A Summer Garden Party Wedding Embracing the Timeless Charm of RT Lodge

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Fresh pops of white, garden greens, sky blues[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

“RT Lodge is truly a magical place. I am now the Director of Weddings and Special Events here, and planning weddings is what I thought my dream was until it was my turn to get married. Being an RT Lodge bride is the real dream come true! Growing up in Virginia and always missing home, RT Lodge was the first place in Tennessee I fell in love with – that gave me that warm, welcoming feeling of “home.” The idea of bringing my family and friends to this special gem was an absolute no-brainer. Year after year, I have seen the beauty in our grounds and the love and effort that goes into keeping the flowers and foliage so beautiful. I have always known that I wanted to get married at the Lodge, but specifically during summer, when the trees are lush and full of their natural beauty, and the gardens are bursting with color. Keeping all this in mind helped me hone in on an overall vibe for my wedding weekend – my wedding weekend was Garden Party themed!” -Bride Ali

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[field title=”Proposal Story”][/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]

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[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]

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[board_carousel title=”First Look”]

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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]

“Keeping with the ‘Garden Party’ theme, I chose to add florals into each of my wedding weekend outfits. I wore a short, floral frock with yellow and gold flowers and a hydrangea crown for my Welcome Party. My wedding gown by Ashley Grace Bridal was a timeless look with a twist – a classic sweetheart and flowing train, but in a stunning floral fabric. I accessorized with fun floral earrings and a monochromatic bouquet of white peonies.” -Bride Ali

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”][/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”][/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]

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[board_carousel title=”Cocktail Hour”]

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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]

“For our Welcome Party, a whole pig roast was a must – a true taste of the South for our friends and family traveling from all over. Pre-ceremony, I hosted a “Rosé O’clock” for all of my closest friends! We danced, drank my favorite rosé, and the girls helped me put on my veil when it was time to head to the ceremony. For Cocktail Hour, we served my favorite Watermelon Bites and BLT Bites – something refreshing on a warm July day! For the Reception, we served our favorite Mexican-themed food from The Big Bad Taco Truck along with passed margaritas and local favorite ice cream, Cruze Farm!” -Bride Ali

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]”My goal for the reception in the Sperry Tent was simply for the design to just feel like fun! I wanted live trees, Chinese lanterns, pops of color, lounge furniture with floral pillows, and a big unique bar. Colby West and his team did exactly this! They brought trees into the tent and added the lanterns to fill in the peaks of the tent. We also added the Chinese lanterns to the walkway path to the tent to give guests a “sneak peak” on their way to the reception! I picked fun linens that I have had my eyes on for years to make the space feel like me. I wanted cocktail tables everywhere to give off the mingling party vibe. We added uplight to the trees when the sun went down.” -Bride Ali[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]”RT Lodge Pastry Chef, Caitlyn Cox, created the most stunning (and delicious) wedding cake for our reception. She pulled the sky blue color from other elements of my wedding design and created a beautiful floral pattern across the three tiered cake that looked like a painting! It fit the theme of the wedding perfectly and looked lovely styled with unique blue coupe glasses for our toast. We chose tiers of classic vanilla paired with pecan and cinnamon with cream cheese. Yum!” -Bride Ali[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]

“So many memories! From Thursday evening, Nick and I hung out with Chef Trevor while he stayed up all night to cook the Whole Pig for Friday’s party. Core memory!” -Bride Ali

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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]”Nick and I, along with my parents and sister, snuck away from Cocktail Hour to take a moment to see the Sperry Tent in its complete and beautiful state before the reception.
It was so special!” -Bride Ali[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]

“Having the Lodge being a place to have a weekend-long celebration, we got to truly spend time with our guests. Whether that was having breakfast, walking back to our rooms together, or simply sitting in a rocking chair with a glass of wine.” -Bride Ali

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[board_carousel title=”Reception”]

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