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Elegant and Woodsy RT Lodge Wedding

October 27, 2024 | justine

Katrina and Nicholas envisioned an unforgettable wedding weekend with their closest family and friends, and they made it happen. They chose the natural beauty of RT Lodge as their setting, combining its rustic charm with elegant details and incredible food as the centerpiece. Their RT Lodge wedding was a perfect blend of woodsy elegance, filled with personal touches,  stunning decor, and florals that created an extraordinary and memorable celebration.

In the middle of a winding road surrounded by tall trees, the couple exchanged their vows, with beautiful flowers framing the special moment. After their woodland ceremony, the pair, being food lovers, chose to have a tented reception. They enjoyed a delicious meal at long tables decorated with low flower arrangements and candles, all set under a canopy of greenery and twinkling fairy lights.

The intimate details, thoughtful touches, and stunning landscape made their big day special. If you and your partner are dreaming of a celebration centered around nature, family, and delicious food, this is the perfect inspiration. Keep scrolling to explore every beautiful detail and unforgettable moment, all beautifully captured by Grace Torres Photo.

The Couple:

Katrina and Nicholas

The Wedding:

RT Lodge, Maryville, Tennessee

Creating Their Dream RT Lodge Wedding Experience

We took a road trip during our search, staying at four different venues and meeting with their wedding planners. RT Lodge was the last stop, and we knew right when we checked into our room that it felt like home. We are foodies, so food was essential to us. After a dinner with their renowned chef, Trevor Stockton, we knew we absolutely needed to have his food at our wedding. The cherry on top was our meeting the next day with our wedding planner. She was incredibly sweet and organized and catered to our every need. She showed us various options for ceremony locations, and I knew I wanted a unique place to hold the ceremony. RT Lodge’s “winding road” was charming and perfect. After our time at RT Lodge, we knew it was the perfect place to have our wedding. 

How Their Venue Influenced Their Wedding Aesthetic

I’m a huge gardener, so I wanted the flowers to reflect what I love to grow. We chose a colorful arrangement of pinks, oranges, yellows, and a small splash of blue. The woods of RT Lodge also inspired the next steps in our wedding planning. The save-the-dates were engraved wooden magnets, and the invitations mirrored the color palette, featuring a personalized map of RT Lodge. We found rental shelves, couches, tables, chairs, gorgeous velvet green tablecloths, and crystal-patterned champagne glasses for our champagne tower. The setting of our cocktail hour was pure elegance, with florals, crystal glasses, charcuterie boards, and falling leaves from the Smoky Mountain trees. The escort cards were a DIY wooden holder and card that embodied the woodsy feel of RT Lodge, displayed on beautiful shelves in front of the koi pond. Allowing the venue to inspire us was the best way to create a cohesive wedding day.

Personal Stories Weaved Into Their Ceremony

We wanted a very intimate ceremony where our guests could truly dive into our love story and really understand who we were together and why we were getting married. Nick’s youth pastor served as our officiant, and we met with him several times before the wedding to discuss the ceremony sequence and content. He also met with us individually to gather personal stories about one another that he could incorporate. He began the ceremony by sharing these stories, reflecting on his experience watching Nick grow up, and finally, our love story. We asked my sister to be part of our ceremony by reading our favorite Bible verse, Romans 12:9-18. She’s always been a huge supporter of our relationship and sounding board as we fell in love. The best and most special part of our ceremony was our vows. We decided a few months before the wedding to write our own meaningful vows to each other. We both read our vows from our leather notebooks and at the end, we put our vows and a five-year note to one another into a custom wooden box. We also included a bottle of wine and our guests’ notes and nailed it shut.

Adding a Fun Twist with a Wedding Newspaper and Scratch-Off Surprises

We created a newspaper for the wedding with a scratch-off ticket attached. In the early days of our long-distance relationship, Nick would surprise me with a scratch-off every time we met, so we thought it would be a fun touch to include them in the celebration. At the end of the night, Nick and I discovered a stack of leftover scratch-offs and decided to scratch them off together. Our friends were surrounding us, so we had an incredible cheering squad. Unfortunately, there were no winners, but it was incredibly memorable as we scratched them off while signing our wedding paperwork.

 

The Importance of a Trustworthy Wedding Team

Hire a team that you trust so you can live your day to the fullest! Surround yourself with vendors and planners who understand your vision and can handle all the details, big and small. When you have confidence in your team, you won’t have to stress about timelines, setups, or last-minute changes. Instead, you can relax and truly immerse yourself in each moment, whether walking down the aisle, dancing with loved ones, or simply enjoying the atmosphere you’ve created. Being fully present without worrying will allow you to soak up all the joy and love of your special day, making it everything you’ve dreamed of and more.

