Whimsically Wooded RT Lodge Wedding

Zika. Yes, I said it: Zika. It is because of Zika that I have the pleasure of photographing Jacqueline + Rich’s wedding at RT Lodge. After Rich proposed to Jacqueline, they started planning their wedding and they knew that a Caribbean wedding was out of the question due to the Zika concerns. So, Jacqueline started requesting estimates from literally everywhere — from New York to Florida, from California to Ireland.

After an unsuccessful trip to look at venues in Florida, Jacqueline started thinking about what was really important to her. And what was important was not only the aesthetic but also the general atmosphere of their wedding weekend. Her actual Google search was: “whimsical, magical, woodland, midsummer night’s dream wedding retreat.” There were millions of incredible images to scroll through. However, an image of a wooded RT Lodge wedding ceremony caught her eye. This image actually shocked her because she had pinned this exact image to her private Pinterest board years ago.

It took very little time for Jacqueline + Rich to book a visit to Maryville. They discovered that tucked in the backwoods of this tiny town was the future site of their wedding. They continually joke that they should “hire” fireflies to buzz around us at the wedding, but there is no need as there are already thousands of fireflies floating through the woods.

Their Wedding Day

On the day of Jacqueline + Rich’s RT Lodge wedding, East Tennessee weather was at its finest. I mean, rain. The rain had been starting and stopping for days. Luckily, there was going to be a couple of hours of clear weather that would allow Jacqueline’s dream to come true. Adorning a Robert Bullock Dress with a Justin Alexander Cape, Jacqueline met her husband on the winding road for the ceremony. They were wed saying their vows back and forth to each other, which in true style, created tons of smiles.

The wedding day continued into the reception under the tent as the rainstorms brewed. Family-style tables were prepared for the guests to enjoy mingling with each other and passing delicious entrees back and forth. In true fashion for our region, the rain stopped just in time for a grand sparkler exit under the garden lights at the front of the property. I hope you enjoy Jacqueline + Rich’s wedding at RT Lodge below!