Nashville Wedding Photographer: Jessica & Murphy's Montgomery Bell State Park First Look & Backyard Celebration
R Photos on Film: shot on Golden Kodak 35mm film
Jessica and Murphy had the best vibes and the best day, hands down. Their wedding made me a believer that with the right eye and the right support team, a backyard wedding can feel every bit as elegant as a venue wedding, sometimes more. It's genuinely one of the most elegant backyard weddings I've had the chance to photograph.
Their morning started with a first look and portraits at Montgomery Bell State Park, just outside the city in Burns, TN. It's one of my favorite spots for midday portraits: the natural light filtering through the trees and the church in the background give photos a soft, editorial feel without needing golden hour timing to make it work.
This spot was extra special for another reason: Montgomery Bell State Park is where Jessica and Murphy secretly eloped a year before their backyard wedding. Coming back to take their portraits in the same place they first said their vows, just the two of them, gave the day a full-circle feeling that made it even more meaningful to photograph.
From there, the day moved back to a simple, intimate ceremony in the backyard, no big production, just family, friends, and a couple who clearly put thought into every detail.
How to Elevate Your Backyard Wedding
Backyard weddings can feel just as polished as any traditional venue, but it takes a little planning to get there. Here's what makes the biggest difference:
Nice porta-potties. This sounds small until you're the one hosting. Luxury restroom trailers have come a long way, and guests notice when this detail is handled well.
Outdoor catering. A backyard gives you full flexibility on food, from a plated dinner under a tent to a laid-back BBQ spread. Just make sure your caterer has outdoor-event experience so setup and timing run smoothly.
Rentals. This is where a backyard really transforms: tents for weather coverage, linens and chairs that match your style, a dance floor so guests aren't dancing in the grass, and twinkle lights strung overhead for that soft, romantic glow once the sun goes down.
A speaker and mic. Whether it's for the ceremony readings or toasts at the reception, a simple sound setup makes sure everyone can actually hear the moments that matter, and it makes the space feel like an intentional event rather than a backyard party.
Put those pieces together, and a backyard wedding stops feeling like a budget option and starts feeling like a genuinely beautiful, personal choice.
Why This Day Worked So Well
Jessica and Murphy's wedding is a great example of how much a couple can shape their own day when they're not locked into a venue's rules or layout. Pairing a nearby park for portraits with an elevated backyard setup for the ceremony and reception gave them the best of both: stunning natural backdrops for photos, and a deeply personal setting for the celebration itself.
If you're dreaming up a backyard wedding near Nashville and want help making it feel elevated from the ceremony to the last dance, I'd love to talk.
