I didn't really plan on blogging this today, but I started looking through the photos and just wanted to go ahead and share. Although she is from Maryville, Rachel and Josh live in Florida so they had a combined wedding/honeymoon here in the
Smoky Mountains at
The Dancing Bear Lodge in Townsend. The ceremony was held in a smaller meeting hall with the reception in the larger lodge and formal photos around the grounds. The reception tables were set up indoors and out with a dance area on the lower deck.
The lodge and cabins are all very nice and modern but retain a rustic charm with many custom touches. The carved doors on the lodge are truly amazing.
A family friend did the flowers, and I thought Rachel's bouquet was perfect for a mountain wedding. It incorporated irises (my grandmother's favorite flower and the state flower), sunflowers, and daisies.
The walkway to the ceremony site was lined with these hanging cones of Gerbera daisies. It's a little difficult to convey in a photo, but the effect was simply beautiful. Guests felt like they were walking down a forest path to a little cabin in the woods.
Rachel is an anthropologist and planned much of her wedding while working in South Africa. As favors for her guests, she brought back these creative little keychains that were handmade out of wire and beads by African artisans. VERY cool.
I love Rachel's mermaid gown, and it fit her perfectly.
Josh watched as Rachel cut the cake. Carrot Cake. My favorite!
Although it was a very hot and humid day, the guests weren't deterred from dancing into the night to live music by the Swinging Richards.
Josh's family taught everyone a Lebanese wedding dance, and the couple showed off some of their moves.
