1. Real Weddings

Heather & Michael: A Winter Wedding in Chattanooga, TN

For Michael Carter, it was love even before first sight. He spotted a picture of Heather Lewis while hanging out with his college classmate, Amanda, H

For Michael Carter, it was love even before first sight. He spotted a picture of Heather Lewis while hanging out with his college classmate, Amanda, Heather’s friend. Smitten, he asked Amanda if he could call her friend. The Bride Heather Lewis, 26, exercise physiologist The Groom Michael Carter, 27, resident physician The Date February 23 Amanda held out for a while, wanting to make sure that Michael was “good enough” for her best friend. Once Amanda decided he met her approval, Michael met Heather in person. The pair began emailing, instant messaging, and talking on the phone. They made their long-distance love last and eventually moved to be together. Six years after their romance began, Michael proposed to Heather -- not once, but twice. He first proposed over an intimate dinner, but he didn’t have Heather’s real ring yet. Once the ring was ready, he planned an elaborate proposal in front of the old ladies that attended Heather’s class for people with arthritis. Heather said yes both times, and they started planning a colorful winter wedding in their native state.

Heather carried a wintry mix of white roses, white stephanotis, diamond stems, crystals, and snowflakes.
The bridesmaid bouquets of crystal sprays and snowflakes added to Heather’s winter wonderland vision.
White, satin tablecloths decked Heather and Michael’s tables. Guests were seated on chairs wrapped in silver and white fabric.
Heather and her bridesmaids designed the menu cards, which had snowflake and crystal detail. The favors, snowflake ornaments and snowflake wine stoppers, sat behind white, pleated napkins.
The groom’s cake was covered in orange and white fondant -- a nod to Heather and Michael’s native Knoxville Tennessee Volunteers -- the couple’s favorite football team. The confection was topped with a football helmet and surrounded by orange and white Reese’s Pieces and miniature chocolate footballs.
Heather and Michael lit a blue unity candle with silver snowflakes to signify their union.
Heather’s bridesmaids wore chiffon, beaded, halter dresses with shirred midriffs and A-line skirts. White fur wraps cinched with a silver snowflake pin kept them warm.
Guests enjoyed Heather and Michael’s white, four-tiered cake that featured an elegant snowflake design. Sugar snowflakes and a dusting of edible glitter topped off the wintry cake.
Heather and Michael’s smaller centerpieces were made up of white hydrangeas, crystal sprays, iced branches, and snowflakes. The wintry centerpieces were set in square vases filled with faux snow. Soft candlelight illuminated the arrangements.
Heather and Michael used two different styles of centerpieces. The taller centerpieces featured the same arrangements used earlier in the ceremony. Each of the tall, clear vases had faux snow at the bottom and a string of snowflakes hanging down the center. The vases were topped with white hydrangeas, iced branches, sprays of crystals, snowflakes, and white orchids.