Chattanooga Locals are Choosing Unique and Affordable Paths to ‘I do’

by Mason Edwards, Chattanooga Times Free Press

Contributed photo by Lili Ford / Beau and Caspian Supernova chose to get married in the exact room where they met as eight-year-olds at the Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga.

In November 2023, as afternoon sunlight filtered through the trees at Enterprise South Nature Park, Jocia and Hyde Moran said their vows in front of a decommissioned TNT bunker. They loved the outdoors — and the idea of a one-of-a-kind wedding. Even though they literally tied the knot — participating in a Norse hand-fasting ceremony — their choice of venue was the conversational spark.

The Morans considered other outdoor venues, like Fort Mountain State Park, Chester Frost State Park and Edwards Point Trail, but they eventually decided to drop their love bomb at a unique place. "We didn't get married actually in the bunker because it's really echoey," Jocia says. "Our twins were only a few months old, so we got married right in front of the doors."

The process was simple: Jocia called the park rangers, and to her surprise, no fees, paperwork or reservations were required. "The rangers just asked, 'Which bunker do you want?'," she says. "It was exactly what we wanted — personal and peaceful."

Photo contributed by Jocia Moran / Jocia and Hyde were married by Dawn Hendrix at bunker 28 at Enterprise South Nature Park.

The Morans are part of a growing trend: couples choosing nontraditional wedding venues. According to nearlywed.com, 25% of couples now opt for unique settings such as barns, warehouses, private homes or natural landmarks.

Dawn Hendrix, a Chattanooga-based wedding officiant, has helped over 400 couples get hitched in creative locations — provided they don't require hours of hiking. "My knees aren't what they used to be 44 years ago," she says. "But if it's not illegal, I'm there to make it happen."

Hendrix's journey as an officiant began in 2015, when she officiated her friend's wedding after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage. What started as a few weddings for friends and family blossomed into a thriving side business, especially during the pandemic, when couples had to rethink traditional ceremony locales.

"The pandemic made people think outside the box," Hendrix says. "Rather than getting married at a church or a traditional event space, couples chose locations that made sense for them."

Hendrix has officiated at a range of places, including farms, Snooper's Rock, a scenic overlook in Prentice Cooper State Forest, the Blue Rhino in front of the Chattanooga Theatre Centre, the staircase inside Warehouse Row, the tree house at Reflections Riding and the TNT bunkers at Enterprise South Nature Park.

She also married Marcus Hardaway and Michael McClendon at a Confederate Monument in Point Park. This Chattanoogan couple of over 20 years had initially planned a simple ceremony at home to say their vows. "We weren't going to do anything big, but then my family intervened," Hardaway says.

Contributed photo by Adrienne McCroskey / Michael McClendon (left) and Marcus Hardaway were married by Dawn Hendrix at Point Park at Lookout Mountain.

They chose Point Park at Lookout Mountain because Marcus's mother used to take him there as a child. "It was beautiful. We got married by the cannons and the monuments," he says. The history of the site added layers of meaning. "It felt a little rebellious as gay men to get married there, like we were defying odds and claiming space in history."

Not every unique venue involves the outdoors. One Chattanooga couple, Beau and Caspian Supernova, chose to get married in the exact room where they met as eight-year-olds in a class for homeschooled children at the Creative Discovery Museum. "It could not have gone better, and it felt personal to be back in that room, with all the people who really mattered," Beau says. "Every day, I wake up and look at the pictures."

With the help of an event coordinator, they arranged a simple, intimate ceremony in the Kaleidoscope Corner once the museum closed for the day, for $400 for two hours. "I was really looking forward to the little dinosaur dig exhibit," Caspian says, "and running around the kid play areas — it made it so much fun."

Budget-consciousness is another driving factor behind the popularity of nontraditional venues. The average wedding in Chattanooga in 2023 cost around $24,000, making flexibility an attractive option for couples looking to save money while creating a memorable day.

"If you're a little adventurous and not completely tied to perfection, a unique venue gives you a story people will remember," Hendrix says. "You can say, 'I got married in a TNT bunker,' which is something no one else can claim."

Whether it's an intimate creekside ceremony or a celebration at a historical landmark, couples are embracing the idea that their wedding should reflect who they are.

"Get married on your terms," Jocia Moran says. "Do what you want to do; make it your day. It's part of you and your memory forever."

To learn more, check out Dawn Hendrix's website, magnolialaceweddings.com.