Guest Contribution by Destination Wedding and Elopement Photographer, Brittany West
The magic of photography lies in its ability to capture fleeting moments, which we can then relive in our minds and relish for their depth and detail. Taking wedding photos, for example. One of the happiest days of a person's life, requires a high level of expertise and precision. Struggling to make a decision on who should take your dream photographs in East Tennessee? In this article, we'll go over what you should look for in a wedding photographer and how to evaluate their work.
The magic of photography lies in its ability to capture fleeting moments, which we can then relive in our minds and relish for their depth and detail. Taking wedding photos, for example. One of the happiest days of a person's life, requires a high level of expertise and precision. Struggling to make a decision on who should take your dream photographs in East Tennessee? In this article, we'll go over what you should look for in a wedding photographer and how to evaluate their work.
- Trust in the Photographer
- Cost-Benefit Analysis
- Photographer Recommendations
- Elegance
- Technical Proficiency
Tips for Planning a Tennessee Mountain Wedding in the Summer
The summer months are a fantastic time for a Tennessee mountain wedding! The scenery is gorgeous, with everything bright green and blooming, the weather is warm, and the long, sun-drenched days just beg to be celebrated with loved ones.
Once you have a summer date picked out, the next step is choosing the perfect Knoxville wedding venue. We've put together some of our top tips to help you plan the perfect summer wedding in the Tennessee mountains.
Once you have a summer date picked out, the next step is choosing the perfect Knoxville wedding venue. We've put together some of our top tips to help you plan the perfect summer wedding in the Tennessee mountains.
Planning a Summer Tennessee Mountain Wedding
After the excitement of getting engaged simmers down just a little, most couples are eager to begin planning their wedding and reception. If you’re newly engaged, you may be thinking about a Tennessee mountain wedding. While we may be a bit biased, we think that's an excellent idea!
During the summer months, the mountains of East Tennessee are absolutely beautiful, with the rolling hills covered in lush green vegetation and colorful wildflowers. With an ideal location perfectly situated between Knoxville and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we’re confident that you will love our Knoxville wedding venue.
During the summer months, the mountains of East Tennessee are absolutely beautiful, with the rolling hills covered in lush green vegetation and colorful wildflowers. With an ideal location perfectly situated between Knoxville and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we’re confident that you will love our Knoxville wedding venue.
Reasons to Have a Tennessee Mountain Wedding
We've only begun to touch on what exactly makes a Tennessee mountain wedding so magical in the summer. Fortunately, at The Stables at Strawberry Creek, we've been fortunate enough to host several summer weddings, so you could say we know a thing or two about them. Some of the top reasons to host a summer wedding in the Tennessee mountains include:
- Gorgeous natural scenery as your backdrop
- Amazing wedding photos, with the rolling green hills seeming to stretch on forever
- Beautiful warm, sunny weather
- A unique, outdoor-focused experience for your wedding guests
- Cost-effective options for all budgets (somewhat unique to Tennessee, summer is not necessarily peak wedding season, allowing warm weather-loving couples to take advantage of significant savings!)
Choosing a Summer Knoxville Wedding Venue: Inside or Out?
Selecting the perfect Knoxville wedding venue is essential when you’re planning a Tennessee mountain wedding, especially in the summer. Many couples are, understandably, unsure about whether to choose an indoor or outdoor venue. One clear benefit of an indoor venue is not having to worry about the weather at all. On the other hand, an outdoor venue offers beautiful views and natural scenery, especially in the mountains.
Many couples find that the best option is a wedding venue that offers both indoor and outdoor facilities. The Stables at Strawberry Creek is proud to be an indoor-outdoor Knoxville wedding venue that can help you plan the wedding of your dreams. There are multiple areas throughout the property, both inside and out, where you can hold your wedding ceremony and reception.
Many couples find that the best option is a wedding venue that offers both indoor and outdoor facilities. The Stables at Strawberry Creek is proud to be an indoor-outdoor Knoxville wedding venue that can help you plan the wedding of your dreams. There are multiple areas throughout the property, both inside and out, where you can hold your wedding ceremony and reception.
