As accounting consultant Lauren Medinger prepared for her first dating-app date ever, she hoped for a nice dinner and conversation but never anticipated being so instantly smitten with the tall, dark-haired, and handsome investment banker. For Adrian Cone, it wasn’t his first dating-app date; however, he quickly knew this one was special when he didn’t want the evening to come to an end. “We had so much fun, we ended up going to another place and kept the night going,” Lauren says. “I told my roommate the next day, ‘I love this guy’ and her response was ‘do not tell him that!’” she laughs. 

Lauren and Adrian dated for several years, and then had their relationship tested when they moved in together and shared a 500-square-foot apartment in New York City. “We still loved each other – even more than before we moved in,” he admits of realizing she was The One. He proposed over Thanksgiving Weekend while visiting Lauren’s family in Savannah, Georgia. “I was shocked and thrilled and of course said yes!” she muses. 

“We both fell in love with the idea of an outdoor tented wedding under the live oak trees with a view of the water in the Lowcountry,” Lauren describes. The bride and groom visited potential venue choices, but ultimately opted for a luxurious hotel for two reasons: “Some of the most fun weddings we have attended have been at places where all the guests are staying in the same location as the festivities, so nobody has to worry about driving and you’re always running into other people you know. Also, the second that Adrian found out we could have an oyster roast [at the Montage], there was no changing his mind!” 

Lauren accomplished the majority of the planning with her mom and her wedding planner Kelli Corn of Kelli Corn Weddings & Events. “My mom is the best. She wasn’t pushy on any decisions and really just helped me come up with ideas, sort through options, and coordinate with Kelli,” shares the bride, who also adds that Adrian was very helpful when she needed help making final choices. 

“We both fell in love with the idea of an outdoor tented wedding under the live oak trees with a view of the water in the Lowcountry.”

The ceremony was arranged on the lawn with the backdrop of the river and the live oaks overhead. “I felt like very little décor was necessary to make the ceremony beautiful. We kept it simple with two large flower arrangements at the entrance and a stunning floral archway at the end of the aisle. I thought it turned out perfect!” illustrates the bride, who elected to wear platform tennis shoes with her lace gown featuring a blush underlay, so she could walk easily down the natural aisle. 

The neutral, organic theme was extended into the reception décor: an abundance of greenery, white flowers, collections of candles, as well as gilt accents. “I fell in love with the clear tent because it still felt like you were dancing under the big trees and the stars all night,” the bride remembers of the special night. Suggested by their planner Kelli, the couple decided to wrap the tent in lush foliage rather than typical draped fabric to help bring the alfresco feeling to life. 

A mixture of farm tables and round tables were artfully arranged around the dance floor for the sit-down supper. Tablescapes were adorned with short or tall arrangements of cream-colored florals and foliage, whilst candlelight in varying heights and geometric bullion lanterns suspended overhead provided a romantic glow in the space. “It was amazing!” confirms the bride. After slices of the stunning all-white cake topped with fresh greenery on every tier were served, the live band got everyone on their feet. “We watched tons of wedding-band videos and read through hundreds of reviews before landing on A-Town A-List. They were incredible!” adds the groom. 

Looking back, the newlyweds realized how lucky they were, as their celebration was the last weekend before COVID-19 heavily impacted the US. “We actually ended up flying back from our mini-moon in Turks and Caicos to Savannah, and then cancelled our flight back to New York and ended up living with my parents in the North Carolina mountains for four months. So that definitely is something we will never forget! Not exactly how you imagine your first few months of marriage,” Lauren smiles. The couple has nothing but perfect memories of the big day and look forward to eventually enjoying a fuller honeymoon to their planned destinations of Greece and the Maldives.