Lindsey & Joel Williams | The Hunter Museum of American Art
Photos by Ampersand Photography
While working in New York City, Lindsey and Joel Williams met in the Empire State Building at a lunch with a mutual friend. The couple, having roots in Signal Mountain, planned to celebrate their big day nearby in downtown Chattanooga. They married on October 14, 2023, at the Hunter Museum of American Art.
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“We wanted a venue to show off all of Chattanooga’s beauty while keeping it downtown to be convenient for out-of-town guests,” shares Lindsey. “We absolutely fell in love with the views from the roof and didn’t look at another venue after viewing the Hunter.”
After a short and sweet evening ceremony on the 24-hour terrace, guests headed inside the museum for a cocktail hour. The Hunter provided full bar and beverage services, complete with a champagne seating chart and signature cocktails selected by the couple.
The celebration carried on with a live band, dinner, and dancing. The couple opted to serve a plated dinner as well as some of their fast-food favorites as a late-night snack, and guests enjoyed a classic black and white checkered dance floor at the rooftop reception.
The décor of the evening combined traditional black and white elements with a romantic garden theme. A gorgeous floral installation hung over the bar, and stunning circular chandeliers hung over the dance floor. Blue, purple, and rose tones filled the event space to tie together the classic, romantic aesthetic.
Memorable moments for the newlyweds included crowd surfing on the dance floor and a sentimental private last dance. For their getaway, guests created a sparkler exit on the Holmberg bridge for Lindsey and Joel to walk through.
From dancing the night away with close friends and family to enjoying sweeping views of the Tennessee River from the Hunter rooftop, the couple truly made the most of their big day. “I had two party dresses to change into, but I was having so much fun with everyone I never left the dance floor to change,” Lindsey says. “It was the best night ever!”
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How He Proposed
“Every morning we took our Dalmatian for ‘off-leash hours’ in Central Park. One morning during our normal routine, Joel got on one knee and asked, ‘Ready to have the best day ever?’ He pulled out a ring and asked me to marry him. After saying yes, I turned and saw some of our Chattanooga friends hiding and taking pictures! We spent the rest of the day with family and friends at a surprise engagement party at our favorite bar in New York.”