Congratulations From The Lifestyles Editor!
BY LISA WARREN | Lifestyles Editor
For couples who are planning for your big day, we hope this special section serves as a source of information and inspiration.
This year’s edition provides a host of informative articles to help with the various aspects of wedding planning
as well as a number of beautiful photographs.
Photos used for this edition were submitted from local couples who wed during the past year. It’s my hope that by glimpsing into their big days, other couples planning their own weddings can get helpful ideas.
It was a very difficult task to select just a few photographs from all of the gorgeous photos submitted. There’s a limited amount of space for the print edition!
It was especially hard to select one
How Long Is The Average Engagement?
METRO CREATIVE
Getting engaged is a momentous occasion worthy of celebration. However, soon after the question is popped, people in the couple’s lives tend to start asking when the big day might be.
Newly engaged couples may feel pressured to rush into setting a wedding date, but enjoying one’s engagement for however long it may last is an option for brides and grooms.
Some couples want to run to the altar in a month, while others are happy to stay engaged indefinitely.
Did you know?
METRO CREATIVE
Choosing a location to get married requires careful consideration. Some couples prefer to get married in their hometowns while others want to jet off to far-flung destinations. According to The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study, 60 percent of couples choose to get married where they currently live, 23 percent opt for a hometown venue, and 18 percent select a destination wedding. The truth is there are many domestic and international spots that are prime locations for weddings. The Knot
The Knot, a trusted wedding resource, surveyed nearly 170,000 American couples in 2024 to gauge how long most were waiting to wed. The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study found that the average engagement length is 15 months. This number has held steady since 2022.
Event Source in Canada says the average engagement length for couples in Canada also is 15 months. In general, couples across North America are waiting just over a year to tie the knot after getting engaged.
says the French Riviera; Punta Mita, Mexico; Spain; Costa Rica; Portugal; and Greece are popular picks for destination weddings. People who want to stay closer to home often opt for the Hudson Valley and the Catskills, New York, for a farm or ranch wedding, and the Rockies in Colorado for a mountain venue. According to Google data and the travel and lifestyle firm Holidu, Chicago is the most searched urban area for wedding venues over the past year, followed by Long Island, New York and Dallas, Texas. Other popular cities for getting hitched include San Diego, Las Vegas, Atlanta, and New Orleans. Ultimately, wedding city location will depend on the couple’s budget and guests’ convenience.
How To Submit Your Engagement Or Wedding News
photo for the cover photo. After much back and forth, I ultimately decided to use a photo of MaKayla and Eric Cutshall on the front because of their unique wedding story, which they shared with me for the bridal edition. The Greene County couple said their “I do’s” twice in one week! I invite you to read my article about them and find out why they had two weddings!
Also included in this special section is how you can work with the Lifestyles department of The
and photographs about your own engagement and wedding. These announcements are a free service that the Sun provides for the community. As the Lifestyles Editor at The Greeneville Sun, I congratulate you and look forward to helping you share the happy news about your engagement and wedding with our readers. If you have any questions, please contact me at lisa.warren@ greenevillesun.com or call me at 423359-3114.
Here comes the Bride
METRO CREATIVE
It’s customary for a bride-to-be to make a grand entrance on her wedding day, and for many that involves the processional song “Bridal Chorus,” commonly referred to as “Here Comes the Bride.”
The song is from the 1850 opera “Lohengrin,” which was composed by Richard Wagner.
In the opera, the women in the wedding party sing the song as they escort the bride, Elsa, to her bridal chamber. The original lyrics included,
“Faithfully, led, you go…” and referred to the joy of the couple’s new life together.
After Princess Victoria, the daughter of Queen Victoria of England, used the song for her 1858 wedding procession, the music became a wedding staple across Europe and America.
While the instrumental version is widely used for a bride’s walk down the aisle, some religious institutions prefer couples choose another song because of the music’s secular origins.
Are you newly engaged or married? If so, feel free to share your happy news with Greeneville Sun readers.
All engagement and wedding announcements in the Greeneville Sun Lifestyles pages are published free of charge both online and in the print edition of the newspaper.
Announcements can be submitted online at greenevillesun.com under the Lifestyles & Accent link.
Submissions can also be emailed to lisa.warren@greenevillesun.com or dropped off at the Greeneville Sun office, located at 121 W. Summer Street. A drop-off box is located inside the Sun’s Circulation Department. Color photographs of the couple are encouraged with the free announcements.
For more information about submitting announcements, contact Lifestyles Editor Lisa Warren via email at lisa.warren@greenevillesun.com or by phone at 423-359-3114.
On The Cover
NUNN’S PHOTOGRAPHY
MaKayla and Eric Cutshall are shown at their Aug. 10, 2025, wedding held at a southern Greene County farm in the St. James community. The photo was taken by Nunn’s Photography. The bride’s dress was from David’s Bridal. Please turn to page
County couple
KATRINA SERENE PHOTOGRAPHY
Greeneville native Allison Chudina Lawson is shown at her April 26, 2025, wedding to Mason Lawson.
METRO CREATIVE
The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study found that the average engagement length is 15 months.
Greene County Couple Says 'I Do' Twice
BY LISA WARREN | Lifestyles Editor
When MaKayla Smyth and Eric Cutshall were planning their nuptials, they were originally thinking about a winter wedding in January 2026.
Both Greene County natives, MaKayla works as a social counselor with the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging and Eric serves as a deputy with the Greene County Sheriff’s Department.
Eric is a 2004 graduate of South Greene High School. MaKayla is a 2009 graduate of Greeneville High School. She received her associate’s degree in 2013 from Walters State Community College, and her bachelor’s degree in sociology from East Tennessee State University in 2015 and her Masters of Arts in Sociology in 2017.
The couple met “purely by fate,” MaKayla said.
“We were both at the right place at the right time. It’s a long story, but all I can say is God knew what He was doing in bringing us together,” she added.
The plans for their winter wedding received a twist last summer, when MaKayla learned that the health of her beloved grandmother, Pandora “Penny Thomas, was rapidly declining.
