For Louisianna residents, Amor and Severin, selecting the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee as the setting for their destination wedding felt relatively easy. Prior to deciding on the area for their nuptials, the couple took a trip to the region where they “promptly fell in love” with The Trillium, a wedding venue boasting incredible mountain views, at first sight.

“We visited many venues but finally found that ‘this is our place’ feeling when we stepped foot at The Trillium—though we actually had come across their sister venue, The Magnolia, first! It was our top choice going into the venue visits,” Amor says.

After venue selection, the couple set up their wedding website to keep guests informed and prepared for travel. On the website, they included information about the hotel block as well as listed a few alternative accommodation options at nearby cabins and resorts.

“We scoped out fun things to do and listed those on the website,” the bride adds. “All of our guests were directed to the website for these lists, which also prevented us from repeating ourselves dozens of times. Win-win!”

Additionally, the couple created a wedding-specific email to consolidate all wedding communication with vendors in one easy-to-access space. Opting to hire all local Tennessee vendors, staying organized was imperative.

A surprise came shortly into their planning process: they were pregnant with their first child, a baby girl! Severin and Amor quickly informed vendors and guests that the celebration would need to be pushed out by a month to give the couple time to adjust to being brand-new parents. Luckily, the date transition happened seamlessly, a triumph they attribute to the help of their coordinator, Jackie Carter of Elease Productions.

“[Our daughter] Isla was able to join the party, at 6 weeks old exactly on our new wedding date,” Severin says.

While preparing for the arrival of their precious baby, the couple continued planning a dream wedding in the Smokies. Amor and Severin opted to personalize the event by including elements like a handfasting and binding ritual into the ceremony, honoring the bride’s Filipino heritage. Paying homage to his background, Severin would don his Lousiana State University socks on the day and incorporate a local beer into the reception drinks, alongside some Tennessee whiskey. “Because, when in Rome, right?” Amor says.

After all was said and done, Severin and Amor can confidently say they wouldn’t change a thing about their wedding day. They were also gracious enough to impart some wisdom to couples looking to take on the challenge and delight of planning a destination wedding…

When selecting a venue:

• “Talk to local vendors, like your planner or photographer, as they will be the ultimate resource as you plan!”
• “Consider more than aesthetics, such as what is included, guest access, etc., is also super important.”
• “If you are stuck between a few, use your budget to help narrow down your options.”

When the bridal party asks how they can help:

• “Bridal party members cannot read your mind. If you assign tasks ahead of time, everyone can feel needed and helpful, without overwhelming the one ‘volunteer’ of the group.”

Vendors: Venue: The Trillium; Planner: Jackie of Elease Productions; Photography: Fox & Fig Photography; Hair and Makeup Artistry: Bangs and Blush; Bar and Beverage: Simply Sip by Elease Productions; Bakery: Marble City Sweets; Catering: Spaces in the City; Videography: Ezell Film Company; Entertainment: Michael Durham Entertainment; Florals: Broadway Flowershop; Officiant: Rev Jill Dillner; Rentals and Decor: All Occasions Party Rentals; Transportation: Elite Event Services