Local Wedding Venues

2 on the Roof

After catching each other’s eye on a group blind date, where they were with different dates, Jeanna and Cameron began their two year romance. They dated each other during their last years at Covenant College on Lookout Mountain.

Cameron dazzled with his sentimental proposal in January of 2016, and the couple was wed just six months later. On a drizzly day in July, they promised their lives to each other at Cameron’s home church, Lookout Mountain Presbyterian. Jeanna wore a delicate tulle gown with the faintest hint of blush, which was mimicked in her bridesmaids’ gowns and the sumptuous pink garden roses in their bouquets. Cameron donned a charming vintage outfit of slate gray trousers and brown suspenders with a champagne bow tie.

Following the ceremony, family and friends traveled to the fresh, airy and elegantly understated 2 on the Roof in Northshore for the couple’s colorful reception. “It was the perfect taste of Chattanooga for all of our out-of-town guests! The second story views of downtown and the mountains from the wrap-around balconies were great!”

The couple decorated with bright natural tones of white and pink hydrangea and greenery for a touch of color, with string lights and candles to add ambiance. “I loved how the venue didn’t require a lot of decorating. We wanted to preserve the simple beauty of the space,” Jeanna says. “It strikes a good balance of modern and rustic, but it’s great because you can tailor it to whatever you want. The high ceilings and huge windows make it feel spacious and let in a lot of natural light.”

Through all the dancing and delicious grub, Jeanna says what she remembers most is the surreal feeling of appreciation she was struck with as she looked around and saw all of her loved ones in one place. “It was so special. Not only did I get to marry my love, but everyone we loved was there. It was perfect.”

Photography by MGNewsome Photography

The Chattanoogan hotel

For Bijal and Rohit, a long-distance romance blossomed into a proposal under a beautiful waterfall in Hawaii. In a cross-country relationship with Rohit in New York and Bijal in Louisiana, the couple decided to plan their dream wedding in Chattanooga. Bijal is from Chattanooga, so The Chattanoogan hotel seemed like a perfect choice for their wedding weekend.

“We loved that it was able to accommodate so many people and that the ballroom easily transformed for all of our different events,” Rohit explains. The pair hosted numerous events for their weekend-long traditional Hindu wedding. The four main events were each held in The Chattanoogan’s ballroom and each featured its own unique theme and décor. One of the couple’s favorite events was the Garba and Raas – a night of dancing and celebration which also holds religious significance, offering guests a chance to commemorate the couple’s union and give thanks.

For such a grand scale weekend, The Chattanoogan also offered intimate spaces for quality time with friends and family. “We loved how cozy the fireplace and outdoor fire pits felt. They were excellent places for our guests to spend time together and enjoy themselves,” Rohit says. They both loved that they could have traditional Indian cuisine catered in for each event, and that The Chattanoogan’s restaurant, Broad Street Grille, accommodated their large groups of guests.

Rohit says his favorite part was the ‘groom’s entrance’ when he made his grand appearance  in a McLaren. For Bijal, she says her parents walking her down the aisle was a modern choice she’s glad she made. “It was so special to walk with them, something I’ll always remember.”

Both Bijal and Rohit speak about each ceremony and ritual with vivid and contagious excitement. “We say all the time how much we loved it, and how we wish so much that we could relive it. It was so much fun!”

Photography by The Siners Photography

Grandview

Kyle and Savannah met and began dating in college. “We hit it off immediately,” Savannah says. The two dated for a year before Kyle got down on one knee during a family trip.

After the proposal, it was time to plan their special day. They knew they wanted to hold their ceremony and reception at the same place and that they wanted to keep the guest list in moderation for an intimate gathering of loved ones. Grandview fit the bill with a whimsical courtyard that boasted lush garden fauna and peeks of panoramic valley views.

Timeless elegance served as the theme of Savannah and Kyle’s décor. “We decorated in whites, champagne, and purple-hued taupe because I really wanted to keep it simple,” Savannah explains.

The wedding party spent the day preparing in the main house. “It was so relaxed,” Savannah says of their big day, “they served us food and we took our time. It was just a great experience.” As the ceremony drew near, Savannah and Kyle shared a private ‘first-look’ that she says is one of her most special memories from that day.

Savannah wore a stunning two piece gown with a white organza skirt that fell in layers to the stone aisle as she walked toward her groom. Kyle and his groomsmen wore classic black tuxes with a single white English garden rose on their lapels. Surrounded by white hydrangea, ample greenery, and garden scenery, the two said their vows in front of their closest family and friends.

Afterward, jaunty music ushered everyone to the patio area for the reception. Tall vases overflowing with greenery, white hydrangeas, and lanterns lent a warm glow to the champagne linens and gold chivari chairs. Guests were treated to a pork tenderloin and asparagus entrée with Grandview’s signature sangria flowing, and an amped up party atmosphere created by dance tracks and string lights.

