Wedding Announcements | Grand Strand Magazine

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Issue

February 2012

<p>
Tosca Norman and Bradley Taylor<br />
August 27, 2011<br />
The couple met through mutual friends and began dating in February 2008. They became extremely close when Brad’s brother Phillip was in a serious car accident. Phillip came through and was Brad’s best man. Brad proposed on a West Virginia ski trip after three years together. The destination wedding was at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville and featured a large wedding party, a rose ceremony and wedding rings made from gold jewelry left to the couple by their grandparents. They live in Myrtle Beach.   <br />
 </p>

<p>
Amanda Thomasson and Jason Himmelsbach<br />
September 17, 2011<br />
Amanda and Jason dated for two years in high school. After reconnecting, they dated for four years. Jason’s proposal was sweet and creative—a scavenger hunt around Myrtle Beach of all the places that were special to them in high school. The ceremony took place at The Dye Clubhouse at Barefoot Resort. The newlyweds live in Myrtle Beach.<br />
 </p>

<p>
Stephanie Orsimarsi and Ryan Wolf<br />
June 18, 2011<br />
The couple met while working at Logan’s Roadhouse. Stephanie knew she wanted to get to know Ryan when she saw him singing Madonna and holding paper cups to his chest because she had done the same thing. After three and a half years of dating, Ryan proposed in front of family at Miyabi’s. The “enchanted forest” wedding was held at the Myrtle Beach Hilton Resort. They live in Myrtle Beach.</p>

<p>
Rebecca Bennett and Andrew Cassity<br />
July 3, 2011<br />
The couple met at a wedding reception for one of Drew’s college friends. It wasn’t long before Drew wooed Becky with his charm and his amazing karaoke skills. After a year and seven months together, Drew proposed on the beach in Florida. The wedding took place at The Reserve Golf Club in Pawleys Island. The newlyweds live in Virginia Beach, Va.<br />
 </p>

<p>
Sonja Eubanks and Robert Higgins<br />
October 1, 2011<br />
Sonja and Robert are both alumni and fans of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and met for the first time on Franklin Street in March 2010. The next year was filled with many Friday afternoons where the two met on the UNC campus and walked or biked in the gardens and listened to music on the lawn of the Carolina Inn. On a rainy, cold Friday evening last February, Robert proposed on the steps of the Old South Building. The wedding took place at The Church of the Good Shepherd in Durham with a reception at the historic Carolina Inn. They live in Myrtle Beach.</p>

<p>
June 4, 2011<br />
It took a rainy day at a horticulture lab in Clemson, where Brett would offer to share an umbrella, to bring these two together. After hitting it off, they dated for four years.  Then on a trip to Charleston, a dinner date for Monica’s birthday, the two walked all throughout downtown before pulling off into a small courtyard.  It was here where Brett would make a surprise proposal to which Monica said yes. The ceremony was held at the First Baptist Church of Georgetown followed by a reception at the Heritage Club in Pawleys Island.  The newlyweds plan to live in Greenville, South Carolina.</p>

<p>
June 14, 2011<br />
These two attended the same grade school, separate high schools, and eventually lost touch in college. But Facebook played Cupid for these two, where they reconnected and instantly fell in love. They dated for about eight months before John proposed on New Year’s Day after watching the festivities. They were married on the beach in Pawleys Island, barefoot in the sand with a high tide. Currently the couple lives in Henderson, Nevada.</p>

<p>
August 20, 2011<br />
A relationship that began after an introduction by a mutual friend blossomed for three years and would lead to a celebration of their dating anniversary in New York City.  It was there, while dining at the revolving Marriott Marquis, that David would leave dinner abruptly. He asked the waiter to give Annie a note asking her to meet him at the top of the Empire State building. While overlooking the New York skyline, David dropped to a knee and proposed.  The ceremony was held at the First United Methodist Church in Myrtle Beach.  The newlyweds plan to live in Myrtle Beach where they both work for Coastal Law Firm. </p>

<p>
March 19, 2011<br />
Following an accidental e-mail from which a friendship would sprout, it was only a matter of time before Christina and Justin began dating. And after five years Justin proposed at Huntington Beach State Park in front of the Atalaya Castle, which Christina adores. The ceremony was held at the St. John’s Inn hall at the Caravelle Resort and was made special by Christina’s brother who made it back from Iraq just in time to be a groomsman. They reside in Surfside Beach.</p>

