Great Smoky Mountains Intimate Wedding

Great Smoky Mountains wedding photography

I am 100% convinced that documenting love stories will never get old. While you can normally find me in the Midwest, traveling to Tennessee to capture Taylor and Steve’s Great Smoky Mountains intimate wedding was such a great way to kick off the 2024 wedding season. From the most picturesque views to the sweetest emotional private vow exchange, I loved every part of this Tennessee wedding day. Celebrating a couple as genuine and Christ-centered as Taylor and Steve comes so incredibly easy.

An Intimate Wedding in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Taylor and Steve are a testament of resilience and faith in the Lord. These two planned their entire wedding while tackling long distance; Steve was living in Minnesota while Taylor was living in Tennessee. After handling each challenge thrown their way with grace, it was a joy to watch their day come together even better than imagined. Taylor and Steve began their day getting ready with their crew at The Venue at Greenbrier Estate.

There’s nothing better than spending the start of a wedding day surrounded by your favorite people, hanging out, and getting ready to marry the love of your life! Taylor had selected the most whimsical Spring color palette and the bridesmaids’ dresses were no exception. The bridesmaids wore mismatched pastel dresses while the groomsmen wore coordinating pastel ties. I was obsessed!

Tucked in the Great Smoky Mountains, The Venue at Greenbrier Estate had endless views of lush greenery. What first was shaping up to be a rainy day turned out to be an unseasonably warm Spring day in Gatlinburg. After sharing a first look with her dad, Taylor and Steve exchanged private vows overlooking the mountains. The pastels paired with the vibrant blooms contrasted beautifully with the forests below.

Great Smoky Mountains Wedding

Once we wrapped up all the formal photos, the ceremony began out on the deck beneath the blue skies. The aisle was lined with the prettiest spring blooms to complete this dreamy Spring wedding in the Great Smoky Mountains. As a Minnesota wedding and lifestyle photographer, when I travel, it’s not too often that I see many familiar faces. But Taylor and Steve’s officiant was actually from my town, so it was pretty special getting to travel to Tennessee with a MN-native to celebrate such a great couple. Taylor and Steve assembled a unity cross before finally being announced as husband and wife!

Before the intimate wedding reception at The Venue at Greenbrier Estate, I was able to snag the newlyweds away for some romantics in tucked in the forest below. The night before, we had gone location scouting near the property. I don’t know about you, but my familiarity with Tennessee was pretty limited; I had spent time in Nashville, but never spent time in the Great Smoky Mountains. The views from the venue were breathtaking, and somehow even more magical from below.

Taylor and Steve were dreaming of ethereal, romantic bridal portraits; I think we nailed the vibes. As the newlyweds were perched on some rocks on the river, I spotted some mist starting to rise beneath the shimmering sunshine. Like the troopers they are, Taylor and Steve scurried into the perfect position for us to capture the true essence of their intimate wedding in the mountains.

Tennessee Wedding and Elopement Photographer | Alyssa Ashley Photography

I loved just how easy and carefree Taylor and Steve’s day felt. They valued taking photos and documenting their day, which made my job almost too easy! We were able to take our time with bridal portraits in the lush forests before heading back to the reception. The reception was full of laughter, enjoying delicious food and dancing. Because the reception was intimate, there was no shortage of visiting and just soaking up quality time chatting with guests. At the end of the night, I stole the newlyweds away for one final moment to capture some blue hour romantics. Normally, I try to sneak away with couples for golden hour portraits, but I think I’ll be adding blue hour to my repertoirer now! As some clouds began to roll in over the valleys below, the remaining moments of day light created a dramatic landscape.

Taylor and Steve’s Great Smoky Mountains intimate wedding wrapped up with more dancing and a bubble exit. I’m so grateful to have been able to document such a special moment in their lives, and to witness them close the distance. It’s these moments, these couples, and this job that just remind me that the Lord has given me something that I spent so long praying for. My heart is so full.

Be sure to check out some of my other incredible couples on the blog! And if you’re looking for some real-time BTS or sneak peeks, follow along on the ‘Gram (@alyssa_ashleyphotography). Thank you so much for being here, friend.