Tatum & Matthew Sprinkle
Hunter Museum of American Art
Tatum Whitley found the love of her life in The Big Easy. “I was spending my 21st birthday in New Orleans, and a mutual friend introduced me to Matthew,” she says. “Little did I know that I would be meeting my future husband on that trip!” Fast-forward six years, and the soon-to-be Sprinkles were in full-blown wedding planning mode. As transplants to Chattanooga, the couple wanted their venue to showcase their new city.
“With its modern, yet timeless beauty, the Hunter was the perfect setting for our wedding day,” Tatum explains. “And we were lucky enough to use almost every nook and cranny of the venue, starting with ‘first look’ photos in the historic mansion.” Here, Matthew got to see his bride for the first time in her wedding dress, which she chose for its dreamy neckline and flowy chiffon skirt. The sweet moment was one of Tatum’s favorites from the day.
Their outdoor ceremony took place on the scenic terrace overlooking the Tennessee River; string instruments serenaded the crowd as the wedding party made their way down the aisle. Tatum shares, “We kept our ceremony simple, and my brother officiated. It was special to have someone who means so much to you play such a huge part in your day.”
Post-ceremony, Matthew and Tatum enjoyed a private dinner before moving to the Grand Atrium, outfitted with rows of dazzling string lights, for their first dance. On the second floor, diverse food stations offering burger sliders, gnocchi, chicken and waffles, and more kept guests fed well into the evening. An ice cream bar – complete with sprinkles, of course! – rounded out the dessert table.
Hours later when the dancing had ended, the newlyweds exited to waving sparklers and were off to their next adventure: their Hawaiian honeymoon.
How He Proposed
“The two of us were mountain biking on Raccoon Mountain in Chattanooga, and he proposed at the top of one of the trails. It was a truly magical moment, even with all the sweat and the bike shorts!”
Photos by Daisy Moffatt Photography