Historic Southern Railway Knoxville Wedding - Emily + Hayden
We have had so many amazing weddings over the past year, but this one was even more significant because of my relationship with Emily and Hayden. They met in high school at Hardin Valley Academy in Knoxville, and these two—the true representation of high school sweethearts—have been together ever since. Emily and Hayden are extra special to me because I actually taught them both at that very school where they first started dating, and I got to witness their relationship blossom first as their teacher and subsequently through social media once they graduated. To say that we were thrilled to be chosen to capture their day is an understatement, as we were absolutely elated about the opportunity to witness this relationship come full circle.
Emily and Hayden’s day was in the most perfect way a true celebration. From the second we arrived to the bride and bridesmaids chowing down on some chips and sandwiches to the groom and groomsmen singing and dancing, we knew this was going to be a super fun and relaxing day (cue the surprise Lord of the Rings groom’s cake for Hayden and the adorable “He’s her Lobster” cake topper inspired by their love for the show Friends).
Emily and Hayden chose to do a first look along the line of locomotives at the Historic Southern Railway, but having both grown up in Knoxville and attending the University of Tennessee, it was also important for them to have photos taken downtown with the classic Tennessee Theatre sign (and these turned out to be our favorites despite us having to block traffic). The love these two share is unmistakable; you could see it in the joy on their faces as they strolled down the street together; you could feel it at the ceremony when the most genuine tears ran down both Hayden’s and Emily’s cheeks; you could hear it in the laughter and memories shared throughout the day by not only this amazing couple but also their closest, lifelong friends and family. One of the most endearing moments, however, came during the ceremony as the couple combined soil from their family homes to a tree that they watered together and could plant at their own home. It was truly a moment of unity not only for the two but a symbolic representation of the two families coming together as well.
We can’t say enough positive things about these two or their insanely beautiful day. Emily and Hayden danced the night away with their guests, who showed us some of the best dance moves we’ve yet to see at a reception. We can’t help but smile as we scroll through these moments from this downtown wedding, and we hope you feel the same way.
Venue: Historic Southern Railway Station | Day of Coordination: All About Weddings | Videographer: Sweet Tea Productions | DJ and Lighting: Ogle Entertainment and Light Design | Catering and Bartender: Rosa’s Catering | Officiant: Chuck O’Connor with Sensational Ceremonies | Cake: Catie Cakes | Photo Booth: Oh Snap Knoxville | Hair and Makeup: Bangs and Blush | Bridal Bouquet: Wade Floral Company | Dress Shop: White Lace and Promises | Rentals: Anderson Party Rental
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 Emporium Knoxville Wedding - Lily + Thomas
In the heart of downtown Knoxville, The Emporium, features an open gallery space with string lights perfect for a romantic and urban feel. The art center and gallery showcases many art pieces from local artists. Lily and Thomas couldn’t have picked a better Knoxville Wedding Venue.
Venue: The Emporium | Ceremony Music: Oak Ridge High School Orchestra Boosters | DJ and Lighting: @godjogle | Floral: @swankfloral | Caterer/Bartender: @rosascatering | Cake: @publix | Dress Shop: @southernbellerose_ | Dress Designer: @watters | Suits: @regaltuxedoknox | Transportation: Regal Carriages | Rentals: Campbell Party Rentals | Officiant: Jake Morrill | Hair/Makeup: @orangeblossomartistry | Wedding Coordinator: @AbsoluteweddingPerfection | Film Lab: The Find Lab
