Charles and Merritt got married at Debordieu Colony Club in Georgetown, South Carolina. Merritt had followed Pasha Belman Photography for years before the wedding was ever on the table. By the time the engagement came around, the photographer was already decided. The engagement session happened first. The wedding was never going to go anywhere else.
That level of investment in the photography shows in this gallery. A couple who has thought carefully about who documents their day tends to be more present, more relaxed, and more authentic in front of the camera. Charles and Merritt were all three. The result is one of the most complete Debordieu Colony Club wedding galleries we have produced.
“I went with my mom, sister, aunt, mother in law, sister in law, and one of my best friends. My sister in law is actually the one who saw the dress and insisted I try it on. Everyone loved it as soon as I came out of the dressing room. I am a terrible decision maker so I left but came back about thirty minutes later to officially say yes to the dress.”
— Merritt
Debordieu Colony Club offers outdoor ceremony options that use the property’s natural landscape without requiring any additional design work. The oak canopy, the coastal light, and the quiet privacy of the gated community create a ceremony environment that feels significant without feeling staged. Guests arrive and the property does the rest.
The ceremony for Charles and Merritt had the kind of energy that builds slowly and then holds. The emotions were genuine throughout. The venue absorbs those moments in a way that keeps the scale of the day feeling intimate even with a full guest count. That is one of the specific qualities that makes Debordieu Colony Club one of the most photographically rewarding venues we work at on the South Carolina coast.
“I have been a follower of Pasha Belman Photography for quite some time and have always admired the work. Pasha Belman did our engagement pictures, so I was not going to be satisfied until I got him for the wedding. Charles and I also hit it off with him during the engagement sessions, so it really was a non-negotiable. After the wedding, everyone could not stop talking about how Pasha and his wife Natallia Belman made the day amazing. They were incredible to watch work together. It truly is a work of art.”
— Merritt
Portrait locations at Debordieu Colony Club give couples real visual range without leaving the property. The oak-lined entrance drive creates framed, structured compositions. The marsh lawn opens to wide, airy images with coastal sky. The beach puts the Atlantic directly behind the couple. Each location produces completely different images and all of them are within a short walk of each other.
Charles and Merritt moved through portrait locations with the ease of a couple who had already been through a session together. The engagement session at Debordieu meant we already knew the property and each other. That familiarity removes the uncertainty from the portrait session and lets the photography focus entirely on the connection between the couple.
“There were so many memorable moments, but our first dance was one of the best moments for me. Charles was so nervous about dancing like that in front of a crowd. We practiced a little but still were a little unsure before. Once the music started playing, everything felt so natural and meant to be. Charles was so happy, and it always brings me joy to see him genuinely having a great time.”
— Merritt
The reception at Debordieu Colony Club carries the same refined quality as the ceremony and portrait portions of the day. The indoor spaces have the architectural detail and ambient warmth that makes evening photography feel natural throughout the night. The combination of high ceilings, classic finishes, and the soft evening light visible through large windows creates an environment that photographs consistently from cocktail hour through the last dance.
Charles and Merritt’s first dance was the moment the entire evening built toward. What Merritt describes — the nerves beforehand and then the natural ease once the music started — shows in the photographs exactly as she remembers it. Those are the moments that document themselves when the conditions are right. Debordieu creates those conditions every time.
“Don’t forget what the day is all about. It is so easy to get stressed over minor details. You still get to start this amazing journey and build a great life together when it is all said and done.”
— Merritt
Debordieu Colony Club is a private gated community in Georgetown, South Carolina. No public access. No foot traffic. Just the couple, their guests, and a property that has been quietly beautiful for generations. We have photographed multiple weddings here across different seasons and styles and the venue delivers every time.
Our full resource on photographing at this venue is available on our Debordieu Colony Club wedding photographers page. You can also view more real wedding galleries here including our Debordieu Colony Club wedding photos page. Couples planning a wedding in the area can explore our full portfolio on our Myrtle Beach wedding photographers page.
Contact us here to discuss availability for your Debordieu wedding. We respond within one business day.
Venue: Debordieu Colony Club, Georgetown, SC
Photography: Pasha Belman Photography, Myrtle Beach, SC
Second Photographer: Natallia Belman
Pasha Belman is the photographer behind Pasha Belman Photography, specializing in family portraits, weddings, engagements, senior photography, and professional headshots throughout Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and coastal South Carolina. Learn more about Pasha.
