Intimate Elopement Chattanooga | Courtney + Tanner

Eloping with family

When Courtney and Tanner received Tanner’s orders to relocate to a new base, they decided to hold an intimate elopement on the family farm before they moved. The couple booked me for a 2-hour session to capture their ceremony, some family photos, and their bride and groom portraits.

Groom in military dress uniform holds his bride's hand as they smile at each other

Tanner’s family’s land was the perfect spot for their simple ceremony. The property has been in his family for 100 years! Planning a small intimate wedding, Courtney and Tanner invited only their immediate family members. One family member officiated, another prepared a reading, and the others stood nearby. What a sweet, special ceremony. Truly–so sweet.

Bride and groom stand facing each other holding hands and exchanging vows in front of antique family cabin front porch

Bride and groom face each other holding hands in front of antique cabin porch during their elopement ceremony

Bride and groom facing each other holding hands in front of antique family cabin porch while family members stand nearby

Bride and groom face each other holding hands in front of antique family cabin porch at their intimate elopement wedding

Bride and groom facing each other holding hands in front of antique family cabin porch

Bride and groom share their first kiss in front of antique family cabin porch during their small intimate wedding

Bride and groom holding hands face their family members

Bride and groom stand with their family members in front of antique family cabin front porch

Bride and groom stand with their family members after their intimate elopement ceremony

Groom jumps on officiant's back in celebration and bride receives kiss on cheek from her mother

Bride and Groom portraits on the farm

Following their ceremony and family portraits, we wandered the family’s property for their bride and groom photo session. Tanner looked so polished in his dress uniform, and I LOVE the custom “Bride” denim jacket Courtney had made for their day.

Bride and groom stand facing each other in front of antique family cabin's front porch

Bride and groom place hands on top of bouquet, her hand on top showing off her wedding ring

Bride and groom share a dance in front of greenery, his head bowed over to kiss her

Bride and groom share a dance in front of greenery, they look into each other's faces

Bride and groom share a dance in front of greenery

Bride stands holding her bouquet in front of her smiling down at it, trees in the background

Groom smiling in his military dress uniform and hat

Groom in his military dress uniform holds his hat in one hand. Bride smiles over her shoulder with bouquet at her side.

Bride and groom stand arm in arm. He wears a military dress uniform, and she wears a customized bride denim jacket.

Bride wearing simple white dress and groom wearing military dress uniform and hat cuddle and kiss in front of greenery.

Groom in military dress uniform holds his bride's hand as they smile at each other

Bride wearing simple white dress and groom wearing military dress uniform and hat cuddle and kiss in front of greenery.

Groom wearing military dress uniform and hat leans down so his bride can reach his cheek for a kiss.

Groom in military dress uniform holds bride over his shoulder while she laughs.

Bride and groom hold hands while walking down the middle of the road.

Bride and groom cuddle arm-in-arm in front of antique family cabin after their intimate elopement

Bride and groom hold hands and look at each other in front of antique family cabin after their intimate elopement

Bride and groom hold hands in front of antique family cabin's front porch after their intimate elopement

The beauty of an intimate elopement

I’ve witnessed my fair share of weddings, y’all. They’re as individual as each couple, and this day was no different.

Courtney and Tanner opted for nothing fancy, nothing extravagant. His dress uniform, a bouquet of flowers, a simple wedding dress, and a denim jacket. And honestly, it was all they really needed because they were so beautiful and so in love. Their sweet love is what really shined in their photos. Can you see it, too?

Groom in military dress uniform holds his bride's hand as they smile at each other

Bride holds her bouquet in front of her, white flowers and greenery with champagne colored ribbons blowing in the breeze.

Bride and groom hold hands, walking away. He wears a military dress uniform, and she wears a customized bride denim jacket

Bride kisses groom while wearing her customized bride denim jacket with the word "Bride" painted across the back

Groom in military dress uniform holds his bride in his arms. She wears his military cap and holds a bouquet at her side.

NO MATTER HOW SMALL, EACH WEDDING IS A BIG DEAL. IF YOU’RE PLANNING A SMALL INTIMATE WEDDING OR ELOPEMENT, I’D LOVE TO DOCUMENT YOUR BIG DAY. CONTACT ME, YOUR GO-TO CHATTANOOGA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER, AND WE CAN START PLANNING TODAY!

If you loved looking through these photos of Courtney and Tanner’s intimate elopement, you might also be inspired by Bridget and Alex’s intimate wedding at Fall Creek Falls or Liz and Andrew’s elopement in Zion National Park.

January 9, 2020

Weddings