Martha and Geoff's winter wedding at The Turnbull made me realize something: spring and fall seasons get so much of the wedding rush, but there’s something cool (ha!) and ...pristine maybe? about a winter wedding. Maybe it’s just because it’s January right now, and everything seems like it’s beginning again. Things feel fresh and new. So, yeah! New year, new marriage! And a wedding at The Turnbull Building in Chattanooga, TN...I am here for it. I can’t wait for you to see how gorgeous this couple is in these downtown Chattanooga scenes.

Bride and groom under covered walkway between brick archways

 

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Wedding Ceremony

Martha and Geoff held their ceremony at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church downtown where they are members. This building was constructed in the 1800s, and it’s on the National Register of Historic Buildings! Holy cow, it has such interesting architecture and gorgeous stained glass windows. My favorite parts of this property are actually the memorial garden and labyrinth! And I love how the alcoves and covered walkways create a feeling of seclusion and peace in the first-look photos and bride and groom portraits.

Note: It was important to Martha and Geoff to have their ceremony in their home church of St. Paul’s, but the church has a policy against photographers in the main sanctuary. You’ll notice that all my ceremony shots are from the back of the room or the balcony which were the areas I was allowed to access. While this isn’t completely prohibitive, if you’re looking for more close-up ceremony photography, be sure your photographer is able to access the whole space. If you’re currently planning a wedding, double check with your venues about photographer access!

Bride and groom nuzzle under covered walkway between brick archways

Bride and groom nuzzle under covered walkway between brick archways

Bride and groom share first look under covered walkway between brick archways

Bride and groom under covered walkway between brick archways

Bride and groom under covered walkway between brick archways

Groom kisses bride's cheek under covered walkway between brick archways

Bride wears high-collared, three-quarter-length lace wedding dress holds bouquet of white and peach flowers

Groom holds lapels of his tuxedo with a white boutonniere pinned on his chest

Bride in lace wedding dress looks at bouquet of white and peach flowers; groom wears plaid cummerbund under his tuxedo jacket

Bride and her father stand under gray winter sky in front of antique brick church

Bride waits at the back of red-carpeted aisle while flower girl and ring bearer walk toward altar

Bride and father walk central aisle as guests begin to stand from wooden pews for processional

Sanctuary with brick walls, wooden pews, and red carpet of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Chattanooga, TN

Priest and attendants watch father kiss his daughter's cheek at the altar of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Chattanooga, TN

Bride and groom sit in wooden pews across the red-carpeted aisle during their wedding ceremony at St. Pauls Episcopal Church

Bride and groom stand before priest as he reads from the Bible during their wedding ceremony

Bride slides ring onto groom's finger while attendants and priest look on

Bride and groom kneel at altar while priest reads Scripture during their wedding ceremony

Bride and groom kiss at the altar in front of priest at their St. Paul's Episcopal Church wedding in downtown Chattanooga

Bride and groom hold hands and walk the red-carpeted aisle while guests stand and clap

Family photo with bride and groom in front of the doors of St. Paul's Episcopal Church wedding in downtown Chattanooga

Bride and groom silhouette against stained glass window

Bride and groom kiss in shadowy hallway between stained glass windows

Bride and groom kiss in front of stained glass window

 

Bride and Groom portraits in West Village Chattanooga

Because they opted for a first look, we were able to do all of Martha and Geoff's portraits before the ceremony so they could go straight to the reception. We went to Chattanooga’s West Village for the portraits. This part of the city recently experienced some revitalization and rebranding, and now it sets a nice urban scene for photos. Martha and Geoff wanted a calm, easy-going portrait session, and I think we pulled that off pretty well. They had a family friend bring their dogs over to the church for some photos, too!

Bride and groom descending cement steps toward sidewalk

Bride and groom walk the sidewalk in Chattanooga's West Village

Bride and groom smile at each other in Chattanooga's West Village

Bride and groom hold hands in Chattanooga's West Village. She holds a bouquet of white and peach flowers

Bride and groom hold hands in Chattanooga's West Village. She holds a bouquet of white and peach flowers

Bride and groom cuddle, her hand under his arm and the other on his shoulder.

Bride and groom smile at each other between downtown buildings as her veil swirls around them.

Bride and groom kiss in the middle of the road between downtown buildings. Her veil blows in the wind.

Bride and groom cuddle on brick steps. She wears a white lace bodice gown and holds a bouquet of white and peach flowers

Bride and groom kiss while sitting on brick steps. She wears a white lace bodice gown

Groom cuddles bride over her shoulders while he kisses her cheek

Bride and groom hold hands and cross the street in West Village Chattanooga. She holds a bouquet of white and peach flowers

Bride and groom hold hands and cross the street in West Village Chattanooga. She holds a bouquet of white and peach flowers

Bride and groom hold their family dogs in front of St Paul's Episcopal Church

Bride and groom hold their family dogs in front of St Paul's Episcopal Church

Bride wearing lace bodice wedding gown holds a bouquet of white and peach flowers and greenery

Bride and groom take a turn around the labyrinth at St Paul's Episcopal Church in downtown Chattanooga

Bride and groom smile at each other under her veil.

Bride and groom kiss under her veil, her ring hand on his shoulder.

Bride and groom ride in the back of a white jeep

 

Wedding Reception at The Turnbull

After the ceremony, Martha and Geoff headed over the The Turnbull Building to host their wedding reception. The Turnbull, located between Chattanooga’s Southside and the Riverfront, is another building on the National Register of Historic Places! 

