Getting Ready at The Julianna

Emily & Blake contacted me last year to photograph their April wedding at the beautiful Julianna venue in Knoxville. I was so excited because the Julianna is a newer venue in Knoxville & I hadn’t yet had the opportunity to shoot there. It’s always so much fun as a photographer to go into a new venue & use all of our creative juices to find the best photo spots! It’s like a painter with a blank canvas!

The bridal suite at the Julianna is absolutely gorgeous. There is great natural light from the windows, plenty of room to move around, and plenty of seating at their counter with gorgeous mirrors for the girls to use while getting ready. My second photographer, Paige Koldys, went to find the guys in their getting ready spot while I photographed some of their details & the girls. Emily looked stunning with her “hollywood glam” hair & makeup. Her dress was sleek & sophisticated and she was even more excited that she had gotten it for $99!! I couldn’t believe it!

After everyone was dressed to impressed, we ventured down to the pebble stone path for the sweetest first look before the ceremony.

The Wedding Ceremony & Photos

After their first look, the guests started arriving, so Blake & Emily went inside while guests were seated in the garden. The ceremony was intimate & fun. I loved that the officiant had them show off their rings for a quick photo op! After the ceremony, the family stuck around for family photos & we moved right into bridal party portraits as well….but not before getting the bride a glass of wine! Photos went smoothly & Blake and Emily were able to join their guests for the rest of their cocktail hour right before dinner, toasts, & dancing started!

The Wedding Reception

Emily & Blake’s wedding reception was one for the books!! The toasts were heartfelt & hilarious, dinner was fabulous, the drinks were flowing, & the dance floor was SO much fun! They even had the fire pit lit outside for guests to enjoy a cigar or to watch the sunset. The couple snuck away for a few moments for some golden hour photos & they turned out to be my favorite of the day…no surprise there! Golden hour is always the best!

After many hours of dancing, singing, and tons of fun, Emily & Blake had their guests line up along the terrace for a special exit. The guests had ribbon wands & excitedly said goodbye to the married couple! All in all, it was a wonderful day shared with friends & family! Emily & Blake were an absolute joy to work with & I hope they cherish their photos for years to come!