Rachael & Nathan’s Art Deco Holiday Wedding at The Thompson

Rachael and Nathan’s wedding day felt like an art deco holiday party brought beautifully to life. Set at the Thompson Hotel, their celebration blended vintage glamour, candlelit romance, meaningful family traditions, and the magic of Christmas in Savannah.

The Thompson Savannah created the perfect backdrop for every part of the day. From the couple’s private rooftop vow exchange outside Bar Julian, overlooking the Savannah River and the Talmadge Bridge, to the warm and festive reception spaces, the hotel’s holiday décor felt completely woven into the wedding design. As Rachael’s mother shared, “The Thompson was extraordinary—it truly felt as though their holiday decor had been designed especially for Rachael’s wedding.”

The emotion of the day began with Rachael and Nathan’s private back-to-back vows on the rooftop. It was a quiet moment before the celebration unfolded, giving the couple time to take in the day together with one of Savannah’s most beautiful views around them.

For the ceremony, Rachael reimagined the space in a way that felt entirely her own. She and the bridal party stood outside on the portico, surrounded by eleven Christmas trees and white poinsettias, while guests were seated inside the sunroom. Candlelight, greenery-draped chandeliers, holiday classics played by violin, and a hot chocolate and tea station welcomed guests into a setting that felt warm, personal, and full of seasonal charm.

Rachael’s bridal look carried the same vintage-inspired elegance as the rest of the day. She wore a Maggie Sottero trumpet-style gown with shoulder epaulettes, an intricate lace overlay, chapel-length train, and subtle sparkle throughout the tulle. Full-length opera gloves gave the look a glamorous 1940s feel, while diamond jewelry and silver dachshund earrings added meaningful personal touches.

Family heirlooms also played a beautiful role throughout the day. Rachael carried treasured pieces from generations before her, including a bridal handkerchief first used by her great-great-grandmother, an Episcopal Prayer Book carried by her great-grandmother, and the family sixpence. Her veil was created from lace from her maternal grandmother’s wedding gown, and lace from her mother’s wedding dress was wrapped around her bouquet.

Inside the reception, the Thompson Hotel’s ballroom transformed into a festive, candlelit celebration. A dramatic head table with seasonal florals and greenery, glowing Christmas trees, burgundy linens, gold accents, and lounge seating made the room feel both grand and inviting. Guests enjoyed a seated dinner, custom sugar cookies, a red velvet bride’s cake with vintage lace-style buttercream, and a groom’s cake designed as a replica of Nathan’s 2014 Saleen Mustang.

The evening was filled with joy, laughter, and surprises, including an inflatable Christmas tree and Santa Claus appearance that had the wedding party laughing. Later, Rachael returned in a reception dress redesigned from her mother’s original wedding gown, carrying her family’s bridal legacy into the celebration in the sweetest way.

Rachael and Nathan ended the night with a bubble exit into a convertible Mustang before heading off the next morning for their honeymoon in Curaçao. From rooftop vows to holiday decor, family heirlooms, and a reception full of personality, their Thompson Hotel wedding was warm, glamorous, and unforgettable.