Photography by J.R. Mullins

Hunter Museum of American Art

Virginia and Jake met at Wofford College in South Carolina. “It was a pretty small school, so I knew who he was, but we didn’t actually start dating until he asked me to a formal at his fraternity,” Virginia says. It obviously went well because two and a half years later, Jake proposed.

A short seven months later, the two were wed at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church followed by a lavish reception at the Hunter Museum of American Art.

Virginia walked down the aisle in a gorgeous A-line gown with delicate lace overlays and a sweetheart neckline. Her bridesmaids wore silver lace, and their blue and white arrangements were filled with hydrangeas, roses, and Lily of the Valley – a poetic homage to both the groom’s birth month and the Czech meaning of the bride’s maiden name –Konvalinka. 

After the “I dos,” buses were waiting to whisk guests to the Hunter. “I always knew I wanted to have my wedding at the Hunter. I knew I wanted a ‘Chattanooga’ wedding. The Hunter is such an icon in Chattanooga,” Virginia explains. She and Jake both wanted the Chattanooga skyline in their wedding photos and loved the perfect balance of the modern side of the museum mixed with the traditional aesthetic of the historic house.

The Snipes’ guests were treated to an alluring “serenity” blue, silver, and white color scheme and multiple ethnic food stations, ranging from fajitas to sushi to shrimp and grits. Everyone danced to a live band, and with over 300 guests in attendance, the open spaces and access to two floors were winning features.

“I loved how everything was so easy. It was just a perfect canvas to put our own creative stamp on,” Virginia says. Much of the art was still accessible to guests as well, giving the atmosphere an elevated personality. “It was an amazing experience!”

Photography by Soli Photography

The Venue Chattanooga

Like a scene out of a classic love story, Aaron and Meghan’s romance began as a chance encounter.

Aaron was downtown on his second day in Chattanooga when he spotted Meghan. She had just left a friend’s wedding. “Earlier that day at the wedding, there was this little frog beside our table. I picked it up, pretended to kiss it, and said, ‘Maybe he’ll turn into a prince!’” Meghan recalls. A few hours later, her future husband introduced himself.

They planned a wedding fitting of their enchanting beginning complete with old mossy trees dripping in sparkling lights, a cobblestone fireplace, and a cottage in the background. “It looked like something straight out of a fairy tale,” Meghan says of her first glimpse of the ceremony site at The Venue Chattanooga.

As she walked to meet her groom, the wide aisle was scattered with white pillar candles and rose petals. The fireplace mantle and firebox were overflowing with Jackson vine, Magnolia leaves, and draped greenery. The flowers were bursting garden roses in blush and wine tones, which were reflected in the wedding party’s attire.

The reception carried the fantasy elegance through. Gold charges and gold geometric centerpieces sparkled with the glow of floating votives, chandeliers, and dangling Edison bulbs. Chivari chairs seated guests around circle tables with cream linens. Layers of soft lighting filled out the rosy ambiance of the room. “I remember seeing the reception hall, with all the white, clean lines and thinking it looked so fresh and beautiful!”

While so many brides feel like their wedding day is a blur that rushes past them, Meghan says she prayed to be able to take it all in. “I remember everything! I slowed down, looked around, and was still. It was absolutely perfect.”

Photography by Bonnie McGhee Photography

Madison & John Shoemaker

With a bit of serendipitous timing, Madison and John met one Easter Sunday after Madsion’s parents had invited him to join their family’s celebration. For the following five weeks, they wrote letters in lieu of text messages and had a nine-hour scavenger hunt in Chattanooga for their first date.

The pair planned their story-telling wedding with the same amount of intentional choices and effort. Every detail, down to the dried petals of past arrangements (from John to Madison) that the flower girls dropped, was a significant tie-in to their relationship.

Madison worked with seamstresses to bring her vision for, not just her own wedding gown, but also all of the bridesmaids’ dresses to life. “I wanted the dresses to reflect each girls’ personality.” Her own gown was crafted from Chantilly lace with a sumptuous silk chiffon, organza, and tulle skirt that was completed with satin covered buttons from her mom’s wedding dress.

The outdoor ceremony took place on family property in Montana. Olive branches, rosemary, and lavender provided a sweet, earthy fragrance to flower arrangements, which were filled out with peonies, Madison’s favorite. She walked down the aisle to the “Mrs. Darcy” theme from Pride and Prejudice, her favorite book.

John was waiting in a tailored Navy suit, standing out from the slate gray of his groomsmen’s attire. And all seven of John and Madison’s youngest family members had a role in the ceremony.

After the exchange of vows, John and Madison stole away for a private moment with their parents to appreciate the reality of being newly married. “That was one of my favorite moments of the day,” Madison recalls.

At the reception, two huge tables gathered the group of around 80 guests for an Italian family-style meal.

The day wrapped up with a ‘sunset’ photo shoot for the couple. “That was pretty magical because we did it in the exact location where we said ‘I love you’ for the first time,” John says, “So it really came full circle.”

Photography by Jac & Heath Photography