Reel life or real life, love wins! Pandemic or not, the couples’ desire to have a fairytale wedding and ours to shoot’em seems to only cease when hell freezes over. We feel lucky to be chosen to witness one more wedding in the midst of COVID chaos. While thousands of couples were canceling, postponing, or remotely hosting their nuptials due to the coronavirus pandemic and were waiting for the right time to start their new beginning, Lauren and Travis were determined to get married on the day they chose as their love couldn’t wait. Yes, the pandemic inevitably tried to make their wedding look different — but these couples didn't let it put a damper on their ‘I dos’! With a bit of creativity, they found ways to rework their celebration to make it both safe AND sentimental. If you're determined to have your big day despite the pandemic, get inspired by this romantic COVID wedding!

There are love stories we enjoy reading, hearing, and watching and then there come those that leave an impact on our minds so deep that they get etched in our memories for life and we keep forwarding them to our next generations! And Lauren and Travis’s Nashville wedding at Legacy Farms comes in the latter category. While many love stories happen every second, it is Lauren and Travis’s beguiling love story which is a mix of sophistication and romance and reassures us how love can be such a gift and how sweet is the act of commitment when two people truly love each other. Let us take a peek at this lovely couple’s special day and how the magic unfolds on their wedding day in the one-of-a-kind city of Tennessee, Nashville!

They don’t say for nothing that you won't find a city more accommodating, authentic, and accessible than Nashville. Also known as the “Country Music Capital of the World,” Nashville is world-renowned for its music and honky-tonks. Weaving such a fundamental pattern in its cultural, business, and social fabric, music has been the common thread connecting the life and soul of the and its people. The city has ample rooms, a state-of-the-art convention center, a music scene that is second to none, rockstar chefs, and so much more to offer to relish. Home to the largest songwriter’s festival in the world, Nashville has also long been known as the “Songwriting Capital of the World.” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “The Bunny Hop,” and “Hokey Pokey” were all recorded in Nashville. Songwriters from all over the world visit the Music City to learn the art and share their passion for songwriting. Nashville has also become a hub for pop, rock, bluegrass, Americana, jazz, classical, contemporary Christian, blues, and soul music. Rolling Stone gave Nashville the title of “Best Music Scene.” Artists like Robert Plant, Kid Rock, Black Eyed Peas, Bon Jovi, and Michael Buble, among many others, have come to Music City to write and record. Names like Kings of Leon, Justin Timberlake, The Black Keys, Keith Urban, Michael McDonald, Keb’ Mo’, Sheryl Crow, Paramore, Hot Chelle Rae, and Jack White have chosen to call the Nashville area home.

Named after Francis Nash, who was one of the few Patriot generals killed during the American Revolution, Nashville can do a lot more than just carry a tune. The bustling music scene, down-home hospitality, and great food are three major elements of the city that make it what it is! It’s a leading healthcare provider, a foodie destination, and a must-see for history buffs. It’s also the only place in the world where you’ll find a full-size replica of The Parthenon - and in a city park, no less. Home to such down-home dishes as hot chicken, hot fish, and meat and three, Nashville is also a destination for refined palates. Travel + Leisure named it number 13 in its list of snobbiest American cities. Whether you are hankering after a pre-wedding photo session with the downtown tower resembling batman or want to bask in the post-wedding bliss at the Maxwell House Hotel sipping "good to the last drop" local Nashville coffee, the city has a plethora of options to add unforgettable pictures to your photo albums. Do not forget to take home Googoos (iconic local candy is made of caramel, marshmallow, milk chocolate, and peanuts) with you for your loved ones. Couples love the city mainly because it has a big city style with a country heart and the scenery surrounding it is green and endless! So you’d of course be hard-pressed to find a wedding venue that doesn’t thrill you in the heart of Music City, or its outskirts, or just minutes away in the countryside. No wonder, the lively couple chose this universally agreed-upon cool spot for their nuptials. And after deciding on the city they off-the-bat gave their heart to one of the most unique and romantic outdoor wedding venues in Nashville suburbs- Legacy Farms,  for their Nashville wedding and reception. In a serene and sublime neighborhood just a half-hour outside of the big city, Legacy Farms provided our couple everything - private verandas, seven fireplaces, eight guest rooms, and a morning room. Between its striking balconies and manicured gardens, this majestic manor and its surroundings filled their nuptials with all the Southern charm! Before we peek at their love story let’s take a short stroll through the backdrop they chose for their red-letter day.

