Meads Quarry Knoxville Engagement - Alice + Dan

With all this cold, dreary weather this time of year, we want to bring you a little fun in the sun to brighten up your day at Knoxville’s beautiful Mead’s Quarry. Plus, we are so excited that Alice and Dan’s wedding, which has seemed like such a long time away, will now be here before we all know it.

Like many of our couples, these two have been long distance for all but about 6 months of their relationship. We felt like these two were kindred spirits from the beginning of their session as we chatted about their love for playing trivia, building Legos, and eating at Nama (a local sushi spot), where the two dined before Dan proposed at Alice’s parents home as the two were building Lego sets together. Check out the adorable Lego Mr. and Mrs. holding the ring and helped with Dan’s proposal. Too cute!

If you’re wondering about the Star Wars tie in, aside from just being fans, these two are going to celebrate their wedding at Hunter Valley Farm on May 4th—as in May the 4th be with you. We really just loved how sweet and open these two were and how fun they were to be around, but most of all, we enjoyed seeing how much they love each other through this playful engagement.

Hair and Makeup: Southern Sirens

Marblegate Farm Engagement Smoky Mountain Event Venue‎ - Ashton + PJ

Playful and endearing are the words we would use to describe Ashton and PJ’s Marblegate Farm engagement. A waterfront venue featuring a farm setting, this location is simply breathtaking.  The marble is part of the history of this venue, being left where it fell years ago and now comprising the pillars at the entrance as well as the shoreline. Perfectly manicured landscapes and elegant finishes characterize this one of a kind space just outside of Knoxville in surrounding Friendsville.

Despite being long distance for their relationship as PJ teaches in Ecuador, this sweet couple has made it work. You may also recognize Ashton from our bohemian bridal in Cade’s Cove a few years ago, as this is how we came to know her. These two are just simply stylish with natural beauty and an inherent calm that just makes you feel comfortable around them. In this charming setting that will also be the site for their ceremony and reception, we captured what we feel is the essence of Ashton and PJ—a palpable feeling of love. 

Enjoy this beautiful couple and amazing venue featured on the blog today.

Cades Cove Wedding at the Primitive Baptist Church - Jordan + Nick

One amazing aspect of being locally permitted National Park photographers is that we get to meet couples from all over who come to our gorgeous Smoky Mountains for their weddings and elopements. We’ve photographed couples from Texas, Florida, Michigan, and Alabama, just to name a few places, and although Jordan and Nick didn’t have to travel that far from Nashville, they knew they wanted to get married in a beautiful setting surrounded by their closest loved ones. We knew that Cades Cove would provide the ideal setting and were so glad to learn that they had chosen to get married here.

Sometimes keeping it simple is just the way to go, and Jordan and Nick decided that an elopement style wedding was practical for them considering the life changes (new jobs and a move) they wanted to make shortly after being wed.  Having spent a lengthy amount of time away from each other shortly after they started dating, as Nick was deployed to Afghanistan, each stressed that waiting for the other was so easy.  It was the initial contact when they indicated that “photography is the most important aspect” of their day that we knew these two would just be a dream to work with, and guess what? They absolutely lived up to that expectation. With a quaint ceremony inside one of the churches throughout the one-way loop, the Primitive Baptist Church, it didn’t really matter that a thunderstorm rolled in during the intimate ceremony (despite our promises to do our “no rain” dance). The skies cleared miraculously right after family photos in order for us to take Jordan and Nick on an adventure through the Cove, utilizing the mountain views, expansive fields, and pictereqsue pathways as the backdrops for their wedding photos.  

We know that we will reconnect with these two in the future and hope we have the honor of continuing to capture their monumental life events as husband and wife. Enjoy this glimpse of Jordan and Nick’s day within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in breathtaking Cades Cove.

Location: Cades Cove | Floral: Lisa Foster Floral Design | Officiant: Radiant Gatherings

Summer Wedding at Black Fox Farms - Kayla + Derick

When we think about Kayla and Derick’s wedding, a few words come to mind—sweet, endearing, sentimental, and romantic. These two met in college, and although it took them a little while to come together as a couple, once they did, there was no separating them. Kayla and Derrick consistently use the word “blessed” to describe their feelings about finding each other, and they see God as the center of their relationship, which was abundantly evident on their sunny wedding day at Black Fox Farms.

A picturesque wedding venue amidst a working nursery, Black Fox Farms features rustic touches that are also incredibly elegant in a serene setting. A beautiful pondside ceremony site under a wooden arbor is where Kayla and Derick became Mr. and Mrs., and their reception was housed in the venue’s expansive barn that also has an outdoor deck overlooking the farm. One of the most impressive aspects of Black Fox, however, is the fact that it is an actual nursery, which means they provide beautiful lighted trees and shrubs as well as actual plants and flowers that compliment the couple’s wedding colors. We also adored the outdoor space with a canopy of twinkling lights that served as an extension of Kayla and Dericks’s reception space as well as a backdrop for their sparkler exit.

