Peek Inside FIVE Dreamy Dixon Gallery & Gardens Weddings
On a gorgeous spring day in Memphis, five lucky couples exchanged or renewed their vows in a picture-perfect setting, courtesy of the Dixon Gallery & Gardens. From small, meaningful touches to seasonal florals, the day was a stunner! Image: Shelby & Rick John, S&R John Photography
Dixon Gallery and Gardens has long been a coveted spot for Memphis spring weddings. So what better way to celebrate two of its own milestone moments than by hosting complimentary vow exchanges and renewals in April? In honor of its 50th anniversary and the 100th wedding anniversary of its founders (Margaret Oates Dixon and Hugo Norton Dixon), the Dixon gifted five couples with the chance to experience a Dixon Gallery and Gardens wedding of their own in one of Memphis’s most enchanting settings.
Long before the Dixon became a public garden and museum, Margaret and Hugo Dixon hosted weddings on the property. When staff began planning for the 50th anniversary, the alignment with the original Dixons’ own special day felt too meaningful to overlook. Offering small, intimate weddings free of charge felt like the perfect way to honor the legacy of this beloved venue and its founders.
“We knew we had to do something memorable,” says Dixon Gallery and Gardens Venue Rental Coordinator Hannah Reasons. “Weddings are such a special part of our gardens. It’s a beautiful tradition to continue.”
The response was immediate and heartfelt. Forty couples applied, each hoping to celebrate their next chapter surrounded by the venue’s famed spring blooms. Winners were selected at random, but a common thread ran through the applications: a desire to celebrate love in a place that already holds so much beauty and meaning.
Each ceremony was held at the Bowlin Stage, followed by an intimate reception for up to 15 guests on the back porch of the Dixon residence. Though modest in size, the celebrations were rich in personal detail, from embroidered handkerchiefs wrapped around bouquets to heirloom cake toppers and photo albums from weddings past.
One couple returned to the place where they married 11 years ago, renewing their vows as their children watched. Another bride’s family shared that what began as a planned elopement became a once-in-a-lifetime moment that allowed a mother to witness her only child’s wedding.
The Dixon ensured that no detail was overlooked. A generous group of vendors and partners brought each celebration to life: The husband-and-wife team behind S&R John Photography donated their time to capture every heartfelt moment, Garden District designed a wedding arch and calla lily florals inspired by the founders’ own ceremony, and Chef Phillip Dewayne of Park + Cherry prepared elegant hors d’oeuvres.
Cakes and cupcakes from Frost Bake Shop allowed each couple to share the timeless tradition of cutting the cake, while Party Connection provided chair and linen rentals to complete the setting. Even the Dixon staff stepped in, serving as DJs, ushers, and coordinators to make sure each moment was as perfect as possible. And finally, officiant Emily Young donated her time for four out of the five ceremonies.
For the happy couples, the day was full of heartfelt moments. One visibly nervous, excited groom was a reminder that, even amid the curated event, the emotions were entirely real. “It was a day filled with love, joy, and meaning, even if you weren’t getting married,” Hannah reflects.
And maybe that’s the true legacy of the Dixon: more than priceless art and picturesque gardens, it serves as a backdrop for some of life’s most meaningful memories. As Lacy Mitchum, one of the brides, put it, it was a “perfect, magical experience to get married on the same day as the Dixon founders … the day couldn’t have been better.”
If you’d like to learn more about the legacy of Dixon Gallery and Gardens, you can watch a mini-documentary airing locally on WKNO or on YouTube HERE. Annual events like Art on the Rocks and Art on Fire will also feature special anniversary nods this year.
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Gaye Swan
As a professional writer of over 20 years, Gaye is an avid traveler and enjoys highlighting food, culture, and attractions around the South. While Gaye is passionate about life in Memphis, she grew up in Meridian and is still a Mississippi girl at heart.