“She was in and out of the hospital multiple times ... and my mother, aunts and uncles told me that she would likely not be with us by Christmas,” MaKayla said.
When MaKayla learned this devastating news, she talked with Eric, and the couple decided to move up their wedding date to Aug. 10, 2025. They planned a small, intimate ceremony at the farm Eric leases in the St. James community of Greene County.
In mid-summer, Mrs. Thomas was hospitalized once again and her health had reached the point that she was placed on hospice care. On August 2, she was released from hospitalized care and returned home to live out her remaining days. It was clear that she would not be able to attend MaKayla and Eric’s wedding on August. 10. She was just too weak and frail.
“My grandma was my best friend,” MaKayla said. “She helped raise me and helped mold me into the woman I am today.” Because of this, MaKayla said she couldn’t bear the thought of her grandmother not being present when she married.
She spoke to Eric about her feelings, and the couple decided to essentially “elope” to the living room of her grandmother’s house.
MaKayla arranged for her pastor to come and marry them, and on Aug. 3, 2025, MaKayla and Eric said “I do” — shortly after Eric finished his patrol shift at the Greene County Sheriff’s Department.
The couple exchanged vows, as MaKayla’s grandmother looked on crying tears of joy. MaKayla was
dressed casually in a knee-length gray dress with white polka dots, and Eric was in his sheriff’s deputy uniform, as Pastor Jesse Bible, of Encompass Church, officiated the marriage.
Others present were MaKayla’s mother, Lori Ricker; her aunt, Mary Thomas (who lives next door); and her cousin, Kristen Houser, who was her grandmother’s caregiver.
“It was the best decision ever!”
MaKayla said. “I would do it all over again!”
Eric whole-heartedly agreed, noting that the decision to bring the wedding to MaKayla’s grandmother will be “a core memory we will remember forever.”
On Aug. 10, the couple held their planned wedding at the farm in St. James, with about 10 friends and family in attendance. The notable absence was her grandmother, but MaKayla felt contentment in her heart that she had been present for the “true” wedding.
For the second time in a week, MaKayla and Eric changed vows, standing on a hillside at the farm before a cross arbor that Eric had built for the ceremony. This time, the bride was dressed for the occasion in a floor-length, lace-embellished, white gown and a stunning veil that draped elegantly down her back. The groom had traded his police uniform for a handsome hunter green suit, white dress shirt and burnt orange bow tie.
Makayla’s pastor, Jesse Bible, once again officiated for the second ceremony. Standing beside Makayla as maid of honor was Jeannie Morgan. Bridesmaids were Candace Ward and Jessica Ness, and the junior bridesmaid was Jenna Cutshall. (Jenna is MaKayla’s niece whom she adopted in 2022, after receiving emergency custody of her. On Oct. 7, 2025, Jenna was also adopted by Eric.)
Standing by Eric during the wedding was his best man Brian Church, along with groomsmen Justin Lilly, Matthew McCamey and Mike Fincher.
Family of the bride in attendance included MaKayla’s parents, Lori Ricker and John Smyth, and her stepmother Stephanie Smyth. Family of the groom in attendance were his parents Bobby and Janet
Cutshall, his “Mamaw” Patsy Rice, and his stepson from a previous marriage, Ian Cravens.
The wedding reception was held at the nearby Cotton’s Country Store in St. James, where “we all had their famous BLT sandwiches,” MaKayla said. The store is owned by Connie and Ralph Wendling. MaKayla’s hair for the wedding was done by Connie Wendling, who operates a beauty salon.
The memory of sharing their wedding day with MaKayla’s grandmother — who died exactly one month following the wedding — will always be a moment they cherish.
“Everything I’ve achieved in my life is because I had grandparents who
inspired me and believed in me,” MaKayla said. She lost her grandfather on June 7, 2015, but not before he was able to watch his first grandchild, MaKayla, walk across the stage and receive her college diploma. She had taken two extra classes during the spring semester of 2015 in order to graduate early — because she wanted him there to share in that important milestone in her life.
MaKayla said she thanks God for the people He has placed in her life, and for allowing them to share precious moments with her. She is now looking forward to sharing a lifetime of love with her husband.
NUNN PHOTOGRAPHY
Eric
MaKayla Cutshall
kiss
St. James farm in southern Greene County.
MaKayla
NUNN PHOTOGRAPHY
Eric and MaKayla Cutshall enjoy a BLT during their wedding reception at Cotton’s Country Store in the St. James community.
METRO CREATIVE
Marriage is a social institution that is thousands of years old. Marriage has undergone changes over the years, but plenty of people are still tying the knot and hosting amazing wedding celebrations.
A total of 2,065,905 marriages were recorded in the United States in 2022. Prospective brides and grooms may be inclined to host more simplified and streamlined weddings in order to save money and time.
Finding ways to streamline a wedding is not necessarily that challenging.
• Keep the ceremony short
— While this may not always be an
Streamline Tips To A Wedding Day
option for couples who are having a traditional religious ceremony that is beholden to the rules of the faith, some couples can opt for a shortened ceremony that is more direct and to the point. A streamlined ceremony can stick strictly to the exchange of vows, rather than including readings, musical interludes, candle lighting ceremonies, and more. Couples who want religious ceremonies can speak with their officiants to see how they can stick to tradition, but keep the ceremony more succinct.
• Communicate roles for the wedding party — Having designated people to handle a variety of tasks at the wedding fosters efficiency and can
Family And Special Loved Ones Are Important Wedding Participants
BY LISA WARREN | Lifestyles Editor
A couple vowing to pledge their love and devotion to each other is a central focus of all weddings.
However, most weddings are also family affairs that feature more than the couple saying their “I do’s.” It ‘s also a time for two families to come together as well.
Beloved antique truck takes center stage
In addition to their family and friends, one Greene County couple also decided to include another type of “loved one” in their wedding day as well — the groom’s antique truck. For their wedding on Sept. 13, 2025, Camryn Birdwell and Ian Ring chose Oak Meadows Farm & Venue in southern Greene County.
Among the “guests” at their wedding was a 1941 Chevrolet pickup named Lucy that Ian got for his 17th birthday.