Some of the most endearing moments we have ever seen at a wedding occurred on this sunny, summer day. Both Kayla and Derick gave wedding day gifts (via delivery by family members) to one another to celebrate their union; however,  the surprise journal that each shared really touched our hearts. Without knowing that the other had done the same thing, both Kayla and Derick wrote entries over the course of their engagement to give to each other on their wedding day. Talk about a special moment! Both were tearful as they realized that their soon to be spouse had created the same thoughtful gift that each could cherish forever and look back on later in life as a memory of their journey. Supportive friends and family, who showed an outpouring of love to the two, surrounded Kayla and Derick on their day, but it was Derrick’s brother’s speech at the reception that brought all of their guests to tears. It was simply the sweetest moment to witness.

If you can’t tell already, these two really left a lasting impression on us. Kayla and Derick were so gracious, and they truly embrace positivity and humble spirits that are evident from the first meeting. We are so thrilled that they chose us to capture all their memories, and we hope this outpouring of love moves you today, too.

Venue: Black Fox Farms | Dress and Suit Shop: Ever After Bridal & Formal Wear | Dress Designer: Maggie Sottero | Floral: Isbill Floral Gallery | Coordinator: Kendra Collins of Ever After Bridal & Formal Wear | DJ: Sound Force | Rentals: Bradley Rentals | Film Lab: The Find Lab

Spring Wedding at The Standard Knoxville - Emily + James

Sometimes you meet people that you just instantly connect with, and sometimes you realize that they are just way cooler than you are too. Sometimes, we get adventurous couples who are willing to try anything and venture out with us, and Emily and James were all of these things. From their Smoky Mountain adventure engagement to this gorgeous wedding with neutral tones at one of downtown Knoxville's  most well-known industrial venues,  The Standard, we were so blessed to be able to photograph some of the most memorable moments with this sweet couple.

One thing that helped Emily and James' day ran so smoothly was an amazing coordinator, Angie, with Absolute Wedding Perfection. We certainly recommend that all of our couples have at least day of coordination to help with the flow of the events, and hiring experienced professionals always helps things run more smoothly. Following a wedding day timeline can be difficult, but with an excellent hair and make up team from Whitney Evans Beauty, these lovely ladies we’re ready to roll when we arrived, and they were looking fabulous. 

The best way that we could describe the decor from Emily and James’s wedding is to say that it was simple elegance. It's really easy to get caught up in making everything over-the-top, but their wedding proved that couples can keep things very subtle and still have an amazing impact. They chose to let the accent colors with the gentlemen's classic grey suits (and those amazing gray place settings) and the girls' beautiful blush gowns speak for themselves against white florals, tons of greenery (including our favorite, eucalyptus), and baby's breath. The ceremony backdrop with white flowing fabric and hints of greenery really stood out as a soft contrast to the industrial vibe inherent to the venue.

This day was characterized by beautiful emotional moments, not only with Emily and James themselves but also their families, friends, and all of their guests. One of our favorite parts of the wedding day is seeing how the couples interact knowing that they will soon become husband and wife and getting to also see those initial moments after they are wed. There is no denying that these two share a very deep connection and intense love that can be felt when you are in the room with them, and all the happy tears during their first look, ceremony, and sweet toasts from best friends and sis made this day even more special. We've been looking forward to sharing this day, and we hope you are inspired by this classically elegant downtown affair.

Venue: The Standard | Ceremony Music: Encore Strings | Floral: Lisa Foster Floral Design | Catering: Brown Bag | Cake: Publix | Dress Shop: White Lace and Promises | Suit: Jos A Bank | Bartenders: The Pour Guys | Videography: Morgan Media | Photo Booth: Oh Snap Photo Booth | Rentals: Campbell Party Rentals and All Occasions Party Rentals | Hair and Makeup: Whitney Evans Beauty | Wedding Coordination: Absolute Wedding Perfection

The Cardinal's Nest Wedding Venue and Inspiration

We were so honored to have the opportunity to photograph this beautiful new wedding venue, The Cardinal's Nest, alongside some of the area's most talented vendors and fellow photographers. If you haven't checked out this venue nestled in the Smoky Mountains, we are bringing you a sneak today. Enjoy!

Venue: The Cardinal's Nest | Stationery: Custom Love Gifts | Floral Design: Melissa Timm Designs | Gowns and Accessories: Lillian Ruth Bride | Men's Attire: Regal Tuxedo | Hair and Makeup: Southern Sirens | Cake: The Bees Knees Bakery | Lighting: Sequoyah Entertainment | China Rentals: Event Rentals by Rothchild | Linen Rentals: Campbell Party Rentals | Coordination: The Bride Link | Models: Talisa Cantrell and Steven McNelly