Maggie Fitzgerald and Michael Addick’s love story is Georgia-born-and-bred. They met in seventh-grade science class and started dating their freshman year at Atlanta’s Marist High School. Then they both became UGA Bulldogs and visited Georgia’s Golden Isles with family and friends throughout the years. Many years after that fated science class, on April 29, 2023, the pair married in a dreamy St. Simons setting — Maggie’s “Heaven on Earth.” Initially, the weather forecasts were dicey … did a longtime Southern wedding tradition save the day?
Michael planned a surprise trip to Puerto Rico to “celebrate Maggie’s graduation from graduate school.” But on a sunset cruise, just the two of them, Michael popped the question. Thus began a 10.5-month engagement that gave Maggie the perfect window to craft the St. Simons wedding of her dreams. “Engagement was a rollercoaster of emotions,” Maggie tells us. “At times, I was so nervous, and at others, I was solely excited with no fears. The time was perfect to be able to feel each of my emotions. But by the end of it, I was just ready to be married.”
“My grandfather was the rector at Christ Church for many years, and I always knew I wanted to get married there,” Maggie says. “It truly is the most special place and feels like Heaven on Earth when I step onto the property. Michael grew up going to the beach at Sea Island, too, so it just worked out perfectly for us to get married at St. Simons.”
Since Maggie knew it had to be Christ Church, they then tackled finding a reception venue from a pool of limited options. They found a brand new venue called Forbes Farm and booked a tour. “The space was stunning,” Maggie says. “Michael and I both love the marsh, and it had the best marsh views and was a perfect place for cocktail hour. I also loved how open the space was. We wanted our wedding to be fun and have a great band and dancing space.”
During the design process, Maggie leaned into her proclivity toward classic, elegant aesthetics. “I just love the classic, timeless wedding look, so I just went for whites and greens for florals,” she says. “At the reception, the arrangements had a touch of baby blue. Christ Church is so beautiful that I didn’t want the florals or anything to take away from it.”
Maggie was “honestly clueless” when it came to dress shopping, but she booked an appointment at Anne Barge as a courtesy to her mom (who got her own wedding dress there!), not thinking she would find the one. “It ended up being the most fantastic experience,” Maggie says. “They let you customize there, which was my favorite part. My dress was a custom gown, and they had one in the store that someone else had customized.”
The uniquely textured jacquard fabric was her favorite part. “I also loved that the A-line cut felt like a wedding dress with the ball-gown-y look, but it was still flattering on my body. The dress just felt so me. I added buttons and removed some beading at the top.”
The dress was in, and the vendors booked, but the wedding week forecast was getting progressively worse and worse. After the Friday night rehearsal at Christ Church, a small group of close family and friends moved to the Sea Island Beach Club for a gorgeous cocktail hour overlooking the ocean. The classic Sea Island bagpiper led everyone into dinner, and a “Moose” (their dog) cake topped off the night and nodded to the Saturday shenanigans that would follow.
After seeing Friday’s forecast of a 100% chance of rain during the outdoor ceremony on Saturday, one of Maggie’s bridesmaids asked if they’d buried the bourbon. “I had never heard of the old tradition!” Maggie admits. “So Michael bought bourbon and brought it to our rehearsal, where we buried it.” Thunder applauded the couple as they posed for the pre-ceremony, post-first-look photos outside the church. “We suddenly remembered to unbury the bourbon,” Maggie says. “We drank it, and it didn’t rain!”
Maggie is so thankful they decided on a first look. “I was so eager to see Michael, and I don’t think I could’ve waited any longer,” she says. “Seeing him calmed my nerves, and I loved the time we got together — just the two of us — from the first look to the reception. We both agreed we would not have spent time together just us if we hadn’t done our first look.”
After almost moving the ceremony inside, they opted to take the chance outdoors. They did unbury the bourbon, after all! And it didn’t rain. In fact, the radar graphic eerily showed a blob of rain with a small hole right where the wedding was. Guests filed under a canopy of old oak trees to watch the high school sweethearts become forever soul mates.
Once guests arrived at Forbes Farm, they were met with sweeping marsh views and a lively cocktail hour with passed crostinis, brochettes, and crab cake. Perched all over the venue were signs for “Moose’s Bar” in honor of the couple’s dog, Moose, whom they adore beyond measure. Their signature cocktail was inspired by the famous Greyhound served at their favorite Athens, GA, haunt, Chuck’s Fish.
Instead of a plated meal, Maggie tapped Enlightened Catering to create a strolling reception with culinary stations. There was a chef’s carving station, a southern shrimp station with shrimp and grits and shrimp scampi, a veggies and mashed potato bar, and a garden salad bar. Late night, trays of bacon cheeseburgers and smoked chicken salad sliders with kettle chips circled the dance floor to soak up the night’s indulgence.
The newlyweds exited through a sea of sparklers into a sleek vintage getaway car. After a tropical honeymoon in Antigua, they settled back into life in Atlanta, GA, where they’re both from. To brides-to-be, Maggie says, “It is so easy to get caught up in comparison and trying to make many different people happy throughout the process but think about what you and your fiancé want. Prioritize what means the most to you — you’ll remember those things, and they’ll stick out. Don’t sweat the small stuff.”
Thank you so much, Maggie, for taking us back to this day. And thank you to Kate Gwin of Haint Blue Collective for the photos.
RESOURCES
Ceremony: Christ Church Frederica
Reception: Forbes Farm
Planner: Maggie Hughes Events
Photographer: Kate Gwin with Haint Blue Collective
Videography: Ryan Blount with Avalon Film Studio
Flowers: Edward on Saint Simons
Stationery: Reaves Engraving
Hair & makeup: Felicia Cammon
Bride’s gown: Anne Barge
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Amsale
Groom & groomsmen attire: Gentlemen’s Outfitters
Catering & glassware: Enlightened Catering
Bar: Gnat’s Landing
Cakes: Publix
Entertainment: Papa Sol via EastCoast Entertainment
Rentals & linens: Beachview Event Rentals
Transportation: Lighthouse Trolleys & St. Simons Trolley Tour Company
Getaway car: Martin’s Vintage Rides
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