Nothing says dreamy like a farm wedding venue to amplify your already-perfect day! And we are highly impressed with the outdoorsy couple’s choice of venue! They had their hearts set on the alfresco wedding from the beginning. And what better place for a rustic woodsy affair than a captivative farm property located just 40 minutes from downtown Nashville in Lebanon, Tennessee and only 25 minutes from the Nashville International Airport. Built in 1832, this stately manor features seven rooms available for 14 of your guests in addition to an alluring backdrop to host intimate weddings. The 22-acre farm is a beautiful retreat boasting a historic manor and event center that offers Antebellum charm. You can bring the outdoors inside at the rustic Heritage Hall.  It has sliding barn doors and plenty of natural light. Natural light streams through the windows and barn doors slide open for a striking entry into the event space, which can accommodate more than 300 guests. Legacy Farms is a dream come true wedding location in close proximity to Nashville that has been hosting fairytale weddings for years, be it a vintage-style mansion wedding or a rustic farm celebration.

Legacy Farms is an all-inclusive outdoor wedding venue in Nashville with an exclusive caterer, lush grounds with tons of photo opportunities, and overnight options for you and your guests. This full-service venue offers multiple packages to choose from, including an all-inclusive package that will ensure that every detail of your day is taken care of. They also offer three different elopement packages. Their services include bridal suite, accommodations, event planning, event rentals, set-up and cleanup, lighting and sound, cake, in-house caterer. The culinary team will prepare all of your meals, including breakfast and lunch, as well as your wedding dinner. Whether the wedding of your dreams is indoor or outdoor, an intimate elopement or a grand weekend, this Nashville wedding venue has breathtaking spaces and gourmet catering to bring your wedding vision to life. From the cocktail hour to the reception, the flow and logistics are designed to be as smooth as possible. The venue staff handles everything - seating and table dressings, Instagrammable backdrops, floral displays, fun signage, entertainment arrangements - so the couple can relax and enjoy their special day. And the cherry on the cake is - couples can tell them about their family recipes and favorite flavors to inspire them to create signature drinks, imaginative plates, creative buffets, dessert bars, late-night stations, and more. From taste to presentation, they’ll narrow down your perfect menu, filling it with the finest ingredients down to the garnish. Their Nashville catering company is sure to wow and impress you and your close ones.

This Nashville farm wedding venue is a mix of shabby chic and country couture. Beauty and romance come to life at this bewitching Southern wedding destination. The couple and their guests can enjoy the simple beauty of the countryside and the circa 1832 antebellum manor. Featuring both indoor as well as outdoor event spaces, the spacious property allows couples to craft the wedding of their dreams, whether they want an alfresco wedding wrapped in natural beauty on their lush grounds or an intimate affair surrounded by beautiful walls and man-made beauty. The mansion boasts private verandas, cozy fireplaces, and a balcony that are perfect for your indoor celebrations. However, if you are jonesing to say your ‘I do’s’ under the majestic blue skies amidst natural elements and up to 500 wedding guests then you can opt for one of the gorgeous locations on the property: the courtyard; the pier overlooking the pond; or one of the many lush lawns. Whether it's a mansion wedding or the rustic farm setting, Legacy Farms is the best of both worlds. Imagine your dramatic entry to the ceremony space with loads of natural light streaming through the windows and sliding barn doors- dreamy enough?! This is the place where our couple exchanged their tear-jerking vows and sealed the deal of ‘forever together’ with a gentle kiss.