<p>
May 21, 2011<br />
The future newlyweds would meet killing time outside their English class. They knew each other for half a year and dated for two and a half months before the proposal. After Abbey returned from a family vacation in Europe, Chris surprised her with a picnic at a conservatory in Columbus, Ohio.  He proposed with a family heirloom diamond that has been in his ancestry for 150 years.  The ceremony and reception were held at the Litchfield Plantation.</p>

<p>
April 2, 2011<br />
They grew up in a small town where everybody knew one another, and worked together at a local café, the Crystal Club. As co-workers they had a special connection that would turn into a relationship. Ryan and Bobby dated for two years and managed to buy their first home and have their first child. That Christmas Robby would surprise Ryan with a ring in the cookie jar and she happily said yes. The ceremony was held at the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes, with a wedding that mixed tradition with modern concepts. The newlyweds currently live just outside of Boston.</p>

<p>
June 17, 2011<br />
Love blossomed for these two at Frank’s restaurant where they met.  They dated for 14 months before Charlie proposed on Valentine’s Day.  The small and intimate ceremony was held at Litchfield Plantation in Pawleys Island. </p>

<p>
May 19, 2011<br />
After meeting in the Army and enjoying a three-year friendship, Kim and Kevon took the next step.  While on leave from Afghanistan, the two were at the Camden Plaza in New York overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge when Kevon popped the question. Kim said yes and they were married at Ocean Creek.  They plan to go wherever the Army leads them.<br />
 </p>

<p>
July 3, 2011<br />
While teaching at a summer school program in New York City, Meredith and Andy met and instantly clicked. They dated for five years until they were taking a stroll down the beach when Andy dropped to a knee. The ceremony was held at Kingston Plantation. The newlyweds live in Myrtle Beach where both are involved with Horry County Schools.</p>

<p>
June 18, 2011<br />
After mutual friends introduced them, Arianna and Jack began dating. The night they moved into their new home was the same night that Jack proposed. They were married on the beach and the newlyweds rented a house on the beach for family and friends to stay for their honeymoon.  They live in Atlanta</p>

<p>
July 22, 2011<br />
Fifteen years ago these two met at the Wild Fork restaurant in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They saw one another in passing over those years, and began dating after a run-in at a mutual friend’s birthday party.  And when they went to Boston to catch a Celtics’ game, they went to an Italian restaurant for dinner where Jeb proposed and Holly accepted.  The ceremony was held outside, on the grounds of Litchfield Plantation in Pawleys Island.  The two plan to live in Tulsa.</p>

<p>
June 4, 2011<br />
What started as a blind date set up by a friend would turn into a loving relationship for nine months. Then Matt proposed at his family’s house with candlelight and Monica’s favorite meal.  The ceremony was held on the lawn at The Dunes Golf & Beach Club and the reception was in the ballroom overlooking the ocean.  As a tribute to Matt’s dad, the groom and groomsmen wore white dinner jackets while the bridesmaids wore Citadel blue.  The newlyweds plan to live in Murrells Inlet.</p>

<p>
July 9, 2011<br />
The bride and groom met after being introduced by friends on a night out. And when a scavenger hunt led to ice skating, then dinner at their favorite restaurant followed by a stop by Jennifer’s parents’ house, their dog strolled by carrying a ring. Jennifer said yes and the ceremony was held at the Grande Dunes Ocean Club. They live in Trafford, Pennsylvania.<br />
 </p>

<p>
Chad and Leigh-Anna met at a party through mutual friends, where Leigh-Anna instantly knew he was the one. After dating for five and half years, she thought she knew Chad so well she would know when he would propose to her. Instead he took her by complete surprise, asking her to marry him on the porch of her apartment at The Market Common. Leigh-Anna surprised Chad at their Murrells Inlet wedding and showed she would do anything for him by getting him the armadillo groom’s cake that he wanted, even though she was initially determined not to have an armadillo cake at her wedding. The Mitchells live in Myrtle Beach in a beautiful house that was a wedding gift from Chad’s grandmother.  <br />
 </p>

<p>
After connecting on www.sweetongeeks.com, an internet dating site for nerds, Morgan and Richard got engaged after a year and two months. Richard organized a group of the couples’ friends and surprised her with a picnic in the gardens outside The Cloisters art museum in New York City. Richard got down on one knee and proposed. Everyone cried. The vintage Southern wedding with a geek-chic twist was held at The Oak Allee in Brookgreen Gardens.</p>