Ian rebuilt the truck during his junior and senior years of high school. Cosmetically, “she was decent, although many parts have been refinished,” he notes.
Originally, Lucy had a 216 inline six cylinder engine, but that engine blew and Ian replaced it with a 1959 235 inline six. It’s still a four speed
and mostly original, but she’s been updated to a 12-volt system as well as electric wipers and a few other little things.
He gave her a fresh coat of paint and gloss to show off her true beauty!
The couple made sure to get photographs with Lucy during their big day.
“Lucy is Ian’s most prized possession, and we were so grateful to have had her a part of our special day,” Camryn says.
Family celebration came later due to snowstorm
Sometimes couples find they have to make unexpected special plans when it comes to including their loved ones in their wedding celebration — even if the wedding occurs days, weeks or months before everyone can attend.
A sudden snowstorm created a driving mess on Jan. 10, 2025, but Albert Lynn Wilmoth Jr and Samantha Jean Britton decided to go ahead with their “I do’s.” The Chuckey couple made plans later in the year, however, for a wedding reception with their family and friends.
save time by moving things along. It also allows for smooth transitions during parts of the ceremony. For example, the maid of honor traditionally holds the bride’s bouquet during the ceremony. But other bridesmaids can be enlisted to hold items or fix the bride’s train or veil as well.
• Select one venue — Holding the wedding ceremony and reception in the same place cuts down on travel time and logistical issues for both the guests and those involved in the wedding. It also reduces necessary costs for transportation.
• Choose a nearby location — Asking guests and vendors to travel great distances can add time to the wedding festivities. Selecting a centrally located ceremony site and reception hall will streamline many of the steps people would have to take to attend. It also might remove the need to arrange overnight accommodations for the wedding.
• Hire a wedding coordinator — A professional planner and coordinator will keep the wedding moving along on time and ensure a smooth process. This professional can remain emotionally neutral, solve problems and ensure that everyone is in the right place.
Fall festivities were held on Oct. 17, 2025, at Harvey’s Barn on the campus of Allandale Mansion in Kingsport, to make sure that everyone could be on hand and enjoy the Wilmoths’ marriage celebration.
Other ways to celebrate family
There are numerous ways to include family and loved ones when planning a wedding. Perhaps a musical friend can perform or sing during the wedding or reception, or a relative who is a minister can officiate.
Here are a few ideas from Metro Creative: Processional — Couples can let more than just parents and the wedding party strut their
stuff down the aisle. Allow other family members to shine, such as grandparents or someone who has been a very close and supportive person in the couple’s life.
Readings/Speeches — Family members can give readings during religious ceremonies, lead prayers or make certain speeches. It’s also possible to ask a family member to lead certain unity rituals like candle-lighting or sand-combining ceremonies that signal the blending of lives.
Family traditions — Incorporate family traditions into the reception, including cultural dances, special foods, traditional songs or anything that is unique to the family.
Wear special clothing —
NUNN PHOTOGRAPHY
Michael Hardin and Jessica Britton wed May 3, 2025, at The Warehouse at Wilson Hill in Greeneville. The wedding photographer was Nunn Photography.
DANIELLE RICKER PHOTOGRAPHY
Daniel Bailey and Landrie Nease Fleming wed June 7, 2025, at Oak Meadows Farm in Greene County. The wedding photographer was Danielle Ricker Photography.
PHOTO BY HEATHER LANE
Albert Lynn Wilmoth Jr and Samantha Jean Britton, of Chuckey, wed on Jan. 10, 2025, but a sudden snowstorm impacted their winter wedding day. Because of this, the couple held their wedding reception later in the year so family and friends could attend and celebrate with them.
Why It Pays To Trust A Pro With Wedding Photography
BY METRO CREATIVE
It can be fun and budget-friendly to embrace a DIY approach in many settings, but that strategy is not ideal for every situation — including the day couples tie the knot.
Couples can find ways to cut costs with their wedding budgets. But it’s best to avoid cutting corners regarding photography, as there’s no way to turn back the clock and get better shots if the efforts of amateurs fall short of expectations.
A couple’s wedding day is one to cherish forever, which is why it pays to rely on skilled professionals. That’s particularly so with wedding photography, which will serve as the official record of a day filled with love and laughs.
Modern technology may compel some couples to think they can
go without the services of a professional photographer on their wedding day, but there are many reasons to trust this important job to an experienced pro.
• Photographers can get great shots no matter the conditions — There’s a difference between snapping great shots of an idyllic setting on a smartphone and taking wedding day photographs couples will look back on for years to come. Experienced photographers have cameras capable of far more than those on a smartphone, and these skilled professionals also possess the knowledge of how to get great shots in settings that might not be so conducive to photography.
A dimly lit reception hall dance floor may prove challenging for untrained amateurs, but
A couple wear clothing that is meaningful to a loved one, like a grandmother’s wedding gown or a tie that was passed down through the generations. If a family member is a tailor or seamstress, that person might also help tailor a wardrobe for the wedding.
Coordinate dances — The bride, groom, mother and father typically enjoy the spotlight dances during a wedding reception, but couples can
expand special dances to honor and include additional family members. A large group dance that invites several family members onto the dance floor is a great way to get everyone involved.
Photo display — A couple can set aside a table to showcase special people in their lives with a brief description of why these people are so meaningful to them. This also is a place to honor any deceased relatives who are in couples’ hearts.
WILD AND FREE PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKAIYLA
For this special wedding photo, the bride, Cheyenne Dallas Cox, and groom, Holdon Matthew Gosnell, of Greeneville, wanted to include their son, Asher Wade Gosnell. The couple wed Sept. 6, 2025, in Erwin.
professional photographers know what to do to get great shots in such settings. Professionals also know how to utilize natural light to their advantage when taking shots outdoors.
NUNN PHOTOGRAPHY
Nunn Photography captured this stunning outdoor moment for Greeneville residents
Kaitlynn Sibary and Cameron Cannon. The couple wed June 8, 2025, at The Oak Meadows Farm & Venue, located on Harrison Road in southern Greene County.
