During their eight-year courtship, EJ and Camilla Cosculluela had visited Brays many times each year, so when it came time to decide on a wedding venue after EJ proposed, the choice was obvious.
“Just after they got engaged, Camila asked me if they could have the wedding at Brays Island,” EJ’s father, Chino, said. “I think she feels, like most of us, that Brays Island is a very special place.”
In order to share this special place, they would need first to determine accommodations for their 250 guests. A collaborative effort by fellow owners ensured that both immediate and extended family, along with close friends, all found themselves at home at various guest houses on the plantation. For guests who didn’t stay on-site, the Beaufort Inn in nearby Beaufort, S.C., offered a charming alternative.
“The immediate family of the bride and groom got to Brays Island about a week before the wedding,” Chino said, adding that many traveled from Miami, Fl., and even Buenes Aires, Argentina, where most of the bride’s immediate family resides. “Everything was already organized, and it was nice to have a couple of days alone with just family before the other guests arrived.”
The majority of guests arrived on Thursday night and enjoyed a welcoming dinner on the back porch of the golf grill. The main events and festivities started on Friday, and the hosts made sure their guests were able to make full use of all of the Brays Island amenities.
“The men had golf tournaments, and the women had pickleball tournaments on Friday and Saturday mornings,” Chino said. “At various times during Friday and Saturday, we also organized sporting clay events, five-stand events, nature walks, boat rides, fly fishing lessons, etc. The weather was perfect, and all of the guests enjoyed the setting, the food and the music.”
When it came to feeding an extra 250 people a day, the groom’s father gives credit to the forward thinking of the Brays Island food and beverage department. Things like boxed lunches for the men who played in the golf tournaments and a buffet at the golf grill on Friday and Saturday ensured everyone had plenty of fuel for their adventures on the plantation.
“We also had a breakfast bar set up at the Inn Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings, and that turned out to be great,” Chino said. “The majority of the guests that stayed in Brays Island would show up for breakfast at the Inn to plan their day and exchange experiences. I would have to say that all of the departments at Brays were extremely accommodating and no doubt played a major role in the success of the event.”
While most things were handled in-house, the bride did hire a Charleston-based wedding planner who has experience with weddings at Brays for the ceremony, decorations and many of the physical things such as the tents, furniture, dance floor, etc. The weekend culminated Saturday night in a lovely outdoor ceremony behind the historic Inn where the bride and groom and their family and friends danced the evening away under two tents with the beautiful Pocotaligo River as their backdrop.
Based on the feedback the Cosculluelas continue to receive, it is safe to say their guests experienced the magic of Brays.
“We received constant positive feedback from all of the guests about how beautiful Brays Island is and how accommodating all of the owners and staff were, and we continue to get calls and notes thanking us for a wonderful and unforgettable weekend.
“We have been owners at Brays Island for about 20 years. We have always considered it a special place and were extremely happy when Camila asked if she could get married here. To us, it means that the second generation finds it equally as special as the first generation. Now, we are looking forward to passing that passion on to the next generation.”