Gay Street & Downtown Knoxville Engagement - Kayla + Derick
"The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. And that's what you've given me. That's what I'd hoped to give you forever." - Nicholas Sparks
Sometimes, there are people that you meet that make you have an immediate emotional reaction. You can actually feel the spark between the two, and it is just so blatantly obvious that they are madly in love. This is how we felt about our first encounter with Kayla and Derick in downtown Knoxville. These two beautiful people didn't need much directing as they just naturally gravitate towards each other, and we were so thrilled to be able to capture their energy as a couple in these images.
Kayla and Derick met at Lee University when Derick decided to make some life changes and move to a new school. The two were instantly attracted to one another, but they initially only interacted on social media. Eventually, Derick asked for Kayla's number, and they spent their first date chatting over coffee. Each says they fell for one another that night through their smiles and laughs. Derick's insanely romantic proposal was a scavenger hunt set up for Kayla including her sister as a driver, a playlist of all of their songs, clues that led her to all the places that are part of their love story, and a go pro to record it all. So thoughtful and endearing!
This engagement session took place along Gay street in downtown Knoxville--beginning at the Gay street bridge, moving to the iconic Tennessee sign, and wrapping up in Krutch Park and the surrounding streets. We are beyond ecstatic to share this couple's photos with you today, and we can't wait for their summer wedding next year at Black Fox Farms. Join us in giving Kayla and Derick your best wishes!
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!
Knoxville Botanical Gardens Bridal - Alisha
A lush garden setting, a pink floral headpiece, crystal embellished Badgley Mischka heels, and a stunning Essense of Australia gown with champagne undertones comprised the details of this bridal, but Alisha's natural beauty is what really made this session a standout (only enhanced by gorgeous hair from Whitney Evans Beauty and stunning makeup by Chelsey Hobbs). The Knoxville Botanical Gardens was the setting for this pre-wedding shoot with our gorgeous bride, and we couldn't have been happier with her choice to meet us here. With stone pathways, a new area that feels like an entrance to a secret garden, and rustic balcony walkway, KBG feels like a blooming getaway considering it is just outside of downtown Knoxville, and this background only added to the elegance portrayed in these images.
Alisha's bridal session was actually a gift from her bridesmaids, and we adored them for choosing to provide her with such a meaningful gift. Despite having to re-schedule twice due to rain as well, this this sunny evening around sunset turned out to be absolutely perfect. We are always excited when our brides opt for this extra shoot because it allows us to take a ton of additional bridal photos in a low pressure and much less stressful situation than the wedding day, and we can get a little more creative with posing (which I'm sure Alisha can attest can be a leg and ab workout as well).
Take a trip to this garden retreat with us today through Alisha's bridal, and look out for an upcoming feature of Alisha and Evan's Rivershack Farm wedding.
| Knoxville Botanical Gardens | Essense of Australia | Monica's Bridal | Whitney Evans Beauty | Chelsey Hobbs | Melissa Timm Designs |
The Quarry - Knoxville Wedding Venue - Wedding Inspiration
We welcomed spring with this styled couple's shoot at The Quarry nestled in west Knoxville. Our model, Denise, embraced one of the hottest trends this season with her two piece gown-- a sequined silver crop top paired with a flowing blush skirt. Alexander kept it simple with a white button up and always classic gray slacks, and his bow tie only added to his dapper appearance.
The Quarry is a venue that boasts both indoor and outdoor spaces, but it is The Canyon that makes this venue an ideal location for outdoor events. Our couple stood amidst the towering marbled quarry walls, and strolled along the perfectly centered stone path towards the grand 25 foot waterfall also on the property.
The bouquet and boutonnière by Melissa Timm incorporated shades of pink, cream, and the always quintessential spring color, lavender. We love the free flowing nature of the florals that paired flawlessly with the moss, stones, and lanterns used as decor for the ceremony site. The quaint ceremony site for this shoot was made up of dark benches adorned with white furs, and the ornate chandelier surrounded by draped fabric hung above a natural rug where the couple could share a memorable first kiss as husband and wife.
The couple also braved a trek to an overlook on the property in order for us to capture some some breathtaking moments of love among the blooming red buds. This spring inspiration from The Quarry is the perfect way to embrace the sunshine, warmer weather, and new beginnings.
The Quarry Venue coordinator Lindsey Boling & designer Morgan Burton | Floral by Melissa Timm | Models: Denise & Alex |
Special Thanks to all mini-workshop attendees: JoPhoto, Erin Morrison, Clint James, Staci Dernbach, Candice Cornett, Melody Cook, & David Britnell
