t was sophomore year at Clemson University that a blonde 
haired beauty met her real life price charming. Emily Kyle Lyerly 
grew up in Destin, Florida, and was destined to meet Austin 

Colby Specter from Columbia, SC. Their relationship blossomed amongst 
the purple and orange over the course of their college years, leading 
up to the moment that Austin proposed to Emily Kyle over dinner on 
the Atlanta Beltline. When Austin presented her with a scrapbook he 
put together she immediately knew “this is the moment!” The couple 

took a trip down memory lane, reliving the moments and emotions they 
have shared as a couple until Austin got down on one knee and popped 
the question. Dinner was followed by a rooftop celebration with both 
families who traveled into town. Austin had planned out every detail and 
had even worked with Emily Kyle’s parents to set a wedding date before 
ever popping the question: April 28, 2018! With Emily Kyle’s roots in 
Destin the couple chose to keep all of the wedding events local. Family 
friends hosted an engagement party on the harbor at the Boathouse, the 
rehearsal dinner followed by “Champs & Sweets” was held at the Destin 
Bay House, and the bridesmaids luncheon was in Indian Bayou hosted by 
the mothers of all the kids Emily Kyle grew up with. Guests stayed at the 
beautiful Henderson Beach Resort and kicked off the wedding festivities 
with a beach bonfire courtesy of 30A Sunset Beach Service. 

The bride and bridesmaids got ready in matching champagne tunics 

along with the help of Alyssa Hagans with Morgan King Makeup, and 
Dawn & Company, the bride’s hair stylist since age 13. The excitement 
grew as the groomsmen relaxed upstairs, the band prepared in the 
garage, and the vendors set up in the backyard as guests began to arrive. 
Wedding guests were shuttled from The Henderson Beach Resort to 
the family home, where they were greeted by Fancy Grass pop-ups, a 
festive local business that “fancifies your lawn to celebrate life’s most 
memorable moments” which in this case included a champagne bottle, 
wedding cake and chapel! Emily Kyle had envisioned an “Elegant Garden 
Party” and Arden Sanders with It’s a Shore Thing pulled together every 
sentimental detail seamlessly. As it was held at the home she grew up 
in, Emily Kyle had walked out the back door many times before. But 
the moment she stood in the kitchen with her father, waiting to walk 
out the back door, down the stairs and across the backyard towards 
Austin is a moment she and her father will never forget. An elegant 
white tent was situated next to the pool laden with fresh Provencal 
herbs, topiaries, boxwood, ivory satin ribbon, pops of pink and topped 

BEHIND THE SCENES

Emily Kyle 

Lyerly 

Austin Colby 

Specter

Newlyweds of Destin       

27

  

story by 

Courtney Murray

 |  photography by 

Pure7

Wedding and Event Planning: Arden Sanders with It’s a Shore Thing

Floral Design: Sally LaCourse with Florals by the Sea

Catering: Donna Townsend with Townsend Catering Company

Personalized Details: Heidi LoCicero and Peyton LoCicero with   
    Frillseekers Gifts

Makeup: Alyssa with Morgan King Makeup

Hairstylist: Dawn & Company

Wedding Dress: Belfiore Bridal 

Bridesmaid Dresses: Carmen Marc Valvo

Suits: The Black Tux

Videography: Swell House Media

Photography: Pure7 

Ceremony Music: Top Hat Live & Erin Hagans

Cake: Betty Weber Cakes

Hotel Accommodations: The Henderson

Lawnscaping: Magdi Malek with Lawnscape Services

Shuttle: Sunshine Shuttle

Pop-Ups: Fancy Grass

Tiger Mascot: Clemson University

Band: AzIzz 

I

27-29 Wedding Lyerly-Specter.indd   1

12/27/18   5:56 PM