Sun Dance Farm Wedding in the Sunset Garden | Kelsie + Daniel
You would never know by looking at this gorgeous day with these perfect details that Kelsie and Daniel planned their wedding in a mere twenty-eight days. This super outdoorsy and adventurous couple got engaged on a camping trip at Max Patch in October and decided that they didn’t want to wait an entire year to have a fall wedding. Although the planning was self-described as a whirlwind, Kelsie and Daniel’s Sun Dance Farm wedding was an intimate and sentimental affair.
Sun Dance Farm is an actual working farm and event center located in West Knoxville. The venue offers multiple ceremony and reception sites for up to 200 guests including a beautiful hidden garden, stable-side options, and even a garden pond for smaller weddings. Kelsie and Daniel’s ceremony was held in the sunset garden area under the expansive arbor draped with flowing white fabric and crystal chandeliers that glistened in the dimming light. Elegant floral garlands lined the aisle along with wooden and metal lanterns and natural elements like pine cones. One concern for the couple was to keep their wedding as eco-friendly as possible, so they chose a non-traditional guestbook with an oh too cute carving of their initials and date, and they even opted for biodegradable plates for serving the cake. The sweetest touch, however, was the spruce favors that guests were encouraged to take home and watch their love grow.
Kelsie and Daniel opted to forgo a wedding party to make the day about what was truly important, their union, and decided to have only their closest loved ones in attendance. The two were married by their minister, and the ceremony incorporated a tying of the knot inspired by a bible verse to symbolize their unity, which we thought was a great reminder to display in their home of their marriage and this special memory. Kelsie and Daniel stopped midway down the aisle as husband and wife so that their guests could pray over them and their marriage, and we were so glad to capture this sentimental moment for them.
Couple’s photos lakeside were a must for the two, and they brought along their dog, Ronix (who also participated in their ceremony), for a family photo as well. We loved that Kelsie opted for her cowgirl boots so that we could add a little movement to their photos while they playfully jogged down the narrow road together (which turned out to be some of our favorites). Their whole day was about their love for each other and for God, and we are nothing short of ecstatic to share more of their wedding with you today. This Sun Dance Farm wedding may have been one of our last for 2017, but it was definitely a memorable one. Enjoy this glimpse of Kelsie and Daniel’s day!
Venue: Sun Dance Farm and Event Center | Dress: David's Bridal | Flowers: Kroger | Suit: Coachman Clothiers | Catering: Gavino's | Videography: Rellek Films
The Carriage House Wedding - Kendall + Nathan
A stylish bride, a dapper groom, and gorgeous shades of blush, gold, and ivory came together for Kendall and Nathan's summer wedding. It was an extremely hot day, but these two warmed it up even more strolling among the green fields of their venue and breaking it down on the dance floor with their friends and family. This couple completely rocked their engagement, and Kendall stunned us at her bridal session. Throughout our interactions with this couple, though, we were most impressed by their honesty with us and one another and just how darn fun they were. They may have started a little rocky on their first meeting in college (and we loved hearing this hilarious story), but these two truly are destined for a happy ending.
Both Kendall's bridal session and the couple's wedding day took place at this Jefferson City venue, The Carriage House. True to its name, this venue features a huge carriage house building with an oversized outdoor porch (perfect for dancing under the stars or admiring the amazing views) and beautiful chandelier lighting inside. A setting with green pastures and rolling hills and a picturesque white fence make up the surroundings of The Carriage House, and the stone path at ceremony site for Kendall and Nathan features a pristine arbor and perfectly manicured red blooms in the shape of a heart. We appreciate the attention paid to these details, and this venue is nothing short of elegant.
These two were surrounded by love and support throughout their day. Emotional first looks with her Kendall's bridesmaids and father convey this through the photos, but it was a heartfelt toast by Kendall's sister at the reception that really stressed just how much this beautiful couple is loved. Kendall and Nathan's wedding was one we were looking forward to all year, and today, we are thrilled to share it with you.