Creating the Perfect Vibe with Reception Music and Serving Up Favorite Late-Night Snacks

One of the biggest compliments we received was about our reception music. We used a recommended DJ from our venue, and had several meetings with him before the event. We were very specific about what music we wanted to be played and provided him with “no” and “need to play” lists. This made sure the vibe of our night was spot on. The dance floor was packed all evening, and people partied the night away. After the reception, we hosted an after-party in the bar of RT Lodge. This was an incredible spot for our late-night guests to gather and continue the celebration. We served pizza rolls and chicken tenders, which are our favorite late-night snacks. They were a huge hit! Tailoring the wedding to what you both enjoy is incredibly important, creating a space you’ll love.

Transforming Their Celebration into a Vacation for Guests

We are most proud of the venue and how seamlessly the weekend flowed. Everything about our weekend conveyed a sense of elegant comfort. It was beautiful and luxurious but still refreshing. The staff at RT Lodge played a huge part in the weekend’s success. Since we had the whole venue for ourselves, each room, meal, and event was catered entirely to our needs. We wanted our wedding to be an incredible experience for our guests. We loved RT Lodge so much that we knew a destination wedding there would be worth it and wanted to show our guests how wonderful the location was. Once we found RT Lodge, we knew we wanted it to be an exclusive, weekend-long event where we could maximize our time with our guests. We hosted events from Friday night to Sunday morning, allowing us to see everyone much more than just the wedding day. Our guests swooned over the venue, the hiking trails, the food, and the cozy setting in the woods. Not only did they attend our wedding, but they truly had a vacation.

Unique and Thoughtful Wedding Favors

We arranged a few special favors for our guests. At the welcome party on Friday, we set out kettle corn for all of our guests. They packaged it beautifully, and our guests devoured it the first night. We handed out personalized newspapers that I designed and printed on authentic newsprint in London for the wedding day. We attached a scratch-off lottery ticket to all newspapers and a story in the paper explaining how, early in our long-distance relationship, Nick would always bring me a scratch-off. This became a fun tradition we shared each time we saw each other.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Grace Torres Photo
Event Planning – Ali Oliver
Venue + Catering – RT Lodge
Floral Design – Wither and Bloom Floral Design
Cake – Caitlyn Cox
DJ – Special Notes Entertainment
Invitation Design – The Happy Envelope
Makeup + Hair Styling – The Effortless Beauty
Wedding Dress – Marie Gabriel Couture
Bridal Accessories – Forever Soles
Groom’s Apparel + Accessories – Dell Brothers
Rentals – McCabe Rentals + All Occasions Party Rentals
Draping – Luma Designs

 

Congratulations to Katrina and Nicholas on their elegant and woodsy RT Lodge wedding. Many thanks to Grace Torres Photo for beautifully capturing every heartfelt moment, stunning detail, and the natural beauty that surrounded their special day.

Your wedding venue sets the vibe for your entire day, making it so important to find the perfect spot that matches your style. Whether it’s a cozy outdoor space or an elegant hall, the right venue brings everything together. Check out our venue guide for all the tips and inspiration you need to find a place that feels right for your celebration.

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This Colorful Casa Aragón Wedding Had a Ceremony That Represented The Four Elements

October 25, 2024 | justine

Lina and Pablo’s Casa Aragón wedding was a vibrant, intimate celebration that broke away from traditional norms. With the help of Junebug vendor Flora Wedding Studio, they crafted a special day that truly reflected their personalities. Surrounded by close family and friends, their ceremony was deeply personal, symbolizing their journey through the four elements—fire, air, water, and earth—each stage marking a special moment of unity and love.

After the ceremony, Lina and Pablo’s guests enjoyed a lively cocktail hour with a Hawaiian band and fun games. Dinner followed, featuring a selection of local dishes and an informal toast from the couple. The dessert table offered unique twists on traditional Colombian treats. The party brought everything together, with a DJ playing ’90s and 2000s hits and neon decor highlighting the groom’s love for electronic music, creating a vibrant and unforgettable celebration.

If you’re looking for inspiration on how to infuse your personality and interests into every aspect of your celebration while maintaining a cohesive and elegant theme, this wedding is one to check out. The beautiful photos by Serendipity Storytellers perfectly capture the essence of their love story and the unforgettable day they created.

The Couple:

Lina and Pablo

The Wedding:

Casa Aragón, Colombia

How They Brought Their Casa Aragón Wedding To Life

Our wedding was intimate, with a few guests consisting of close family and friends. We wanted a relaxed style, something more colorful and alternative to a traditional cathedral wedding or boho style. Together with Flora Wedding Studio, we designed the wedding we had dreamed of, and they made it a reality. The decor reflected our personalities and tastes: vibrant colors, flowers, casual food, and party elements with retro games.

