July 01st, 2025

Wedding Trends We’re Loving in the Knoxville Area This Year

​
The current wedding scene in East Tennessee brings a fresh wave of inspiring trends that couples and guests are enjoying. We’re fortunate here at The Venue at Lenoir City to see a little bit of everything, from timeless Southern charm to bold, modern celebrations, and from micro-weddings to celebrations with hundreds of guests. If you're planning a wedding in the Knoxville area, here are just a few of the top trends we’re seeing this year.

• Earthy and Neutral Color Palettes - Not necessarily the all-out Boho style of the last several years, but neutral tones with pops of terra cotta, sage green, burnt orange, and dusty rose are dominating in 2025. Likewise, the crisp, clean look of all white or ivory never goes out of style. Couples are embracing nature with these colors leading the way in floral design, bridesmaid dresses, and table décor. Such colors pair beautifully with our East Tennessee scenery! Think sunset backdrops, natural outdoor settings, and wood accents.
• Statement Ceremony Backdrops - Traditional arches are taking a back seat to creative, personalized ceremony setups. Our partner vendor Marsh-Made Designs offers creative and even custom arbors, bars & barbacks, specialty walls & backdrops, wood signage, and other focal carpentry items meticulously crafted from a variety of materials. They provide the perfect complement to breathtaking floral arrangements and designs (for example, those created by our partner florists Broadway Flower Shop and Melissa Timm Designs).
• Specialty Bars - Couples are making sure their cocktail hours are unforgettable by providing their guests with interactive drink experiences. Mobile bars, custom signature drinks, and coffee carts are also stealing the spotlight. Whether indoor or outdoor, The Venue has partner vendors that can help make your cocktail hour vision reality. These include: Orange Peel Mobile Mixers; Single Barrel Events; The Drifting Daisy Mobile Bar; and The Pour Guys.
• Candid Photography & Content Creators - Forget the stiff, planned poses of old! Today’s couples want real, emotional, in-the-moment snapshots. Knoxville-area photographers and videographers are leaning into photojournalistic styles and capturing behind-the-scenes moments perfect for sharing on social media. Some even work with content creators to bump the social media factor up a notch. We recommend starting your search with our partner vendors: A-List Video Solutions; HWVP Weddings; MNKpro; and Red Boat Photography.
• Retro-Inspired Décor - Disco balls, velvet lounges, bold patterns, and vintage accents are making receptions feel fun and nostalgic. Whether it's a mirror ball over the dance floor or 1970s-inspired table numbers, these little touches add serious personality to your special day. Partner decorators such as ERA Events, Luma Designs, Osmar Creations, and The Princess Palace can design and execute the perfect ceremony and reception environments to reflect your theme and unique vibe.
• Intimate Lighting & Candle-Heavy Tablescapes - More couples are opting for soft, romantic lighting to set the mood. Long rows of candles of various heights and widths interspersed among greenery, a variety of glowing votives, and even Edison bulb string lights over our patio help turn The Venue into a warm, welcoming space perfect for dinner and dancing.
• Personalized Guest Experiences - Knoxville-area couples are going all-in on hospitality. Many are “shopping small” to support local businesses. Whether including local honey, jam, or flowers from the Lenoir City Farmer’s Market, cheese samples from Sweetwater Valley Farm, trinkets, artwork or craft favors from The Sparkly Pig or Markets on Broadway, or even a specialty dessert station from La Michoachana, there are plenty of ways to pull the local area into your special day. Go one step further and consider providing welcome bags for out-of-town guests, or handwritten notes from the couple on your welcome table or seating chart to personalize the experience even more.

Whether you lean into timeless elegance or try something totally unexpected, our venue team is here to help bring your vision to life. We’d love to show you around, answer your questions, and share how we can incorporate these amazing trends into your own day. Schedule a tour today and let’s start planning something unforgettable!

#Decorating
#Planning
#Wedding