Intimate Savannah wedding weekend at the Wayne mansion
savannah, georgia
gabrielle + damon
For some, their wedding day is one that they have dreamt about ever since they were little. For others, it is their second chance at finding happiness. Both of these things reign true for Gabrielle and Damon’s intimate Savannah wedding weekend at The Wayne Mansion. SPC spent the weekend documenting every magical moment with Gabrielle and Damon. From the rehearsal dinner to all of the events that led up to “I do”, to an evening spent dancing the night away, we captured it all.
The wayne mansion | A savannah wedding venue
The Wayne Mansion is located in one of Savannah’s most well-known and historic areas and neighborhoods near Forsyth Park. It sits right within Savannah’s historic district and boasts a whopping 5,000 square feet. Having been built in 1871, it offers that perfect blend of old and new incorporating architectural elements from the original build. Think original 19th-century fireplaces with marble mantels, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a whimsical garden courtyard perfect for an intimate wedding celebration.
While many couples flock to The Wayne Mansion for its stunning interior and exterior features, it really is the outdoor courtyard that makes this historic building such a perfect Savannah wedding venue for intimate weddings. Surrounding you are towering oak trees custom limestone fountains and lush landscaping. The grounds span over 2,000 square feet, making it one of the standout features of The Wayne Mansion. If you’re a couple wanting to incorporate a little bit of Savannah’s history into your intimate wedding, then I highly recommend checking out The Wayne Mansion.
Gabrielle & Damon’s intimate Savannah wedding weekend at the wayne mansion
This story begins on a Friday evening. For Gabrielle and Damon, they wanted their wedding weekend to be filled with celebration. To document these moments as a remembrance of all of the candid moments, the laughs, tears, and all of their favorite people together in one space celebrating. They wanted the spirit of their wedding day and the joy that they felt to be captured above anything else. Mission: accepted.
wedding rehearsal at the Collins quarter
One of the best feelings is not only knowing that your couple trusts to photograph their wedding day but their rehearsal too?! I feel so lucky, I swear. SPC spent the night with the future Goudes as they surrounded themselves with close family and friends in preparation for their big day. Delicious meals and atmosphere thanks to The Collins Quarter made this time that much more special and intimate, two things we absolutely were striving for. Rehearsal dinners are the perfect opportunity to capture a more intimate setting and to spend time with your guests. Something that seems nearly impossible when you’re dealing with all of the hustle and bustle of your wedding day. While many couples may think photo coverage of your rehearsal dinner is “pointless”, let me tell you it is far from it. Gabrielle and Damon can look back on these memories and remember every emotion they felt and that’s what it’s really about.
Following their dinner at The Collins Quarter, we took a few night portraits of the soon-to-be newlyweds heading to The Drayton Hotel, where they would be eagerly waiting for their big day.
THe wayne mansion wedding day
On the day of their wedding, we were greeted with beautiful weather. As you know, wedding photographers love some good lighting, so this was a great sign. Neutral hues and earth tones were the main color scheme of this gorgeous Savannah wedding. We fell completely in love with the attention to detail and how minimalistic yet beautiful everything came together. Gabrielle and Damon opted out of a first look and instead engaged in a first-touch moment. Where the couple uses a barrier to be able to touch/feel but not see each other until the wedding ceremony.
It wasn’t long until guests began rolling in for Gabrielle and Damon’s intimate wedding ceremony. In the courtyard of The Wayne Mansion, Gabrielle and Damon exchanged their vows. With 50 of their closest friends and family, this intimate Savannah wedding was just as emotional and intimate as any other wedding day. Proving that it’s about who you surround yourself with, rather than the number.
Not long after their celebratory first kiss, SPC stole the newlyweds to get some portraits and all we can say is three letters: W-O-W. We made our way back to The Wayne Mansion for the reception where the newlyweds were greeted with applause and of course, bubbles. It was important to Gabrielle and Damon that the experience for their guests be just as important as anything else. They wanted their reception to feel like a large family dinner and embrace that intimate feel. All of the flowers, lights, signage, and centerpieces made it a real intimate garden party-type feel and was just as we envisioned it to be. Guests danced the night away in celebration of The Goudes and it was pure and utter bliss.
signs you should have an intimate wedding
Intimate weddings are not going to be for everyone—point, blank, PERIOD. However, if you’ve been reading through this blog post and have the inkling that an intimate wedding is just your cup of tea… then you’ve come to the right place. I am a huge believer in celebrating your special day however which way you want to. At the end of the day, the only opinion that really matters is you and your partner’s. However, if you’re stuck on whether having an intimate wedding may be for you, here are just a few reasons why couples choose to have intimate weddings in the first place!
1.) Be more intentional with your guest list
Having an intimate wedding allows for you and your partner to be more intentional with your guest list. Rather than having hundreds of guests that you may or may not end up being able to see on the day of your wedding, you can consolidate that list. Surround yourself with only your close family and friends and allow yourself to spend more time with each guest, rather than rushing around trying to greet a larger number of people.
2.) You have more variety in wedding venues
Another perk of having an intimate wedding is the wide variety of wedding venues to pick from. Many wedding venues have a cap on the number of guests that you can have in attendance. However, if you’re planning on having an intimate wedding, you are given an opportunity to choose a venue that is more unique and not as readily available to a large wedding size. You can absolutely use this to your advantage to pick a wedding venue that is not only beautiful but can help achieve your ultimate wedding day vision.
3.) gives you the opportunity to get creative
With a large wedding guest count, along with your wedding venue, it can lead to a lot of restrictions on what you can and can’t get creative with. However, with an intimate wedding, you have way more freedom to get creative with your decor, and different style elements and make your day that much more intentional and unique to your story. Rather than having to worry about a large guest count, you only have to impress a small amount of people and you can do it YOUR way.
So the real question is, who’s ready to plan the most epic intimate wedding EVER?
Vendors:
Photography: Steph Powell Creative
Venue: The Wayne Mansion
Planner: Ashley Nicks
Videographer: Quinn Fluet
Caterer: The Southern Palate
Rentals: G.I. Party Rental Services
about the writer
Hey, it’s Steph! I’m a North Georgia Wedding Photographer focusing on candid editorial imagery valuing real over perfect whose bags are always packed for travel. If you loved this blog post, don’t hesitate to reach out so we can work together sometime soon!