A Personalized Casa Aragón Wedding Ceremony Celebrating the Elements

The ceremony was deeply personalized. We designed it with our officiant, who guided us through four stages, each representing one of the four elements to unite us. First was fire, where we let go of anything that no longer served us or worked for us as individuals and as a couple. We wrote down those things and burned them in a small bonfire. Next came air, where we shared heartfelt words with our parents to thank them for everything they had done for us, acknowledging that from now on, the path ahead was entirely ours. Water followed, marked by a toast during which our groomsman and bridesmaid shared words of wisdom and well wishes. Finally, we reached earth, where we planted a small tree together as a symbol of the future we wish to cultivate. As a lighthearted touch, there was even a fifth element—love—which closed the ceremony. Both of us, along with our parents and closest friends, actively participated, making it a truly meaningful and unique experience.

A Vibrant Evening of Music, Games, and Local Cuisine

We then moved on to a cocktail hour with a Hawaiian band and different games for the guests. After that, we had dinner, where we gave an informal toast, and the guests enjoyed a selection of local dishes. The dessert table offered reinterpretations of Colombian desserts. Finally, at the party, everything came together: we enjoyed the music from the DJ, to whom we had specially requested songs from the ’90s and 2000s, along with neon decor in honor of the groom’s love for electronic music.

A Festive Night with Mexican Vibes and Custom Cocktails

We both love tacos, but the groom especially, since he was born in Mexico. Because of this, there were also some nods to Mexican culture, like the DJ’s backing in neon light (Amor & Tacos), some of the food, and a piñata at the party. One of the main attractions was the bar, where cocktails and drinks inspired by our dogs were freely served throughout the night. The Bailey Mule (our twist on the Moscow Mule) glasses were specially made for this day, adding a personal and fun touch to the celebration.

Polaroid Memories and Thoughtful Table Décor

During the cocktail hour, dinner, and party, we used Polaroid cameras to capture our guests’ unique moments and special memories. It was a fun and spontaneous way to document the day and create tangible memories for everyone. One of the things that best captured the vibe and essence of who I am was the table décor: the flowers, the numbers, and the plates. Everything was carefully designed to reflect my style and personality, making that part of the wedding especially meaningful to me.

The Importance of Choosing Your Wedding Planner Early

Choose your wedding planner as soon as possible and, ideally, work together to co-create what you want. Don’t leave it for the last minute like we did! I feel like I chose all the vendors in a random order. Thankfully, Jessica, the founder of Flora Wedding Studio, came into our lives, helped us organize everything we had, and brought our vision to life quickly. We also recommend that you participate in co-creating concepts and making mood boards with your wedding planner if you enjoy the creative process. It will help you visualize your expectations and communicate your dreams clearly.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Serendipity Storytellers
Ceremony + Reception Venue + Catering – Casa Aragón
Floral Design + Invitation Design – Flora Wedding Studio
Cake – A comer pastel
Officiant – Laura Abello
DJ – DJ Staff Colombia
Live Music – La Vitrola Music
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Laura Pantoja

 

Congratulations to Lina and Pablo on their colorful Casa Aragón wedding that represented the four elements. A special thank you to Junebug vendor Flora Wedding Studio for bringing the couple’s dream day to life. Check out their profile in our curated directory of the world’s best wedding planners for more inspiration.

When planning your wedding, let your personality and vision shine. From choosing a special venue to adding personal touches, make your day reflect your unique love story. Check out our guide for creative ideas to make your celebration unforgettable.

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How to Utilize Pinterest at the Beginning of Wedding Planning

October 24, 2024 | justine

Planning a wedding is exciting but can also feel overwhelming with so many details to think about. From choosing a theme to picking out the perfect dress and deciding on decor, there’s a lot to figure out. This is where Pinterest comes in handy. Pinterest is like a digital scrapbook that allows you to collect, organize, and visualize all your wedding ideas in one place. It’s the ultimate tool to help you explore different themes, styles, and trends and helps ensure that your wedding vision is cohesive and as beautiful in real life as it is in your head.

By learning how to use Pinterest effectively from the very start, you can organize your ideas, refine your style, and create a clear idea of what you truly want for your wedding day. With the right approach, it can transform your ideas into reality, so we’re breaking down exactly how to use it to make things a lot less stressful. 

How to Utilize Pinterest at the Beginning of Wedding Planning

Set Up Your Pinterest Wedding Boards

Setting up your Pinterest boards for wedding planning is a fun and creative way to gather inspiration and organize your ideas. Creating dedicated boards and sections helps you quickly find what you need later. Here’s how you can set up your Pinterest wedding boards effectively:

1. Create Your Pinterest Wedding Master Board

  • Establish a main wedding board named “Our Wedding” or something similar.
  • This will serve as a central hub for all your wedding-related inspirations.

