Shay and David became husband and wife at one of East Tennessee’s most unique venues— The Millstone! The Millstone is an old grist flour mill that has been transformed into a stunning wedding venue. The reception space is enclosed by repurposed glass windows, too, giving it a rustic, almost greenhouse, feel! David and Shay celebrated with their family, friends, and ring bearer golden retriever, Murphy, who most definitely stole the show! Talk about the most perfect Tennessee wedding day!

Ever since I got into wedding photography, I’ve always been told that the very most stressful part of the day would be family formal portraits. I think that is simply because, from a couple’s perspective, you’re trying to round up family members and hope everyone cooperates, and as a photographer, you’re trying to photograph a whole group of people that you’ve mostly never met before and are trying to keep them happy before they head to the reception! It can definitely be a little stressful, but if both the couple and photographer prepare, it really can go more smoothly than expected!

Here are 5 tips that I’ve learned through the years and shooting weddings that help make family formal portraits run smoothly!

Styled shoots are truly some of my favorite events to photograph! It’s a great time to get creative without the stress of a wedding day timeline. Melissa Baskette, of Melissa’s Vintage Details, invited a few photographers (including myself) out to the Millstone venue in Limestone, Tennessee to photograph a styled shoot solely dedicated to details! I love photographing couples, don’t get me wrong, but it was also super nice to have a whole shoot focused and dedicated to decor and details so that I could really hone in on those skills! Melissa had multiple setups with many amazing vendors that collaborated on each one.

Northeast Tennessee is not only home to beautiful mountains and breathtaking lakes, but also some of the most gorgeous and unique wedding venues that are perfect for adventurous couples and outdoors lovers!

I’ve compiled a list of my top favorite wedding venues (in no particular order) here in northeast Tennessee that are great for adventurous brides and grooms who are looking for a place to say their vows.

A running theme of wedding season this year has been the constant threat of rain, and it was no different for these two. You can probably see the ominous clouds in the photos, but we lucked out and had a sunny and breezy evening for their wedding day. Renita and Nate didn't want a huge wedding, so they opted for an intimate celebration with their closest family members at the Millstone. Renita and Nate walked down the aisle together and met the officiant, Renita's dad, Reub! I thought it was so special that the father of the bride was also the officiant! After vows were read and rings were exchanged, Renita and Nate kissed for the first time as husband and wife and headed to the reception for delicious barbecue, pies, and cupcakes!

Kayla and Aaron were married on a beautiful Spring day in April at the Millstone! The week prior had been pretty chilly, for Winter kept lingering and bringing us colder temperatures. Luckily, the sun came out and warmed us all on their wedding day! After lunch, Kayla put on her gorgeous, ivory and lace, Maggie Sottero gown and was ready for the first look. We then headed out to the lawn to meet Aaron, where she would see her husband-to-be for the first time. The two said, "I do," and kissed as husband and wife under the branch arbor! We then headed to the reception for delicious barbecue and cake to celebrate the newlyweds!

Renita and Nate are getting married at one of my favorite venues in northeast Tennessee, The Millstone, this coming June and I couldn't be more excited about it! We chose to meet up at Grayson Highlands for their engagement session, on a gray, cloudy, Sunday afternoon in April. Nate had told me that he and his family had come to Grayson a few times while he was growing up, so it's a special place to him and Renita! These two were absolute troopers and stood like champs up on the high rocks as the wind whipped around us. We didn't get to see any ponies that trip, but the views were gorgeous and these two were so sweet. 

Kayla and Aaron are getting married at the Millstone in Limestone, Tennessee this coming Spring! We jumped at the opportunity to catch the last bit of Fall and explored the grounds of the venue for their engagement session. It was unseasonably warm, so we were able to spend the whole evening there just laughing about Aaron's top 5 pizza toppings and chatting about wedding details! When the sun faded, I got on Spotify and played 'Perfect' and let them dance under the patio lights! It was a magical way to end our evening!