Summer Reception Ideas
- An intimate dinner in the stables
- Cocktail hour in the climate-controlled lounge
- An outdoor evening reception under romantic bistro lighting
Summer Ceremony Ideas
- A sunset ceremony in the meadow
- Exchanging vows under a custom floral arch
- Arriving to your ceremony on a horse-drawn carriage, alongside a natural creek
Things to Consider When Planning a Summer Tennessee Mountain Wedding
Planning a summertime Tennessee mountain wedding is fun and exciting, but there are still some things you should keep in mind. Some things to consider include:
- Send out save-the-date cards as early as possible. The mountains of East Tennessee are very popular during the summer months (not just with weddings; did you know Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the busiest in the entire country?!) and guests need to book accommodations well in advance.
- Offer your guests suggestions on how to dress appropriately for Tennessee weather. Particularly in the mountains during the summer, weather can change quickly and be somewhat unpredictable. It can be hot and humid during the day, but the evenings are quite pleasant.
- Don’t forget to have bug repellent available. One of the few not-so-pleasant things about Tennessee summers are the bugs. Insects are common in the mountains, mostly because there are so many water sources, so it's a nice, thoughtful touch to make bug spray available to your guests.
Things to do Near Our Knoxville Wedding Venue in the Summer
There is no shortage of fun things to do near The Stables at Strawberry Creek. Some of our favorite popular activities include:
- Visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Tour distilleries or wineries (East Tennessee's culture and history are closely tied to the invention of Moonshine!)
- Take a helicopter or bi-plane sightseeing tour
- Tour the Forbidden Caverns
- Explore Foxfire Mountain Swinging Bridge
- Raft or float the Little Pigeon River
Book Your Tennessee Mountain Wedding at Strawberry Creek
The Knoxville wedding venue you ultimately choose plays an essential role in creating a magical wedding day. If you’re searching for the perfect wedding venue in the Tennessee mountains, we'd love to show you around. Contact us today to book your complimentary tour, or to ask any questions. We can't wait to meet you!
Losing Sleep on Your Wedding Weekend? Not Here!
9/7/2022
Did you think slumber parties were a thing of the past? Think again! The Stables at Strawberry Creek and Holston Springs - Knoxville’s only wedding venues with top-notch sleeping accommodations - allow for you to stay on site for your entire wedding weekend. Bring back the memories of your childhood slumber parties on your best weekend ever with new priceless memories with your best friends. Including our overnight accommodations in your wedding venue package allows you to stay on schedule, catch a few extra zzz’s AND keeps your friends and family close by all weekend. We can’t wait to tell you about our three unique accommodations on the property for up to 22 guests.
Historic Strawberry Creek Log Cabin
Our beautiful Historic Log Cabin is every bride’s dream. With peaceful surroundings, you will wake up on your Wedding Day feeling refreshed and ready for glam. No need to set your alarm early to travel to your wedding venue - you are already there. Because the cabin sleeps 8-10 guests, your bridesmaids can all spend the night with you too. What a perfect way to keep the day stress-free by starting on time and minimizing late arrivals.
As an added bonus, our staff will flip the cabin into your Honeymoon Suite during your wedding festivities. You and your partner can take the short trip down the hill to spend their first night together greeted by rose petals, champagne, and marital bliss. Check out our photo gallery (hyperlink this) to get some inspo for your getting ready photos.
Holston Springs Venue & Lodge
Holston Springs is our newest addition. This beautiful wedding venue and barndominium, overlooking green hills and an Olympic-size dressage horse arena, adds a fresh and modern three bed/three bath lodge to your options for overnight stays. This space has tons of natural light and a huge living area for you and your bridesmaids to get ready. If you want to leave this space for the boys, there is a large TV so they can stay busy and relaxed watching sports until it’s time for tuxes. Don’t worry, there are plenty of trees between here and the Historic Log Cabin, so your groom can’t sneak any peeks.
This might also be the perfect place to give your parents and family members their own place to retreat, eat and enjoy the beautiful views before watching you walk down the aisle. We love to get creative with each couple on how they want to utilize all that our property has to offer while planning the perfect Knoxville Wedding (hyperlink). Pro Tip: If you decide to book the entire property for your event, Holston Springs Venue is a beautiful location for a Rehearsal Dinner. Don’t forget to ask us about our stunning farmhouse tables and chairs!
