Andrea W.: Beauty and the Beach

Mother of: Savannah
Venue: Wrightsville Manor, Wilmington, North Carolina
Vibe: Elegant outdoor 
Dress: ML Monique Lhuillier

It’s the dream scenario for every mother of the bride: Andrea loved the very first dress she tried on, and so did her daughter.

“Savannah wanted me to wear something that made me feel beautiful,” Andrea says. “When I showed her my dress, she said ‘Oh mom, I love it! That’s the one!’”

Andrea says she was going for “simple yet sophisticated.” The ML Monique Lhuillier strapless ballgown fit the bill in a vibrant fuchsia with embroidered floral jacquard and cascading ruffle. “I got lucky,” says Andrea, who found her dress at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Savannah and Rob’s August wedding took place at Wrightsville Manor, a lush, contemporary indoor/outdoor venue located at the gateway to Wrightsville Beach near Wilmington, North Carolina. Beaches figured prominently in both the bride and groom’s childhood memories. They spent summers at different beaches along the Eastern seaboard, and discovered Wrightsville Beach together as a couple. “They’ve grown to love it there,” Andrea says.

Andrea and Savannah planned the wedding together—mostly at the beach. “We had lots of fun weekends planning, organizing, and dreaming. “I let Savannah lead,” Andrea says. “If she asked me, I gave her my opinion. If she asked me to do something for her, I did it. If she seemed stressed, I asked what I could do.”

Her advice to other MOBs: “As a mom, stay positive, calm, and available. Try to keep in mind that there might be hiccups along the way, but in the end, the ultimate goal will be achieved: she and Rob are husband and wife!”

| Photography by Anna Taylor Photography