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Days like this are some of my favorites to capture; slow, intentional, and intimate in all ways. It was such a gift to be able to travel out to the stunning Smoky Mountains of Tennessee for Ashley + Tanner’s intimate cabin wedding, especially after getting to know them during their Oregon engagement session a while back. It was the perfect example of how your elopement can be such an amazing + fun way to connect all of your families, chosen families, and friends all in one place, celebrating together in a way you might never be able to again—and just how much you should cherish those moments when you do have them.

Ashley + Tanner’s Intimate Cabin Wedding in the Smoky Mountains

A day that prioritized slowness + intention

The biggest thing that I took away from Ashley and Tanner’s cabin wedding in the Smoky Mountains: it’s those slow, small, intentional moments that make your wedding day—not just the big ones. It’s the moment you write your vows together while drinking coffee. It’s the few minutes you spend walking your dogs when you get up in the morning. It’s the smiles and laughter shared while you make breakfast with your family members who traveled to be with you. All of those meaningful little memories you’re creating are just as important as the moments when you finally get to kiss as a married couple and walk down the aisle, hand-in-hand, surrounded by the people you love. 

Ashley and Tanner poured so much love and energy into this day that every moment truly felt like one of the most special of their lives. Instead of a big wedding held at a traditional venue with hundreds of people, they opted for a cozy micro wedding in the breathtaking mountains of Tennessee, inviting only a small group of their core people. At no part of their day did it feel like they were simply going through the motions, partaking in tradition just for the sake of tradition; no, they chose to create their own traditions and memories that would be personal to them:

Having their ceremony on the deck of their Airbnb. 

Driving through country roads for one-of-a-kind group photos. 

Enjoying a catered dinner at your Airbnb with their core people. 

Admiring the sunset, overlooking a National Park as they chatted away all night under the stars.

What a dream, y’all. Prioritizing slow, intimate moments on your wedding day is where it’s at. 

If you want to take a page out of Ashley + Tanner’s book and plan an incredibly intentional day of your own, be sure to read my blog post about How to Plan a Meaningful Elopement.

Sweet morning portraits with their pups

Remember how I said that your elopement can be such an amazing way to connect with all the people you love most + bring them all together for one epic, unforgettable celebration? Well, it doesn’t always have to be people. . . your four-legged friends are just as much a part of the fam as anybody else! Ashley and Tanner brought their sweet babies along and spent time with them in the Airbnb as they worked on writing their vows together, drinking coffee out on the deck. Then, when their pups needed a walk, we headed to a little grassy area nearby and took advantage of the soft morning light for a few morning-of portraits! These turned out to be some of my favorites of the entire day; taken on a whim, with Ashley and Tanner just soaking up all the feels and emotions of the day together before anyone else arrived.

Getting ready + writing vows in the cabin

When we got back to the cabin, they split off to get ready in their own individual rooms, and to put the finishing touches on their vows. I had a blast capturing their details; their wedding bands, Ashley’s gorgeous floral-covered veil, and my personal favorite—her amazing blue boots. The tablescape setup inside the Airbnb was phenomenal as well, just waiting to host the loveliest dinner later in the evening. With a neutral color palette of beige, brown, and cream, plus pale blue + bronze accents in the candles, glassware, and napkins, it was a dream come true to photograph. They even had a freaking gorgeous charcuterie board out for folks to munch on as the day began and let me tell you, my mouth was watering just looking at it through my camera lens. What makes this intimate wedding even more impressive is that most of it was DIY’ed by the couple!

A scenic ceremony on the deck

This wedding didn’t involve any travel to separate venues or coordinated car rides between locations; it was super easy for everyone involved, since Ashley and Tanner simply held their ceremony out on the deck of their Airbnb. It was the most breathtaking spot overlooking the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, the rolling green hills covered in gray clouds and creating the most picturesque silhouette in the distance. The small aisle leading out from their Airbnb was lined with rose petals that matched Ashley’s bouquet, with a few chairs set up on either side for the couple’s family and friends. This ceremony showcases just how beautiful a simple ceremony can be; you can absolutely make yours as intricate as you’d like, but you could also just gather some flower petals, put together two floral arrangements to stand between, find a scenic spot, and call it good!

Dreamy sunset portraits in grassy meadows

We did drive a little bit after the ceremony, though, just down the road for some group portraits; it was such a fun time taking photos of this group who clearly shared so much love for each other. They didn’t want the typical stuffy, posed photos—their vibe was more candid, playful, and whimsical. So instead of asking them to stand a certain way, I just let them do their thing, frolicking around in the grass together with the biggest smiles on their faces. These group photos encapsulate SO much of the love that was present on Ashley and Tanner’s day, everyone was so supportive and thrilled for these two the entire time! We also managed to get plenty of couples portraits before heading back to the Airbnb, too; they looked so stunning exploring the trees + greenery in their whimsical elopement attire. 

A candlelit dinner with loved ones

The night ended with a sweet candlelit dinner in the Airbnb, everyone enjoying a delicious meal with great conversation + gorgeous mountain views in the background. Ashley and Tanner’s cake was even personalized to the two of them, with cake toppers of their dogs—so freaking cute! It was so special watching these two get to celebrate with their families, chosen families, and friends, aka everyone who means the most to them in their lives. This is how you do an elopement that wholly reflects who YOU are + what matters most to the two of you.

Smoky Mountains Wedding Photographer

Want to have your own elopement or intimate wedding in the picturesque Smoky Mountains just like Ashley + Tanner did? I’m in—I’ll pack my bags! Reach out now and let’s start planning your adventure together.

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If you’re dreaming of your own destination wedding, be it in the mountains of Tennessee or on the coast of France, don’t miss out on my destination elopement guides below.

How to Plan an Unforgettable Destination Elopement

15 of the Most Breathtaking Destination Elopement Locations