Samantha Maddox and Austin Johnson met while attending the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina, and instantly hit it off.
Both were Division 1 athletes – Samantha playing tennis and Austin playing basketball – and the two enjoyed everything together, from hot yoga to evening walks along Battery Park.
After graduating three years later, the couple moved to Jupiter, Florida where Austin joined his brother, Dustin Johnson – one of the premier players in the world – as his caddie on the PGA tour. Before long, Austin and Samantha became enchanted with the Palm Beach culture and lifestyle.
“OUR GUESTS AND FAMILY DANCED AND SANG THE NIGHT AWAY INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.”
The proposal took place during a family dinner in Las Vegas while dining in front of the Bellagio’s iconic fountains, and the couple was soon planning their dream wedding back home in Florida. “In choosing our wedding venue, The Colony Hotel was our top choice, which sits at the corner of Worth Avenue and the Atlantic Ocean,” Samantha explains. “We loved the boutique, intimate feeling of The Colony and the preservation of an iconic place along with the quintessential Palm Beach feel. The Colony itself makes everyone feel like you are stepping back in time to the golden era of Hollywood, which lends itself to the feeling of intimacy and class. On my most special day, this most special place made for a perfect evening!
“In choosing my wedding dress, I fell in love with the Israeli designer Galia Lahav,” she continues. “Galia Lahav gowns have a classy yet edgy style. When I tried on the Harper dress, there was no doubt I found the wedding dress of my dreams. Austin chose an Armani black tux with Salvatore Ferragamo shoes. His tux was accented by a set of special cuff links from his brother, Dustin. The ceremony was held on The Colony lawn while the sun was setting on a perfect November evening.”
Immediately following the ceremony, a cocktail hour was held poolside, followed by a reception in the main ballroom. “Our reception decor incorporated white floral arrangements, as well as an assortment of crystal touches, glass décor, and Tiffany blues,” describes the bride. “Our menu included a sit down dinner with surf and turf, followed by wedding cake. Following dinner, our guests and family danced and sang the night away into the early morning hours and truly rang in the new Mr. & Mrs. Johnson!”
After the wedding, the newlyweds jetted off to the Bahamas for a romantic and intimate honeymoon, where they shared their first week of married life together in a private residence.
WEDDING TALENT
Wedding Dress: Galia Lahav; Groom's Attire: Giorgio Armani; Photography: Victor Sizemore Photography, Lexington, KY
