Zeb & Kalina | Maryville, Tennessee Elopement

This is a special one to me.

This is my little brother-in-law.

As a wedding photographer, I love all celebrations of love- tiny, intimate ones. Huge, opulent ones. Crowds of 300 partying their butts off. A small group hugging & crying as you say your homemade vows. I believe that every joining of two hearts should be celebrated in however you so desire. And I am here for it, in whatever form, trust me.

But as someone who secretly eloped (No, we didn’t even tell our parents. Yes, I do regret that part.), elopements hold a very dear place in my heart.

There’s something about breaking down all the big hype of a wedding- breaking it down to the bare bones. The actual “why” that you’re there and doing this.

Zeb & Kalina didn’t have much of a plan- other than they just knew. That this was it- they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with each other. So why wait? Let’s do this thing.

We all came together at our family’s lake house and watched as they did just that- they promised forever to one another. We came back to my in-law’s house and danced a little, popped some champagne, and formed a circle around Zeb & Kalina to pray for them, and/or impart our wishes for their future.

I always imagined the kind of girl Zeb would end up- and I could never really picture her clearly in my head. But when I met Kalina, I knew. She was her. She was it. They make total sense, and feel like home.

I love you guys so very much! Thank you for letting me help document this. (And big props to Uncle Dave for kicking up dust on the dirt road 900 times, just for photos, lol.)