<p>
Jose came to the area from Miami when he was recruited to play baseball for Coastal Carolina University, where Alyson—a Conway native—was a student. The pair met through a mutual friend. After two years together, Jose planned to propose at a romantic outdoor dinner in Miami, but a thunderstorm changed his plans. He let Alyson pick where they would eat, but the restaurant was so busy he decided to wait. They went home and, while watching planes at Miami International Airport from their balcony, Jose proposed. The ceremony took place at Kingston Presbyterian Church in Conway, followed by a reception at the Peanut Warehouse.<br />
 </p>

<p>
Ariana and Chris met while living in South Florida. They frequented the same sports bar for six years without knowing it, until a mutual friend introduced them. While at Ariana’s parents’ home in Murrells Inlet, the family went out for dinner for Ariana’s birthday, December 21. When she finished reading the card that Chris said was all he got for her, she turned around to find him on one knee with the ring box open. The ceremony was held at Pine Lakes Country Club.<br />
 </p>

<p>
The couple met at Broadway Louie’s, while Brooke was out with friends. Walt, a manager there, gave a mutual friend the message that he wanted to take Brooke out. The friend forgot to tell Brooke, and the next time she came in Walt teased her about not wanting to go out with him. After six years of dating, Walt proposed. Brooke was supposed to pick Walt up after work so they could go to dinner with her parents. She didn’t understand why Walt was upset when she told him to meet her at her office instead of her coming home until he gave her a ring in the parking lot. The wedding took place at the Riverwalk in Conway and was a collaboration of many wedding vendors in the area that Brooke (a photographer) has worked with. Brooke and Walt live in Myrtle Beach</p>

<p>
While living in Charleston, Laura and Worth met through friends. After three and a half years together, Worth proposed at Laura’s favorite place in the world—the dock of her family’s beach house overlooking the Murrells Inlet marsh. Both families were waiting to surprise Laura after the proposal. The ceremony took place at Litchfield Plantation, where a terrifying rain scare passed and made for a beautiful sky. They live in Charleston.</p>

<p>
Julie and Derek met on a friend’s boat in the Charleston Harbor on Memorial Day weekend 2007. After three years together, Derek proposed in one of his favorite places, the North Carolina mountains. The couple hiked up Wayah Bald, where Derek popped the question overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. Julie planned the entire ceremony, which was held at Atalaya at Huntington Beach State Park. They live on James Island.<br />
 </p>

<p>
The couple met while working together one summer in Myrtle Beach. They dated for two years before getting engaged in Munich in 2009. It was a beautiful snowy day and Troy proposed in the music hall of a castle the pair were touring. The ceremony and reception took place at Holly Grove Plantation in Georgetown. </p>

<p>
Allison and Steve met at work, where at the time he was her boss. After three and half years, they started dating. Steve proposed on the couple’s back porch, which was covered in candles. The proposal included Allison’s 10-year-old son, Noah, and the couple’s song, “Here” by Rascal Flatts. Allison wanted a beach wedding that wasn’t the typical “beach wedding.” The wedding took place on Allison’s parents’ 30th anniversary, so a special cake was made for them to celebrate their day as well. Allison and Steve live in High Point, N.C.</p>

<p>
After moving to Florida for an opportunity that didn’t pan out, Renee decided God had put her there for a reason and she needed to get to know the locals. She invited her neighbors over for a party, and Chris happened to attend. After an eight-month friendship, the pair started dating. Chris proposed two months later with a black diamond ring the pair picked out. They married at Heritage Golf Club in Pawleys Island.</p>

<p>
The bride and groom met while working together at Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina at Barefoot Landing. They dated for seven months before Hans proposed during the Christmas holiday in front of the their tree and their dog, Bailey. The ceremony and reception took place at the Members Club at Grande Dunes. The wedding was small and intimate with only family and close friends as guests. Christy and Hans live in Carolina Forest.<br />
 </p>

<p>
Mike and Leslie met through mutual friends. When Mike saw Leslie walking down the street, he told his friends that he was going to marry her. Mike proposed on a Christmas-time carriage ride. The wedding took place at the Members Club at Grande Dunes. Leslie used her mom’s lace veil as her bouquet base. They live in Apex, N.C.</p>

<p>
Tiffany and Chris were high school sweethearts. On Valentine’s Day 2010, Chris proposed. The wedding took place at Marina Inn. Chris, an NBA player, had a groom’s cake of his 1972 Chevelle sitting in the center of the Maryland (his alma mater) basketball court. Tiffany says the best thing about the wedding day was feeling the couple’s powerful love. They live in Wake Forest.</p>