GlampKnox Canvas Campground
You can consider our three GlampKnox tents as bonus space for your adventurous wedding party, family members, or wedding guests. Glamping is a fun way to immerse yourself into all of the nature that the Smoky Mountains have to offer. Located just up the hill from the Stables Venue, it is a beautiful and quick walk under the stars to get a great night’s sleep. What a fun way for your friends and family to add a bonus vacation to their time at your wedding weekend. We have glampers come from all over the country to use our spacious and comfortable tents for a weekend getaway... Why not your guests? Add GlampKnox to the “travel” section of your wedding website for a fun surprise as your guests plan their stays.
As you can see, we LOVE our unique overnight accommodations and know you will too. We would be so excited to get creative and come up with the best plan to accommodate the friends and family you want surrounding you for your wedding weekend. Our All-Inclusive wedding packages are a great way to take advantage of these arrangements. It’s time to bring out the matching pajamas! Book a tour with us and don’t forget to ask about seeing all of these options so you can *dream* up where everyone will stay. Reach out (hyperlink to contact page) to our staff to book a tour or ask us any additional questions.
Historic Strawberry Creek Log Cabin
Our beautiful Historic Log Cabin is every bride’s dream. With peaceful surroundings, you will wake up on your Wedding Day feeling refreshed and ready for glam. No need to set your alarm early to travel to your wedding venue - you are already there. Because the cabin sleeps 8-10 guests, your bridesmaids can all spend the night with you too. What a perfect way to keep the day stress-free by starting on time and minimizing late arrivals.
As an added bonus, our staff will flip the cabin into your Honeymoon Suite during your wedding festivities. You and your partner can take the short trip down the hill to spend their first night together greeted by rose petals, champagne, and marital bliss. Check out our photo gallery (hyperlink this) to get some inspo for your getting ready photos.
Holston Springs Venue & Lodge
Holston Springs is our newest addition. This beautiful wedding venue and barndominium, overlooking green hills and an Olympic-size dressage horse arena, adds a fresh and modern three bed/three bath lodge to your options for overnight stays. This space has tons of natural light and a huge living area for you and your bridesmaids to get ready. If you want to leave this space for the boys, there is a large TV so they can stay busy and relaxed watching sports until it’s time for tuxes. Don’t worry, there are plenty of trees between here and the Historic Log Cabin, so your groom can’t sneak any peeks.
This might also be the perfect place to give your parents and family members their own place to retreat, eat and enjoy the beautiful views before watching you walk down the aisle. We love to get creative with each couple on how they want to utilize all that our property has to offer while planning the perfect Knoxville Wedding (hyperlink). Pro Tip: If you decide to book the entire property for your event, Holston Springs Venue is a beautiful location for a Rehearsal Dinner. Don’t forget to ask us about our stunning farmhouse tables and chairs!
GlampKnox Canvas Campground
You can consider our three GlampKnox tents as bonus space for your adventurous wedding party, family members, or wedding guests. Glamping is a fun way to immerse yourself into all of the nature that the Smoky Mountains have to offer. Located just up the hill from the Stables Venue, it is a beautiful and quick walk under the stars to get a great night’s sleep. What a fun way for your friends and family to add a bonus vacation to their time at your wedding weekend. We have glampers come from all over the country to use our spacious and comfortable tents for a weekend getaway... Why not your guests? Add GlampKnox to the “travel” section of your wedding website for a fun surprise as your guests plan their stays.
As you can see, we LOVE our unique overnight accommodations and know you will too. We would be so excited to get creative and come up with the best plan to accommodate the friends and family you want surrounding you for your wedding weekend. Our All-Inclusive wedding packages are a great way to take advantage of these arrangements. It’s time to bring out the matching pajamas! Book a tour with us and don’t forget to ask about seeing all of these options so you can *dream* up where everyone will stay. Reach out (hyperlink to contact page) to our staff to book a tour or ask us any additional questions.