Intimate Cabin Celebration at this Gatlinburg Wedding
Katie and Andrew imagined their dream wedding happening in 2026. But life has a way of changing plans in the most unexpected and meaningful ways. When Katie received the heartbreaking news of her dad’s cancer diagnosis, she knew in her heart that the most important thing wasn’t the size of the wedding or meticulously planning every single detail—it was making sure her dad could be there.
In just 75ish days, Katie pulled off something remarkable: she replanned their entire wedding and shifted the date to June 14th, 2025, hosting a heartfelt Gatlinburg wedding nestled in the mountains at a cozy cabin. And despite June being one of the busiest months for weddings in East Tennessee, Katie found a dream team of vendors who rallied around her story and made it all happen.
I’ll be honest—on June 14th, I was photographing my sister-in-law’s wedding in Kentucky. Another associate on our team was already covering a large wedding at Castleton. Under normal circumstances, I never would’ve added a third wedding to our calendar. But when I read Katie’s inquiry and her reason for moving the date, I couldn’t say no. I reached out to Cyd Weeks, one of our trusted lead photographers, and she immediately felt the same pull I did. Cyd, along with second shooter Mary Nelson, captured the Younkers’ day with so much care and heart.
The result was a deeply emotional, joy-filled day where Katie’s dad was present—smiling, hugging, laughing, and tearing up right alongside his daughter. There were happy tears and hard ones, quiet moments and big celebrations. But most of all, there was love. So much love.
It wasn’t the original 2026 vision, but it was real, raw, and unforgettable. And I know Katie will treasure those photos of her and her sweet dad for the rest of her life.
Because sometimes, the best weddings aren’t the ones that go exactly as planned—they’re the ones that honor the people we love most.
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!
Vendors used by Katie & Andrew:
Associate Photographer: Cyd Weeks Photography
Assistant Photographer: Mary Nelson Photography
Content Creator: Veil on Wheels
Florist: Cupid’s Petals
Cake: Ben & Jerry’s
DJ: Born and Raised Productions
Hair & Makeup: Effortless Beauty
Wedding Dress Shop: Meadowbrooke Bridal
Caterer: Calhoun’s
See more from Amanda May Photos:
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