When one venue captures your heart, but another becomes the place where your forever begins.
Venue shopping is such a fun part of wedding planning because every location has its own personality. Sometimes couples walk onto a property and instantly know it’s the one. Other times, they fall in love with more than one place and have the impossible task of choosing between them. That was exactly the case for Olivia and Tyler.
When they were searching for the perfect wedding venue, they toured Maple Grove and absolutely loved it. It’s easy to see why. The incredible landscaping, the timeless estate, and peaceful setting make it one of my favorite places to photograph. Karen and her husband, who own Maple Grove, are some of the kindest venue owners you’ll ever meet, and it’s always such a joy getting to work alongside them.
Ultimately, though, the mountain views at The Lumigail stole Olivia and Tyler’s hearts. They’ll be saying “I do” there in 2027, and after getting a sneak peek of the property myself, I completely understand why.
Ironically, just one day before this Maple Grove engagement session, I was photographing a styled shoot at Lumigail. While the venue is still under construction, seeing it in person made me even more excited for Olivia and Tyler’s wedding day. The building already has its roof, the interior layout is really starting to come together, and those breathtaking mountain views are every bit as incredible as one would imagine. Once everything is complete, it’s going to be an absolutely stunning place to celebrate.
Of course, no engagement session is complete without a little weather drama.
Olivia laughed as she told me that her family seems to be cursed with bad weather. According to her, vacations, celebrations, and special occasions almost always come with an unfortunate forecast. Sure enough, a massive thunderstorm was scheduled to arrive at exactly the time we were supposed to begin their session.
Thankfully, instead of canceling altogether, we decided to move everything up by just thirty minutes.
It ended up being one of the best decisions we could have made.
We finished photographing literally minutes before the first drops of rain arrived. For nearly the entire session, we had gorgeous sunshine, soft summer light, and one of those unforgettable Maple Grove sunsets that never disappoints. Looking through their gallery, you would never guess a thunderstorm was racing toward us just outside the frame.
Olivia and Tyler were so easy to photograph together. They have such a natural connection and made every moment feel effortless, whether they were laughing together on the cozy pathways or simply enjoying a quiet walk across the property (peep the rainbow in one of their walking away photos). Sessions like these are a wonderful reminder that sometimes the best moments happen when you’re willing to trust the process. Even when the forecast says otherwise.
I’m a Knoxville Wedding Photographer that loves to travel. I shoot anywhere! Click here to contact me with any questions you have about pricing or booking! If you liked what you saw above, go ahead and follow me on Facebook or Instagram to see my daily updates of the latest sessions!
See more from Amanda May Photos:
Engagement Session at Knoxville Botanical Garden