See PHOTOGRAPHY on page 6
The Benefits Of Choosing A Local Wedding Venue
METRO CREATIVE
Wedding planning requires coordinating a laundry list of details that ultimately come together to make for a memorable ceremony and reception.
Couples tying the knot have their work cut out for them, and one of the biggest decisions they will have to make involves choosing where to hold the ceremony and reception.
Religious couples often opt for ceremonies at their churches, synagogues and mosques. Secular weddings can occur just about anywhere, with couples sometimes utilizing ceremony spaces adjacent to their reception rooms.
As brides and grooms narrow down their venue options, they may want to give strong consideration to the benefits that sticking close to home can offer. Certainly there are advantages to be had hosting a wedding at venues many miles away or even in international locations, but there are unique perks to
keeping festivities local. The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study indicated six in 10 couples chose to get married in a place where they currently live; 23 percent opted for a hometown venue; and 18 percent decided on a destination wedding. Here’s a look at some of the perks of staying local.
• Convenience — One of the biggest benefits of a local venue is convenience for both the couple and their guests. Local venues tend to be easily accessible for those who live nearby, minimizing travel time and reducing any barriers brought on by a lack of familiarity with distant locales.
• Familiarity — Couples who love their hometowns and close environs may want to get married in a familiar and comfortable atmosphere. Plus, they may already be familiar with venues in the area and what they offer.
• Expertise — Venue staff likely live in the area or are familiar with other services close by. They can
offer valuable recommendations and insights on other vendors, including what has worked before and what to avoid.
• Familiarity with clergy — Couples who get married in a local house of worship likely know the religious leaders there and any support staff. This can add a
particularly personal component to the ceremony.
• Easy payments — Many venues require some sort of payment plan that consists of a deposit at the time of booking and a series of payments
VENUE on page 9
• Photographers handle the details . — Couples have enough on their plate when planning weddings. Taking on photography duties requires identifying the right photo locations, knowing when to take photos to maximize surroundings, ensuring bridal party members are all ready to go so photos can be taken
within tight deadlines, and postwedding detailing. That’s a lot to take on, and it’s work best left to professionals.
• Photographers free up time . — Many newlyweds note their wedding day seemed to fly by and was over before they knew it. Such sentiments may be even stronger when couples take on too much responsibility come the wedding day.
A professional photographer will coordinate shots and timelines with couples prior to the big day and take over getting bridal party members where they need to be when they need to be there. That frees up time for couples to spend more time with each other and their guests come the day of the wedding, which in turn can make it feel as though the day didn’t fly by.
• You get a professionally finished product . — Amateur photographers simply won’t produce as stunning a finished product as professionals who take and touch up photos for a living. A wedding day photo album is a keepsake couples will look back on for years, so it’s best to ensure its contents include photos taken and touched up by a skilled professional.
From PHOTOGRAPHY - page 7
PHOTO BY BRAD WINEGAR
Photographer Brad Winegar caught this photo of Asher Kasteler and Marlys Hurd on their May 24, 2025, wedding at Oak Meadows Farm & Venue in Greeneville.
DANIELLE RICKER PHOTOGRAPHY
Hayden Lee Hinkle and Kiley Dawn Collins, of Greeneville, wed Oct. 11, 2025, at Liberty Free
Will Baptist Church, in Chuckey. Photographer Danielle Ricker captured this outdoor photo of the couple on their big day.
KATRINA SERENE PHOTOGRAPHY
Jordon Harris and Tiffany Cutshall wed May 3, 2025, at Hidden Meadows in Afton. Katrina Serene Photography was responsible for capturing the cherished memories from their wedding.
KATRINA SERENE PHOTOGRAPHY
Alexander Maupin and Macy Kidwell, of Afton, wed Dec. 7, 2024, at The Millstone in Limestone. This memorable photo was captured by Katrina Serene Photography.
BAMBI WINTER PHOTOGRAPHY
Kelci Cantrell and Dakota Seaton wed Oct. 4, 2025, at Greenwood Oaks Venue & Gardens in Afton. This beautiful moment was captured by Bambi Winter Photography.
PHOTO BY NATALIE RUTHERFORD
Austin Newman and Sara Yarber, of Kingsport, chose Oak Meadows Farm & Venue in southern Greene County for their Sept. 1, 2025, wedding. This heart-felt shot was captured by photographer Natalie Rutherford.
See
KATRINA SERENE PHOTOGRAPHY
Mosheim residents Noah Carson and Abigail Brown chose the Warehouse at Wilson Hill in Greeneville for their Aug. 2, 2025, wedding. They also chose a Greeneville-based wedding photographer, Katrina Serene Photography, to capture memories from their big day.
KATRINA SERENE PHOTOGRAPHY
Greeneville residents Caleb Ottem and Kamrie Foreman decided on Harvest Acres Farm in Limestone as their wedding venue. The couple wed Oct. 4, 2025. Their wedding photos were taken by Katrina Serene Photography.
Unique Locations To Tie The Knot
BY METRO CREATIVE
Couples must make a multitude of decisions when planning a wedding. One of the more significant decisions concerns where to tie the knot.
The decision of where to get married was once a given. Indeed, the majority of weddings used to be held in houses of worship. A 2020 report in the Church Times estimated that 85 percent of all weddings in the early 20th century were religious ceremonies.
Many faiths require those seeking a religious wedding to get married in a house of worship, so one can reasonably conclude that a significant percentage of married couples in the early 20th century said “I do” within a house of worship. The Church Times report indicated that percentage dipped to 49 percent by the late 1970s, and a recent report from The Knot indicates that 16 percent of couples who wed in 2023 did so in a religious institution or house of worship.
Many couples still prefer to get married in a house of worship, but those with no such preference can consider a wide range of venues when trying to decide where to tie the knot.
• Rustic setting — The popularity of the rustic aesthetic boomed in home interior design in the early decades of the twenty-first century, and that appeal also seems to have affected couples deciding where to get married. The Knot reports that more couples tied the knot in barn wedding venues (17 percent) than houses of worship in 2023, making these charming and often scenic venues worthy of consideration.
