Garden-Inspired Wedding in Knoxville :: Rachel & Marc

What to do if you want an English garden wedding, but you don’t want to worry about the weather? Bring the garden indoors, of course! That’s what Rachel and Marc did for their Knoxville wedding, and the result was breathtaking…

SEE THE GALLERY FOR EVEN MORE IMAGES FROM THIS ENGLISH GARDEN-INSPIRED WEDDING BY NATALIE WATSON AND WATSON STUDIO.

The Ceremony

“Marc and I felt it was important to have a traditional Roman Catholic wedding. After meeting with our priest several times, we decided to have a full mass with communion, readings, and music. The ceremony was in a gorgeous church built in 1908, filled with stain glass and intricate wood carvings.”

Your ceremony in three words.  Catholic, Sentimental, Traditional.

What was your favorite thing about your wedding ceremony?  My favorite part of the ceremony was walking down the aisle with my father and seeing my husband’s smile greeting me at the altar.

Did you include any traditions?  I carried my great-grandmother’s handkerchief down the aisle, the same one my sister and cousin held in their weddings.

Ceremony Music:  We chose classical music and hymns that mirrored a traditional, Catholic wedding. A string trio, an organist, and an opera singer performed during the ceremony.

Prelude: Trumpet Voluntary by Purcell
Seating of grandparents and mothers: Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach
Processional: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach
Communion: “Be Thou My Vision” and “How Great Thou Art”
Recessional: Spring from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi

The Reception

“Cherokee Country Club was the perfect location for our reception because its ballroom was not only beautiful, it was also large enough to seat our guests,” says Rachel. “I love outdoor weddings, but I didn’t want to battle rain and heat on my wedding day. So my goal was to bring the beauty of the outdoors inside. With lots of help from my wedding planner, florists and lightning designer, we managed to create a romantic garden inside the ballroom.”

What inspired you when you were planning your wedding?  English countryside weddings are quintessentially classic and timeless – attributes I wanted my wedding to embody. Creating an intimate space was also a priority. It was important to let our guests know how much we appreciated their love and support over the years. Above all else, we wanted our guests to have a fun and memorable night.

Please tell us about any special details from your wedding.  I loved all the details from my wedding, but my favorite had to be the trees we used to decorate the ballroom. When paired with hundreds of candles that lit up the space, the trees made the evening feel magical and timeless.

What was the best advice you received as a bride?  My sister gave me the best advice while I was planning the wedding. She told me things are going to go wrong, but don’t let it ruin your day. When your wedding arrives, just enjoy every moment because it’s the best party you’ll have in your life.

What was your favorite moment or part of the day?  Every moment from my wedding was wonderful, but my favorite memory had to be the first look. It was really the only moment Marc and I had together alone that day. I’ll never forget how I felt or the look on his face when I turned around, and he told me I was beautiful.

Do you have any budget tips for other brides?  1) Early in the planning stages, my wedding planner and I set up a budget. It was helpful having a spreadsheet that outlined the costs. A few dollars here and there can really add up, and by recording all the costs, you can stay accountable to the budget you specified in the beginning. 2) If you have room in your budget, I would highly recommend getting a wedding planner. In the end, I avoided stress and saved time by hiring my wedding planner, Jennifer Laraia. She made the months of planning enjoyable, and most of all, she made sure the wedding day ran smoothly because every detail was in place.