Savannah is the perfect destination for any style of wedding: We have water, we have woods, and we have historic and trendy venues. Nicole with Ivory and Beau and I explored a beautiful Savannah Wedding Venue nestled in Grove Point. Sitting along the Little Ogeechee River, you can find one of Savannah’s luxury wedding estates – HollyOaks on the Marsh. This Savannah wedding venue is a beautiful blank canvas for your outdoor event. Enhanced by the southern breeze, Spanish moss, and 500-year-old oak trees. Nicole and I were joined by Stephanie, HollyOaks on the Marsh’s owner for a tour. We got to explore every inch of this estate and are excited to share some wedding inspiration throughout this post. Keep reading to learn more about Nicole, HollyOaks on the Marsh, and designing an incredible wedding day at this Savannah wedding venue.
Meet the designer
Share a little about your journey planning weddings here in Savannah and around the Lowcountry:
“I started in the wedding industry in Savannah as soon as moving here in the fall of 2011. I purchased a small wedding company in 2012 when the owner moved to New York following her husband. From there the business has grown and we now plan many weddings every year. We also provide floral design for weddings. Creative weddings with big installations are my favorite and what I hope to re-focus on doing more of as we move into 2023.”
What is the benefit to hiring a planner and working with your team?
“A planner can help you refine your vision and bring it all together into a cohesive vision that fits you and your fiance. Planners also have experience working with vendors and can guide you to the right vendor for your style and vibe without you having to spend hours researching. The experience a team can provide can help make the wedding planning process less of a headache and more fun as you get to experience the joys of being an engaged couple rather than stressing about figuring out how to make your wedding budget work and how to decide the right design elements for your big day.”
If a couple is not considering hiring a planner for their day, what is one tip you could share with them to make their experience stress-free?
“Go with the flow and if things go wrong don’t let them ruin everything… but really at the very least I would recommend hiring a wedding coordinator if budget does not allow for a planner.”
Hosting your wedding at HollyOaks on the Marsh
What’s unique about HollyOaks is the personal care that Stephanie and her family make to ensure your experience is wonderful. Whether it’s a 200 person or 500 person wedding day, this 18 acre site is prepared to make it happen. This Savannah wedding venue has many ceremony locations: the circle gardens, the steps of the estate, the oak trees, the marsh, and anywhere in between. There is plenty of open lawn space for a beautiful tented reception.
Their private home is open to the couple on wedding day. The wedding party suites are full of special touches and helpful amenities to ensure your day is effortless. One wedding party suite has a wall of mirrors with drop-down vanities that can be tucked away once your photo and video team arrive.
On site you can also find a nearly 100 year old cottage perfect for your wedding weekend getting ready moments. Two bedrooms, a spacious living space, and a large kitchen with plenty of light will ensure your group has plenty of storage and leg room to enjoy a long wedding day morning.
If you haven’t fallen in love with the space yet, Nicole is eager to share her inspiration for the estate. Check out her ideas below!
Nicole’s inspo for this Savannah Wedding Venue
What about this venue gets you excited to design the space?
“HollyOaks provides so many options for where/how to set the wedding up. From different areas and gardens the possibilities truly are endless. The property has beautiful trees that truly allow your wedding images to capture the essence of Savannah. From utilizing the magnificent home as a backdrop, to the beauty of the surrounding marsh there are so many beautiful backdrops for a wedding.”
The Mood Boards
Nicole and I can envision a romantic evening amongst the oaks. This blank canvas allows you to bring in eclectic seating, elegant lighting, dramatic florals, and fun dance floors. Take a peek at these two styles we can envision in this space:
Designing your dream day at HollyOaks
What style wedding can you envision taking place in this space?
“A wedding of grandeur in a tent with beautiful overflowing floral arrangements. Very romantic elements that capture the style and feeling of the home and the surrounding nature.”
Share a little about your wedding day vision for this venue:
“Lots of lush blooms, dramatic installations inside a tent with lots of greenery and big flowers for statements throughout. I envision a very romantic wedding with traditional touches to match the venue itself. Traditional design decisions that play to the historical feeling of the space matched with romantic florals.”
What dress trend could you envision in this space?
“Something very chic yet not overly fussy as the wedding is outdoors would be perfect for this space.”
What is inspiring this design?
“All things Southern, historic with romantic garden touches!”
How to execute your wedding design
What are three vendors you can envision working alongside you in this event space?
“Savannah Event Rentals has the perfect rentals and so many options to transform this venue. Event Works would have some great options for tents to fill up the backyard area. Sugar Whisk Co. would be my go-to for a glamorous and delicious wedding cake.”
What are some unique wedding day details that would look really cool at this venue?
“I love the idea of incorporating the area around the pool for a reception space. Cover the pool for a fun and unique dance floor, while the fire pit next to the pool space is lit for a late-night treat. This space and area provide such a laid back yet classy environment that would elevate a wedding while still allowing guests to feel more relaxed.”
What is one trend you would like to put a spin on in this space?
“I always love the idea of incorporating food trucks and since this venue is an elevated luxury space. I could see a Bourbon bar out of a food truck being the perfect addition for a wedding here.”
A final word from the experts
Choosing a venue is the first step in creating a magical wedding experience. Nicole shares what you need to look for when choosing a venue:
“I think the most important thing is to choose a venue with elements you love rather than areas or pieces you want to hide. Your wedding venue should be a place you want to add to with design decisions that amplify and beautify the space rather than choosing a venue with a wall that you hate and want to cover up for example.”
HollyOaks on the Marsh is a one-of-a-kind property that is perfect for any wedding day. If you’re searching for a space that will wow your guests the entire wedding week, this location is one to add to your site tours! Check out more of my venue tours here.
You can find Nicole and the Ivory and Beau team on Instagram and TikTok.
Visit HollyOaks on the Marsh’s website here.
