Alyssa & Drake’s Timeless Black & White Wedding at the Cathedral and Jackson Terminal
This past Saturday, I had the absolute joy of capturing Alyssa and Drake’s wedding in Knoxville, TN, and it was nothing short of stunning. From the elegant black-and-white color palette to the heartfelt (and hilarious) toasts, every moment of their day was filled with love, laughter, and timeless beauty.
The morning started in Downtown Knoxville, where Alyssa and her bridesmaids got ready in a hotel suite. But before I could even make it inside, my maps took me to the back of the hotel, leaving me to hike uphill with all my gear—and let me tell you, I thought I was going to pass out before the day even started! LOL (Definitely adding stair stepper workouts to my gym routine after that one.)
By the time I arrived, the girls were pretty much ready besides Alyssa slipping into her dress. But let me tell you—when she did, her bridesmaids had the best reaction! The room instantly filled with gasps, happy tears, and so much excitement as they saw their beautiful friend in her wedding dress for the first time.
Meanwhile, the guys were at Jackson Terminal, suiting up in their classic black-and-white tuxes and playing poker before the ceremony—which I thought was such a cool way to start the day.
The ceremony took place at the breathtaking Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, one of Knoxville’s most iconic wedding venues. With its towering architecture and stunning stained glass, the Cathedral provided the perfect backdrop for Alyssa and Drake’s vows. Watching Alyssa walk down the aisle was such a powerful moment—the way Drake looked at her was pure love.
One of my absolute favorite images from the day was taken from above the aisle, capturing Alyssa and her dad walking arm in arm in timeless black and white. The emotion in that moment, the grandeur of the Cathedral, and the perspective from above made it a shot I just had to include in this blog!
After the ceremony, we captured some wedding portraits at the Cathedral before hopping on the party bus to Jackson Terminal. I loved that Alyssa and Drake took some time to enjoy part of cocktail hour with their friends and family before we headed out for sunset portraits in downtown Knoxville.
The golden light was perfect, and I could tell how much they were simply enjoying being together in that moment. Their love, the city backdrop, and the peacefulness of that time in between the busyness of the day made for some of my favorite images.
Jackson Terminal was the perfect space for Alyssa and Drake’s celebration. The toasts were some of my favorite moments of the night—equal parts funny and sentimental, leaving everyone laughing one second and tearing up the next. And I have to talk about the groom’s cake—it was Margaritaville-themed, which was such a unique and personal touch!
As the night went on, the dance floor stayed packed, and the celebration continued in true Knoxville fashion—with so much joy and energy.
Alyssa and Drake’s wedding was the perfect blend of classic elegance and personal touches that made their day truly unique. It was such an honor to capture these moments for them, and I know their journey together will be just as beautiful as their wedding day.
And speaking of journeys...they are heading to the Caribbean for their honeymoon, and I might be just a tad jealous! I can only imagine how dreamy it’s going to be—turquoise water, sandy beaches, and total newlywed bliss.
