The Wedding Umbrella and The Dunes Club

It was back in 2005 that I shot my first wedding at The Dunes Club and recently, I have been refurbishing film images to create a digitally mastered photo album for that first wedding client (yes people do order albums ten years on).

The Dunes Club is one of the most classical an authentic locations in Myrtle Beach. The club house sits on top of a large lawn nestled by our beautiful ocean and with one of the Grand Strands finest golf courses it offers amazing natural backdrops, shady over-hangings, and playful ideas for the couple. That is, until the rain nymphs decided to tease and play with us, yep you guessed it, it poured with rain all day long.

As wedding photographers we have be be able to improvise and get creative, working with whatever location and lighting that we have available to us. We had the locker rooms, a hallway, and then the mother of the bride brought out umbrellas. Thankfully the mentality of this couple – a “can-do” attitude – was clearly able to adapt and overcome. Two people who were happily together no matter what obstacles were put in their path.

Before the ceremony, I hadn’t seen such a physical display of “bubbling over” from one of my brides, but Emily…she was too excited to contain herself! At the alter, the pastor couldn’t read the vows quick enough. At the reception, one male guest come up to her and exclaimed, “I think you were the happiest bride I’ve ever seen!” and I believe we all would have toast to that.

Though the weather taunted and played its tricks all day, it wasn’t long into the reception that the evening colors peaked through the clouds, bringing a wedding gift in the form of a mini rainbow. I rushed our bride and groom across the soggy lawn to capture the image but the fleeting moment had passed, leaving nothing but a sweet memory and a stormy looking sky.

The overall emotion between the couple was contagious, their happiness emulated in everyone they choose to share their special day with. I wish them much more for their future for I know, “every morning they will wake up with the intention of making the other happy” for the rest of their lives.