With floating floral installations, a custom dress, and a power couple at the helm, this South Carolina soirée isn’t your average country wedding. The bride, Makenzie, stunned in a long-sleeve lace gown, and the groom, former football player, Darien, looked dashing in his classic black tux. They kept the color palette modern and neutral with touches of terracotta in the bridesmaids’ dresses. Cloud-like clusters of Baby’s breath lined the aisle that lead up to one of the coolest levitating floral installations we’ve ever seen!
Passera Events understood how important the guest experience was for the couple and made sure that they were pampered and catered to from the moment they arrived at the venue. Hewitt Oaks with its barn-inspired exterior and modern finishings was the perfect backdrop for this elegant low country affair. Hello Katie Wilson beautifully captured every little detail in these bright photos from the custom acrylic ring box to the delicate pattern on the bride’s lace dress. Keep reading to hear more from Passera Events about this fun couple and how they worked with their planner to create their dream day. Check out the full gallery to see all of the photos from this epic wedding!
SURROUNDED BY LOVE
Former Clemson Football Player, Darien Rencher, and Social Media Influencer, Makenzie Wilburn gave their friends and family a luxury experience that they will remember forever! From Greenville, SC this couple is surrounded by a swarm of people who drench them both in love and support through every aspect of their life! It was a no-brainer, that this couple wanted to ensure that they not only had a dream wedding for themselves but that their family and friends were treated like royalty! Darien proposed in August of 2021 and shortly after, they selected their wedding planner, Tori Perano with Passera Events. Knowing that a wedding in the spring of 2022 was the dream for them both, Passera Events went straight to work and within 6 weeks, the date was chosen, the venue selected, and the color palette and design studio created!
CLUB RENCHER
They wanted a location that was reasonable travel for all of their guests and they chose Bluffton, SC! Hewitt Oaks is a venue nestled in the low country with sweeping Spanish moss willow trees and multiple beautiful locations on-site to utilize! Their wedding brought so much warmth and love to your soul. From the carefully written vows, the smiles, and tears, to the immaculate florals and design, there was no stone was left unturned. The guests had dinner under a stunning clear-top tent paired with twinkle lights and chandeliers to give a whimsical “Dinner under the stars” effect, then they transitioned into Hewitt Oaks‘, Gracie Ballroom, where “Club Rencher” went into full effect! If you know Darien, he loves to entertain, celebrate, and (most importantly) have fun–and that’s exactly what Club Rencher provided for their guests! While the party got started, Makenzie changed into a custom-made Kendrell White dress, and let us just say, it was jaw-dropping! Hewitt Oaks was the perfect space for a club-like effect, as they had a second story above the dance floor, that their wonderful DJ Sha, could set up on while overlooking the crowd, who (might we add) didn’t leave an empty space on the dance floor all night! As the night came to an end, the two exited through cold sparks with their guests lining the driveway. This wedding displayed, what so many knew already, that Darien and Makenzie complement each other so well, and it was no doubt that their love for each other would radiate on their wedding day!
WORDS OF WISDOM FROM THE HAPPY COUPLE
Create your dream day without the pressures of tradition. We didn’t do too many traditional things throughout our wedding because it didn’t feel like us! We wanted our dinner to be extremely elegant but our reception to be more of a club setting because that’s what felt like us! Plan a day from start to finish that feels organic to you guys. Definitely invest in a wedding planner if it’s feasible because they can really help bring your vision to life being that this is their career. As a couple, really come up with the must-haves at the wedding for each one of you and then try your best to bring it to life. Lastly, as much as you want your wedding to pop and be grand, remember to make space for the intimate special moments because they both work hand in hand to create an unforgettable experience. Nothing will be exactly perfect, so have fun with it and work hard as a team to make it an authentic representation of the two of you!
