink surfboard. The guy that sold it to her? Oh, he’d just turn out to later become her husband!! His name was Ryan. Little did Lauren know, but her interaction with Ryan would make such an impact on him, that he remembered a key detail — she frequently met up with her students at the Starbucks on campus. So for the next year and a half, Ryan intentionally walked through Starbucks to get to the library, hoping he would run into her (so sweet, right!?). Here’s Lauren with the rest: Well, his ploy didn’t work… But somehow our stars aligned. A year and a half later, I’m scrolling through my Instagram explore newsfeed. I came across a (random) photo of a guy surfing at a local beach and thought to myself, “Wow, I wish I was out surfing like that guy.” As I clicked on the stranger’s profile, I realized I knew him. This surfer stranger ended up being Ryan — the cute guy who sold the surfboard to me at the shop! After unintentionally “running into” Ryan on social media, I boldly slid into his DM (Direct Message) and we started dating.

For their big day, they DIYed so many different aspects to bring their vintage meets garden party idea to life. Lauren shares We didn’t have any specific colors because we may have just adopted all the colors… Ryan and I both have vintage hearts and together we are intrinsically creative. I found a 1970’s vintage wedding dress that would go perfect with Ryan’s royal blue suit. The bridesmaids carried floral hoops and the groomsmen rocked suspenders, olive colored pants and floral bow ties. We spent hours making over 100 feet of fabric bunting, giant letters that spell ‘CHEERS’! Fun, festive, and celebratory — just the way we like it.

Ready to see all the DIY magic captured by Valerie Demo? Let’s head to Atalaya Castle at Huntington Beach State Park in South Carolina!!

Floral Hoop Bridesmaids

To start off, how darling are those floral hoops by Joy In Bloom Floral for the bridesmaids?! And if you love them as well, we have a DIY tutorial with silk flowers so you can make your own!!

floral tie groom

The groom rocked an incredible blue suit from ASOS… And can we give him a round of applause for that floral tie?! What a winning combo!!

Vintage Boho Wedding

Vintage Boho Wedding

About that epic venue… This is the dreamy Atalya Castle — located in South Carolina. This 1920’s summer home resembles a Mediterranean coastal villa and is lined with palm trees and just the right amount of ivy and textured, chipping walls. L+R spent hours making buntings out of vintage fabric which decorated the entrance and served as a backdrop for their ceremony.

Vintage Boho Wedding

Vintage Boho Wedding

Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding

Lauren: Being pronounced as husband and wife and walking down the aisle with our guests cheering and celebrating us!

Ryan: The first dance + the epic dance party that ensued!

Vintage Boho Wedding

colorful bouquet

Vintage Boho Wedding

Her dress? Vintage!! She scored it on Poshmark.

Vintage Boho Wedding

Vintage Boho Wedding

And for the too good to be true proposal, Lauren shares: At sunrise, I was at the beach with a friend and noticed a guy surfing in the distance. I realized it was my favorite guy in the whole world: Ryan! He smoothly caught a wave in as I approached him. He got on one knee (soaking wet, I might add), and pulled a custom ring out of his board shorts and flipped the surfboard around that said, “Will you marry me?” We’re both glad the ring didn’t fall out of Ryan’s board shorts as he was surfing the morning… And you bet I screamed, “YES!”

Vintage Boho Wedding

Vintage Boho Wedding

Vintage Boho Wedding

Vintage Boho Wedding

The two DIY-ed almost everything, including: the pallet bar, all of the signage, a huge “cheers” sign, and repurposed almost everything else. They thrifted vases for the tables, refinished an old desk for their cake table, and even had a friend make homemade wine for the day. They searched craigslist for a vintage rug and finally found the perfect piece: a 10×15 Victorian style rug, which they used as their dance floor. Talk about creative!

Vintage Boho Wedding

Vintage Boho Wedding

Our Musical Choices

Processional: Live Music by the Neugebauer Family

Recessional: Gone, Gone, Gone by Phillip Phillips

First Dance: Cover of Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros by Rozes

sprinkle wedding cake

A funfetti, confetti covered three-tiered cake? Yes, PLEASE!! This one was crafted by pastry chef, Brian Bailey.

sparkler exit

So fun, you two!! Thank you for letting us in on all the magic, L+R. Congrats!!

photography: Valerie Demo // Honest Portraiture // venue name: Atalaya Castle at Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, USA // florals: Joy In Bloom Floral // wedding dress: Vintage // wedding dress boutique: Poshmark.com // bride's shoes: XOXO // bridesmaid dresses: ASOS // groom attire: ASOS // catering: Inlet Affairs Catering // cake: Brian Bailey- Pastry Chef // furniture rentals: EventWorks Rental Company // music: Rozes // officiant: Tim and Karen Holt

Explore: