Eliza Cheves Brockinton, an interior designer, and Jesse Baldwin Kimball, an exploration geologist— both with their own companies— met through their mutual friend, Hallie Harris. She and Eliza grew up next door and Jesse had known her for around 10 years. Before she moved into her New York City apartment, Eliza was staying with Hallie, and Hallie brought her house guest to dinner with Jesse. A year-and-a-half of dating later, he proposed in their apartment followed by a quiet evening at Balthazar.
For her summer wedding, Eliza wanted to wear something classic with a vintage feel. She found her perfect Lihi Hod dress and paired it with mother’s pearl and gold earrings and diamond and sapphire bracelet— something borrowed and something blue!
Jesse chose a custom, midnight navy tuxedo by Alton Lane, dark navy Ferragamo shoes, and Canali bow tie and cummerbund. “He looked so handsome and dapper in it,” the bride says.
As the two wanted a destination wedding with a low country vibe, when they looked at Sea Island, it was a perfect fit. “Neither us had ties to Sea Island, so it was also exciting to build our future at a place that was fresh for both of us,” Eliza says. To help put everything together, the couple relied on the in-house team, with Caroline Grogan and Chelsea Powell taking the helm, and Eliza’s mother was also very involved.
At the Cloister Chapel, Jesse’s father, J. Dudley B. Kimball, “who is an attorney by day and a wannabe reverend/English Literature lecturer and poet by night,” married the two in an intimate ceremony. Following the “I do”s, cocktail hour started in the Cloister Ballroom courtyard and atrium.
Everyone moved into the ballroom for the reception, decorated with greens, white, and gold throughout the space. The delicious three-course dinner ended with the newlyweds’ two wedding cakes: a lemon and raspberry cake one and a low country coconut cream confection.
Following the meal, the party started with the Atlanta Showstoppers, and everyone kept energized with table-side coffee service. At midnight, the robust horn section led a second line parade. Guests were given handkerchiefs to wave and followed the bride and groom into the Club Ballroom, where the late-night masquerade ball commenced. Feathered and sequined masks were passed around to fully complete the festivities into the early hours.