How can we forget- it was a bright LUCKY SEVENth day of August 2020 when this star-crossed couple promised to grow old with each other, no matter what. The color combination that fits their wedding vision was blush pink and creme. No doubt Branching Out Floral and Event Design did the fabulous job of adorning the venue. The fragrance of blooms and foliage and of course the guests’ perfumes was in the air! As a nod to Travis’s Coast Guard career, the couple incorporated playful twists of nautical decor into the day. Lauren’s princess-style David’s Bridal ball gown made her wedding day fairytale dreams come true. After a heartwarming and memorable entrance, the bride and groom exchanged vows and tied the knot, a nautical nod to the Celtic tradition. Following the traditional ceremony in the elegant chapel on the ranch, guests shuffled to the cocktail area outside the barn to sip on cocktails and play cornhole, horseshoes, croquet, and life-size Jenga. Family and friends feasted on Southern delectable, handmade food catered by their bespoke in-house caterer.

With classic, charming fence lines and the distinct feel of Southern elegance, the property abounds with beautiful backdrops and that tempted the newlyweds to sneak out of their party with Liz, one of our best wedding photographers in and around Nashville for some candid couple shots. She captured their new-found marital bliss and excitement on camera with the sprawling oak trees while the celebration was going on in the event center, set in a rustic barn. After the couple portrait session was done they roped in their lovely bridesmaids slaying in their sweet style and dapper groomsmen rocking their blue suits to seize some fun well-coordinated wedding party photos with the elegant mansion in the background.

Ah, summer weddings! Being a wedding photographer we have a thing for August weddings. Balmy breezes, clear blue skies, a cartload of photo possibilities plus the daylight lasts longer and therefore there’s no rush on time or pressure to get all your photos taken in a short time frame, and the weather stays comfortable in the evening for everyone. The sweet summertime undoubtedly is the perfect season for couples to tie the knot and for wedding photographers to capture their nuptials. No need to mention, we were flooded with endless photo ops and took full advantage of them in capturing buckets full of swoon-worthy photographs of Lauren and Travis.

Following all the guidelines and rules in the wake of COVID-19 as best as she possibly could, the photographer started with the big little details that the day was made of to make sure the couple’s wedding album has all the must-have wedding photos revolving around their getting-ready phase. From her getting-ready poses to hanging bridal dress, laid-out accessories, and wedding heels to decor elements especially the personalized ones like the wedding invite, the wedding card box, the welcome sign, wedding couple sign, the framed heroic photos of our groom, and the elegant single-tiered cake with edible cake topper ‘United States Coast Guard 1790’ logo, the shutterbug bent over backward to gather all the gems that could make a valuable wedding photo book in the end. We love the detailed shot of Lauren’s beautifully manicured hands where she is holding the cute bottle of Marc Jacobs Fragrances’ Daisy Love. Then she nailed detailed shots of their big-day VIPs- wedding rings. After all, wedding-day bling deserves its own moment in the spotlight - it's the symbol of their forever love. No wonder, they turned out amazing as the photo expert aimed. The photographer didn’t miss even a single detail on the big day - from reception table settings, centerpieces, and floral vases to whatnot. The cute couple sign on the wooden board embellished with countless paper hearts in white swept everyone including us off their feet. And we are sure, the photo of the note- “Please stand on the X for next available bartender” will remind them for generations that how their love was zeroed in on its destination and turned a blind eye to that mean virus.