• Historic locales — History buffs may feel there’s no greater
From VENUE - page 8 culminating with the last installment upon learning the final head count. Choosing a local venue makes it easy to stop at the reception site in person and provide such payments with ease, while getting confirmation and receipts in real time.
• Reduce delivery fees — If florists and other vendors have to drop off items, they may not charge the same delivery fees if the reception site is close by.
• Ease returning home — Chances are the couple will arrive at the ceremony and reception by hired car. Once the wedding is over, they’ll have to find transportation back home, especially if there is a gap in time before departing on a honeymoon. Utilizing a local venue can make it easier to get home.
place to say “I do” than a location that calls to mind bygone eras and notable events. Estates dating back centuries that feature expansive and awe-inspiring landscapes or mansions built during the Gilded Age can make for unique settings to tie the knot and celebrate into the wee hours.
• Oceanfront venues — Perhaps no backdrop makes for more aweinspiring wedding photos than the ocean. Beautiful photos, not to mention pleasant temperatures and laid back vibes, undoubtedly contribute to the appeal of oceanfront weddings. Couples considering oceanfront venues may be surprised to learn that just 5 percent of weddings took place on the sand in 2023, which could make
Terrace.
• Support of local businesses — Choosing a local venue keeps dollars in couples’ own communities, which is a great way to support businesses in the town and the people that work for them.
it easier than some think to book these idyllic locales.
Botanical gardens — Floral arrangements feature prominently in many weddings, but what about saying “I do” in a venue where nature serves as your florist? Botanical gardens offer numerous spots for stunning photographs, and a formal garden can make for an impressive backdrop for the wedding ceremony.
Limest one Orchard,
home to the1902 belovedThe Old Pilot Hill Store &Cafe, is aclassic bar nvenue with aspectacular backdrop of theSmoky Mountains. The venue is heated/air conditioned, seats up to 125people, of fers aBridal and Groom Suite, along bar on thefirstfloor, withdining and dancing on the second. The overhang to thebar nisenor mous, and guests can enjoythe outdoorsout of therain or sun. The Old Pilot Hill Store&Cafeoffers cater ing, making Limestone Orchardacharming, one-stop venue choice that celebrates simplicity and convenience foryour special day. Come visit Limestone Orchardand theold-fashioned store and cafe!
KATIE FRANCE PHOTOGRAPHY
Garrett Collier and Sarah Grubb chose
the Historic General Morgan Inn and Conference Center in downtown Greeneville for their Dec. 20, 2025, wedding. This photo was taken by Katie France Photography atop the General Morgan Inn
MELISSA HANKINS PHOTOGRAPHY
Greeneville residents Natasha Harrison and Cameron Hollifield wed Oct. 18, 2025, at Oak Meadows Farm & Venue in Greeneville. Melissa Hankins did the wedding photography.
KATRINA SERENE PHOTOGRAPHY
There’s no shortage of stunning locations for couples to tie the knot. Before choosing where to say “I do,” couples can explore a wide range of prospective venues. Tusculum residents Sadie Helton Gosnell and Justin Gosnell decided to get married in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The couple wed on July 20, 2025 and shared this beautiful photo taken by Katrina Serene Photography.
PHOTO BY DESRA RAMEY
Corey Fox and Lillie Skelton decided to stay close to home but tie the knot at Oak Meadows Farm & Venue, which offers a rustic yet elegant setting with a modern barn, pavilion and scenic outdoors spaces in Greene County. The couple wed Sept. 6, 2025. This photo was captured by Desra Ramey.
How To Maximize Outdoor Wedding Venues
METRO CREATIVE
When searching for the right place to tie the knot, each couple looks for their own unique spot.
According to The Knot Worldwide 2024 Global Wedding Report, couples across the globe identify cost and venue style/type as the most important variables to consider.
Nearly 75 percent of couples worldwide report getting married within 30 miles of their homes. And many couples prefer an outdoor wedding.
Outdoor weddings peaked in popularity in 2020, when the global pandemic forced couples to be creative as they sought to tie the knot with friends and family in attendance. Statista reported that 68 percent of couples hosted their wedding ceremonies outside or partially outside in 2020. However, Hudson Valley Weddings paints a more conservative picture of outdoor weddings today, with 35 percent of weddings now being held outdoors.
Couples hold their ceremonies and receptions outside for a variety of reasons, including the chance to tie the knot in a naturally beautiful landscape. The following are some ways to maximize the benefits of outdoor venues.
• Embrace the opportunity to accommodate more guests. Couples with large guest lists may opt for outdoor weddings because venues with outdoor space typically can accommodate more people. Outdoor spaces can be vast and not constrained by the walls of banquet halls or restaurants — allowing guests to spread out.
• Include child-friendly elements. If it would be difficult to exclude children from the festivities, an outdoor venue can ensure kids have something to do. Kids tend to have high energy levels, and an outdoor venue gives them space to run around without crashing into something or tipping something over. Setting up a separate kids’ play area also makes it easy to gather the kids in a certain spot, helping to keep children away from adults who are dancing.
• Take advantage of the aesthetic. Most outdoor spaces offer aweinspiring features. Those who opt for spring or summer weddings can take advantage of cultivated, fragrant gardens or even fields of natural wildflowers. Fall weddings will be on fire with the natural oranges, reds and yellows of the changing landscape, which makes the perfect photo backdrop for nuptials. Try to time the occasion for around sunset
12 Songs To Consider For A
First Dance
BY METRO CREATIVE
Traditions abound during weddings, from wearing something blue to a couple not seeing each other the night before the nuptials to a bride tossing the bouquet to eager singletons in the crowd. A couple’s first dance is another enduring and popular tradition. The first dance harkens back to centuries ago when royalty or prestigious families would hold balls and it was customary for the guest of honor to engage in a first dance to start the festivities with a grand opening. Today, lavish balls have all but disappeared, but with weddings are still important events, and the first dance lives on during many of these parties.
Choosing a song for a first dance is among the decisions couples make when planning their weddings. All genres and eras can be considered. Couples who prefer something a little more modern can consider the following songs for their first dance.
1. “All of Me,”
John Legend
Special lyrics: Give your all to me, I’ll give my all to you. You’re my end and my beginning. Even when I lose, I’m winning.