2. Organize with Specific Boards

Create separate boards for specific categories (these are just some examples but you can create as many as you want for anything and everything wedding related:

    • Dresses: Pin styles and designs that catch your eye. This can make shopping much easier when you get to that step because you’ll have specific dresses in mind
    • Flowers: Save ideas for floral arrangements that you want to recreate with the help of your florist.
    • Decor: Collect images of decorations, backdrops, centerpieces, and lighting.
    • Cakes: Pin different cake designs and flavors.
    • Venues: Save photos and information about potential venues you may want to tour.

3. Utilize Sections

Within each board, create sections to categorize your pins further. This helps streamline your ideas and provides clarity for vendors.

    • For example, under the “Cakes” board, add sections for Wedding Cakes, Cupcakes, and Dessert Tables.

4. Pin and Explore

Take your time to explore Pinterest. Later, revisit your master board to move pins into their respective boards.

    • Pin any content that inspires you, including articles, color palettes, and real wedding photos.
    • Don’t worry about organization at this stage; focus on gathering ideas.

5. Consider Secret Boards

If privacy is a concern, create secret boards:

    • These boards are only visible to you and anyone you invite.
    • Use them to keep certain choices private, like dress options or surprise elements for your guests.

Image by AK Happenings

Pin Freely and Explore Different Styles

In the early stages, pin everything you love, whether it’s rustic, modern, or Old Hollywood-inspired. Don’t worry about the details yet—just gather ideas that catch your eye. This allows you to explore different styles and find what feels right for your big day. In many cases, you’ll find that you’re attracted to one specific style or theme more than any others, but if you’re torn between a few different styles, don’t worry yet. This stage is all about finding what first captures your attention.

It’s also important to note that you don’t have to rely strictly on Pinterest content during this stage. If there is content on wedding blogs or Instagram that catches your attention, feel free to pin it to your boards to keep it all in one easy-to-access place. Most blogs will have a “pin this” button where you can save content directly from a site to your boards.

Narrow Down Your Style

Once you’ve collected enough pins, go through your boards and see if any patterns emerge. Do you notice a favorite color scheme or a preference for a specific style? Now’s the time to be cutthroat and brutally honest with yourself. Dissect each pin and what you liked about it. If, after you’ve scoured Pinterest for hours, you’re less drawn to a photo, trust your gut and delete it. Only keep the pins that feel right and fit the theme you’re most drawn to, and remove anything that doesn’t match. This helps focus your Pinterest wedding boards on what you truly want.

Check the Details and Make Sure It Works

Before committing to an idea, click on the pin to learn more about it. Make sure the look you love is realistically achievable within your budget and venue. This will keep your boards full of ideas that are both beautiful and practical.

Don’t Be Afraid to Delete Your Pinterest Wedding Pins

Even after you delete all of the photos that don’t fit with the theme that you’ve picked out, you can clean up your boards even further. Chances are you’ve pinned images that are either the same or very similar to one another. These boards are what you’re going to reference throughout your entire wedding planning process, so you want to keep only the photos that truly inspire you.

Share Your Boards With Partner and Vendors

Pinterest is one of the best tools for collaborating with your partner, wedding planner, or vendors. If they have a Pinterest account, you can add them as contributors to a board so they have full access. If they don’t have an account, you can simply share the link to your profile. Either way, share your boards with them so they can understand your style and add suggestions..

Use Pinterest to Test Different Styles

Still not sure about your wedding theme? Create different boards for each idea you like, such as boho, elegant, or garden styles. Comparing these boards side by side will help you decide which style best fits your wedding.

Stay Focused Once You Choose a Style

Pinterest has a lot to offer, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. We understand how easy it is to keep scrolling and look at all of the stunning images, but once you’ve chosen your theme, focus on your specific boards and avoid pinning outside that theme. This keeps your planning organized and makes turning your ideas into real plans easier.

Turn Pinterest Wedding Pins into Real Plans

After narrowing down your style, use your Pinterest wedding boards as a guide. Make separate checklists of dress styles, decor ideas, and flowers that you can mark as you go. This is when you’ll start shopping around for vendors, and if you have a clear idea of what you want, choosing professionals that are the right fit for you will be much easier. Taking your boards to meetings will make it clear what you want and help everyone stay on the same page from the very beginning.

Be Flexible with Your Ideas

While Pinterest is an excellent source of inspiration, real life might require some adjustments. Be open to changes based on your venue, budget, and available resources. Your wedding might look different from your boards, but it will still be unique and tailored to you.

Using Pinterest for your wedding planning can be a fun and creative adventure. As you gather ideas and figure out your style, you’ll be on your way to creating a special day that truly reflects you. Don’t forget to visit Junebug Weddings’ Pinterest for loads of great inspiration. With so many ideas to explore, you’ll find everything you need to make your wedding day amazing.

Image by Lucas Weddings

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