Dream weddings are not just for fairytale princesses anymore. These days they are as attainable as the American dream, requiring nothing more than hard work and determination. Unfortunately for brides across America, fairy godmothers remain fictional. On the bright side, their role has been replaced by wedding planners, florists, seamstresses, caterers, photographers, event coordinators, family members and other talented individuals who lend their time and efforts to create the perfect wedding.
For four Chattanooga area brides, the process of planning their wedding was time-consuming and filled with decisions, both small and large, that would impact their special day. Thankfully, with the help of talented wedding vendors, friends and family, the work of the fairy godmother was done with gusto and each bride had the wedding of their dreams and was left with wonderful and fond memories. Here they share their experiences and some tips for brides-to-be.
Abby & Ben Garrison
Abby and Ben Garrison said “I do” on May 9, 2009 in a ceremony held at Baylor’s Alumni Chapel. Abby describes the ceremony, “We had five bridesmaids and five groomsmen. The girls wore hot pink silk dresses with hot pink and green flowers, and the guys wore traditional black tuxes.” Abby walked down the aisle in an ivory silk gown from Monica’s. She originally intended to wear her mother’s dress but it was not in the best condition. So instead, she found a clever way to incorporate the lace edging from the dress into her mother’s veil, which was in good shape.
Abby and Ben’s reception, thanks to the help of fantastic vendors, was all that Abby had envisioned. “We had all black linens with a hot pink runner,” she says. “The flowers were created by Emmy Avery. When we visited her studio on Lookout Mountain, I noticed an iron tree-like structure that her husband had made. I loved them and thought they were perfect. Her husband painted them black for the reception and she stuffed them with green and pink flowers and hung votives from the iron branches. Everything was black, pink, and green accented by pink up-lighting.”
Abby and Ben incorporated their personalities and heritage into the food by creating stations that represented different geographic regions that had special meaning for them. There was a California station, a Tennessee station, a Mexico station (they honeymooned in Mexico), and a Florida station (Ben is from Florida). This made for a unique and personal dining experience for their guests.
When asked what made her dream wedding, Abby replies, “I feel like we had everything that we could possibly want or need without being frivolous. We just had a great time. People are still talking about how much fun it was.” As for advice Abby would offer to brides-to-be, she says, “Stick to what you want for colors, themes or whatever. I was considering not doing hot pink because I was afraid my bridesmaids wouldn’t like hot pink. It ended up being fantastic and my bridesmaids really wanted it.”
Mandy & Matt Hadden
Mandy and Matt Hadden married on September 26, 2009. Mandy chose the fall specifically because of the reduced chance for inclement weather. While it was a well thought out choice, normal weather patterns took a backseat on her special day. “It was raining like a monsoon outside,” Mandy says. “The weather was horrible and it was flooding. Some people actually had to take a detour to get to the wedding.” For some, weather like this might be a deal breaker, but Mandy and Matt rolled with the punches, and Mandy doesn’t hesitate to describe her wedding as a “dream wedding.”
Her favorite part was an intimate moment she shared with Matt. Breaking tradition, Mandy and Matt saw each other prior to the ceremony. According to Mandy, “They closed the doors and had him turn around facing the stage. I walked in and all you could hear were footsteps. Matt was at the front of the church praying and heard my footsteps getting closer and closer. I walked up and turned him around. He took one look at me and started crying.”
Mandy and Matt’s wedding took place at First Cumberland Presbyterian church, which Mandy describes as, “the most beautiful church in Chattanooga.” For the reception, guests enjoyed a delicious buffet on tables beautifully decorated with ivory table cloths, sheer beaded organza overlay and pink, ivory and green floral accents. Mandy gave all of her guests the gift of candy. She explains, “I personally made my own candy buffet table. I bought 90 pounds of pink and white candy and put it in nine apothecary jars. Each guest got a box to fill at the buffet table to take home as their party favor.”
