Dream Day Memories

The Couple: Stephanie & Bryan Alexander
The Date: October 18
The Scene: The lakefront home of the groom's parents in Knoxville, TN

Stephanie’s story:
"Bryan and I shared the same vision: we wanted a wedding that was magical, and that looked like a still life from a Shakespeare play."

Her tips:

Go with seasonal fare.
Stephanie and Bryan were married in October and the brunch menu reflected that: A cheesy grits bar, spiced cranberry and apple cheddar soup, butternut squash and hazelnut lasagna, and biscuits with autumn roasted pork loin.

Consult on-site. "Have your photographer, florist and caterer come and walk the property with you to see what you have to work with ahead of time."

Keep everything light and fun. "You can have an elegant wedding that is unique and personalized, but you can't expect the same formality as with a church wedding."

Give guests a heads up on what to wear. "Advise your guests to wear appropriate footwear if you have uneven terrain."

Plan out even the unglamorous details. "My in-laws were worried about having 200 people marching in and out of their house to use the bathroom so our solution was to rent portable bathrooms that were tented to help hide them along the side of the house."