Beautifully hidden away in a forest on an historic college campus, RT Lodge makes you feel like you’re staying at an upper class friend’s vacation home. There are acoustic guitars to play around the fire, where you’ll also find a s’mores station. There’s badminton, corn hole, croquet, and volleyball to be played. It’s basically your own personal estate while you’re there.
So it’s no wonder that dozens of wedding professionals descended upon this secluded sanctuary in Maryville, Tennessee. It was quite the picturesque event to behold. We simply had to know more, so we chatted with Katherine Stinnett, RT Lodge’s Group Sales and Marketing Manager.
Photography by Natalie Watson
RT Lodge means:
- Activities Galore: At RT Lodge, you’re charmingly close to both Great Smoky Mountains National Park and downtown Knoxville. Seriously, what’s cooler than being "just minutes away" from mountains and lakes as well as museums, art galleries, sporting events, live concerts, golf courses, and theme parks?
- Always Homemade: RT Lodge’s culinary promise is unreal. The staff makes much of their own food from scratch, including bread, mayonnaise, pickles, and pimento cheese. The menu may change with seasonal offerings, but the foundation remains "the freshest ingredients sourced from local farms and the best providers."
- Venue Variety: An event at RT Lodge is by no means isolated to any singular spot on the grounds. There's the Main Lodge, an elegant interior featuring garden and koi pond views (holding up to 220 guests); the Sherry Tent, which includes a lantern-lit pathway for the spacious tent aglow with bistro lights (holding up to 300 guests); the Ceremony Lawn; a grassy meadow surrounded by enchanting woodland (holding up to 400 guests); the Tent Lawn; a picture-perfect spot bordered by scenic forest (holding up to 200 guests).
What prompted this gathering at your venue?
Katherine Stinnett: This was actually a Familiarization Trip, where we invited guests from the wedding industry to our property to become acquainted with the lodge and see what we are able to do for events. There were about 75 wedding planners, photographers, designers, etc who were in attendance.
What other types of events does your venue specialize in?
KS: We specialize in destination weddings and corporate events, but we can also do private birthdays, reunions, and parties.
Could you give us some insight behind the DIY activities during the trip? How fun!
KS: Part of the events of the fam trip included a pottery class by a local potter—Leanne McQueen of McQueen Pottery—as well as a soap-making demonstration by local artisan Rainwater Farm. Our chef, Trevor Stockton, did a cooking demo. The earrings and bow-ties were passed out as favors on the farewell dinner evening, provided by Lichi Lerch. It was a wonderful three days of fun events!
What are some of the best features of your venue? Any must photo spots for future photographers?
KS: Our property is tucked back in the woods and everyone is able to stay on site for the entirety of a destination weekend; and we host each event here from the bridal luncheon to the rehearsal dinner to the ceremony, reception, and farewell brunch. It is safe to say that we made it our mission to make sure every area of our venue is photo-ready!
Enjoy an exclusive stay at RT Lodge with the staff's full attention. They'll help you customize menus, events, and activities. You can have your run of the place with all the help you need. Doesn’t that make for the best gatherings?
Credits
Venue: RT Lodge | Photography: Natalie Watson