2. “All My Life,” WILD
Special lyrics: Oh, I will keep you safe for all my life. And you will have my heart for all time.
3. “Somebody Like You,” Keith Urban
Special lyrics: Yeah, I wanna feel the sunshine shinin’ down on me and you. When you put your arms around me you let me know there’s nothing in this world I can’t do.
4. “Perfect,” Ed Sheeran
Special lyrics: But darling just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own. And in your eyes you’re holding mine.
5. “Joy of My Life,” Chris Stapleton
Special lyrics: Some may have their riches, some may have their worldly things. As long as I have you, I’ll treasure each and every day.
6. “Marry Me,” Train
Special lyrics: Marry me today and every day. Marry me if I ever get the nerve to say hello in this café.
7. “Ho Hey,” The
to make outdoor areas even more special. A setting sun can cast a special glow on the festivities. And save money on decor by relying exclusively on natural features.
• Get creative with food. Part of the appeal of being outdoors for the wedding is the freedom to offer guests less standard fare in regard to food. A pig roast for a tropical affair or even wood-fired pizzas or barbecue align well with an outdoor
wedding. Caterers often suggest passed appetizers for the cocktail hour and plated meals for dinner to cut down on insects buzzing around a buffet line.
• Design a contingency plan. Every couple wants the wedding to go off without a hitch (except for the actual getting hitched part), so it’s important to have a tent, pergola or covered area to retreat to in the event of rain or strong sun.
Lumineers
Special lyrics: I belong with you, you belong with me, you’re my sweetheart.
8. “Rewrite the Stars,” Zac Efron, Zendaya
Special lyrics: What if we rewrite the stars? Say you were made to be mine. Nothing could keep us apart. You’d be the one I was meant to find.
9. “You Look Like You Love Me,” Ella Langley feat. Riley Green
Special lyrics: Excuse me, you look like you love me. You look like you want me to want you to come on home.
10. “Beautiful Things,” Benson Boone
Special lyrics: And I hold you every night, and that’s a feeling I wanna get used to. But there’s no man as terrified, as the man who stands to lose you.
11. “Birds of a Feather,” Billie Eilish
Special lyrics: I knew you in another life. You had that same look in your eyes. I love you, don’t act so surprised.
12. “Until I Found You,” Stephen Sanchez
Special lyrics: I would never fall in love again until I found her.
KATRINA SERENE PHOTOGRAPHY
Outdoor weddings are popular options that can add a special touch newlyweds will remember for years to come. Greeneville native Allison Chudina Lawson and Mason Lawson chose the Waterstone in Johnson City for their outdoor April 26, 2025 wedding. The couple are seen exchanging their vows.
PHOTO BY NATALIE RUTHERFORD
For their wedding, Parker Mayo and Hannah Randolph, of Jonesborough, decided on the Oak Meadows Farm and Venue in southern Greene County. The couple wed Aug. 9, 2025. Their photographer was Natalie Rutherford.
MAMA DYER PHOTOGRAPHY
Nickisa Jennings is shown in this beautiful outdoor photo on her wedding day. Nickisa wed Donovan Wojtasiak on April 26, 2025, at Rocky Knoll Farm. This photo was taken by Lori Dyer with Mama Dyer Photography.
JUNIPER WOODS PHOTOGRAPHY Sydney Holter and Bryar Pedersen wed Nov. 9, 2025, at Waterstone Avenue in Johnson City. This photo was taken by Juniper Woods Photography.
Wedding Etiquette Includes
Being Mindful Of How Much It Costs Guests to Attend
BY ADRIANA MORGA Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Weddings are meant to be celebrations of love. They also may require invited guests to make a financial commitment that brings them stress.
Whether it’s paying for hotels and flights to attend a destination wedding or different outfits and gifts for multiple pre-wedding events, friends and extended family often feel pressure to spend a large amount of money before the couple gets married.
A sense of obligation and budget constraints can create resentment, hurt feelings and misunderstandings among friends and family. Future spouses who are trying to plan their dream wedding and are worried about their own expenses might want to factor in their guests’ potential costs.
“Money is part of how we show up for one another,” Christine Hargrove, a licensed therapist who serves as assistant director of the Love and Money Center at the University of Georgia. “But don’t let finances get in the way of lifelong friendships or family relationships that are healthy and supportive.”
Hargrove often sees budgeting issues becoming friendship issues for couples and members of their wedding party. While asking someone to be a groomsman or a bridesmaid usually is intended to show appreciation, sometimes left unacknowledged is the possible financial burden of being part of a bachelor or bachelorette party, as well as the big day itself.
“If somebody says ‘I care about you, I really want to come to your wedding but I absolutely cannot afford five days in the Caribbean on top of already going to a wedding,’ don’t take it personally,” Hargrove advises.
Conversations surrounding money can be very emotional, but everyone involved will benefit if they approach the topic with understanding, recommended Hargrove.
“Couples have to keep in mind that people do have different budgets, different backgrounds. People have different work responsibilities and capabilities of taking PTO,” said Sarah Schreiber, a former magazine weddings editor turned wedding consultant.
Here are some recommendations for ways engaged couples can reduce costs for their wedding guests and how guests can participate without going into debt.
FOR COUPLES
• Book different hotel options
— It’s customary for the couple getting married to reserve a block of rooms at a discounted rate for their out-of-town guests. Schreiber recommends having at least a couple hotel options at different price ranges.
• Offer to pay for some services — Covering the cost of transportation to and from the wedding venue, paying for childcare if kids are not invited to the celebration, and hosting a morning-after breakfast are other ways couples can make their wedding less expensive for guests, according to Cassie Horrell, a wedding planner based in Pittsburgh.
“There’s little things you can do here and there to be mindful of what costs you can eat for your guests,” Horrell said.
Putting a “no gifts” request on your invitations is another way to reduce costs for guests, said Rachel Lawrence, the head of advice and planning for the budgeting app Monarch.
• Be up front with your
Consider Hotel Options For Wedding Guests
METRO CREATIVE
A wedding begins with a tender exchange of vows and culminates with a celebratory reception that often stretches into the late hours of the evening.
