You know you chose right on Pick Your BFF Day when your wedding planner bestie books your dream wedding venue, RT Lodge, in secret, before you’re even engaged. Oh yeah. That’s a good wedding planner. And an even better best friend. Watson-Studios captured a wedding so lovely and personal, it could have only come from a duo (we’re talking bride + planner here) who has known each other since middle school. The bride and groom are pretty darn lovely together too.
From the planner… Whitney has been my best friend for over twelve years now. We met in middle school, became best friends in high school, were college roommates and pledged the same sorority. She has always been my partner in crime! She is one of the most easy going people I know and was never one of those girl’s who had their weddings planned – She used to joke, long before I was in the wedding industry, that she would let me plan the whole thing!
When Jonny told me he was proposing to Whitney in December I was ecstatic! Jonny is the perfect match for Whitney! As soon as I stopped celebrating I went into planning mode. She had always talked about an October wedding, which happens to be a prime wedding month here in East Tennessee (venues book over a year in advance!). So I did what any wedding planner would do for her best friend- I made a secret call to Whitney’s dream venue and held her date in October. Ha!
Jonny planned a secret engagement party for the night of the proposal. He was smart enough to plan it right around her birthday so that if she became suspicious of his odd behavior she would assume it was a birthday party. She took the bait and even called me to let me know she had figured out Jonny’s birthday surprise. She called me immediately after proposal to tell me the good news – I had told her I had a wedding that night so she apologized for calling me while I was working! Little did she know that I was in Memphis with her entire family waiting to surprise her just minutes later. I will never forget how excited and shocked she was when she walked into the party and saw us all there. It was the happiest I had ever seen her! Jonny’s sweet plan was a success!
The next ten months were spent long distance planning with Whitney and Jonny. The entire wedding weekend was perfect, and I will never forget standing beside my best friend on her wedding day. I am so happy she found such an amazing husband!
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Photography: Watson-Studios | Venue + Catering: RT Lodge | Event planner: Alexandra Hansen | Flowers: Sam Franklin | Invitations: The Happy Envelope | Calligraphy: Holly Hollon | Gown: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaid dresses: Bari Jay | Tuxedo: Men’s Wearhouse | Band: Nu South Players