If you’re looking for a beautiful historic wedding venue in Chattanooga, TN, this one has an amazing, urban industrial vibe. Gorgeous, huge windows and cool architectural elements like exposed beams and brick interior walls. Chattanooga winters can be pretty gray, but if you’re planning a winter wedding at The Turnbull, you’ll love how the wood tones warm up this space. I especially liked how Fox and Fern decked out the rafters and beams with flowers and greenery for this reception. The Turnbull Building at its finest. 

Martha and Geoff planned a relaxed, casual reception. Their priority was to spend time with their guests and catch up with family and hang out with friends, so they limited some of the typical reception activities in order to do that. They hired Love, Peace & Happiness Band for live music to get people out on the dance floor, and of course we enjoyed the heck outta the glow sticks! All in all, it was a really classy, relaxed day.

White plastic sign with changeable letters welcome bride and groom to The Turnbull Building wedding reception

Live band musical equipment on the stage at The Turnbull Building's wedding hall

Round tables surrounded by exposed wooden beams and large windows furnish The Turnbull Building's wedding hall

The Turnbull Building's wedding hall with wood finishes, exposed beams, and large windows

Chalkboard in front of round tables with white tablecloths under large windows and exposed beams at The Turnbull Building

Colorful customized koozies with white sketches of pet faces and names

Colorful customized koozies with white sketches of pet faces and names

Tabletop vase with bouquet of white hydrangeas, peonies, roses and pink peony with greenery

Bouquet of white hydrangeas, peonies, roses and pink peony with greenery

Platter with cream and jam-topped biscuits next to "Events with Taste" napkins

Serving tongs on a platter with soft shell tacos next to a platter of pulled pork sliders

Forks and sandwich platter at front of long buffet table under tall windows and exposed brick walls of The Turnbull Building

Three white frosted layer cakes surrounded by greenery and tabletop signs labeling yellow, red velvet, and sour cream cakes

Tabletop sign printed with "Sour cream coconut" in front of greenery and a white cake topped with flowers

Tabletop sign printed with "Red velvet cream cheese icing" in front of white frosted cake

Several small white and pink flowers top a cake covered in coconut flakes

Bride and groom smile and cut into their white frosted cake together

Bride's hands surround groom's as they cut into their white frosted cake with pink peony on top

Bride holds a small plate while groom holds knife in front of white frosted cake

Bride and groom hold a plate of bright red red velvet cake for their first taste at their wedding at The Turnbull Building

Red velvet cake with thick white frosting with small piece cut away is topped with light pink peony

Bride and groom dance alone on wooden dance floor under exposed beams of The Turnbull Building while guests watch

Bride and groom dance in front of live band under exposed beams and large windows at their wedding at The Turnbull Building

Groom sings to bride during their first dance while live band plays behind them.

Bride and her father dance under exposed beams and ductwork at wedding at The Turnbull Building in Chattanooga TN

Groom and his mother dance under exposed beams and ductwork at wedding at The Turnbull Building in Chattanooga TN

Woman and small boy dance on wooden dance floor

Band plays on stage for wedding guests under exposed beams and ductwork at wedding at The Turnbull Building in Chattanooga TN

Man wearing black vest and striped tie sings into microphone; another man wearing paisley vest plays bass guitar

Woman plays soprano sax into microphone while tenor sax suspends around her neck

Man plays electric guitar while wearing a yellow glow stick as a halo

Bride and friends wearing glow sticks like halos under industrial exposed ductwork in warehouse wedding reception

Wedding guests dance in a circle with the bride and groom; greenery hangs from exposed beams at The Turnbull Building

Man and woman wearing glow sticks as halos. She holds neon green glasses in front of her eyes

Wedding guests dancing under industrial exposed ductwork

Bride and groom onstage with wedding band. The singer holds a microphone in one hand and tambourine overhead with the other

Back of bride as she's onstage with a band, speaking to wedding guests at The Turnbull

Bride and several female friends sing and dance on band's stage while groom and guests watch and dance on the dance floor

Bride and several female friends sing and dance on band's stage while the band sings and plays at The Turnbull in Chattanooga

The Turnbull Building in downtown Chattanooga, TN at night, lights glowing along brick exterior

The Turnbull Building in downtown Chattanooga, TN at night, lights glowing along brick exterior

Bride and groom dance in a dark room under the glow of a few spotlights

Martha and Geoff, photographing your wedding and reception was such a pleasure. I wish you all the happiness in the world!

 

Many thanks to the vendors and venues who made Martha and Geoff's wedding at The Turnbull so gorgeous and memorable!

Ceremony venue: St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Reception venue: The Turnbull Building
Florals: Fox and Fern
Band: Love, Peace & Happiness Band
Coordinator: Wildflower Wedding Planning
Catering: Events with Taste
Dress: BLHDN

As a Chattanooga wedding photographer, I really love getting to explore so many corners of this city and see them in light of each couple. Whether you're planning your big day downtown or in the 'burbs, CONTACT ME. I’d love to plan with you!

 

If you loved Martha and Geoff’s wedding in the city, definitely check out Brian and Tiffany’s Chattanooga Whiskey’s Event Hall wedding or Danielle and Alex’s wedding at The Church on Main. And check out my Top 5 Chattanooga Engagement Photo Locations if you're looking for some recommendations around town for your portraits.

Published by Rachael Crowe in Weddings
Tags: Chattanooga wedding photographer, St. Paul's Episcopal Church Chattanooga wedding, Tennessee wedding photographer, The Turnbull Building wedding reception