Anna and Art’s Lookout Mountain Club wedding reception at Fairyland Clubhouse followed their beautiful ceremony at Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church. Anna and Art live in D.C. but came back to Chattanooga for their wedding and reception. They’re both really sharp cookies and down-to-earth people. I loved getting to be their photographer and capture their genuine and sweet love.
You want a traditional, elegant wedding in Chattanooga, Tennessee? Read on–it doesn’t get more classic than this couple’s celebration with family and friends!
GETTING READY FOR HER LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN CLUB WEDDING
Anna and her girls got ready for the day at a friend’s house on the bluff on Lookout Mountain. When I arrived, the ladies were on the deck enjoying a brunch complete with fresh fruit and champagne. Anna’s sister gave her some beautiful earrings, and Anna gifted her bridesmaids comfy, plush robes.
While the ladies chatted, I picked up on a few details special to this day including that Anna would be wearing several pieces of family heirloom jewelry. Even her veil was a family piece! They actually sewed this gorgeous piece of lace into Anna’s hair. Every detail was super classy–from Anna’s veil and gown down to her Jimmy Choo shoes.
Once the ladies were dressed, we went out to the bluff for pictures of Anna and her bridesmaids. And then we were off to the church!
OUR LADY OF THE MOUNT CATHOLIC CHURCH WEDDING CEREMONY
At Our Lady of the Mount, I grabbed Art and his groomsmen for their own set of photos before the ceremony started. The guys looked so dapper in their classic black tuxedos.
Anna and Art’s wedding ceremony was simple and beautiful. Catholic ceremonies are so rich with tradition. Following their kiss, we took family portraits. I loved their squishy new niece, and it was absolutely incredible to photograph 4 generations of women for the family!
BRIDE AND GROOM LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN PORTRAITS
I always say I specialize in shooting real people. You know . . . just regular folks who aren’t used to being in front of the camera. Anna and Art’s bride and groom portraits are a terrific example of this specialty. Two people with zero on-camera training but maximum levels of good old-fashioned tenderness.
After their ceremony, I walked them through a Lookout Mountain garden to photograph them. Then, while everyone headed over to the wedding reception site at Lookout Mountain Club’s Fairyland Club, I took the couple to a grassy patch near the overlook for more bridal portraits.
OMG, swoon-worthy love from these two. I love the photos with her bouquet and the long ribbons in the breeze and them giggling together. Such a sweet couple.
You can see their love for each other radiating even though they weren’t completely in love with being front-and-center for the camera. And, obviously, the photos turned out gorgeous.
ALL ABOUT LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN CLUB
Ok, really quick, let me tell y’all about Lookout Mountain Club because this property is breathtaking and has a super cool history!
Lookout Mountain Club is a private club comprised of The Lookout Mountain Golf Club and the Lookout Mountain Fairyland Club. Garnet Carter, the creator of Rock City, originally planned the golf course to be part of his “Fairyland” resort colony on top of Lookout Mountain. Well-known golf course architect Seth Raynor designed the course with construction starting in 1925. To this day, the golf course remains a championship course with challenging holes and breathtaking mountain views.
Fun Fact: In 1928, because the construction of the main golf course was taking too long, Garnet Carter invented miniature golf here on Lookout Mountain to entertain his guests at the Fairyland Inn. Isn’t that a wild nugget?!
The Fairyland Club was also part of Garnet and Freida Carter’s dreams for their development of the mountaintop. The property opened as an inn in 1926, and the historical integrity of the manor has been preserved carefully since that time. Lookout Mountain Fairyland Club is built in the English Tudor Revival style from local mountain stone, stucco, and steep timbering. The main building sits nestled on the Eastern brow of Lookout Mountain among large, rocky formations and has the most amazing panoramic views of the valley below!
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN CLUB WEDDING DEETS
With such a neat history and the architectural and landscape features around this property, a Lookout Mountain Club wedding is literally dripping with charm and elegance.
Between the Golf Club and the Fairyland Club facilities, Lookout Mountain Club can handle events of just about any size and offers gourmet catering for any sort of party you’re planning.
You have your pick of multiple venue sites, which is so awesome! From the Ballroom (capacity 500) to the Terrace (capacity 40), you can host all aspects of your wedding right here – from your rehearsal dinner to your morning-after brunch.
The Lookout Mountain Club prides itself on a “foundation of tradition and excellence to create an upscale yet relaxed environment where our members and their guests feel welcome and comfortable.”
Without a doubt, you’ll find their service impeccable and their property absolutely outstanding.
Anna and Art hosted their Lookout Mountain Club wedding reception in the Grand Ballroom. Check out those gorgeous oak floors, the vaulted ceiling with those dark beams *swoon*, and the walls and walls of windows!
ANNA AND ART’S MEMORABLE LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN WEDDING RECEPTION AT FAIRYLAND CLUB
Back to Anna and Art’s reception. The clubhouse’s Ballroom looked ah-maaa-zing. Mariah Mayfield of Shadowbox Paperie planned, organized, and did all the design work for this wedding, and it was awesome. Absolutely gorgeous! I loved the full place-settings, the over-the-top florals including an installation over the fireplace. Everything was just beautiful. Also, they had an entire dessert table besides their traditional wedding cake, and it was wild.
After cocktail hour on the pavilion, everyone headed into the clubhouse for dinner and dancing.
During the dinner, several family members and friends offered toasts to the couple. I LOVE weddings that include toasts, especially these prepared, written-out speeches! This heartfelt sharing really takes wedding guests on an emotional rollercoaster, and I’ve got to tell you a secret…weddings with incredible toasts just have a better dance floor and party reception. That is true!
Anna’s dad and Art’s sister both shared these lovely toasts, and people laughed and cried through them. And then the bride and groom and their guests tore up the dance floor to the live band The Lustre Lights who traveled all the way from St. Louis, Missouri!
This was such a special night after an incredibly special day. Congratulations to Anna and Art!
I’d love for you to check out the team of vendors who created a really memorable day.
Venue Lookout Mountain Club at Fairyland and Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church
Caterer Lookout Mountain Club at Fairyland
Florals Catherine Kelley
Invitations Shadowbox Paperie
Hair EV1
Band The Lustre Lights
Cake Yellow Cake Company
Event Design Shadowbox Paperie
Rentals Chattanooga Tent Company and SolidRock
I’m a sucker for the rich, emotional moments if you hadn’t picked up on that. Wedding days are full of them, and it’s always a surprise and honor to see how the day unfolds. When I showed up for this wedding, I had no idea I’d get to draw out the sweet bond between Anna and Art. I had no idea I’d get to witness FOUR generations of women in this family. I had no idea the toasts would be so beautiful or the dance floor so wild. These are the real life treasures that make me love being your photographer. If you’d like to see more of my wedding photography work, check out some of my favorites on my blog.
