Katie and Thomas’s micro-wedding in the Smokies was probably my favorite one to date! There was nothing gloomy about this slightly overcast spring day in the Great Smoky Mountains of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. My couple chose to use the Elkmont Historic District for their wedding site. The bridal party got ready and prepped for the reception in the Appalachian Clubhouse at the end of the Elkmont Ghost Town. The Ceremony was held down the road on Little River Trail at Spence Cabin-a romantic, cozy and completely serene venue on a stone patio overlooking the gorgeous river. They had so many personal touches and special mementos part of their day. From hand picked Wildflowers to use for the bouquets and decor (local to the area within guidelines of leave no trace) to potting a cutting from the brides parents plant they’ve had since their marriage began. This wedding was a wedding photographers dream when it came to personal, touching, authentic moments.

Getting Ready- The Appalachian Clubhouse

We started out at the Appalachian Clubhouse in the Elkmont ghost town. The cabin had such a cozy, romantic vibe decked out in twinkle lights and beautiful table set ups with wood plates, disposable film cameras for guests, thrifted decor and a battery operated candles for the reception in front of the massive stone fireplace. I arrived to the whole bridal party (including the bride) trimming local wildflowers they picked out for the bouquets and steaming Katie’s elegant dress. After some shots of my bride in full focus mode on those wildflowers, I took her dress out to the front porch to get some dress shots and then we started her makeup touch ups and getting her zipped up. Her mom helped her get into her dress and get her zipped. She put on her delicate pearl jewelry and her girls helped her adjust her dress, clip in her veil and slip on adorable pink embroidered her shoes.

Once we got Katie dressed and ready to go, we sat down with her mom for a very special intimate mother-daughter moment to trim a piece from her Mom’s veil she wore in her own wedding and tie it around Katie’s bouquet. Then we opened an adorable wedding day gift- a Jasmine and Sandalwood scented wedding day candle- sent by the groom for Katie to open before the ceremony.

After that I snuck in a few detail shots of her ring, bouquet and invitations and then we headed down to Spence Cabin to prepare for the ceremony!

First Look with Dad, Groom’s portraits and Detail Shots- Spence Cabin

We took a short 1 minute drive down the hill from the clubhouse to Spence Cabin at the head of the Little River Trail. While the Katie set up for her first look with her dad, I grabbed a few venue shots of the ceremony site and then caught up with the Groom (Thomas) to get his solo portraits done!

I caught back up with Katie and her family to capture the her Dad’s first look. Her parents both made it very obvious how much they cared about their daughter getting married with special mementos. According to Dad, their tradition for good luck in the marriage was to have the Bride’s father put a penny in her shoe. So we had a teary first look and Dad so eagerly holding his penny politely asked Katie “May I put this in your shoe?”

The Ceremony- Spence Cabin

With a few touch-ups of her makeup and making sure tears were dabbed away, Katie’s parents wrapped in each of her arms and prepared to make the walk down the isle. Thomas waited at the front with his mother and his father who was officiating. Everyone in place, it was time to line up and start the ceremony! Everyone quietly gathered to their seats on the stone balcony over the river. The weather was perfect, the lighting amazing, the whole place felt absolutely serene. You couldn’t dream of a more meaningful intimate setting for a ceremony like this! The party lined up, music began, and down the gravel and wood stairs they came.

Katie gave her mom a sweet peck and then set off down the isle. I couldn’t help but notice Katie’s parents so delicately fixing her veil before sending her down the isle to the love of her life. They grabbed each others hands and walked behind her, sharing a short, intimate moment together and entering this new chapter in all of their lives.

Once everyone was settled at the front I grabbed some closeups of Katie being given away and then retreated back to the back of the balcony to get some wide shots of the ceremony.

The minister said some words, a prayer was said and then they had their ring exchange. Afterwards, Katie and Thomas had taken a cutting from a plant that Katie’s parents had planted together and been growing since they were first married, and potted the cutting together. They only slightly struggled with shoveling the dirt in the pot with a spoon!

Once the plant was potted, all of the guests, the wedding party, and the minister laid hands on Katie and Thomas to say a prayer over their marriage and new life together. This alone had me nearly in tears when I happen to get up close to get some shots of the couple when a purple butterfly flew down and landed on Katies dad’s wrist. I had to keep myself from gasping out loud when I saw it! It stayed their perfectly still through the remainder of the prayer and then flew away right as it ended! I’ve seen lots of butterflies in weddings but not anything quite this miraculous. Definitely one of the most meaningful moments i think i have ever caught on camera!

The ceremony coming to an end, the couple were declared husband and wife and shared their first kiss!

Post-Ceremony Portraits-Little River Trail

After the ceremony ended, we took a second to pop some champagne and then took some family portraits! Once the family headed back up to the Appalachian Clubhouse for the reception and I took my couple down the Little River trail to get some portraits together! We started at the cleared-off patio from the ceremony. Then we walked down the trail to the troll bridge, stopped at bolder in front of a stone fireplace left from some of the historic buildings that resided here. My time with Katie and Thomas ended with a climb down to the river to get some shots walking over rocks and playing in the water. While Katie was eager to get her feet wet in the river Thomas was a little hesitant. That water was COLD. So we got a few quick shots in the water, then climbed back out to end our session slipping shoes back on and getting ready to head back up for their reception.

The Elkmont area is one of my all time favorite places in the Smokies to shoot weddings/elopements and lifestyle sessions! Its a dreamy, whimsical area that fully encapsulates the feel of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!