Weekend wedding brings the trappings of Hollywood — and fun! — to World’s Fair Park

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The bride shows off her "fascinator" -- and the groom clearly is fascinated!

The bride and groom both live and work in Hollywood now. (She’s an actor and he acts, writes and directs.) So you knew the wedding would be dramatic. And, sure enough, the nuptials of Allison Nichols and Anthony Toich on Saturday night did not disappoint. To make it even better, the event was held in the Tennessee Amphitheater at World’s Fair Park, so Alan and I could walk there from our downtown condo. It was a festive night!

You probably know the bride’s parents: Phyllis Nichols is the president and CEO of the Knoxville Area Urban League and Jim Nichols is a successful Realtor here. And they are both good friends of ours.

I never have seen the Tennessee Amphitheater look so beautiful. Come along!

The Tennessee Amphitheater was divided by sheer white fabric into two distinct sections: one for the wedding itself and one for the sit-down dinner afterward.

Here's the dinner portion.

Here's the dinner portion.

This area is where the actual ceremony would take place.

This area is where the actual ceremony would take place.

Since the bride and groom are in the acting profession, the program for the evening was designed to look like Playbill.

Alan Carmichael takes a program.

Alan Carmichael takes a program.

Elizabeth Farr, the harpist from the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, provided music before and during the ceremony.

Elizabeth  Farr

Elizabeth Farr

The wedding was set to start at 6. But the Nichols family has a tradition of running a little late at times. So we just settled in to enjoy the evening. At start time, the groom was out front clowning around with his sister and bantering with the guests! Ha!

The groom and his sister, Mary Toich.

The groom and his sister, Mary Toich.

Linda Reid, Phyllis Nichols’ sister, was assigned to take care of little Bella during the event. Bella is the baby of the Nichols’ other daughter, Tiffany, who was maid of honor.

Bella was a very well-behaved little girl.

Bella was a very well-behaved little girl.

After a little while, the groomsmen walked in, followed by the bridesmaids. (We actually think the wedding director, Michelle Henry, another friend of ours, took a cattle prod or something to them!)

Don't they look handsome?

Don't they look handsome?

Lovely.

Lovely.

The groom escorts his mother, Deborah Scoton, and grandmother, Caroline Dempsey.

The groom escorts his mother, Deborah Scotton, and grandmother, Caroline Dempsey.

The groom's father and stepmother, Sarah and Anthony Michael Toich.

The groom's father and stepmother, Sarah and Anthony Michael Toich.

Patrick Powell escorts his mother-in-law, Phyllis Nichols.

Patrick Powell escorts his mother-in-law, Phyllis Nichols.

Then there was another wait.

"What? Me worry?"  The groom and Rev. Leroy Franklin of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, wait patiently.

"What? Me worry?" The groom and Rev. Leroy Franklin of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, wait patiently.

The mother of the bride looked lovely on the front row.

The mother of the bride looked lovely on the front row.

And then, after the dramatic pause (told you she was an actor!), the stunning bride and her handsome father emerged.

Wow.

Wow.

Making a few adjustments.

Making a few adjustments.

I love this picture.

I love this picture.

Lighting the unity candle.

Lighting the unity candle.

The vows, which they wrote themselves, were touching.

The vows, which they wrote themselves, were touching.

And then it was time to party! The cocktail hour was “stage left,” which really means to the right of the stage!

From left, Mary Robinson, Clevonne Turner and Judy Jones take a break during cocktails.

From left, Mary Robinson, Clevonne Turner and Judy Jones take a break during cocktails.

Phyllis Nichols, center, posed with some of her best girlfriends. From left, Clevonne Turner, Kathy White, Rosalyn Tillman, Phyllis, Margaret Harris and Jan Hickman.

Phyllis Nichols, center, posed with some of her best girlfriends. From left, Clevonne Turner, Kathy White, Rosalyn Tillman, Phyllis, Margaret Harris and Jan Hickman.

Sister of the bride, Tiffany Powell, with her husband,  Patrick Powell and daughter, Bella.

Sister of the bride, Tiffany Powell, with her husband, Patrick Powell, and daughter, Bella.

