Great Smoky Mountain Wedding Photographers
Getting Married in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Just forty-five minutes away from our home, a treasure exists. The place is so special and so unique that people travel from all over the world to East Tennessee just to see the sites. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is not only a perfect getaway for nature lovers, but it is also an amazing place to tie the knot. What do you need to know before planning a wedding here? Permits, permits, permits. You need a Special Use Permit in order to hold your ceremony and/or reception here, and there are specific park guidelines to keep in mind. Also, there are approved wedding locations to choose from, and the permit process applies to vendors as well. Photographers must obtain a Commercial Use Authorization in order to capture your day, and we are permitted National Park photographers who know all the ins and outs of making the most of your mountain wedding. Do you want to know more? How about working with an experienced husband and wife team who can offer all the insights on locations, planning, and executing your vision? Feel free to reach out for more info.
Cooper's Cove at Heritage Park Wedding - Megan + Cody
If rain is a sign of good luck on a wedding day, then this couple is the luckiest we know! Megan and Cody’s wedding at Cooper’s Cove at Heritage Park may have started with rain and ended with rain as well, but their day was such a memorable one for so many reasons. The most striking aspect for us was their attitudes about it all. Throughout the day, we didn’t hear one complaint or see one tear shed other than those of true happiness. We were so impressed with how Megan and Cody took everything in stride and stayed focused on what really mattered—their union.
We utilized the cabin for many of the photos throughout the day, mixing things up with the cool wall of lockers for some shots of the groom and placing a couch on the covered porch for Megan’s stunning bridals (seriously, our fave). Their first look was full of raw emotion, and we can't even explain how we felt when watching Cody's sweet reaction to seeing his bride for the first time. An oh so brief break in the clouds gave us about 15 minutes to capture the moments under the gorgeous archway on the path leading to the reception site as well as the memories of the two strolling together hand in hand.
Heartfelt speeches from Megan’s sister and Cody’s best friend set the party off right, and we loved that all the guests were out on the dance floor. Although plans were changed from the anticipated outdoor ceremony site to the barn for both the exchange of vows and reception, this wedding was filled with nothing but joy and celebration. We so loved spending the day with these two and their amazing bridal party as well as getting to know their families. We hold a special place in our hearts for this awesome couple, and we hope you feel the love from Megan and Cody's fall wedding today.
Venue: Coopers Cove at Heritage Park | Florist: Cache Pot Floral & Garden | Catering: Sweet P's Barbeque and Soul House | Cake and Desserts: Gail's Custom Cakes | Dress Shop: White Lace and Promises | Dress Designer: Essense of Australia | Hair and Makeup: Bat N Rouge | DJ: Zeb Furst | Alcohol: The Pour Guys | Invitations: Minted | Suit: Regal Tuxedo
The Sinks & Gatlinburg Engagement - Emily + James
Together for 8 years, these two lovebirds, Emily and James, started as high school sweethearts. Although they were long distance in college, they reunited in Knoxville where he just finished his masters and she landed a job as a sports reporter. Emily and James wanted a location similar to the setting of their proposal for their engagement session, so the obvious choice was the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with its mountain backdrop.
Emily and James saved every penny for five years, even rolling their own coins, to travel to Europe together after college. Little did Emily know that James had hidden an engagement ring in his favorite pair of socks within his backpack. One their first day in a picturesque town in Switzerland, the two hiked up a mountain where James popped the question, much to Emily's surprise as she cried a self-proclaimed ugly cry (and we love that she shared that detail with us; so genuine).
This couple climbed, danced, and practiced their ability to balance throughout this session, and we could tell that they were adventurous and down for anything. The location in these images, found along the bypass, was perfect to incorporate the flowing waters, wooded forest, and pretty rock formations characteristic of the park. Seriously, they are the most adorable couple, and we are thrilled to be part of their celebration of love at The Standard next spring. Congratulations to Emily and James!
Spence Cabin Wedding in The Great Smoky Mountains - Chelsea & Nick
The Smoky Mountains are the perfect place to escape for couples who love nature and a gorgeous mountain view. We think that is why so many choose to be married in the National Park and particularly at this quaint little pink piece of history, Spence Cabin in the Elkmont Historic District. The inside of the cabin features wooded walls for a very traditional feel, while just behind the cabin, located on the Little River, is the perfect riverside patio for a special event along the rolling waters. It's no wonder that our lovebirds, Chelsea and Nick, chose this charming cabin as the location for their intimate ceremony and the Appalachian Clubhouse just around the corner for their dinner reception, with amazing food from First Fruits Catering and an abundance of moonshine toasts.
Chelsea and Nick's first vacation together took place in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and they wanted to come full circle for their wedding day with close friends and family. Chelsea said about her love for Nick that "It's hard to describe...other than it's just the thing that has made the most sense to me ever. We are each others even keel, and it doesn't make sense that there was ever one without the other." We loved how these two looked at each other as we frolicked through the woods with them and even did a little climbing on the rocks waterside. With tons of smiles and a little bit of laughter, its undeniable seeing these two together that they are just meant to be.
This day was truly special not only because of the meaningful choice of location and because of the palpable joy you could feel throughout the day but also because Chelsea and Nick chose to keep it simple and to make their union and families the true focus. All of their loved ones contributed to the day with sentimental touches and noteworthy details. For example, Chelsea's mother made her belt for her gown and her veil and even arranged the flowers for the bouquet with the help of a few friends. The bride's earrings were her grandmother's, and the garter belonged to her mother when she was married (and her grandmother added the significant prayer knots for Chelsea). The officiant for the ceremony was Chelsea's brother, and one of the neatest touches was the wine for the reception made and bottled by the groom's mother, sister, and aunt. We loved that everyone seemed to play such an integral role in the union of these two, and this is what made the day such a memorable one.
Travel to our beautiful Smokies today for this woodsy wedding with Chelsea and Nick!
Spence Cabin | Appalachian Clubhouse | Madison James | Brooks Brothers | Organic Infusion
