Maryville Wedding Photographer: A Three-Venue Hospitality Wedding

Leighann and Josh got married at New Providence Presbyterian Church, with their reception at Diamondjack, a beautiful wine bar in downtown Maryville, TN. Since their wedding, Diamondjack has closed and been reimagined as The Raven, so if you're looking for the space today, that's where you'll find it. They stayed and got ready at Maryville's favorite lodging, restaurant, and bar: RT Lodge.

Can you tell yet that Leighann and Josh are both in the hospitality industry? They met while working together at Blackberry Mountain, and this wedding carried that theme through every part of the day: the food, the wine, the warm welcomes, the tiny details. This was a wedding planned with intentionality and hospitality at the forefront of Leighann and Josh's minds, and the whole day had this soft, storybook quality to it. Tucked into the forest on Maryville College's historic campus, RT Lodge is one of my favorite venues in the Knoxville area, and pairing it with a ceremony at a church as historic as New Providence, founded back in 1786, gave the day a real sense of rootedness and tradition.

A Personal Note from the Photographer

Leighann is one of those special people that only a few of us get to experience. The "best friends since birth" trope is fully alive and real in my life, and we're no longer just friends but family, which makes all of this so much sweeter.

When Leighann popped the question, "Will you be our wedding photographer?", I gasped, taken aback. I was certain she was about to ask me to be a bridesmaid (and let's just say, I'm a much better photographer than bridesmaid). She mentioned her love of my eye and my storytelling, and how special it would be to see her day photographed through her best friend's eyes. That is truly an honor and a blessing, something shared between us as we were both transitioning into married life with our partners. So of course I said yes, no brainer.

Here we are now, almost four years later, looking back at these little gems of memories and realizing what a treasure we hold when we stop imitating what's been done before and start creating something new, from the heart.

This day is truly that.

Getting Ready

The lodge's guest rooms have this cozy, collected-antiques charm: tartan carpet, oil paintings, warm brass lighting, that made for some of my favorite quiet moments of the day. Leighann's mom helped her into her gown. Her bridesmaids wore soft sage and olive tones, mixing satin robes and slip dresses, which gave the getting-ready photos a warm, cohesive palette.

The Dress

Leighann's dress had the most beautiful vintage feel: a beaded, sheer-cap-sleeve gown with an open back, the kind of detail that photographs stunning in natural light. She found it off the sale rack at Vow’d for $87. If I know one thing about Leighann, it's that this dress complemented her style perfectly and was a moment all on its own.

The Vintage Car

Leighann rode in style on the way to the ceremony in a vintage cream car with a warm caramel leather interior. It's a small detail, but it's the kind of thing that turns good wedding photos into a genuinely memorable start to the day.

The Ceremony at New Providence Presbyterian Church

New Providence Presbyterian Church is one of the oldest churches in the Maryville area, and it's also the place where Leighann and I ran amuck through the halls, sat through Sunday school, and shared pews together as kids. This church holds a lot of history, not just for our families, but in the sense of history and weight it brought to the ceremony that a newer venue simply can't replicate. It's a beautiful option for couples who want their ceremony to feel timeless. The large sanctuary and the beautiful stained glass gave the whole space so much beauty and majesty. Photography note: Photography isn't allowed in the main section of the sanctuary, only from the balcony, so if you're getting married here, make sure your photographer has the right gear to get the shot you want from that distance. I have plenty of experience shooting in churches, so a regulation like this doesn't bother me or get in the way of my job. I'm still able to capture everything, even from way back.

Portraits in the Gardens

Between the lush greenery around RT Lodge and the golden, slightly overcast light that day, portraits with the bridal party turned out incredibly soft and romantic. Leighann's bouquet, full of white, blush, and rust-toned blooms, played beautifully against the sage bridesmaid dresses and the deep green backdrop of the trees.

The Reception at Diamondjack (Now The Raven)

Leighann and Josh's reception at Diamondjack brought their hospitality background to life. As a wine bar in the heart of downtown Maryville, it was the perfect backdrop for a couple who wanted their wedding to feel like an evening of genuine hosting: good wine, thoughtful food, and the kind of warmth you'd expect from two people who've built their careers around making people feel welcome. Even though the space now operates as The Raven, the memory of that night, and the way it reflected exactly who Leighann and Josh are, hasn't changed a bit.

Staying the Night at RT Lodge

What made this wedding extra special is that it wasn't just a single-day event. RT Lodge is where the entire wedding party and both families stayed the night while they were in Maryville, which meant the celebration didn't end when the reception did. The on-site restaurant is open to guests staying at the lodge, and there's also an amazing bar on property. The group stayed up late gathered around the fire for s'mores after the reception wound down. It's one of the things that makes RT Lodge such a special choice: it turns a wedding day into a full celebration spent together.

If you're planning a wedding at RT Lodge or considering New Providence Presbyterian Church for your ceremony, I'd love to talk through your day.

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Sources: RT Lodge, Maryville, TN, New Providence Presbyterian Church