Stephen Shook married Jessica Waldrop in a 2006 ceremony at the UT trial gardens on Neyland Drive. After getting ready at Maplehurst Inn, Jessica arrived for a sunny ceremony in the middle of the gardens. Lake Terrace Trio provided music for the ceremony, and 3 little princesses provided petals in the grassy aisle. After the short ceremony and some group photos in the shade, we were just a short drive from the reception.

The reception was held on the Tennessee Riverboat, the Star of Knoxville. Because the day was hot, most of our time was spent in the air-conditioned main level, but the kids did enjoy visiting the upper deck and bow as we made our way down the Tennessee river. They also enjoyed the butterfly wedding cake and the groom's cake that was decorated with a transformer and care bears. Jessica & Stephen did a great job including the younger guests, playing some music that they could dance to and even passing around a basket full of toys that they could choose from.

Once we arrived back at the dock, Stephen & Jessica walked down Volunteer Landing, enjoying some time alone together as husband and wife while I snapped a few more photos.

Now time for a few photos before I have to run out for a meeting...

The food provided on the riverboat was tasty and colorful - perfect for the hot and hungry guests.

Last year I shot Becca Patton & Adam Foster's wedding at Crescent Bend (The Armstrong-Lockett House) on Kingston Pike in Knoxville. It's a beautiful venue that I was very excited to photograph. After getting ready in the bridal suite, Becca posed for some bridal photos on the terraces overlooking the river. The day was sunny and warm, but the guests were given bottled water as they arrived and seated under a large tent. The wedding party circled around a large fountain for the ceremony and later moved closer to the guests for a prayer with their families.

There seems to be a trend with men wearing brown suits instead of black tuxes, and I thought it really worked well with the girls' coral colored dresses. Since the ceremony was so early in the day, the couple opted for a lavish dessert reception. I'm a sucker for anything sweet, but everything was beautiful as well as delicious. The bright, happy wedding colors were even incorporated into the food and drink.

After saying their goodbyes, the couple went to Volunteer Landing for a few more photos together. By then, they were very relaxed, and I got some great shots. While I really enjoy evening weddings, it's always worked out well when I shoot afternoon weddings and then do couple sessions right after.

In 2005, Anna Whitehead married Derek Brownlee in an outdoor ceremony at the Mabry Hazen House in Knoxville. I had attended a bridal tea on the Mabry Hazen porch before, but I didn't realize that it was such a nice place for a wedding. Unfortunately, I think it's often overlooked but worth checking out.

The house is a museum, but we were allowed to take a few photos inside. Anna wore a long, flowing veil that has been handed down in her family. Her proud father walked her down the lawn to Derek, and they said their vows in front of the gazebo.

 The whole wedding day had a fun, laid-back feel to it. From the flower print shirts and nut necklaces that the guys wore to the sand and shell candle hurricanes on the tables, Annna had incorporated a Hawaiian beach theme into the event. The reception at The University Club spilled out onto the patio overlooking the river. Guests chatted and danced until the sun went down. Then the bride changed into a cute sundress, and the guests bid a bubbly farewell as the couple left in a white limosine.

Happy second anniversary, Mandy & Justin!

Mandy Wright & Justin Bailey had one of those wonderful wedding days when everything comes together perfectly; lovely weather, gorgeous venues, delicious food, fragrant flowers, live music, and a loving couple.

One of my favorite aspects of the day had to be the venues that were chosen. The ceremony was held at the First United Methodist Church of Montgomery in Alabama - one of those historic, Gothic churches with characteristic stone exterior, stained glass, arched doorways, and a high, wooden-beamed ceiling. Afterward, the wedding party hopped on a trolley and traveled to the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts for an elegant reception. It is a modern, classy building with beautiful grounds and an outdoor ampitheater that doubles as a waterside dancefloor.

The cathedral added to the ceremony's elegance.



Mandy had 9 bridesmaids, several of which were her sorority sisters.

Dress and ring detail. I love long veils and had fun photographing Mandy's.

Right after they were declared husband and wife, Mandy & Justin walked outside and into a magnificent flood of sunlight.



The groom's cake was a delicious chocolate mud cake with a (chocolate) golf ball on top.


It takes a real man to carry his wife's shoes for her.

On a sunny day in May 2006, Heather Snell married Jonathan Anderson at Ridge Vallery Farms in Maryville. The weather was beautiful for their outdoor ceremony, and the colors (blue sky, green grass, pink dresses & flowers) were so vibrant and happy.

The girls wore pink and carried gorgeous bouquets with tulips, Gerber daisies, and roses. Heather did the flowers herself, and they couldn't have been more beautiful. She even incorporated peonies, my favorite flower, into her bouquet which was tied off with ribbon and a pretty pink brooch. She also had the most beautiful veil that I have seen.

After some hors'devours, cake, and dancing inside, the guests saw the couple off in a cloud of bubbles.  The sun was finally getting low enough in the sky for some nice outdoor photos so Heather and Jon circled around and came back to do a private photo session. Although it wouldn't work with weddings later in the day, doing photos after the reception worked out perfectly for their afternoon wedding. I'm so glad that we had the extra time as we were able to get some great couple photos and really take advantage of the beautiful weather and venue.