RT Lodge
Do you love the Smokey Mountains as much as I do? There is something so wistful and mysterious about foggy peaks and mountain roads through the pines. One of my joys as a Knoxville wedding photographer is the delight in seeing a happy couple walking hand in hand against a backdrop of the beautiful rocky hillside or dark forest leaves. The wedding venue I’m about to discuss will help you to see what I mean: it simply defines “romantic getaway” perfectly.
Nestled in the charming small town of Maryville, Tennessee is the small, woodsy school called Maryville College. On its campus is a beautiful hotel known at the RT Lodge, whose grounds and reception spaces are total jewels as backdrops for weddings. This location really pulls me in due to the surroundings as well as the handsome indoor dining room and common spaces.
Key Features of RT Lodge
One interesting feature is that The Lodge rents the whole premises, from Friday to Sunday, to a single wedding. Your guests won’t have to figure out which area of a huge venue to go to for the right wedding. The result is something that feels more like a little transport away from regular life more than just a single event.
They host everything from a rehearsal dinner all the way through the Sunday morning brunch. If that is what you choose, making you and your guests comfortable and cozy in their array of hotel rooms. Despite feeling intimate and small, the Lodge can actually accommodate up to 300 guests! This means even if you have a lot of friends and family coming to your wedding, you can still get the small-wedding feel that you hope for.
Ceremonies are held in the open air of the Ceremony Lawn, which is surrounded by beautiful trees. There are also options for using a large wedding tent if the weather turns for the worse. The Lodge also works with local churches and makes the logistics simple for getting your guests to the locations.
With a chef specializing in local, seasonal fare and multiple reception locations, your post-ceremony celebration will combine entertainment, beautiful surroundings, delicious food, and all the dancing you can desire. Whether you choose the Lodge Veranda, the Dining Room, or a garden reception in the outdoor Sperry Tent, you and your guests are sure to have the magical night you’ve always envisioned.
The on-site floral staff can be your main sources of decorations for your wedding at the RT Lodge, and it is a good idea to work with them because they consistently garner rave reviews. Their decor is understated and classic while being customized to the desires of the bride and groom, and they make everything seamless and beautiful for the happy couple.
Why Wed at RT Lodge?
A Retreat
Brides don’t describe this wedding venue as just a site for a wedding; they talk about how it is a retreat. By moving one’s friends and family into the lodge for a few days, you get the chance to truly bond with them. You will make memories in the mountains! There is lots of love shared through dancing and eating together at a reception. But those hours are fleeting, and many brides commented on how much deeper their connections were when they could use the guest rooms at The Lodge to keep everyone nearby. They loved to spend time together throughout the wedding weekend.
Friendly Staff
The staff at RT Lodge are praised often for their flexibility, relaxed attitudes, and professionalism; this makes a wonderful combination for keeping brides confident, happy, and in the moment. By effortlessly making changes when inclement weather threatens or when vendors aren’t sure where to set up, RT Lodge takes the guesswork out of the situation and makes it possible to focus on friends, family, and fun.
Amazing Food
No one wants a mediocre meal at their wedding. RT Lodge ensures that not only will your reception fare be amazing, you’ll not want for delicious eats throughout the weekend! Welcome dinners, breakfasts, brunches, and lunches are all raved about. May say that their food is the “best wedding food we’ve ever had.” Attention to detail, local ingredients, and attitudes attuned to the bride and grooms’ desires all are characteristic of Chef Trevor Stockton’s cooking and menu design. He’s no newbie either. Chef Stockton’s winning awards from Plate Magazine and elevating a variety of homey Southern dishes, your guests will be impressed and happily satiated throughout their time here.
Quality
RT Lodge has won awards from Wedding Wire for years, specifically as the “Brides’ Choice.” Brides want a place that feels a little different from the every day: where details are taken care of, where the scenery is beautiful, and where the magic of having all their closest friends and family nearby is accentuated by the excitement of joining two lives together. RT Lodge provides these options and more, generating rave reviews from every couple who chooses to work with them.
Erin Morrison Photography
As a photographer, I cannot help but loving venues like RT Lodge: the scenic beauty of the area as well as the tasteful decor of the Lodge allow me to photograph couples to the best advantage. At the same time, candid photographs of the guests enjoying themselves turn out well also, and the lighting on the Ceremony Lawn is simply a delight. My photographs from this fairy-tale wedding show you why brides use the word “magic” to describe the place. The bride actually described it as being like a Midsummer’s Night Dream, the whimsical Shakespearean play about fairies and love potions.
If you like what you see, please feel free to contact me here. It would be a pleasure to be your Knoxville Wedding Photographer.
