Knoxville Botanical Gardens Engagement - Cory + Matthew
Knoxville Botanical Gardens is one of our favorite places in town to shoot, so we were thrilled when Cory and Matthew chose to do their engagement photos here. What made this session even better was their decision to incorporate what we’ve dubbed a prosecco picnic, where we captured some of our favorite shots of the couple sharing a drink on a plaid blanket. These two are super playful, and we spent much of our time with them laughing and listening to them tell stories of their first encounters to their blossoming relationship and eventually their decision to have a brunch wedding (heck yeah...marriage and mimosas) this Spring.
For a different vibe on the same day, we also traveled to downtown Knoxville where the two got cozy rooftop and incorporated some cute props and a wardrobe change. We encourage our couples to bring multiple looks, usually one dressy and one more casual for engagements, and we often encourage a setting for the engagement that provides a different background or vibe than what they will have on their wedding day.
We are in love with these candid moments of Cory and Matthew, and we hope you feel the love as you scroll through this feature as well.
Old City Knoxville Engagement - Stephanie + Matt
We are flashing back to the fall with this Downtown Knoxville evening engagement with Stephanie and Matt. These two showed up styled perfectly and ready to stroll through the Old City and down Gay Street as we captured some amazing candid moments and just pure love.
Our favorite moment with these two came when we asked them to replicate the famous lift scene from Dirty Dancing, and they did not disappoint. We loved capturing not only the perfect moment of Matt lifting Stephanie into the air but also the amazing smiles and laughs that this created. We were so thrilled to share this time with this couple, and we are even more excited to share in their joy on their big day at Heartland Meadows in May. We're shouting from the rooftops (with a Sunsphere backdrop) another huge congratulations to these two!
Relix Variety Theatre Wedding - Kari & Ben
We love it when our couples choose a significant or sentimental location for their wedding, a place that has meaning to their story together. Kari and Ben did just that with their Relix Variety Theatre wedding. When the two first started dating, they both lived minutes from the venue, so this area holds a special place in their hearts and journey together, and we were so thrilled to be part of it.
Ben and Kari chose to do a first look, and we captured the moments as the two had an emotional exchange of wedding gifts. We took advantage of a super cool alley and all of its character for some perfect couple's shots. You may remember the sweet images of these two on their bikes from their engagement, and we decided to incorporate the classic bicycle again in some of our favorite shots from their big day.
Relix features a nice loft where Kari and her bridesmaids spent their time prepping together and another apartment just on the back of the building for Ben and his fellas. Our favorite detail in this venue is the super unique wall decor made up of purses and handbags of various colors woven together, and the addition of a backdrop of twinkling lights during the ceremony made this couple shine as they shared their vows from the stage.
One really cool part of the couple's details was that the programs and invitations were from Ben's personal Etsy shop, ThPrntShp. Personalized items like this (and their adorable bicycle cake topper) made their wedding a true standout. The color pallette, including pops of yellow and lavender in the dried florals, evoked a fall vibe, as did the incorporation of cotton in the centerpieces and bouquets. The gorgeous neutral dresses that the bridesmaids and Kari wore really stood out. We loved that Kari allowed each of her bridesmaids to choose her own dress in white to ensure that each was comfortable, and they looked amazing combined with her phenomenal lace gown (seriously, that dress was made for her) and the guys' gray suits and Ben's snazzy bowtie.
The day was filled with love, laughter, and personalized details that made this couple's day truly unique, and we are excited to share their wedding today. Congratulations, again, Kari and Ben.
Relix Variety Theatre | Jos. A Bank | Prestige Tuxedo | Publix | ThPrntShp | Kenneth Winston | Wedding Wonderland | The Blaithin Blair Shop | Smoky Mountain Lavender | Nick Stewart
Norris Lake Wedding - Amber + Nathan
You may remember Amber and Nathan from their amazing Cincinnati engagement featured previously on our blog, but today, we have the honor of sharing the highlights of their wedding day with you.
This elegant and intimate affair took place alongside Norris Lake in private homes rented not only for the ceremony and reception but also for their guests to stay comfortably pre and post wedding. We loved the spacious rooms in the three level homes as they provided the perfect setting for some getting ready photos with the bride, groom, and their friends, but the gorgeous stairways amongst the wooded shoreline down to the lake were truly the standout. In fact, Amber and Nathan's guests were seated on various levels as they watched the ceremony that took place atop one of the docks.
