Welcome to our Vendor Spotlight featuring Elegant Savannah Weddings, a cherished partner in the wedding industry. As a wedding photographer, I know firsthand the significance of having a planner who not only keeps everything running smoothly but also embracing the vision of your wedding. Mark and Meg Royston and their dedicated team deliver unparalleled creativity, organization, and meticulous attention to detail that guarantees an unforgettable wedding experience. From the first consultation to the last dance, they are there to ensure each moment is perfectly planned, and we can’t wait for you to get to know them better!
How did you and Mark meet/get married?
Mark and I met at Churchill’s Pub – the restaurant and wedding venue that started it all! I was a restaurant server & bartender while finishing my college degree and he was my boss – not as scandalous as it sounds though, we were friends for many years before dating. 🙂 We got married in Asheville, North Carolina, in my grandparent’s back yard at their mountain house, the house my grandmother grew up in. My great grandfather farmed the land we got married on. It’s a very special place, my grandparents were two very important people in my upbringing, and we grew up having family weeks & vacations at home.
Tell us a little about you and Elegant Savannah Weddings–how did you get into wedding planning?
Mark always jokes that he would never have guessed he would end up having a career working with Brides & Grooms! But he’s seriously great at it. The wedding planning business kind of “fell into our laps”. Mark was the general manager for years at a local downtown restaurant. When the restaurant opened an event space, he became the general manager of the restaurant AND the event manager. Hosting these events, he quickly realized the need for more wedding planners & coordinators in the Savannah area, so he started offering on site wedding coordination. I helped on the weekends, when I wasn’t at my office job. After our first daughter was born, we weren’t ready for me to go back to full time work just yet, and the business was growing, and I have management, design, and restaurant experience, so I joined the Elegant Savannah Weddings team part time, and we started offering off site wedding coordination and planning. The side / part time job became a full-time job for us both! The business has continued to grow, thankfully, and now we have been wedding planning and coordinating in the Savannah area and Lowcountry for about 10+ years, we feel very blessed!
What do you love most about what you do?
Meg: I love the people and the love stories! Each person is unique, each family is unique, each love story is unique. It may sound cliche, but it’s such an honor to witness so much love and be a small part of someone’s love story. I usually end up wanting to be friends with clients and their families. One of my best friends now is a former client actually. And I love the design aspects of the planning process and seeing a vision come to life!
Mark: Mark thrives on hard work. That is his love language. He loves a challenge; he loves how fast-paced wedding days can be. He loves diving deep into creating layouts, figuring out logistics, timelines, sculpting the entire weekend to fit the client’s needs. He loves food & beverage too, that’s the career he started in, so that’s a favorite part for him as well.
Why types of services do you offer?
We offer full wedding planning services, partial planning wedding services, and month of coordination wedding services. We also offer customized packages to fit every individual’s needs!
What is one piece of advice you would give a bride and groom as they are planning their wedding?
Hire a planner or coordinator! And remember what the day is truly all about – you & your soon-to-be spouse celebrating your love, surrounded by family & friends.
What sets you apart from other wedding planners?
There are so many wonderful wedding planners & coordinators in the Savannah area. It’s definitely community over competition here in Savannah, and we are thankful for that. We even advise couples who have consultations with us – make sure you speak to other wedding planners before booking. And for us personally, we like to say, “real weddings for real people.” We understand budgets, we understand life and love and its many dimensions. We aren’t in it for fame and glory so to speak, we are in it to help you get married and have the wedding you want, your way!
What three things should an event planner always carry with them?
Scissors or utility knife of sorts / Lighter (for candles) / Sense of humor and an aura of calmness
What are the most unique things you’ve seen at a wedding?
Oh, we’ve had some epic weddings! Our clients are seriously the coolest. We’ve seen a Groom skydive into his wedding ceremony, we’ve seen fireworks, we’ve seen flash mobs, ballerinas, a bride cut her hair before the reception, etc. You name it, we’ve probably seen it and planned it!
It’s always a pleasure working with Mark and his team, who consistently exceed expectations in serving both clients and vendors. Their attention to detail, dedication, and expertise ensure that each event is seamless and unforgettable. The incredible results of their hard work speak for themselves, and you can see the magic they create through the stunning photos that capture each wedding day. Collaborating with such a skilled team is a privilege, and we look forward to future weddings together.
A Gallery of Some Elegant Savannah Wedding Events