The Carriage House | Little City Catering | Wendy Morgan | LB Floral | The Pour Guys | The White Room Lebanon | Regal Tuxedo of Knoxville | All Occasions Party Rentals | Sound Revue Tri Cities | Jessica Hyde | Hali Leffler- Salon Biyoshi | Candice Cornett Photography
The Carriage House Bridal - Kendall
Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day.
That's what we were singing the week of Kendall's bridal session, as we had to re-schedule due to rainy conditions on our original date and an additional day we chose. The forecast called for rain for days in a row following that, and Kendall's wedding was fast approaching; we decided to take our chances on a day that turned out (very luckily) to be perfectly sunny until the end of our time with Kendall when we still managed to grab some dramatic shots of our bride under the covered patio with the rain falling behind her. We were even greeted by a huge rainbow as we snapped the last few shots at The Carriage House, the venue also serving as the site for Kendall and Nathan's wedding (look out for an upcoming feature of their big day as well).
Although the weather was not originally on our side, we believe things happen for a reason, and in this case, we were so grateful that Mother Nature held off long enough for us to capture these magazine worthy images of Kendall. Enjoy this bridal at The Carriage House!
Rivershack Farm Wedding - Alisha + Evan
We've been part of Alisha and Evan's journey to Mr. and Mrs. for almost a year. From their romantic engagement in Cade's Cove last summer to Alisha's stunning bridal at Knoxville Botanical Gardens just weeks before their wedding, we knew that their ceremony and reception would be nothing less than amazing, and they definitely didn't disappoint.
Despite the intense heat with temps in the lower 90s on their wedding day, these two sizzled in these images captured at Rivershack Farm. A gorgeous home along the Holston River in North Knoxville, this venue features breathtaking views from atop a hill and a fabulous farmhouse with perfectly styled decor and cozy porches. The room used as the bridal suite was full of natural light and the perfect space for some getting ready photos of Alisha and her beautiful bridesmaids.
We've seen more and more brides moving towards the trend of incorporating a similar color pallette through the bridesmaids dresses but letting each lady choose her own dress in a variety of shades, which we love. This couple, however, took this individual touch even further with the groomsmen by giving each a bow tie for the wedding day that represented one of their interests or hobbies. Unique and individual touches like this make the wedding details even more meaningful and special.
Guests danced in the barn and dined on mismatched place settings under strings of globe lights and were treated to a delicious variety of cupcakes and favors of cinnamon candy courtesy of the bride's mother. It was a perfect evening riverside with Alisha and Evan, and we are beyond elated to share our friends' joy with you today.
Rivershack Farm | Melissa Timm Designs | Whitney Evans Beauty | Essense of Australia | Monica's Bridal | Z Studio Weddings & Events | Rellek Films | Chelsey Hobbs | Ogle Entertainment | The Find Lab | Israel Gilliam | Everything Iced Cupcakes and More | Anderson Party Rental | Setting the Wedding
Tsali Notch Vineyard Wedding Styled Shoot - Kathryn + Hunter
Styled shoots are always a great chance to try out interesting poses and direct the models to achieve beautiful images representative of our style; however, Kathryn and Hunter, the gorgeous couple featured today, didn't need any direction from us at all, and we were so excited to capture their natural interactions with one another.
Kathyrn's dress was her own, and we love it when our brides or ladies that we shoot choose a flowy dress. We can catch amazing moments of movement, and the desire to sway or spin comes naturally with such lightweight fabrics. A simple dress with a special touch, like Kathryn's gown with lace sleeves and scoop back, can sometimes be underestimated, but being comfortable and easily achieving graceful movement is invaluable on a long wedding day and results in super elegant images.
Our favorite styling element of this shoot was the basket used to house Kathryn's flowers. This unique spin was a perfect alternative to a traditional bouquet, and it meshed flawlessly as a whimsical touch amidst the vineyard setting.