According to The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study, the average wedding in 2024 hosted 116 guests.
Friends and family members who have been dining and drinking for five or more hours will need a place to stay, and couples planning a wedding will need to arrange lodging options for their out-of-town guests.
Couples thinking about making arrangements with hotels for a
See GUESTS on page 12
wedding party — Informing members of the wedding party and other close friends well in advance about what they can expect to pay for a bachelor party abroad or to rent a tuxedo or have their makeup done helps them decide if they can participate, Hargrove said.
If someone agrees to be part of the wedding party and later learns a bride and groom have expensive tastes, they may feel cornered into spending on a splash they can’t afford, she said.
• Don’t take it personally if a guest cannot attend — If a friend or relative says they cannot attend a pre-wedding event or the wedding itself due to cost, respond in a kind and gracious way, Hargrove advises.
“Accept it gracefully and you’re gonna have a lot fewer issues relationally. It shows a lot of respect, it shows conscientiousness. People appreciate it. And there’s a lot fewer hurt feelings,” she said.
FOR GUESTS
• Share costs with friends — If the cost of attending a wedding is too high, consider dividing it with a group of friends, said Esther Lee, a deputy editor and wedding expert for The Knot. From sharing a hotel room or sleeping on someone’s couch to going in on group trips and splitting the bill for airport transportation, other guests may also be on a budget.
• It’s OK to skip some events — Between the bachelorette party, the bridal shower and the weekend destination wedding, the costs can pile up. If you want to stay on budget, it’s OK to skip some events and choose to attend the ones you think will be the most meaningful for the person getting married.
“It’s hard for people to say no, and
we want to show up for everyone. But if it doesn’t work with your budget, then you don’t want to be going into debt just to try and make it” Chelsea Hodl, a financial planner for the financial services app Domain Money.
Communicating to your friend or family member ahead of time which events you will be able to attend is recommended.
• Save money on your wardrobe — If you’re working on a tight budget, wedding attire is a place to cut back. Renting a dress or a tux from online websites like Rent The Runway, Nuuly or Black Tux may be less expensive than buying clothes you’ll hardly ever wear.
Guests also can consider wearing a dress they already own or borrowing one from a friend, The Knot’s Lee said.
“Nobody is judging you for rewearing something, so don’t be your harshest critic,” she said.
• Be transparent with your friends — You don’t need to feel ashamed if you cannot afford to attend the wedding of a loved one, Hargrove said. Being honest about the reason why you won’t be there for their special day can help prevent negative feelings or misunderstandings.
“When you are willing to be direct with someone, it just clears the air and it’s amazing how powerful, clear, honest and direct self-disclosure can be,” Hargrove said.
If you will miss a friend’s wedding, try showing your affection for them in another way, such as inviting them to dinner, or sending them flowers on the wedding day. An inexpensive gesture can demonstrate your love without sacrificing yourself and your finances.
AP PHOTO/REBECCA BLACKWELL
A bouquet of flowers rests on a chair ahead of a Valentine’s Day group wedding ceremony.
Why It Pays To Hire A
Professional Makeup Artist
For Your Wedding
BY ADRIANA MORGA | Associated Press
There is no denying that weddings can be exciting, memorable and expensive.
According to data from the wedding planning and registry website Zola, the average wedding in the United States in 2024 cost $33,000. Prices for weddings will vary depending on geography and services.
In an effort to rein in spending, couples may wonder where they can cut costs, and one service that may be up for consideration is a professional makeup artist.
After all, a bride and her bridesmaids may feel they already have plenty of experience applying makeup, and the plethora of online tutorials can guide them through areas where they may need some help. But before making a pilgrimage to Ulta or Sephora for supplies, savvy brides should realize there are plenty of reasons to utilize
From GUESTS - page 11
block of rooms for their wedding guests should consider the following amenities and tips when shopping around.
• Does the reception hall have a relationship with a particular hotel? Quite often reception centers enter into agreements with nearby hotels to provide their clients with wedding accommodation packages. Couples
a pro when it comes to wedding makeup.
• Bridal makeup isn’t like everyday makeup — A professional knows how to create a look that will remain flawless throughout the entire day. From the ceremony to the reception, makeup has to be durable, and a pro will know which products and techniques to use to ensure everything stays put, advises Shervonne Kitto, a makeup artist serving New York and New Jersey.
• You can actually save money going with a pro — Doing makeup yourself may not result in cost savings. Remember, employees at makeup stores may do your makeup for a reduced cost initially, but they are in the business of selling products. Many consumers walk away spending more in products than they intended, and sometimes the cost in getting all new bridal makeup could actually be more than
who book with a certain reception hall may be bound to use their vendors, including a partner hotel.
• Consider proximity to the venue. Seek hotels that are within a 15- to 20-minute ride from the wedding venue to limit the amount of driving that guests will have to do.
• Arrange for transportation. Offering safe passage to and from the hotel will reduce the risk of wedding guests driving under the
if you relied on a professional.
• Enjoy time savings — Professionals who have mastered their crafts can quickly and efficiently create a desired makeup look, saving you time compared to a do-it-yourself attempt.
• Enhance your beauty — A pro knows which techniques to use to play up certain features and minimize others. This can help present the best version of yourself on one of the most photographed days of your life.
• Create a comprehensive look — Hiring a professional makeup artist means you can coordinate
influence. Couples can arrange to have a bus shuttle guests to and from the hotel.
• Look for group rates. Hotels typically offer a discounted group rate for wedding guests. Booking multiple hotels gives guests a choice and can help ensure there are enough rooms available.
• Think about complementary breakfast. Some hotel chains offer a complementary breakfast to their
how you and your bridal part look, which can serve to complement the overall wedding theme. If you go the DIY route, you might end up with a bridal party with some very different-looking makeup applications. A pro may do some photo-enhancing minimal touches for the gentlemen in the wedding as well.
• Enjoy time to relax — Having your hair and makeup done by someone else affords you an hour or more to just sit back and be pampered, something that likely will not occur for the rest of the busy wedding day.
guests, which can be a great value.
