Julia Van de Bogart & John Rand Dorney
Married
Dec 16, 2023
Sea Island ,
Georgia
Photo Credit
Kelli Boyd
Style Guide
Color Palette
Style
Beach, Formal
Season
Winter
The Proposal
Julia and Rand met as undergraduate juniors at the University of Florida. Many flights and drives later, as the two had attended different law schools post-graduation, they got engaged during the 2022 holiday season. While visiting Rand’s family during Christmastime in December, the two visited the Atlanta Botanical Gardens together to see the Holiday Lights show. This led to a lovely holiday proposal by Rand with a ring from Solomon Brothers, followed by a quick yes from Julia! And the countdown to the beginning of their married life together began.
In Preparation
Julia and Rand chose the timeless venue of The Cloister at Sea Island, which is special to both and symbolic of their Florida and Georgia roots. The couple planned a winter wedding weekend on the Golden Isles while also capturing the formal elegance for their wedding day the Cloister embodies. They picked colors of dusty blue and green, with accents of gold, for their invitational suite by Julie King, who also added a whimsical island map for weekend events and keepsake designs for the wedding ceremony. Julia and Rand chose The Vine for their wedding floral design and picked white ranunculus and flowing greenery.
The 200-weekend guests were all invited to a night-before welcome dinner of Southern Soul barbecue and a S’mores Bar by the firepit at Village Creek Landing, which overlooks the Black Banks River and the sweeping golden marsh. The Vine dispersed lanterns and mixes of blue, green, and white hydrangeas throughout the charming venue and tent along the river. It was then that Kelli Boyd Photography and Sarah Clawson Films began to capture the magic of the weekend.
For the wedding day preparation, the Sea Island design team created a spectacular setting for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and ballroom for dinner and dancing. December at The Cloister brings quintessential holiday décor with Christmas trees and garlands lining the hallways and foyer, including the enchanting staircase. Julia and Rand also wanted to embrace their personal style with a formal, intimate ceremony, followed by a vibrant cocktail hour and dinner and dancing in radiant vintage fashion. The design team created a magical ambiance of candlelight throughout the venue beginning in the ceremony to the ballroom. The team mixed patterns of formal china and crystal for the tables and table linen textures of dusty blue velvet, cream lace, and neutral florals. The design teams seamlessly coordinated a gorgeous wedding weekend for all generations to enjoy.
The Big Day
As believers that life is done best with community, Julia and Rand wanted their wedding blessed by theirs. The bridesmaids got ready for the big day in matching pajama sets while drinking champagne and playing left-right-center in the Cloister Bridal Suite. The morning brought laughter, smiles, and pre-ceremony jitters! Meanwhile, the wedding guests (and the groomsmen!) played in the Dorney Open pickleball tournament at the Retreat Tennis Center. The guys later dressed in tuxedos and had a toast at The Cloister’s River Bar & Lounge before the ceremony. Julia, dressed in a custom mikado silk and lace Anne Barge gown, was escorted by her bridesmaids, who were dressed in dusty blue satin dresses with white fur wraps and S.J. Bailey Co. jewelry.
Late in the afternoon, Julia and Rand committed themselves to each other in the Cloister Clubroom in the presence of God and their favorite people. The bride and groom knew the room’s splendor and sophistication were perfect for them to tie the knot. The string quartet played wedding songs and Christmas hymns, and after the couple’s embrace, a bagpiper led the couple, wedding party, and guests for cocktails in the foyer. While listening to a jazz ensemble, guests enjoyed the “Florida-Georgia” signature cocktail with peach bourbon and orange peel. The shrimp and grits station was also a hit before entering the Grand Ballroom reception.
After a surf-and-turf dinner, Julia presented Rand with his surprise Waffle House groom’s cake, and the two cut into their wedding cake with piped frosting and cherries on top. The dancing followed–The Atlanta Showstoppers had the dance floor packed and played oldies and contemporary music for all to enjoy. In the front of the ballroom, Maggie Kuhn, the couple’s wedding painter, with palette and canvas, finished a first-dance painting for Julia and Rand. At the end of the evening, the bride and groom graciously exited in a 1940 vintage black and white Cadillac sedan with sparklers lighting up the night. Thereafter, the couple continued celebrations with friends and family at Barrier Island Brewery on East Beach. At the end of the night, Julia and Rand were utterly speechless at how selflessly everyone celebrated their marriage.
The Retreat
The newlyweds were off to a European “later moon” the following summer in a charming mountain town, seaside town, and lively city. Starting in Chamonix, France, they enjoyed the nature and scenery, hiked the French Alps, and said, “un croissant, s’il vous plaît!” more times than they could count. They soon became accustomed to long mornings with breakfast spreads, reading, and coffee by each other’s side before heading to an adventure. Then, after making their way to Lisbon, Portugal, they were enchanted by the city, learning about the country’s history and exploring cobblestone streets and castles. Finally, the two ended the trip in Lagos, Portugal, where they spent their last days laying out on the beach or relaxing by the water.
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