June 23rd 2018 ~ Heather and Eli | Clear Springs Baptist Church | Corryton, Tennessee

Every wedding that I photograph holds a special place in my heart but this wedding was even more special. Why? Because it's not every day that you get to photograph your little cousin's wedding! Heather and I have known each other...well pretty much ever since birth. We even ended up going to the same high school. We did all of the typical cousin stuff: sleep-overs, talked about boys, got in silly arguments from time to time and most importantly we learned to be there for each other in the good and the bad. 

When Heather first started dating Eli I could tell something was different. There was a connection and a love there that hadn't been there before (cue the song from Beauty and The Beast lol!) I had a feeling that Eli was going to be here to stay and that he was Heather's person. I was able to photograph their one year anniversary photos all the way up to their engagement and now their special day! I am so thankful to be able to document such special moments for these two. 

When I got to the church that morning I could tell that Heather was both a little nervous but mostly anxious to see Eli and Eli will probably never admit it  but I have a pretty good feeling he was nervous too! 

During Heather and William's father and daughter first look I definitely shed some tears behind my lens! Knowing that William was envisioning Heather as his little girl (which she will always be) pulled at my heart strings...big time! 

After the ceremony and reception were over Heather and Eli wanted to go off site for their bride and groom portraits. We had discussed this in advance and decided to go to Knoxville Botanical Gardens - one of my favorite places to go! Bride and groom portraits are probably the thing I look forward to most about a wedding day. It's not only my time with the bride and groom but it's pretty much the only time that they will get to themselves during that day. We were able to finish up their portraits right around sunset so the lighting was absolutely stunning! 

Heather and Eli I can't put into words how much it meant to me to be a part of your wedding day. Everything was beautiful! I wish you both many, many years of love, laughter and happiness. I hope you two go on many adventures together and make tons and tons of memories :)