Kathryn and Hunter impressed all the photogs who came together to network for this styled shoot, and we are thrilled to share this bridal inspiration with you today.
The Dress Theory | Sarah Seven | Beauty by Blair | Hair by Christi | A Blooming Collective | Vintage Inspiration Rentals | Tsali Notch Vineyard
Wedding Planning Tips - Part 2: Booking Your Vendors
You're engaged! Congratulations! Now, it's time to start planning for your big day and reaching out to the people that you'd like to be part of creating your wedding vision. As part two of our tips series, we'd like to share some advice about the initial steps you should take in planning and communicating with potential vendors before booking.
Tip 1: Know the Details to Share
We have a ton of couples reach out to us immediately after they are engaged, and it is always great to be ahead of the curve when selecting vendors as many tend to book dates up to a year in advance. The single most important thing to have determined, however, prior to booking any of your vendors is a firm wedding date. Asking for a photographer or other vendor, for pricing information to get a feel for what is out there and doable for your budget is acceptable, but without a specific date, you won't be able to book with the company and may be disappointed to find out later that they are unavailable. Generally, most vendors will also want to know your venue as well as some may charge additional fees for travel if the site is outside of their normal coverage area. So, set your date as quickly as possible, and go ahead and book your venue to get the ball rolling for your other inquiries.
Tip 2: Respond and Just Ask
Any time I send an email, whether personal or business related, I am always impressed when the recipient responds quickly. This is something we really strive to excel at in our correspondence with clients, and it's one aspect of our communication that our couples really value. This is just as important when requesting information from a photographer, caterer, or venue, just as examples, from a client perspective. We always appreciate when a couple gets back to us, even if it's just to say that our pricing does not work in their budget. That's ok, and there are never hard feelings on our end. We are grateful for the response, and we both know that it's nothing personal or that they don't love our work. The other aspect of the pricing conversation is also being willing to ask what a particular vendor can do within your budget or requesting if there is a package or option that may suit your needs better. I always think, what's the worst that someone can say? No? I can handle that. If you really want to book a particular service or company, just ask, and the vendor will let you know if your vision is doable or not for them in your price range.
Tip 3: Keep an Open Mind
Don't forget one important tip from our last blog as well; although pricing and budgets are, of course, important, many vendors want to get to know you a little better and build a relationship with you also. Sharing details and information about yourselves as a couple and being specific about your dreams for your wedding allow us to have some insight about who you are and if we are a good fit for capturing your big day. Quality work, goods, and services may cost more than you anticipate when starting your wedding planning, and although you should stick to a budget, make sure you are considering other aspects of what a vendor can offer including experience and the overall vibe you want to achieve for your wedding.
Thinking about the planning process from a vendor perspective can only help you achieve a more relaxing and smooth experience for your wedding day. To summarize, choosing your date and selecting your venue are usually the first decisions to make. Be open to corresponding with vendors openly and honestly and asking questions you may have. Finally, consider all aspects of what a potential vendor has to offer as part of their pricing. Referrals from friends and family are always meaningful, as personal experience is definitely valuable, and meeting with vendors in person to discuss options can always help you evaluate the connection you have with one another, which is another important factor to consider. Your wedding day should reflect your values and your style, and carefully choosing your vendors will ensure that you have the best, most memorable day possible.
Dara's Garden | Whitestone Country Inn | Spence Cabin | Knoxville Botanical Gardens | Volunteer Princess Cruises | Walnut Hill Farm | The Barn at Living Water | Ijams Nature Center | Melissa Timm Designs | May Flowers | Echelon Florist | Grafe Studio Floral | Beez and Blossoms | Axel Marshall Productions | Rellek Films | Rivershack Farmhouse | Stylebar Chattanooga | Melissa Cubberley Makeup Artistry | Whitney Evans Beauty | Organic Infusion | Olde Enzor Lane | Magpies | Z Studio Weddings & Events | First Fruits Catering