When asked what made Mandy’s dream wedding, she replies, “My groom and I had fun at the wedding. It was perfect despite the rain and everything went as it should. Best of all, everyone had a good time.” When asked what lessons she learned, she says, “Let the vendors do their specific jobs, don’t worry, they know what they are doing. Don’t try to do everybody’s job; that’s when you start stressing out and things get confusing. Most importantly, enjoy every minute of the wedding day because it flies by, and if it rains, don’t let it ruin it for you because there is nothing you can do about it!”
Brittney & Bryan Hudson
Brittney Hudson married Bryan on October 10, 2009. She enjoyed every second of her wedding and, when asked what she would change if she could go back in time, her answer is candid, “I know it sounds very cliché, but absolutely nothing.” Brittney’s dream wedding was not held in a cathedral or a well-known park. It took place at the home of her and Bryan’s best friends, Lee and Amy Mashburn, who graciously offered their Ringgold home for the wedding. There was special meaning in this location, as it was the Mashburns who introduced Brittney and Bryan to one another.
It wasn’t sentiment alone, however, that convinced Brittney to take Lee and Amy up on their offer – it was also the beautiful outdoor setting. Brittney says, “Our faith is very important to my husband and I, but I didn’t feel like I had to get married in a church.” She suggests for other brides-to-be, “Be married in a setting that is most comfortable to you, and the Lord will show up!”
Sticking to a budget was important to Brittney during the planning process, and she offers some ideas for other budget-conscious brides. Instead of hiring a band, opt for a fun DJ with a great reputation. Catering costs can really add up, and if you want to include everyone in your special day, you may need to plan for a more limited menu. She explains, “When it came to the guest list, my attitude was, ‘the more, the merrier.’ It is true that the more people you have, the more expensive it gets – and fast! However, I knew I didn’t want to be limited to the number of guests so I chose a more limited catering menu with fewer choices so that it wouldn’t add too much money per head.”
Brittney savored every second of her wedding – and suggests for other brides, “Don’t take it all on yourself. You will have friends and family that want to help, so let them pitch in as much as possible. Try to stay laid-back; the whole process is an experience that should be enjoyed!”
Cindy & William McGee
Cindy McGee’s childhood dream of having a fall wedding became a reality on October 24, 2009 when she married William McGee at Ringgold United Methodist Church. After the wedding, the couple made their way to the reception. Cindy explains, “While the entire day was a dream come true, my favorite part was riding in the carriage to the reception. It was a special time because it was just the two of us and it gave us a chance to take everything in and discuss how amazing the day was going. As we came into view of the reception pavilion, the DJ announced that we were riding up and we got chill bumps as we saw every single guest come outside the pavilion to watch us arrive. At that moment we knew that the closest people in our lives were there just to celebrate our special day and share our happiness. It was a feeling we will never forget.”
Budgeting was a major consideration for Cindy and William, but she felt very strong about including everyone in the big day. She made allowances accordingly. Cindy explains, “My fiancé and I knew that we wanted to be able to invite as many friends and family as we wanted without setting a limit on the number of guests. We made an agreement ahead of time to cut back on other expenses to allow us to invite these special people.” They did this by having a budget-conscious reception, complete with hor d’oeuvres instead of a full meal, beautiful yet inexpensive decorations for the table, and some other creative money-saving efforts.
Cindy has advice for other brides intent on sticking with a budget. She says, “I highly recommend trying your best to stay within your budget when planning a wedding. It is a great feeling not owing anything at the end of your big day. It is quite possible to have a perfect wedding at an affordable price. Learn how to make sacrifices to stay within your budget and you will greatly appreciate it in the end.”
Cindy and her fiancé did their best to focus on the spiritual aspect of marriage as well. She explains, “My groom and I thoroughly enjoyed our premarital counseling sessions with our pastor. He really helped us focus on what marriage stands for. It’s so easy to get caught up in planning the wedding, but it is important to remember that the wedding only lasts one day, but marriage lasts a lifetime.”
Whether your dream wedding consists of 1,000 guests and a sit-down dinner, enjoyed at an exotic location, or 30 guests with barbeque at a friend’s house, a dream wedding is always within reach. As these brides proved through their unique experiences, the term “dream” is a relative one. With a vision, good planning, fairy godmother-worthy vendors, and loving friends and family, any couple can put together and enjoy the wedding of their dreams.