After all the detail shots were done, it was time to go back to the bride to capture her in her freshest look as she was ready to walk down the aisle. We can’t get over how radiant this bride looked in her crisp white Cinderella wedding gown. Our gorgeous bride was looking nothing short of a fairytale princess in that dreamy scintillating strapless white bridal gown- a strapless ball gown complete with a sweetheart neckline, train, and intricate beaded and stonework cascading down to the seamed pleated tulle panel starting from knees. The skirt of the gown flowed out crafting an alluring look, with yards and yards of tulle adding whimsy to the ensemble. Our Nashville bride sweetened the look with a whimsical fingertip veil for extra oomph! This Nashville bride twisted a few of her side-parted blonde locks away from her face for a half-up, half-down look with soft waves that was totally effortless and a pair of dangling earrings accentuated the dramatic alluring look, her only other pieces of jewelry being her sparkly engagement ring and a charming bracelet. White pointed-toe cross-strap heels with crystal back, minimal makeup, and a bridal bouquet made of fresh cream and blush pink roses completed the look gorgeously. The Nashville wedding photographer took this moment to click some bridal portraits for Lauren to treasure. We can’t take our eyes off of her smile in the pictures where she is fixing her earring effortlessly, where her mother is lacing up her dress, and putting on her pretty pumps! The bride’s gang was dressed in spectacular baby-pink floor-length dresses featuring their favorite neckline and style, and everyone held elegant bouquets made of stunning off-white and pink roses completed with green foliage matching their bestie’s bigger version of the same. The effect of the ladies together was aesthetic and visually well-coordinated.

In stark contrast, Travis had a formal and professional look and looked dashing in his US Coast Guard dress blues complete with all his medals flaunting his love and pride that he has for his uniform. We love grooms in uniform! That buzz cut, white combination cap, glossy Oxfords - what else did our groom need to look like a prince charming of our princess bride? IMO, the dress uniform can look really nice, and kind of fairytale-ish in photos and it did. See the groom portraits clicked by our professional wedding photographer in the Nashville suburbs and you’ll believe me! The groom’s gang donned blue suits on their crisp white shirt complete with shiny white satin ties, pocket squares, and a charming boutonniere matching the bride’s bouquet. The junior groomsmen also mirrored the groom’s look perfectly by garbing blue three-piece blue suits and accessorizing them with a glossy bow, pocket square, and a similar boutonniere, balancing the wedding party well. Every member of the couple’s wedding team was well-turned out and added to the wedding decorum fabulously. 

Once the essential wedding photography of their ceremony was done in the best of frames, the newlyweds headed to the outdoors for candid couple pictures amidst natural elements in the abundant natural light. Not only the solo bride and groom portraits along with couple shots, our affordable wedding photographers in Nashville also captured some swoon-worthy pictures of the duo with their parents. After the magical photo session outdoors they all made their way to the hall to enjoy the remainder of the day with their loved ones. The guests cheered at their grand entrance into the reception and the photographer captured every joyful moment of the cheerful couple’s celebration from their first dance to mother-son dance to father-daughter dance in the elegant frames. After a couple of toasts, they cut their simple yet beautiful 3-tiered wedding cake scarcely but impactfully embellished with roses. We can’t get enough of this heavenly creation! The wedding day of Lauren and Travis flew by with all the happy moments and they headed to their happily ever after in a sexy blue wedding get-away car with a sparkler-studded exit adding a sense of whimsy to their formal celebration. The night shots of the newlyweds, be it under the sparklers held by the guests or under the fairy lights sharing a romantic kiss against their send-off car, are simply breathtaking! Our fave shot? Before cruising off to their forever together, the sweet couple paused, and our daring gentleman swung his bride into a deep dip and sealed it with a picturesque dramatic kiss - Ah, sooo romantic! Lauren was looking no less than a doll! Now that's a perfect ending to the celebration. Magic, made.

Maybe it was Lauren’s blue eyes, maybe it was Travis’s dress blues, maybe it was pristine blue waters that come to mind when we see the groom, or maybe it was just blue skies - there was something so arresting about that day that hypnotized our photographer and she couldn’t help but take photo after photo of the couple and talk about their wedding day even today.

She is sugar, he is salt; she is zest, he is piquant... starting their marriage with lots of flavors, let's give Mr. and Mrs. Engle a taste of our love! We wish them a wedding life full of love and happiness!