Hayden & Jessica | A Riverside Wedding Story at the Grand Bohemian, Greenville

We pulled into Greenville just after 3 p.m., shaking off the drive from Asheville and stepping into the kind of hotel that makes you stop and say whoa. We’d been to the Grand Bohemian back home, but this was something else entirely—tall, sprawling, and packed with character. Every hallway had a piece of art or some little antique tucked into a corner. Rustic, modern, a little bit enchanted.

Grand Bohemian Lodge Greenville

We rode the elevator up to the 9th floor and found Jessica and her mom in one of the hotel rooms, soft light spilling in through big windows. Jessica was calm, kind of quiet—but there was this sweetness in the air, like the moment just before a big song starts. Her mom was sitting by the window, waiting with her, both of them clearly holding something sacred.

Her dad hadn’t arrived yet. He was coming up for a first look. When he did, Jessica slipped into the bathroom while he stepped toward the window, back turned, hands loosely clasped in front of him. You could feel it—the weight of that moment, just hanging there.

Then the door opened.

Jessica stepped out, bouquet in hand, looking so completely like someone stepping into a story they’d been waiting to live out. Her dad turned... and his face broke. His eyes welled up immediately. There was this visible wave of pride and emotion that hit him all at once. She walked up slowly, eyes wide, and he wrapped her in one of those long, soul-deep hugs that makes you tear up even if you don’t know the people.

Her mom watched from the chair with one hand over her heart, like she needed to physically hold in everything she was feeling. That whole room felt holy for a moment.

Eventually, it was time to head to the ceremony. We made our way down to the first floor and started the walk—this winding, twenty-minute journey over a bridge that crossed the Reedy River. Funny enough, it led right to the very spot we’d looked down on from that hotel room earlier.

The ceremony space was tucked on a patch of grass right by the water, with big stones separating the guests from the river’s edge. It felt private, like a secret garden for just their people. About 30 guests, all close family and friends, started to gather. There was that quiet hum of small talk and anticipation, laughter mixing with deep breaths.

Hayden walked in with both his parents on either arm. His mom—elegant and composed with her British accent—carried herself like someone who knew how special this all was, but was also fully in the moment. The way she looked at her son… it was like she was seeing him for the first time and remembering every version of him at once.

The sun was high, and the heat was real, but everyone had these beautiful soft blue fans that fluttered through the crowd like petals. They happened to be the exact same shade as Hayden’s eyes—which didn’t seem accidental.

Jessica and Hayden were full of joy, whispering and giggling to each other between vows, probably over some inside joke only they understood. There was a beautiful kind of lightness to the whole thing. When it came time for the kiss, it was sweet and unhurried. No grand dip, no drama—just something real, something honest.

They strutted back up the aisle, glowing, hand in hand. Before rejoining the family for dinner, they slipped off for a quiet moment alone, up a little trail into the woods just past the ceremony site.

That’s when we took some time with just the two of them, capturing the joy of the day in motion. They danced barefoot by the riverbank, completely in their own world. Then we wandered to a swing and got some playful, carefree candids—Jessica kicking her feet up in the air, Hayden pushing her gently, laughing like kids.

At one point, she climbed into a low tree branch (yes, in her dress) without hesitation. She was fearless. He looked up at her like she was magic. Later, in a flower-filled field, she climbed up a short concrete wall and leaned down to kiss him, and in that second he really did look like Prince Charming—hand extended, gazing up at his bride. As she jumped back down, she nearly lost her balance, and he caught her mid-laugh.

Then came the bridge. As we were crossing it to return to the hotel, a flock of seagulls flew overhead—and one of them, very generously, decided to drop a gift onto Hayden’s jacket. They couldn’t stop laughing. Not a shred of tension. That kind of lightheartedness is something you can’t pose or plan—it just is.

Back inside, the cool air was a welcome relief. The family welcomed them with colorful cocktails in hand, and everyone gathered around a long dinner table in a room that opened up to a sweeping 60-foot drop and panoramic views of the river. It was breathtaking.

We left them to enjoy the night and sat down for dinner at the hotel restaurant—thanks to Hayden and Jessica, who insisted on treating us. Just one more reminder of how thoughtful and full of heart they both are.

Weddings like Hayden and Jessica’s are why we do what we do. Not because everything was perfect (though it kind of was), but because it was real. It was people who love each other deeply, who aren’t afraid to laugh when something goes sideways, and who let themselves be fully present for the little in-between moments—tree climbing, swing riding, blue fan fluttering, seagull shenanigans and all.

These are the stories we live to tell. If you’re planning a wedding that’s full of heart, adventure, and maybe just a little chaos—in Asheville, Greenville, or somewhere in between—we’d love to come along for the ride.

You bring the magic. We’ll make sure it lasts forever.