A Maroon and White Wedding at Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City, Tennessee

When planning each detail of their Tennessee nuptials, Gretchen Hicks and Kyle Hicks asked themselves, “Will this bring people together?” If the answer was yes, they went for it. The personal touches are what set their day apart. For starters, Susan Liles Floral Designs found the wine-colored flowers Gretchen envisioned and created a mix of soft, textured blooms for the bouquets and centerpieces—including some white dogwood flowers her parents brought all the way from Gretchen’s home state of Virginia. At their ceremony in First Presbyterian Church, where they serve together, they placed a set of wooden doors in the center of the aisle for Gretchen’s big reveal—and, they’ll admit, they wanted to encourage their guests to sit closer to the front. After taking Communion with everyone, the reception followed at the Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City, Tennessee, which they chose for the timeless elegance of the Grand Soldier’s Ballroom with plenty of dancing room. Everyone raved about the delicious dinner prepared by Wellington’s Restaurant, but it was the confections by Embree House Wedding Cakes that especially represented Gretchen and Kyle. The groom’s cake was a given: Kyle is a basketball coach, so his groom’s cake was a basketball. And on top of their cake, their topper said “the best is yet to come,” a meaningful saying from Gretchen’s grandmother. MichaelKaalPhotography captured all these details and more, below.