My husband Marcus and Jim were coworkers. When he heard that Jim and his fiancé Colleen were looking for a wedding venue in Maryville, Marcus recommended that they look at Butterfly Gap Retreat. They did and apparently loved it as much as we do since they were married on the BGR peninsula last Sunday. They also used All Occasion Catering and Mulberries Flowers, two excellent vendors.

It was a beautiful day! I thought this was a really great idea, especially for an outdoor wedding... The couple had the ceremony programs hanging in little folders on the end of each aisle.



It was very sunny for their afternoon ceremony so we did a few photos and then later, once the sun was lower, did a few more outside the reception.







James and Colleen had a special choreographed waltz prepared for their first dance. It was really beautiful.

Knoxville finally had some rain and overcast skies the past week, but the weather was great for Charles & Meghan's engagement session Wednesday. We had fun wandering around the Old City, and it was nice to get to know them before their wedding later this month.

I'm looking forward to seeing you two again soon!

This is a very busy month so I'm a little behind on blog posts. Just bear with me, and I'll get everything caught up eventually!

Debbi and Michael were one of the first couples that I worked with. The wedding ceremony was very challenging since the sanctuary was almost pitch black and flash wasn't allowed, but I only have good memories from the day. Debbi was really sweet, and they were so happy to finally be marrying each other. My work has improved a lot since then, but everyone starts somewhere. I'm glad that they took a chance with a newer photographer and let me be a part of their special day.

On Saturday, Marcus and I photographed the wedding of Emily and Clay. Their evening ceremony was held at Broad Street United Methodist Church. Emily and Clay wanted a lot of formal group photos so they did decide to have a private meeting and get most of those out of the way before the ceremony. The first meetings are always different. About half of the time couples just exchange hellos and are then ready to get down to business with the photos. The other half of the time, they're really emotional with the guys crying as often as the girls. Emily and Clay fit into the second group, and it was really touching to see how much they love each other.

After the ceremony, they had a petal toss exit before a horse-drawn carriage ride to their reception at the Old Woolen Mill. Both the church and mill are really unique, historic venues with lots of brickwork and high ceilings.

It was a special wedding in that Clay is the last child in his family to get married , and I photographed all three siblings - Clay, Ben, and Jenni. Also, I think that Ben and his wife Sarah hold the record for being at more of my weddings than anyone else. I've photographed Sarah as a bridesmaid once, a bride once, and a guest twice.

Emily had one of the most beautiful veils ever. It belonged to her mother, but it matched her dress perfectly. She also had really lovely bouquets and floral decorations. Her florist used deep reds characteristic of fall, but they incorporated some uncommon flowers into the mix to make things interesting. The Big Table also did an excellent job with the food. Anyone planning a wedding in the Chattanooga area should check them out, because it really was very good. Marcus tried the carved roast beef and stuffed mushrooms while I tried the jumbo shrimp cocktail and the pasta station. They also had an extensive cheese and fruit display by the bar on the outside patio.

A few photos to tide you over...

I was at Butterfly Gap yesterday for a wedding, and the owner reminded me that I was at the retreat for a wedding this same weekend last year. The weather was just as warm and beautiful last year for Kelley and Austin's outdoor ceremony as it was yesterday.

Austin's posse (guns included)







I know it can be uncomfortable to dance in front of everyone, but try not to talk too much during your first dances. Especially with couples turning, it can be impossible to catch a decent photo without someone having their mouth open talking. This photo of Kelley with her dad is a perfect example of the sweet moments you can have if you just relax and enjoy the dance.



The same little girl who decided to join Kelley and Austin on the dance floor later decided that she should be the DJ.