Hunter Valley Pavilion || Knoxville, TN Photographer || Danielle & Tommy

Hunter Valley Pavilion

There are very few venues that I love working at as much as I love working at the Hunter Valley Pavilion. The ladies there are some of my favorites in the industry and ALWAYS do killer work. One of my favorite things about the Hunter Valley Pavilion are not only the Hunter Valley ladies, but all of the vendors that they have teamed up with. Throughout their years of serving Knoxville brides, they have developed such amazing relationships with so many awesome vendors. They let their brides choose from a generous list to make their day super special. I’m not going to lie, I used to hate preferred vendor lists… I’m sure you can guess why. Because when you start out, you’re not on them. I thought it was nearly impossible to get on them as a photographer (because the wedding photography industry is SO oversaturated), but here’s the thing guys. Having a preferred vendor list allows the incredible Nancy at Hunter Valley Farm to make sure that your day isn’t spoiled because you ended up with a crap vendor somewhere, and when there are endless options that are selling themselves to you trying to get you to hire them, sometimes it’s hard to know what you should do. So, let the people who work weddings every weekend take out the bad options and therefore, ensure that your day will run perfectly. Hence, the preferred vendor list.

Danielle & Tommy

When I meet with couples initially, one of the things on the agenda to talk with them about is a first look. Some couples know automatically that they do not want one, other’s know that they DO want one, and most are in between and want to know the pros and cons. One of the things that brides ALWAYS bring up is that they want their groom to get emotional when they’re coming down the aisle, and they’re afraid if they do a first look that they’ll lose that moment. I want to point out here, that this is the perfect example that the special moment is absolutely not lost. This is even more of a point to be made because Tommy is definitely a dude’s dude and not the super emotional type. So, let me set the stage for you…

It was time for the first look, which we were doing first before any other portraits. It had just got done storming and was now super sunny and REEEEEAAAALLY humid outside. Meanwhile, back inside the pavilion it was 65 degrees with the AC kicking in high gear. I set up Tommy, tell him exactly how it’s going to go down and go get Danielle. I get her in place and am going to get my camera all ready to go when I raise my eye to the view finder to find my lens completely fogged over. I had spent the last two hours inside this amazing air conditioning, and it was not super happy about the humidity. So, I wipe it off with my cotton dress (I know, I know, you’re not supposed to do this, but desperate times call for desperate measures) and it instantly fogs back up again. Leah Price, my second shooter, who is aimed on Danielle’s face is also having the same problem. We are both wiping our lenses hoping and praying that it would just stop fogging up, but I’m telling you, it felt like a solid 5 minutes of this happening while the couple just stood there, totally patient, anxiously awaiting this moment where they get to see each other for the first time on their wedding day!!!! FINALLY it’s go time. When Danielle tells Tommy to turn around, his eyes welled up with tears, and he gave Danielle the biggest hug he could possibly give her. It was so sweet and so precious and you will see this moment happen as you scroll through below. Well, not the fogging part, but the teary eyes and the big hug.

Fast forward through all of the portraits… the bride & groom romantic portraits, the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, the whole bridal party, and we are getting ready for the ceremony. Tommy comes out with his groomsmen and watches the bridesmaids come down the aisle. The flower girls and his adorable little twin, the ring bearer, and when the doors open to see his bride, that same watery eyed expression came back, and it was just so so so sweet. I know there was not one second of that moment being any less of a big moment just because he had seen her earlier that day. That moment is made so powerful not because the groom doesn’t know what the bride looks like, but because she’s walking down the aisle to commit her life to him and his life to her. It’s the moment that they have both been waiting for for MONTHS. What they’ve planned this whole entire day around. What they have dedicated their resources, time and thoughts to for hours and hours on end. That moment is so big because in just seconds after he sees her, he will be joining hands with her, saying vows to her, putting a band on her finger, and kissing her not as his girlfriend or fiancée but as his wife. That, my friends, is why the power in that moment is completely untouched by a first look. All a first look does is enable you to get more portraits of the two of you together, spend more time with your best friend on what is probably the most important day of your life up until this point, enjoy more of your party after the ceremony, and actually be able to hug and kiss and talk when you first lay eyes on one other.

So, if you’re asking me if I force my couples to do a first look, the answer is absolutely not. I am so fully supportive of every couple and what they decide to do. However, when they ask my opinion on the matter, this is what I tell them. This is also what is written in the AMP Bridal Guide that they receive after signing their contract with me. I’m so glad that Danielle & Tommy did a first look so I could show you exactly how both the first look and the ceremony can have their own separate memories that are just as sweet and just as emotional.

I’m a Knoxville Wedding Photographer that loves to travel… I shoot anywhere! If you have any questions about pricing or booking with me, click here to contact me now! 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 Danielle & Tommy:

Venue: The Pavilion at Hunter Valley Farm

Florist: Swank Floral

Cake & Catering: B & G Catering

DJ: Ogle Entertainment – Sammy

Hair & Makeup: Enve Hair Salon

Wedding Dress Shop: White Lace and Promises

Wedding Dress Designer: Maggie Sottero

Tuxedo Rental: Men’s Wearhouse

Bridesmaids’ Dress Shop: David’s Bridal

Officiant: Magnolia Matrimonies – Colleen Munyan

Second Photographer: Leah Nicole Photo

 

If you loved this session, you’ll also love:

Danielle & Tommy Engagement Pictures

Suzanne & Bryan Wedding Pictures

Brittany & Chase Wedding Pictures