Formal Southern Wedding at Maple Grove Estate in Knoxville
This was my first time at Maple Grove Estate. The home is a historic, 10,000 sq. ft. private estate situated on over 15 acres, “full of southern charm and picturesque views.” Originally built in 1799, Maple Grove was the private residence of Reverend Samuel Graham Ramsey. It now serves as a B&B, as well as a wedding & event venue. I was so looking forward to exploring the grounds with Margaret Anne & Matt, but the rain kept us inside for the first part of the day. It was still the perfect backdrop for their classic, timeless Maple Grove Estate wedding in Knoxville, TN.
Match.com for the Win
Margaret Anne & Matt are both hard working professionals and met like many busy, career minded people do – on Match.com.
“We both just turned 39 in March, with neither of us having ever been married and both about ready to give up before meeting each other. Over the years my girlfriends would tell me over …’He’s out there, keep trying, be patient, it will be worth the wait.’ He was worth every minute of the wait.” -Margaret Anne
Beach Proposal
Matt knew he wanted to marry her the moment he saw her walk in the door on their first date. Little more than a year later, Matt proposed on a vacation at Folly Beach. As the couple took a few pre-dinner photos on the sand, Matt dropped to one knee. Luckily, friends were there to document the moment! The couple celebrated with dinner at a restaurant that helped get Matt’s career as a chef started.
Timeless Wedding, Killer Food
Margaret Anne & Matt had a classic, timeless southern wedding with blush, ivory, and mauve accents. They had to pivot a bit when the rain forced their Episcopal ceremony inside the reception tent, but it was just as beautiful. The most important aspects were that the day be fun for guests and the catering be exceptional – and was it ever! They had rockstar professionals from all over the south making sure every detail was perfect. Superstar Chef Simon Hall outdid himself-the food was unforgettable!
“Favorite part – purchasing my dress, looking at venues, choosing my vendors. Least favorite part – managing my stress levels and time management between my job and planning the wedding, especially the last 2 months when final details and decisions are made.”
“I’ll never forget seeing Matt’s face when he saw me coming down the aisle; I’ve never felt more beautiful. It made all the stress, arguments, tears, and lack of sleep worth it. Saying our vows, looking straight into each others eyes, is another moment I’ll remember and treasure forever.”
“The only thing I would have changed was where the musicians were during the ceremony. They were tucked in the back and it was difficult to hear them at the front. I would have also made a more conscious effort to speak with all my guests. I got distracted having fun on the dance floor! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have changed a single thing.”
“This is a tough one, but I’d have to say my venue. It was expensive, but worth every cent. They did an absolutely amazing job from top to bottom, and it’s such a beautiful place. They were fabulous to work with, and even with the rain, everything turned out beautifully. All of my vendors were spectacular though, and everyone did a beautiful job to create the wedding I’ve always wanted and then some. My florist is a dear friend of mine from high school and transformed an already stunning space into something out of dream. The band helped make it a rockin’ good time!”
“My biggest piece of advice is to decide on what’s REALLY important to you big picture, stick to it, and then let everything else go; it’s not worth stressing over. Don’t be afraid to rely on your vendors to help make decisions – they are the experts!! Be open to their feedback on what’s worked and hasn’t worked in weddings they’ve done in the past. Doing this helped me relax and enjoy the process, and most importantly the day. Take time for yourself during the day – even just a couple of minutes – to soak it all in. It goes by in the blink of an eye, and you’re going to want to remember it all. My other big piece of advice is to take 10-15 minutes after the ceremony and photos, before the reception, to be alone with your new spouse. Other people had given me that advice, and I’m so glad we took it. It was amazing to have a chance to breathe for a minute first of all, but mostly it was important to have time to reflect upon and celebrate this huge thing we just did together!”