The day was all about family and friends, and this relaxed couple made it a priority to spend time with their loved ones despite the hustle and bustle of the day. From the perfect place settings, to the always delicious Big Fatty's catering, and the gorgeous florals from Echelon, every detail was perfectly planned and executed. We loved the incorporation of shades of pink combined with navy to tie in a nautical element.
The most memorable moment of the day, however, occurred at the end of the evening when the bride and bridesmaids decided to trash their dresses. This only reinforced the carefree vibe thought the day, and we gazed on as Amber playful pushed Nathan into the lake as well.
We cannot say enough about this sweet, fun loving couple, and we are so thrilled to share these memories with you today. Congratulations, again, Amber and Nathan.
Dress - Donna Salyers Fabulous Bridal; Essense of Australia | Bridesmaids Dresses - Azazie | Venue - Private residence on Norris Lake | Catering - Big Fattys Catering | Dessert - Dale's Fried Pies | Flowers - Echelon Florist | Rentals - All Occasions Knoxville
Whitestone Country Inn Wedding - Whitney + Joshua
We absolutely love shooting at the Whitestone Country Inn, a gorgeous venue along Watts Bar Lake in Kingston, Tennessee. Even more than this beautiful location, we are always thrilled to work with amazing couples, and Whitney and Josh are no exception.
When we met Whitney at the bridal suite under the chapel at the Whitestone, she was sitting on the floor eating strawberries; we knew immediately that this was going to be a super relaxed day, and she did not disappoint. We loved how carefree and easygoing Whitney was throughout the day, and this is one of our most important lessons we want brides to embrace. Don't stress, and the day will be perfect.
Whitney and Josh did not want to see each other prior to the ceremony, but they did want to share an intimate minute alone. More and more couples are choosing to do just want they did with a hidden first touch around the chapel doors. We captured the moments as the two held hands and as Josh rubbed Whitney's belly and talked to their baby girl. (We were thrilled to take shots of the wedding but to also incorporate some perfect maternity photos for the couple as well). Josh prayed with his soon to be wife (and little one), and we were moved consistently throughout day at the respect these two showed for one another and how frequently they mentioned being blessed to have each other.
Whitney made a grand entrance to the ceremony with her father in a horse drawn carriage reminiscent of Cinderella's, and the couple actually took a ride after their nuptials together as the newly named Mr. and Mrs. The wedding was a truly sentimental one as Josh' grandfather, a long time minister, performed the ceremony and joined the two in matrimony.
The reception inside the Lion and Lamb's facility on the grounds included father/daughter and mother/son dances and lovely speeches as a tribute to the bride and groom. Josh even performed with his frat brothers and the guests looked on with delight. The couple prepared us early in the day for how delicious their cakes were (and they weren't lying), but we especially loved the groom's cake with a "hooked" topper to pay homage to Josh's favorite hobby, fishing.
We truly cannot say enough about this couple, and even though we met them on their wedding day, we felt like we had known them for a long time. We were so happy to be part of this occasion, and we hope you feel like you were there too with this glimpse of their big day.
Venue & Catering: Whitestone Country Inn | Floral: Lisa Foster Floral Design | DJ: Kalen White | Dress: Moonlight Bridal | Cake: Magpies | Grooms Cake: Deb's Special Events | Tux/Suits: Men's Wearhouse | Bridesmaids/Flowergirl: David's Bridal | Jewelry & Ring: Rone Regency Jewelers | Silk Flowers: Benita Walsh | Hair: Kim King - Sola Salon | Makeup: Amanda Farmer - MAC
Nikki & Brian's Elkmont Campground Engagement
We were so excited to meet Nikki and Brian at the Elkmont Campground for this gorgeous engagement shoot. This Alabama couple was vacationing in the Smoky mountains and wanted a unique setting for their save the dates.
This sweet couple brought along their adorable dog, Scout, and we were happy to catch some endearing moments between the three along the streams of the campground. Some of our favorite shots, however, were taken at an overlook just past the Laurel Falls hiking trails.
Take a peek at these mountain engagement photos, and look out for Nikki and Brian's Alabama wedding feature on our blog in the fall.
