A Playful, Feminine Kiawah Wedding Designed With Guest Experience at Heart

By Kevin Harson12 February 2026

Pink, Orange, Yellow, Green

When I started planning, the words that came to mind were playful, feminine, and personal. I loved Emma’s portfolio, and I told her I had complete trust in her design eye. We wanted it to be luxurious but not stuffy. Guest experience was always the most important thing to us; we wanted everyone well-fed, with a drink in hand, letting Kiawah’s magic wash over them.

Max proposed to me at our favorite ice cream shop in our neighborhood of Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. As a true Virgo, I had already set the wedding date at the Ocean Course, so the proposal just made what we already knew official. Afterward, we celebrated at a local bar with our family and friends and ate heart-shaped pizza.

I tried on A LOT of wedding dresses. I knew I wanted to feel completely comfortable and like myself — and a lot of the bigger, dramatic gowns made that impossible. When I went to Markarian’s showroom in Flatiron, I knew it was the place for me. Their dresses are custom, so you can mix and match fabrics and silhouettes. They are also unapologetically feminine, which suited me well.

My friends were not going to be told what to wear. Ironically, the palette, or lack thereof, came out perfectly. With hues of yellows, pinks, and floral designs, the photos make it look like they all went shopping together.

Max had never had a custom suit, and he loved every minute of the process. He chose an ice pink shirt, which paired so nicely with the pink florals. My favorite detail is the monogram (his new initials) inside the pink lining.

We served a tomato soup shooter with the Caesar salad — which Max claims he thought of — but I think I did. Cocktail hour favorites included fried chicken on a waffle, lamb lollipops, and crispy shrimp.

The signature cocktail was a Cosmopolitan because I’m famously a Carrie. Max is a Samantha.

Festoon is so talented. Their team assembled the most beautiful chuppah I’ve ever seen. It was Emma’s idea to mount large floral displays on columns as opposed to a floral installation on the ceiling. That idea ended up really making the overall design of the tent!

We chose carrot cake with a buttercream frosting.

Our friends and family all made incredibly funny and heartfelt toasts. Our first dance was to “By Your Side” by Sade.

My mother-in-law is friends with Stuart Weitzman, the famous shoe designer. He made me a special pair of shoes for my wedding, and I’ve never felt more like a celebrity.

One thing we were not prepared for was how windy it was on the Ocean Course! I chose a gorgeous chapel veil from Danielle Frankel, which got caught on a chair as I was walking down the aisle. It immediately calmed my nerves when everyone started laughing together.

Our goal was to have the longest hora of all time…and it was. Our moms went up in the chairs together. Everyone was looking at each other like… should we end this? We didn’t want to.