[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/heather-holly-a-tennessee-church-wedding\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/heather-holly-a-tennessee-church-wedding\/","headline":"Heather + Holly: A Tennessee Church Wedding","name":"Heather + Holly: A Tennessee Church Wedding","description":"Holly and I were the first in our home parish of St. James Episcopal Church in Knoxville and the fourth in the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee to seek the blessing. ","datePublished":"2014-06-16","dateModified":"2021-06-25","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/kpalladino\/#Person","name":"Kirsten Palladino","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/kpalladino\/","identifier":2,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/76421eab241dc39d43a493849d7bc676e4b1c60c6b1167f727466599b6882eca?s=96&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/76421eab241dc39d43a493849d7bc676e4b1c60c6b1167f727466599b6882eca?s=96&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Equally Wed","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","url":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","width":218,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/heather-holly-intro.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/heather-holly-intro.jpeg","height":210,"width":328},"url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/heather-holly-a-tennessee-church-wedding\/","about":["DIY","Real LGBTQ+ Weddings from Equally Wed"],"wordCount":552,"keywords":[" lesbian wedding","candles","church wedding","DIY","Episcopal Church","fall wedding","purple","same-sex weddings","silver","Tennessee"],"articleBody":"[dropcap letter=”H”]eather: \u201cIt was a perfect day, full of laughter and love, family and friends who are family, happiness and tears (of joy, of course!). We met in October 1995 at the Metropolitan Community Church in Knoxville, Tenn. Actually, my friend Cindi invited her out to coffee after church that night, and that was the beginning of this amazing relationship. Holly had moved to Knoxville from New Orleans after a breakup and was looking for a new start. We hit it off and before long, were inseparable.\u201cYou can imagine that in 18 years, we’ve been through a lot: moves, job changes, job losses, family deaths, marriages, pets \u2026 anything and everything a couple has to face in a long-term relationship (except children, which is one regret we have). \u00a0\u00a0\u201cIn the summer of 2012, the Episcopal Church approved a liturgy to bless same-sex relationships. Called the Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant, Holly and I were the first in our home parish of St. James Episcopal Church in Knoxville and the fourth in the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee to seek the blessing. While we planned our special day, we took special care to include the people who have stood with us for entire relationship. My best friend since college, Lynn, stood with me, while Tina (the partner of Cindi who had started this whole thing off by inviting Holly to coffee that Sunday night so long ago) stood with Holly.”\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI am involved with youth ministry in the Diocese, so many of the people who helped with the service and reception were from that world\u2014friends Amanda and Liz served as our hostesses, handing out programs, directing traffic at the church. Another friend, Renee, along with my parents, brother and sister-in-law decorated the Relix Variety Theatre, our reception site. Alex (Renee\u2019s husband) performed all of our music on guitar; it was beautiful! Another friend from college, Katie, made our gorgeous cake, while my mom made the beautiful cupcakes decorated with roses and silver sugar. As you can see, it really was a family and friend effort to make it a special day.\u201cMost of our d\u00e9cor ideas came from Pinterest. I made all of the centerpieces and decorations in black, gray and silver. I also made the bouquets for both Lynn and me out of brooches, some of which were new, many of which were vintage and some given to me by friends and family.\u201cAll in all, it was a perfect day. While not a glamorous wedding, it really reflected who we are: a little tailored for Holly and little girly for me. And the most important people in the world to us were there to share it with us.\u201cOur goal was to put together a celebration that honored our relationship with each other and all of the other people in our lives. We heard from many of our guests that it was the happiest wedding they had been to. To us, there could be no higher compliment than that.\u201dDETAILS + VENDORS Couple: Heather Pagles and Holly Sebesta Years together: More than 18 years Wedding date: November 2, 2013 Ceremony: St. James Episcopal Church, Knoxville, TN Clergy: Rev. John Mark Wiggers Reception: The Relix Variety Theatre Caterer: Molly Davis Cake: Katie DavisFlowers and decor: DIY Photography: Lemons and Roses Photography"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Heather + Holly: A Tennessee Church Wedding","item":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/heather-holly-a-tennessee-church-wedding\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]