1. Real Weddings

Stephanie & Bryan: An Outdoor Wedding in Knoxville, TN

It's no surprise that Stephanie Welch handled most of the planning for her outdoor wedding to Bryan Alexander -- she is, after all, a writer for DIYNe

It's no surprise that Stephanie Welch handled most of the planning for her outdoor wedding to Bryan Alexander -- she is, after all, a writer for DIYNetwork.com, a do-it-yourself decorating mecca. Bryan, however, shared her vision: We both wanted a wedding that captured our warm and fun-loving ways, but that was elegant and a bit artistic. The Bride Stephanie Welch, 35, writer for DIYNetwork.com and author The Groom Charles Bryan Alexander IV (Bryan), 32, graphic designer and sculptor The Date October 18 Wooed at the office (Bryan actually trained Stephanie), the creative couple worked together for several years before their first date, appropriately on Valentine's Day. Their newfound relationship slowly grew until Bryan planned an evening of romance for the four-year anniversary of their first date. After aromatherapy massages and a harp-filled candlelight dinner, Bryan proposed with a family treasure -- his mother's engagement ring when she married his father in 1970. Of course, we both cried, remembers Stephanie.

Stephanie carried a nosegay of black magic roses, cream mini calla lilies, and antique hydrangea.
The wonderfully literary ceremony ended with guests tossing dried rose petals (gathered from five dozen roses Bryan sent to Stephanie on the day he proposed), before heading to the top of a hill for a group photo.
The brunch menu offered up the best fare that the season had to offer: spiced cranberry or apple cheddar soup, butternut squash and hazelnut lasagna, and biscuits with autumn roasted pork loin. But the runaway hit of the day was the cheesy grits bar where guests could choose from a variety of toppings, served up unexpectedly in martini glasses. This dish actually got our wedding mentioned on a local morning show, says Stephanie. One of the guests told his wife [the host of the show] and she, in turn, told the whole city!
Stephanie wore an A-line, strapless satin gown with tulle watteau streamers and pleated tulle detailing on the bodice by Pronovias.
The newlyweds and their 160 guests celebrated the marriage at a jazz champagne brunch in the middle of the property. Informal seating and various-sized tables with a mix of fruit and flower centerpieces provided the perfect atmosphere for mingling, which was exactly what the couple had in mind. It was a very laid-back kind of reception, says Stephanie, all about eating, drinking champagne, and enjoying everyone's company.
Guests spent the remainder of the afternoon sipping magnolia punch, sampling the wedding cake (Jason Yarbrough, a friend of the couple, created the dreamy amaretto cream flavor cake with apricot filling), and listening to the tunes of Sara Schwabe and Her Yankee Jass Band. Because it was a jazz champagne brunch, we didn't install a dance floor, says Stephanie. Nevertheless, the band still received rave reviews from the crowd, especially during their rendition of the couple's favorite tune, 'Deed I Do, an old 1940s song by Blossom Dearie. Later in the evening, close friends and family stuck around for a barbecue after-party, complete with the perfect newlywed send off: fireworks over the lake.
We wanted the whole scene to look magical, rich, and painterly -- as if it came from a still-life or one of Shakespeare's works, explains Stephanie. A large arch, lushly decorated with rose blooms and greenery in shades of burgundy, sage, and ivory, marked the ceremony site near the lakeside gardens of Bryan's parents' home. As the guests looked on from rows of white chairs, the lake twinkled and the sun shone brilliantly overhead with watercolor clouds and blue skies, Stephanie says.