Interview with the AMAZING couple, Morgan + Brett:
HOW DID YOU MEET? We met in October 2010 in a class at Fellowship Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Actually, to say we “met” is a bit of a stretch. We noticed each other, but Brett never got up the nerve to talk to me. He did, however, share a coffee with Dad (who was also in the class) when they bumped into each other at a convenient store one evening. We continued to see each other at church, sharing mutual friends and hobbies, but it wasn’t until April 2011 that Brett (finally!) asked me on our first date. He took me to dinner and accompanied me to Target to shop for my upcoming trip to Africa. It was a great date and several others followed. When I returned from a three-week trip to Zimbabwe in June, we resumed our dating relationship and were engaged on December 10, 2011.
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU THE MOST TO YOUR HUSBAND/WIFE?
Morgan – Brett was kind and unassuming. From the beginning, I felt completely comfortable and safe with him. Ultimately, his heart for the Lord and for other people made me fall in love with him. And his perfectly timed, dry sense of humor!
Brett – Her booty! Just kidding. ☺ Her eyes and sweet smile were the first thing I noticed about her. Once I got to know her, I loved how genuine and easy to talk to she was. She was fun, smart and witty. Most importantly, we shared similar views in regards to faith and family and I knew I wanted to spend my life with her.
HOW DID HE PROPOSE? Brett and I had made plans to go see the Biltmore for Christmas and to invite one of my closest friends, Sarah, to come along. After we made the plans, he decided he wanted to propose there, arranged the proposal with one of the Biltmore photographers and let Sarah in on the big secret. We got into the house just after 11:30 a.m. I put on my audio headset and we made our way through the entrance, gardens and billiard room. When we reached the banquet room, the photographer was waiting there for us. He got my attention and asked if he could take photos of us for some promotional materials. He allowed us behind the ropes and into the Vanderbilt’s banquet hall. It was beautifully decorated for Christmas. He situated us in front of the fireplace and Christmas trees for some photos. After he’d snapped a few, Brett dropped to one knee and pulled out the most BEAUTIFUL ring. His first words were, “I’ve never done this before.” It’s a good thing! He asked me to marry him (along with some other lovely things I can hardly remember) and I said, “YES!”
WHAT INSPIRED YOUR VISION FOR YOUR WEDDING? Pinterest ☺ Ha! One of the first things I did was create our website. I chose a template with two birds and later chose matching invitations. The birds along with our outdoor venue and my lace dress inspired our classic summer wedding with a rustic touch.
TELL US ABOUT FINDING YOUR VENUE: We knew we wanted to be married in a church, but our home church is held in a large auditorium. We got recommendations from friends, many of whom had been married at Graystone. After our first visit, we knew it was the perfect place to say our vows. I didn’t have to look at many reception venues before choosing The Pavilion at Hunter Valley Farm. It gave us the opportunity to have beautiful Tennessee scenery with the comfort of the climate-controlled pavilion. And since I didn’t have a wedding planner, their all-inclusive packages saved a lot of stress. Nancy at HVF helped take my vision and make it a reality!
WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST PLANNING CHALLENGE? Honestly, I was so blessed to have so many things fall into place perfectly. The biggest issue I had was with my dress. At my first alterations appointment, about 3 weeks before the wedding, my dress came in made wrong – two sizes too small! I was panicked, but we sent the dress back to the seamstress and it came back, fitting perfectly, just in time.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE DESIGN ELEMENT OF YOUR WEDDING? I loved the way the color scheme turned out. The blue and green looked amazing together, and the floral arrangements Nancy put together were exactly what I wanted. I also LOVED the vintage wooden boxes that she filled with hydrangeas and placed along the aisle at the church.
DID YOU HAVE ANY DIY DETAILS? I used Etsy and the DIY talents of others for quite a few things, including our cake topper, table numbers, and our Mr. & Mrs. sign. ☺ I did sketch our programs and a friend with amazing talent put together the finished product.
WHAT WAS THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT OF YOUR WEDDING DAY? Oh goodness, that is a hard question! The moment when my dad first saw me and I gave him an embroidered handkerchief was so special. Also, seeing Brett for the first time and having the opportunity to pray together before the ceremony. Oh! And during the ceremony when our pastor had us turn to face those who had come to witness our vows. It was so great to have a moment to look at everyone and take it all in. You said three memorable moments, right? ☺
DESCRIBE YOUR CAKE: It was all white with a simple, textured design. It was exactly what I asked for!
HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER? Perfect! From the moment we met Jason and Sara we felt like we had known them forever. They made us feel completely comfortable which is saying a lot for my shy husband! He even said, “It feels like we have our own personal cheerleaders.” Their creativity and knowledge was unlimited. It was like having our very professional and talented best friends photographing us. ☺
WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND AS A COUPLE? Just living this life as husband and wife, hoping to experience all it has to offer together!
CAN YOU PLEASE LIST YOUR VENDORS:
Ceremony Venue: Graystone Presbyterian Church
Reception Venue: The Pavilion at Hunter Valley Farm
Invitations: MyGatsby
Florist: Swank, An Event Design Company
Pastor: Michael Thomas
Ceremony Musician: Rhonda Carpenter
Reception DJ: Ogle Entertainment
Catering & Wedding Cake: All Occasion Catering
Groom’s Cake: Rebecca Rysewyk (Mango Cakes)
Videographer: Silverleaf Cinemas
Hair & Makeup: Bangs & Blush
Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Savvi Formalwear
Bridesmaids’ Attire: Alfred Angelo
Bride’s Attire: Allure Bridals from White Lace & Promises
Wedding Bands: Markman’s Jewelers
Photography: Concept Photography