<p>
The couple met when Sara’s best friend, Molly, set them up on a blind date. After a year and eight months, Jason popped the question. The two went to see the Christmas Evening Lights at the Biltmore House in Asheville, and in front of a huge fountain and giant glowing Christmas tree, Jason asked Sara to marry him. The ceremony was held at Pine Lakes Country Club. The ceremony was even more special since the bride’s father, whom she had just met three years earlier, got to walk her down the aisle. The reception tables featured small gold elephants with table numbers and signs that said “Elephant Shoes,” a phrase the couple would say to each other before they said “I love you” and that they still say to this day. Sara and Jason live in Myrtle Beach.</p>

<p>
Amy and Steven met through his plastic surgery office. After dating for six and a half years, Steven proposed at sunset on a gondola in Venice. The ceremony took place at The Citadel’s Summerall Chapel, where the cadets dressed in their uniforms and the couple walked through an arch of swords. Amy and Steven live in Myrtle Beach.<br />
 </p>

<p>
Mike and Elaine met through her older brother, who was in the Naval Academy with Mike. After two years together, Mike proposed on the beach. He asked Elaine to promise him something, and she said she wouldn’t without knowing what it was first. After she realized the promise was to wear a ring and be his wife, she said if she had known she would have promised the first time. They married at the Prince George Ocean Community Clubhouse.<br />
 </p>

<p>
Ashley Gorman and Cameron Praete May 7, 2011<br />
This couple met when Cameron entered the Books a Million in Charleston, where Ashley worked. They dated for two years before Cameron swept Ashley back to their first apartment and presented the last gift of Christmas—a diamond ring. She said yes and they married by the pool in the backyard of Ashley’s aunt’s Charleston home. The newlyweds now reside in Virginia.<br />
Photograph by Gail Healey of Exposures, Inc.</p>

<p>
Alicia Smith and Gregory Thompson May 28, 2011<br />
After two years of dating, Alicia and Greg became engaged during a trip to Disney World with their families. Greg proposed in Cinderella’s Castle with a ring inside a glass slipper. She excitedly said yes and they were serenaded by the fairy godmother and a fireworks show. They were married at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach and the reception followed at Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort with a Lowcountry theme of southern, casual elegance. They live in Myrtle Beach. Photograph by Lynn Daly</p>

<p>
Rebecca Sansbury and Jonny Reck, January 1, 2011, These two took a leap of faith when they sat next to each other in church. They were engaged within seven months, and while many thought it was a quick engagement, they replied with, “When you know…why wait?” Jonny proposed in Highland Park in Dallas. Rebecca was surprised to find a trail of white rose petals, placed delicately on the stairs of a white gazebo. He ended his proposal by washing her feet with water, symbolizing his love and commitment to her. The ceremony was held at Ocean View Baptist Church in Myrtle Beach. Photograph by Lisa Young of Young Photography</p>

<p>
John Thomas Marks and Lindsay Anne Mitchell, July 9, 2011, Lindsay, a third-grade teacher in Horry County, and John, a plumber with Action Plumbing & Builders, have come a long way since they met. After dating for six years, these high school sweethearts are finally engaged. One starry night, John made two cups of hot chocolate and led Lindsay outside underneath the shimmering lights to propose. Next year, the couple will be married at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach.</p>

<p>
Marla Branson and Michael Walter, May 28, 2011 Michael spotted Marla when she was interviewing for her job at WMBF News. He convinced his boss that she was the one to hire. It didn’t take long for the two to hit it off, and a little more than a year later Michael popped the question on the beach in Ponte Vedra, Fla., where he pretended to find the engagement ring amongst the shells they were collecting. Marla’s father conducted the personal and unique ceremony. They live in Myrtle Beach. Photography by Sommer Ortiz of Young Photography</p>

<p>
Stephanie Healy and David Creasman<br />
April 9, 2011<br />
After meeting through friends, it took these two a few weeks of e-mailing and phone calls before their first date, a dinner followed by a long walk on the beach with their dogs. The couple dated for about five months before a trip to the Outer Banks. Under Independence Day fireworks, David, an officer in the U.S. Army, went for the boiled peanuts and beer only to return on one knee with a ring. The two shared a traditional military wedding at the Hilton at Kingston Plantation. PHOTOGRAPH BY Lisa Young of Young Photography</p>

<p>Cheryl Nee and Edward Johnson May 21, 2011<br />It took a dirt bike collision to bring Edward to Cheryl’s house. After hanging around for a few years with Cheryl’s brother, Edward finally asked her out. Eight and a half years later, on a vacation to Myrtle Beach, Edward popped the question. The two were married at the Lakeside Crossing Clubhouse and live in Delaware, with hopes to move back to South Carolina soon. Photograph by Lisa Young of Young Photography</p>

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