A Rainy East Tennessee Wedding Filled with Faith, Family, and Golden Hour Magic
Lacie and Dillon’s wedding at Castleton Estate was filled with beautiful details, joyful laughter, and more than a few moments that brought tears to my eyes.
One moment that will always stay with me was Lacie’s first look with her dad and brother. First looks with dads are especially meaningful to me because of the loss of my own dad, but this one touched my heart in an extraordinary way.
After Lacie’s dad and brother saw her, the three of them shared a few sweet words. Then her dad took her hand, held it between both of his, looked directly at her, and said, “You are marrying a good man.”
I almost lost it.
I cannot tell you how many weddings I have photographed where a dad jokingly says, “You don’t have to do this,” or offers to get in the truck and head back home. But not Lacie’s dad. He looked at his daughter with complete confidence and told her she was marrying a good man.
He cried. Lacie cried. Her brother almost cried. And I stood behind my camera as tears filled my eyes.
The day I stop getting emotional at weddings is the day I will hang up my camera. If I can no longer feel the overwhelming love, joy, and tenderness surrounding my couples, then I am not doing my job the way I believe it should be done.
Of course, the day wasn’t all tears! Lacie’s bouquet toss produced some of the funniest and cutest reception photos. Couples don’t always include a bouquet toss anymore, and it isn’t usually one of my favorite parts to photograph. But this one was priceless. Their content creator caught the bouquet, and her facial expression was absolutely amazing. Make sure you find that series below and pay close attention!
And now we have to talk about the weather.
In the days leading up to the wedding, the forecast was calling for rain and storms. Lacie texted me several times, understandably worried. She just wanted the rain to stay away, and even the wedding planner was hoping for a break in the forecast.
But I wasn’t worried. The Lord has shown me time and time again that even when it rains, He will make a way for us to create beautiful photographs. East Tennessee weather is also famous for changing at the last possible moment, so I continued reassuring everyone that we would work with whatever the day brought.
On Saturday morning, however, the rain was still coming. It rained for most of my drive, poured while I photographed Dillon and his groomsmen skeet shooting, and continued pouring as I unloaded my car.
Then, on my first trip into the Castleton Estate Manor, I heard “What a Beautiful Name” playing upstairs in the bridal suite.
That song has been a recurring anthem throughout my life since my dad passed away. It has carried me through tears, anxiety, and moments when I desperately needed to feel close to the Lord. Whenever I hear it, I am reminded to rest, trust, and believe that He is present.
Hearing it at that exact moment felt like a quiet reminder: the Lord was going to make a way through the rain clouds.
I went upstairs and shared a little of what the song meant to me with Lacie. The Lord is with us and we can trust in His plan for this day.
And we did.
The rain cleared just in time for Lacie and Dillon’s portraits, family photographs, wedding-party photos, and even their outdoor ceremony. Then, as if simply clearing the rain wasn’t enough, the Lord brought us gorgeous, glowing sunlight for the most incredible golden-hour portraits.
It did eventually pour again but only when it no longer mattered during the open dance floor time of the night.
Lacie and Dillon’s Castleton Estate wedding was a beautiful reminder of love, family, trust, and God’s perfect timing. From a father’s heartfelt blessing to a hilarious bouquet catch and sunshine arriving precisely when we needed it, this was a wedding day I will never forget.
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Vendors used by Lacie & Dillon:
Assistant Photographer: AC Goodman Photography
Venue: Castleton Estate
Videographer: Milestone Pictures
Florist: Melissa Timm Designs
Cake: Art of Cakes Bakery
DJ: DJ Legendary
Hair & Makeup: Bangs and Blush
Wedding Dress Shop: Loveliest Bridal
Wedding Dress Designer: Justin Alexander
Bridesmaids Dress Shop: Azazie
Men’s Attire: Bellario’s
Rentals: Whimsy Rentals
Stationery: Minted
Ice Sculpture: Ice Mill
Photo Booth: The Wedding Booth Shoppe
Live Painter: Alexandria Caroline Art
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