Music after the ceremony was provided by DJ Sterling Henton, a former quarterback for the UT Volunteers. He calls himself “DJ Sterl the Pearl,” when he’s spinning tunes.

Jim Nichols, left, and Sterling Henton.

Jim Nichols, left, and Sterling Henton.

Alan poses with Phyllis during cocktails.

Alan poses with Phyllis during cocktails.

After an hour, it was onto the stage for dinner.

Projected onto the ceiling!

Projected onto the ceiling!

The centerpieces were whimsical! Table numbers were displayed among photos of the wedding couple. Cute idea.

A company called Whimsical Gatherings did the centerpieces.

A company called Whimsical Gatherings did the centerpieces.

The wedding cake was pure Hollywood! It was topped, not by the traditional bride and groom, but by two little Oscar statues reading, “World’s Best Husband” and “World’s Best Wife!”

Loved this!

Loved this!

The groom's cake was a hoot!

The groom's cake was a hoot!

Here’s a closer look at that beautiful dress. It was a Vera Wang.

Stunning.

Stunning.

By now, the sun was setting and you could really appreciate how pretty the scene was.

The Knoxville Convention Center at dusk

The Knoxville Convention Center at dusk

The Sunsphere

The Sunsphere

Here's the scene during dinner.

Here's the scene during dinner.

Annette and Dr. Barry Winston

Annette and Dr. Barry Winston

Sheadrick and Rosalyn Tillman

Sheadrick and Rosalyn Tillman

Don and Jan Hickman. They have a daughter getting married later this year.

Don and Jan Hickman. They have a daughter getting married later this year.

Lonnie and Judy Jones

Lonnie and Judy Jones

Frank and Mary Robinson

Frank and Mary Robinson

Clevonne and John Turner

Clevonne and John Turner

Before the dancing started, Phyllis posed with groomsman Kevin Sullivan and Annette Winston.

Before the dancing started, Phyllis posed with groomsman Kevin Sullivan and Annette Winston.

Then it was time for the father-daughter dance.

While Jim dances with his daughter, the groom and one of his groomsmen look on.

While Jim dances with his daughter, the groom and one of his groomsmen look on.

And then the mother-son dance.

And then the mother-son dance.

As the bride and groom danced, his sister blew bubbles at them. How sweet is that?

As the bride and groom danced, his sister blew bubbles at them. How sweet is that?

Then everyone hit the dance floor. Here are Gwen and Ron Brown.

Then everyone hit the dance floor. Here are Gwen and Ron Brown.

The Electric Slide broke out. Of course.

The Electric Slide broke out. Of course.

Time to toss the bouquet!

Get ready!

Get ready!

All the single ladies!

All the single ladies!

The party ended at 10, thanks to a city ordinance requiring all outdoor music to cease at that time. (That ordinance must be a huge relief when you are planning a function like this!) All the guests got heart-shaped sugar cookies to take home.

Alan and his cookie

Alan and his cookie

Of course, Alan's didn't make it home!

Of course, Alan's didn't make it home!

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6 Responses to Weekend wedding brings the trappings of Hollywood — and fun! — to World’s Fair Park

  1. Melinda Meador, on May 9th, 2011 at 4:16 pm said:

    Love the fascinator!

  2. Barbara Neal, on May 9th, 2011 at 6:43 pm said:

    Beautiful wedding – love the dress! Very unique.

  3. Karen Gonzalez Aunt to Allison, on May 10th, 2011 at 7:28 pm said:

    What a week-end ! Fun,action packed and relaxing great time with family and friends

  4. Annette Winston, on May 11th, 2011 at 2:40 pm said:

    Great shot of the cake, Cynthia!

  5. Carmen Hicks, on May 12th, 2011 at 4:04 pm said:

    So beautiful with great details for those of us who missed this wonderful day. Thanks!

  6. Alice Houston, on May 14th, 2011 at 1:12 pm said:

    I love every single thing about the wedding. The pictures were especially meaningful to me since I was not able to be there. Beautiful, elegant, whimsical, and most importantly so personal. God bless them. Love,
    “Aunt” Alice

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