• Negotiate additional perks. It may be possible to negotiate with hotels to offer late check-out times or stocked snacks for the rooms.
• Ask about a complementary room for the couple. Some hotels may be amenable to offering a free hotel room to the newlyweds who have a certain number of guests booked at the property.
Unique Elements To Include At
Your Wedding Reception
METRO CREATIVE
When searching for the right place to tie the knot, each couple looks for their own unique spot.
Couples who are currently planning their wedding undoubtedly hope the day will one they remember forever.
Weddings will be memorialized in people’s minds and on film and video, and setting an occasion apart from other weddings and big events may come down to some creative touches that truly make it unique.
Here are some interesting elements that merit consideration, many of which involve interactive entertainment.
• Photo booth — There is a
reason why photo booths complete with entertaining props and various backdrops are so popular. A photo booth is a great way for guests to capture the day and take home a memento. Couples can review the photo booth images and enjoy snippets of unscripted and unposed moments from the party.
• Live painter — Hiring an artist to capture the festivities can be a truly unique feature. While photography packages and wedding albums come with some turn-around time, a painting will be done at the end of the reception and can give couples a glimpse of the evening right away.
• Interesting sweets display — Couples can elevate their wedding receptions by offering guests something that’s a cut above a piece of wedding cake. A “Viennese Hour,” also known as a “Venetian Hour,” is a popular wedding tradition, particularly in the tri-state area on the east coast of the United States. This hour features a lavish dessert buffet presented after the cake cutting. Couples need not have a traditional Venetian Hour, however. They can offer a table filled with various candies, cordials, doughnuts, cupcakes, or whatever special sweet they want to showcase. Serve with monogrammed napkins.
• Entertaining performance
— Performers can run the gamut from cultural dancers celebrating a couple’s heritage to magicians to even a specialized singer. In addition to a band or DJ, this performer can engage the audience and provide them with a bona fide show.
• Signature cocktails — Whether a couple chooses an entire open bar or has select alcoholic offerings for guests, a signature cocktail can make the reception even more special. Tie the drink’s ingredients or theme into something that pertains to the couple’s interests or history. For example, if the couple sipped Moscow Mules on their first date, serve a First Date Mule at the wedding reception.
METRO CREATIVE
Couples can embrace various extra special touches to make their wedding receptions more memorable.
Tips For Planning A Wedding At A
Time Of New Tariffs
BY LEANNE ITALIE
AP Lifestyles Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Weddings in the United States are often dependent on goods imported from countries hit with new tariffs.
Vendors and engaged couples are navigating higher prices and supply worries after President Donald Trump went to war over trade around the globe. Exports from dozens of countries, including major centers for goods such as cut flowers, wedding gowns and decorations, are now subject to extra taxes when they reach the U.S.
Wedding professionals see potential for pivots to alternative sources. Some recommendations for people who are planning a wedding while the tariff situation remains in flux:
TIP: Rethink how you buy Buy local. Buy from non-tariff countries. Buy used. Buy from vendors that promise not to pass on the new taxes.
Some businesses are breaking out line items stating what new costs they’re imposing on consumers. Some are not. Without that information, it’s harder to gauge quality by price. Does something cost $25 because it’s worth $25 or because it’s a $10 item with a huge markup slapped on?
Dig into reviews if buying online. If buying offline, take an up-close look at textiles, candles and other goods.
TIP: A warehouse by any other name ... Katie Sexton in Chicago is a
project manager for an international e-commerce shipping company. She’s also getting married in June 2026. She has warehouse-size thoughts on getting around tariffs.
The best bet to see the full pricing picture of an item is to find brands that are shipping it from within the U.S., she said. A company doing that will most likely have adjusted their prices higher already to include the tariff cost they incurred upon importing to the warehouse.
That means fewer surprises at checkout. Transparency is a friend as tariff drama plays out.
TIP: Work with existing inventory
Weddings are often heavy on rentals of all kinds: tables, chairs, linens, glassware, dinnerware, dance floors, lighting, tents. And companies special order items all the time.
Tariff uncertainty has complicated custom orders because of pricing instability a year or more before a wedding, said Morgan Montgomery, co-owner of the rental company Paisley and Jade in Richmond, Virginia. She buys rental items from China.
“If they wait to make a decision now, we will need to re-quote, as our suppliers are tweaking prices constantly,” she said.
The solution? Work with the existing inventory of your vendor, even if it stifles your creative vision.
TIP: Think long and hard about contracts
Vijay Goel, co-owner of Los Angeles venue 440 Elm and caterer
Bite Catering Couture, is among wedding vendors pointing to the need to tweak contracts. He recommends booking for rental goods with a substitution clause. That would allow a couple to switch to something else if the price of an item rises closer to their wedding date.
“Maybe Napa sparkling wines will make more sense than French Champagne? Select vendors that have a flexible mindset and the ability to help you navigate choices,” Goel said.
No crystal ball required.
TIP: Is it a destination wedding? Pack it rather than ship it
Jaime Coast, who designs wedding invitations and other stationary as owner of the online shop Cotton and Bow, recently had clients in the U.S. get married in Canada. They needed paper goods shipped to their wedding planner before their big day.
“I tried to estimate what the taxes would be in advance on the
Canadian government website, but the calculators hadn’t been updated yet. What was estimated to be a $60 bill turned into a $500 bill upon pickup,” she said.
Her tip? Bring items with you when possible and avoid shipping altogether.
TIP: Not all flowers are created equal
Kimberly Sisti, owner, lead florist and wedding planner for Sisti & Co. in San Diego, said prices are already out of control. And that includes U.S. growers who are seeing higher demand and may be taking advantage of tariff chaos by raising prices.
She has an unusual tip: Look for a florist whose prices already well exceed business costs.
“If you have a healthy markup on your labor and goods, then a 10% tariff shouldn’t break the bank and affect your customers at all,” she said. “In fact, you can probably absorb the cost and keep your clients confident and happy.”
MADI MCGRAW PHOTOGRAPHY VIA AP
Wedding vendors and bridal couples of today have been impacted by U.S. tariffs on countries around the globe.