An East Tennessee Inspired Wedding Featuring Native and Seasonal Florals
Ceci and Weston met during their first semester at the University of Georgia, where they quickly became friends.
“I was increasingly drawn to Weston’s fun, easy going spirit, natural brilliance, and dazzling big blue eyes,” Ceci recalls. “Following countless study dates in the library, tailgates and football games, and nights out in downtown Athens, we decided to start dating.”
After eight years together, Weston proposed during a sunset beach walk in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. The engagement took place in the same location where Weston first told Ceci he loved her, but Pawleys Island has long been a special place for both of their families—an idyllic setting for many generations of love stories.
“As a couple, we believe that our greatest asset is our family.”
A year later at Blue Goose Tavern, Andrea recalls seeing him for the first time and feeling that there was something special about him. They didn’t officially start dating until years later, but those early sparks set the stage for a love story meant to last.
Working with Whitney Bowman Events
“As we started to discuss wedding planning,” Ceci shares, “there was no doubt that we wanted to work with Whitney Bowman Events. Whitney and her team made the entire process a breeze, from recommending and booking vendors to designing and transforming our venue into a visually stunning masterpiece. From start to finish, Whitney created magic, making all of our wedding hopes and dreams come true.”
Many months of anticipation and meticulous planning eventually led to a wedding day that was brimming with excitement. Ceci and Weston’s ceremony was held at Church Street United Methodist in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, where Ceci was raised and confirmed. Their vows were exchanged beneath soaring spires and gleaming stained-glass windows.
“God’s presence was palpable as we retreated back down the aisle, hand-in-hand as husband and wife,” says the bride. “While we were most excited to start our lives together as one, we were equally as thrilled to have all of our most cherished people gather collectively in celebration. As a couple, we believe that our greatest asset is our family. We are both lucky enough to come from rather large families. Our parents instilled in us a strong foundation of faith and deep understanding of unconditional, compassionate love. In effort to honor a lifetime of devotion, Weston and I opted to include a ‘first dance’ with both sets of our parents. We waltzed around the dance floor to ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ by Frank Sinatra, the same song my parents danced to on their wedding night.”
Inspired By East Tennessee
Inspired by East Tennessee, the couple wanted to highlight the region’s beauty through their wedding décor. Native and seasonal florals were used to create a clean, simple design. Cherokee Country Club provided the perfect canvas for the reception, nestled along a breathtaking bend of the Tennessee River with the Smoky Mountain ridgeline as a magnificent backdrop. With a lush array of green and white florals filling the ballroom, the couple’s ode to East Tennessee was the epitome of understated elegance, giving their wedding day a genuine sense of Southern charm.
As a special touch, the wedding cake topper was a showstopping Herend sculpture of intertwined cranes that the bride’s mom serendipitously stumbled across at an estate sale.
“Sandhill cranes are native to East Tennessee and mate for life,” Ceci adds. “This was the perfect naturalistic touch that tied the entire design together, as the cranes appeared as a motif in our invitation suite and throughout the reception decor. To our surprise, Whitney even commissioned a custom, hand-painted bar featuring watercolor cranes perched along a shoreline.”
With Azalea and Velvet Hammer signature cocktails in hand—a nod to the groom’s hometown of Augusta, Georgia—the newlyweds danced the night away amongst their dearest family and friends.
“Every moment of the day was simply perfect,” Ceci reflects. “We were filled with immense joy and gratitude as we jetted off to Lake Tahoe for a blissful honeymoon. We spent a week lounging along the waterfront, enjoying breathtaking views of glacial lakes, ascending towering mountain peaks, and even dabbling in fly fishing. Our excursion out west proved to be an exceptional kickoff as we embarked on our greatest adventure yet—marriage.”
WEDDING TALENT
Location: Cherokee Country Club; Planner & Creative Director: Whitney Bowman Events; Client & Vendor Relations: Whitney Bowman Events; Floral Design: Sam Franklin; Rentals: PBS; Draping: Jason Events; Cake: Regina Long; Hair & Makeup: The Collective; Paper Goods: Little Postage House; Entertainment: ECE, Atlanta Rhythm and Groove; Videography: Skylar Ball Videography; Photography: Ben Finch