“I didn’t necessarily have a theme in mind, unless simplicity and joy is a theme.” That’s what Emily told us when we asked her about her marriage and celebration, and it’s also exactly how Emily and Terrance’s Knoxville wedding day went down. Both their ceremony and reception were held at The Barn at Williams Manor, a lovely, bucolic barn venue which perfectly facilitated the flow of bright, playful vibes that day. Bubbling over with happiness and smiles, these two jumped the broom at the end of their outdoor ceremony, played a little kiss football with their wedding party, and twirled the evening away on the dance floor. In fact, so much twirling went on that our beautiful, brave bride had to tuck and roll with her flower girl:
“I was spinning my niece and flower girl, Anna Grace, around and around. We got off balance and she didn’t put her feet down when I went to stop our momentum. I knew we were going to fall, so I had to shove her under my dress as I tucked and rolled on the dance floor. Her head was saved by my leg, and all that was damaged was my elbow and my dress… Thankfully, it can be easily fixed! My daddy got the whole thing on video, so that’s one moment I’ll never be able to live down.”
See? Wedding dresses aren’t just for looking like a queen. All the layers of her Isla gown not only looked fabulous but helped prevent a dance floor mishap. So, if anyone questions your need for a long train or fluffy skirt, tell them “safety first”!
Read on for Emily’s engagement story and all the effervescent details of her day:
How did your sweetie propose?
“Terrance had been dropping hints like crazy the week prior, telling me to make sure my nails were done and to dress up for a fancy date. He made a reservation for us at Flemings, a nice steakhouse in Knoxville on Saturday, January 13 and we had an awesome meal. During dinner Terrance snuck away to create a gameplan with one of the managers and came back to the table to convince me we needed to try their dessert. When the waiter brought out dessert, he placed a card on the table that said “Congratulations!” I zeroed in on that word until I noticed a small jewelry box next to it. I said, “Terrance Terrill!” as he grinned like crazy and grabbed the box, dropping to one knee next to our booth. He took my hand and asked me to marry him, and obviously I said yes! I just cried and laughed off and on the rest of the evening, filled with pure joy.”
wedding dress: Lea-Ann Belter Isla via Lillian Ruth Bride | photographer: Shutter Sprite Photography | scroll down for full vendor list
How did you choose your gown?
“I had taken screenshots of Lillian Ruth Bride’s Instagram posts showing gowns I was drawn to. I didn’t realize it at the time of the appointment, but I had screenshotted the very dress I ended up choosing! When we got to the shop, Leslie understood what I wanted right away and started pulling gowns for me. I noticed one more gown on a mannequin, and asked if she could pull that one as well. She did and I waited to try it on until it was the last one left. As soon as I saw myself in the mirror, I just knew. It fit me exactly the way I’d always dreamed my wedding dress would. It accentuated my curves in all the right places, and made me fall in love with my shape. I loved the soft color and how different it was. It was lightweight and felt so good against my skin. Leslie paired a belt with it, and I was hooked. I had to have it! My mama later told me she and my baby sister had picked my dress out right as they walked in, and that just confirmed it was meant to be. My dress was a dream come true.”
Tell us about your day! Did you have a theme or style in mind?
“I didn’t necessarily have a theme in mind, unless simplicity and joy is a theme. We just wanted the day to reflect us as a couple, our likes and preferences. We wanted bright, bold colors, with accents of gold everywhere. We had a taco bar at the reception because that’s one of our favorite foods and our open bar was stocked with our favorite wines. We went with Nothing Bundt Cakes because, good gosh, they’re so delicious! We had the most beautiful flowers and a venue that did all the decorating work for us as it was naturally gorgeous. We didn’t add much except for the flowers, and it ended up being perfect. Everything about our day filled us with joy, and there wasn’t much fuss, so it was just what we wanted.”
What was your favorite wedding day moment?
“My favorite moment was when my daddy and I were at the start of the aisleway, and I locked eyes with Terrance. I really thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest, and I don’t think I’ve ever smiled so big in my life. He’s always been so attractive, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so gorgeous. I couldn’t take my eyes off him, even for a second. I was walking toward my future, and I reveled in that the whole way to him.“
What was your first dance song?
“All of Me, by John Legend”
Describe your wedding day in 5 words or less:
“Joyful, bright, perfect, sweet, worthwhile.”
What was your something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue?
“My something old and something borrowed were both my mama’s pearl cross necklace and the garter from her wedding. My something new and something blue was the sapphire ring Terrance gave me before our ceremony.“
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
“We stayed in a little cabin in Sevierville, TN and just hid away from the world for a little while.”
Any advice for future brides/grooms?
“Hire a photographer you connect with and trust, and your pictures will be to die for. Make sure you carve out some time to steal away together and appreciate the moment. Surround yourselves with people who love you as a couple, and make your happiness their goal. Go with your gut and do what you want! Think about what’s most important to you on that day and make that the priority. Everything else will fall into place.”
Emily + Terrance’s Knoxville Wedding Vendors
wedding dress: Lea-Ann Belter Isla via Lillian Ruth Bride | photographer: Shutter Sprite Photography | venue: The Barn at Williams Manor | flowers: Mott’s Floral Design | hair + makeup: Southern Sirens | catering: All Occasion Catering | Officiant/DJ: Terry Minor, Jr. | alterations: Sandra G’s