It started with the Great Eclipse of '17.

I was talking to my friend whose daughter was engaged about how the wedding prep was coming.  Um, not well, but my friend did say that she found a cool, new wedding venue between Knoxville and Chattanooga.  She told me to go and check it out, that I might want to do a shoot there.

So, I did.  My partner in photo crime and friend, Derek Halkett, and I journeyed down.  And in doing so, we met the owner, Bill Collins, of Hiwassee River Weddings.  How cool is this - a wedding venue located right on the banks of the Hiwassee River in Polk County.  In his "retirement," Bill had built a beautiful structure set in the forest, with a state of the art sound system (and HVAC, which is good to know for Southern summers) to host weddings.  And when we asked Bill whether he would allow a styled wedding shoot there, he graciously agreed.

And so a team of vendors came together:  

• Stephanie Richer Photography
• Derek Halkett Photography
• Hiwassee River Weddings
• Regal Tux
• Monica's Bridal
• Jessica Ann, Day of Wedding Coordinator
• The Copper Quail
• Melissa Timm Designs
• Hair by Schae
• Kimberly Satin
• Ramble Creek Cakes

Originally, the idea was to have two couples, one in more formal wear and the other in more bohemian wedding wear.  Alas, strep throat felled one of our grooms but thanks to Daniel Orr , who handsomely played the groom for both of our model brides, Desirae Sanders and Kaylee Jobe.

So, with all assembled, the magic happened: