Grande Exit Ideas
Looking for a unique exit idea? Here are a few tips for a photo-worthy exit!
When it comes to reception exits, there really is no wrong answer! In recent trend, sparklers have become a great go-to for reception exits. Also in recent trend, venues have put a stop to sparklers due to them being giant sticks of open flames… that doesn’t always mix well with a forest or state park venue or guests that have had just a little too much fun at the party…
Have no fear! We have you covered with some alternative suggestions. We have had some very creative couples that have found ways to have amazing, picture perfect exits that don’t require sparklers. These couples have chosen biodegradable confetti, flower petals, glow sticks and bubble guns! Check out this gallery of some of our favorite recent Grande exits!
Confetti
Abby and Denver had a beautiful East Tennessee Farm Wedding. They chose to have pastel confetti cones matching their wedding colors for their guests to throw as they were leaving their reception. We also used them for bridal party portraits!
Jordan and Patrick chose confetti also! They chose a confetti “exit” with just their bridal party at a Country Club in Knoxville. The intimacy of having the bridal party do a fake exit before the reception was great! There was no rush, and our bride got the pictures she dreamed of!
2. Bubbles
Sam and Josh’s wedding in downtown Knoxville had an exit that we are still talking about! They bought bubble guns for all of their guests and it turned out amazing. Everyone stood around for a long time afterwards enjoying the fun - their guests didn’t want to leave!
3. Flower Petals
Flower petals, whether dried or right off the stem are always a beautiful choice for your reception exit. Our brides Jordan and Abby both chose flower petals and it did not disappoint.
What exit idea are you dreaming up for your wedding? We can’t wait to hear all about it!
Emilie + Patrick’s Smoky Mountain Engagement Session
We met up with Emilie and Patrick for this early morning session at Cades Cove and it did not disappoint!
First, let’s get one thing straight… I am not a morning person. However, if every morning looks like this, I think the change is possible! Emilie and Patrick’s engagement session was so beautiful that we didn’t want to leave. Even a 4:30 AM wake up call couldn’t stop us from enjoying all the beauty of these mountains as the sun was rising. I wish we could share every photo because they are all our favorites. We can’t wait to celebrate them again at their 2022 wedding!
UT Gardens with Nolan + Flannery
It’s so important to take the time to create memories that you will remember for a lifetime. We loved this anniversary shoot with Nolan and Flannery!
The Carpenter’s celebrated their first wedding anniversary with a sweet photoshoot which featured Flannery’s wedding bouquet! The attention to detail from her now sister-in-law is impeccable — I honestly thought that her flowers were real until she told me they were from her wedding day a year ago! I tell all of our brides, if they don’t get the outdoor pictures due to rain on their wedding day, let’s plan something after the honeymoon or even on their first anniversary to capture these moments in your relationship that you will want to look back on forever!
A Classic and Romantic Summer Wedding with Jordan and Patrick
We were so honored to be a part of this classy couple’s wedding day! Check out Jordan and Patrick’s wedding at Cherokee Country Club in Knoxville, TN.
Jordan and Patrick’s wedding day was full of love and joy! We were so honored to be a part of their day. We started the day off at the Cherokee Country Club where the couple got ready with bridesmaids and groomsmen. They took some time while they were there to exchange gifts with family and their bridal party. The ceremony was set at the breathtaking Sacred Heart Cathedral in West Knoxville. This was our first Catholic wedding and it did not disappoint. It was such a beautiful day for the sweetest couple! Check out all of the wonderful details and vendors included below!
Tips for the Best Wedding Pictures
Here are a few tips for any bride to make sure you have the best pictures from your wedding day!
When your wedding day is coming up quick, it’s best to be prepared. We like to have a timeline call with our brides 1-2 weeks out from their wedding day. In this timeline call, we nail down those final details for the day so that the wedding day can be a breeze! Each wedding timeline is uniquely planned for each bride depending on location, the day’s activities and time of ceremony. Here are just a few easy tips to ensure that you have the best photos from your wedding day for any bride!
Prep all of your details before your wedding day!
When we first arrive to your wedding day we are on a mission to photograph all of your special details because once the wedding day timeline gets going, it’s difficult to go back! We recommend having a bag or box full of the items so we can collect them upon arrival. This includes your engagement rings and both wedding bands, any additional jewelry, flowers, shoes, veil, perfume, invitation suite, etc.! We will take your dress and photograph that during this time also. You can customize your flat lay and detail shots however you’d like by the items you choose to provide. We provide ribbons, ring boxes and beautiful mats to display them on!
2. have a detailed timeline
If you have a wedding planner, they will be taking care of this for you and we will give our input where needed. If not, we will help you plan a detailed timeline - because it’s one of those things you can’t do without! Having a detailed timeline for the wedding day will allow enough time in each location for detail pictures, first looks, giving of gifts, bridal party and family pictures while also allowing you to enjoy your new spouse and guests!
3. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
This is your day! Relax and enjoy time with your family, friends, and your new husband/wife. You are spending so much time, energy, and money to plan this day, so don’t sweat the small stuff. Something always happens- someone is running late, a candle won’t light, the wind is blowing too hard. But at the end of the day those things don’t matter. How do you want to look back on your day for years to come? You’ll think about your friends and how they had such a great time, your grandparents and how they loved being a part, the excitement and anxiousness you felt before your first look, some may even remember how good their cake was (guilty). Enjoy yourself. Everything is going to be perfect - and when it’s not, that’s okay too!
4. Plan a detailed family photo list
Yes, t’s so important that it’s got it’s own special place on the blog! The last thing we want is to have to run up to your over and over on your wedding day asking about who you need to take pictures with. Remember - we don’t know your family so if your mom tells us to make sure you get a picture with your cousins and your great aunt, we don’t know their names or their faces in the sea of people at your wedding. You know that time directly after your ceremony when all of the family is looking around and waiting for direction? That’s where the list comes in! We always have a printed list and a member of our team will call out names and mark them off as we go so no one gets left out.
A detailed family photo list looks something like this:
Bride and Groom with cousins Eric, Lindsay, Brittani, Steven and Kami
Bride with great aunt Sally
I know it feels like overkill for you to make this list but it makes our day (and yours) so much easier and the family photos will be efficient without leaving anyone out and hurting feelings. We get compliments from family members all the time about how we handle these situations. Family photos do not have to be a pain. Let’s get you to that reception so you can have fun and enjoy your guests for the rest of the evening!
Still looking for a Knoxville vendor?
We’ve assembled a list of wonderful vendors to assist you in your wedding planning!
As your wedding photographer and someone who is on your team, I want to make sure that you are given all of the information possible to make the best decisions for your day! I believe that you not only need professionals that are great at their job, but you need people who are nice, have your back, can do what it takes to get the job done. These are those people. If they are on this list, it’s because I love their work and also believe in who they are as a person. Your wedding vendors have the ability to make or break your wedding day, so why not make it perfect! As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions! We will be updating this list periodically so feel free to check back for more! - Brittani
Florals:
Make Up:
Dinner, Bakery, Favors:
Custom Invitation Suites and Calligraphy:
Are you a vendor interesting in joining our list? We would love to work with you! Send us a message at bsloanphotography@gmail.com
All About Bridal Sessions
Having a bridal session is a growing trend in the wedding industry! Here are some tips to think about when booking a bridal session!
Thinking about having a bridal session before your wedding? A bridal session is a growing trend among the wedding industry and we are loving it! Here are just a few reasons we encourage our brides to invest in a bridal session!
1.Test out your hair, make up, and flowers!
There really is no better time to test out your bridal look than 1 to 1.5 months before your wedding! Looking up hairstyles on Pinterest, finding the right hair piece to go with my veil, and trying to remember all the bobby pins I would need was completely unnecessary stress that I could have lived my whole life without! I remember being so anxious in the days leading up to my wedding that there is no way I could have focused on anything else, however if I had a bridal session leading up to these moments I would have been much more confident walking into my wedding day!
2. Try a different location
Have you seen those pictures on Pinterest of brides on a beautiful mountain top or in a studio? That didn’t happen by chance! There are so many locations to choose from. We love the styled studio if you have more serious, professionally-posed style, but we also love the candid dress twirl with a mountain view! Our goal is to capture YOUR personality. If your personality is climbing up mountain, booking a historic home, or just finding a beautiful local garden, our team can help you with a bridal session! You will have these moments to remember forever, so why not take the time for yourself to get dressed up in your gown, test out that hairstyle and get your make up done. Take this time to add a fun element to your portraits like an amazing, custom bouquet or edgy leather jacket and studded shoes! There’s nothing you can’t do! If you plan in advance with our team, we can coordinate the perfect setting for your portraits before your best day! Here are some of our favorite bridal sessions!
3. Have time on your day for your groom, girls and guests!
Having a bridal session before your wedding day can allow more time for you to spend with your groom, your bridal party, and the guests that have come to help you celebrate! While it’s our job to help you have the perfect timeline to balance all these exciting moments on your wedding day, the best thing that we can suggest is take the time before the wedding day excitement begins to have your bridals done. Once your wedding day gets here, it is so easy to forget about certain photos you have in mind because of busy timelines and making sure your guests are having a good time! If your bridals are completed prior to wedding day, you get to spend all the time with your groom, girls, and guests!
Sunset Photos
How can you get those sunset photos you dream about? Check out our blog with some tips to plan for Golden Hour Photos!
Most people assume they will have beautiful outdoor images on their wedding day, but did you actually plan for it? Your wedding day schedule can mean the difference between getting the photos you dream of getting on your wedding day or not. The wedding day is actually one of the only times that most photographers shoot at the brightest time of the day, because we have no choice - family photos and first looks often happen mid day or early afternoon (at best) so trust your photographers instincts when we suggest certain locations for these moments!
Okay, so if the time of day matters this much to make or break a great picture, how do you get the pictures you want? Simple! Plan the day according to the time of the sunset. At minimum, your ceremony should happen at least 2.5 hours before the sun is scheduled to set leaving time for family photos directly after the ceremony and Bride and Groom photos 1-1.5 hours before sunset! Trust your photographer to have your timeline perfect so that there are no moments missed! Sometimes we sneak the bride and groom away right at the beginning of the reception to have a moment with them to have those gorgeous sunset photos that everyone loves so much. We like to make the most of this time and we promise not to keep you away from the party!
What to Wear to an Engagement Session
Struggling to pick out an outfit for your engagement session?? Check out all of our tips and tricks!
Once you have a date set for an engagement session, many times couples start trying to plan what they are going to wear for their pictures. Picking out an outfit from your everyday closet is already difficult. Many times we get stuck in that “nothing to wear” mindset. Let’s not forget that we are trying to coordinate with your partner.
But have no fear! We have you covered… We will touch on a few things such as color pallets and patterns, movements and how to do casual outfits the right way!
Color
We always love when our couples dress according to the time of season their pictures are being taken. If your pictures are in spring, think of pastel, brighter colors. If your pictures are being taken in the fall, plan to wear some colors that will coordinate and compliment the autumn colors such as jewel tones! (These are always to die for!) And of course, you can never go wrong with neutrals like white, tan, and light grey.
2. Patterns and Texture
If you are dying to have a pattern in your pictures, stick with something flattering and simple. When patterns are done right, they can look amazing! Try to stick with a pattern that is no bigger than the palm of your hand like a small polka dot or a flattering floral. Here are two examples of patterns done right.
If you aren’t attached to a pattern and just feel safe with solid colors, rest assured that solid colors do not have to be boring! This is what is so amazing about textures. When you are looking at a solid color, add some interesting feature to your engagement outfit to keep it fun! Anything such as a ruffle, lace, pleats, and chiffon can create a “pattern” without changing the color is so fun!
Movement is such an important factor to think about when picking out your outfit for an engagement session. Movement portrays the images as candid and the images feel alive rather than stiff and posed. Many couples want to “just have fun” and want “real images” rather just standing and smiling. Your outfit can make the photos in this aspect! When choosing clothes, chose flowing dresses with bell sleeves or wide legged pants that can move with wind. If you’re not into those things, think of dangling, fun jewelry. These choices will definitely make the difference in your engagement session
3. Do it Right!
It seems like whenever we book an engagement session, we get the questions “What should my guy wear?” and “should we have one outfit or two?” Most couples choose a fancy outfit and one casual. Our suggestions for a guy for a fancier outfit would be slacks and a button up. If your into a suit/sports jacket it always looks great when our grooms have a full suit that fits great! For our brides, a dressy can be anything that makes you feel beautiful such as a long, figure flattering dress that goes with you engagement session location. The casual outfits are very easy but the difference is doing casual right! We suggest dark jeans, khakis/chinos and a shirt for our guys that will compliment the bride’s outfit. Ladies, casual is something we really love because you can wear a casual shirt with jeans or even shorts, a cute dress with sneakers or chunky sandals.
Ultimately, when choosing an outfit for an engagement session, choose something that you will be comfortable in! Engagement sessions are SO MUCH FUN! (We love them so much, we put it in all caps!) Piggyback rides, dips, hip bumps, and twirling are just a few of our favorite moments during the session. Wear something that represents you as a couple so you can take the evening and enjoy your fiancé.
Lindsay + Josh’s Nashville Engagements
We are really loving this morning session in Nashville. Lindsay and Josh were perfect! We can’t wait for their wedding!
We recently met up with Lindsay and Josh for their engagement session in Nashville, TN. This session was an absolute dream, and we are really starting love early morning sessions. While we were there a 5k was going on and it was so sweet! As everyone passed, they complimented Lindsay and Josh during their pictures.
The engagement session is so important to us as your photography team because this is when we truly get to make a connection with you as couple. Getting the couple to interact with each other, making them feel comfortable with our team and with each other in front of the camera, and really getting to know the true personality of the couple is what we love. We want to take your story and show it through the lens of a camera so that your moments last forever. Everyone deserves a love story and we are honored each and every time we get to capture that story!
The love that was between Lindsay and Josh is so genuine. We loved getting to share this time with them and can’t wait to be there for their wedding day!
Haley + Jack’s Fun Loving Wedding Day
Haley and Jack’s wedding was a true representation of their love for each other from beginning to end. The weather was perfect, Haley looked like a dream, and Jack married his bride! It was a wonderful day!
Haley and Jack. This fun and energetic couple made our job so easy! Their love for each other showed so strongly in everything that happened throughout the day. When we took Haley and Jack aside to record vows before the wedding, we couldn’t help but see why they were in love with each other. The words they wrote to each other, the care they have for one another, and the life they look forward to together was shared so clearly though the vows they wrote.
Throughout the whole day, so many of the details reflected Haley and Jack’s personality. Haley and Jack love all things Disney, Star Wars and really any fun thing you can think of. The bride and groom each had a pair of converse painted with their favorite Disney characters. And let me add—Haley is a DIY queen!! She made all the bridesmaids bouquets, the table center pieces and she decorated her jacket for the end of the evening with jewels and pearls. There was even a horse-drawn carriage to leave the ceremony and a lightsaber exit!
When we asked what their vision for the day was, their response immediately was “We want everyone to have a good time!” Wholeheartedly, we feel that it was accomplished! Everyone was laughing, dancing, and complimenting our bride and groom. We want each couple to have their perfect day and we love capturing those moments for them!
Colin + Sydney
This session was so fun! Their bubbly personalities were so fun to capture at their gorgeous venue. And we can’t go without mentioning how perfect the sunset was this day!
Colin and Sydney's engagement session was so fun! We love their goofy personalities and light hearted spirits. The sun was absolutely gorgeous at the end of their session. Wow, I mean, just wow… those sun flares made the evening when it was time to get close and snuggle up. We were so excited to explore their wedding venue, Tucker's Gap and dream up every plan for their wedding in November!
This engagement session was shot by Charity Grindstaff, a B.Sloan Photography Associate.
The Magnolia Venue
We loved getting to create and collaborate with some of our local vendors at the March editorial!
We were completely blown away by the attention to detail from each vendor from our March editorial! The Magnolia Venue is the perfect backdrop for any occasion and we love shooting there any chance we have. Thank you to each of the following vendors for participating in such a successful day. The rain can’t stop us from creating.
Our crazy talented vendors from the March editorial : The Magnolia Venue, I Do… Weddings, Vintage Florals, Proper Popcorn, Styled Darling, White Lace and Promises, Sweet Harmonious Bakery, Brittany Ivey Designs, Prestige Tuxedo.
Eric + Lindsay’s Engagements at The Quarry
Eric and Lindsey were able to have their engagement at their wedding venue last week! It was such a special time for the two of them to be the only people on the property, take time to spend with each other!
We met up with Eric and Lindsay a few days ago to shoot their engagement session. The Quarry Venue in Knoxville is definitely on the top of our list! The views were amazing and we lucked out with the most perfect weather for this couple! This session was such a fun experience. Our team, along with our couple, were shown around the entire venue property by the wedding coordinator. We spent the evening capturing Eric and Lindsay’s giggles, snuggles, and kisses in all these secret spots at the venue! Sometimes our brides aren’t allowed into their venues until right before the rehearsal, but exploring the Quarry before the wedding day was such a fun experience. Especially touring it with such a cute couple as Eric and Lindsay! As we went through the venue, the vision for their day became real and our brain is already turning with ideas for their wedding day. They couldn’t have chosen a more perfect venue for their wedding! We can’t wait to be back in August!
You never really know what your getting into at an engagement session…. Sometimes it’s climbing, dancing, piggy-back rides, or whispering what you’re most excited about when you’re married. This couple was up for it all! We loved every minute of it!
This engagement session was shot by Kami Perez, a B. Sloan Photography Associate.
Downtown Chattanooga Engagement
We loved working with Kristina + Cody at their Chattanooga engagement session! If your session has been postponed to due to weather, just wait until that sunshine hits… it’ll be so worth it!
We recently were able to meet a couple in one of our favorite locations for their engagement shoots—Downtown Chattanooga! This location holds a special place in my heart… this bridge is where my husband, Steven, proposed to me in 2017! It seems so crazy how this week we will be celebrating our third wedding anniversary! Time flies when you’re having fun!
This couple was so cute and fun to photograph. Their bubbly personalities and go with the flow attitude made this session one to remember! At first, Kristina was disappointed because weather caused us to reschedule a few times, but in the end, it was so worth it to wait for some beautiful sunshine! If you’re a bride that has had your engagement or bridal session postponed due to weather, we know how frustrating it can be. But just wait, and it will be totally amazing once you get your pictures back!
Noah and Abby’s Downtown Engagement
When couples are trying to decide where to have their engagement pictures taken, my first suggestion is where they met! Each couple has a special place that will always be in their heart…
Whenever people are looking around and can’t decide on a location for their engagement sessions, my first suggestion is where you met! There’s just something about going back to where you met your soon to be spouse that’s so sweet and comfortable. Every place that you and your fiancé go to will hold a place in your heart. Where you first saw him or where your first date was. Where you first held hands and even sneaked a kiss. All those places you go will hold a special place in your heart—so why not have your engagement session where one of these memories took place!
As a photographer, I love getting to know each couple individually and see how each love story has unfolded… Each couple has a unique story that gets to be told through the lens of a camera and I am lucky enough for that to be my job! My favorite part of each of our lovely brides is to see the look that their fiancé gives them. Engagement sessions are a great way to take a break from the stressful planning, get dressed up in something that makes you feel beautiful and spend the evening with your fiancé. This is the perfect time to give flirty looks and sneak sweet kisses that you will remember for a lifetime!
Noah and Abby’s downtown engagement session was no exception! This couple was so cute and flirty—I couldn’ t get enough! We are so excited to be shooting their wedding soon! They were perfect—I mean come on, just look at them.
Relix
Each month of 2021 we are pushing ourselves to take time and create. Sometimes it’s a bigger shoot with a lot of vendors, and sometimes it’s a simple one like this. One model. One Photographer.
Each month of 2021 we are pushing ourselves to take time and create. Sometimes it’s a bigger shoot with a lot of vendors, and sometimes it’s a simple one like this. One model. One photographer. In reality, there is no such thing as “simple” in this line of work, but it is so fulfilling to see the vision come to life! Our February focus was a venue we had never shot at (or even stepped foot inside of), Relix in downtown Knoxville. To be honest we were all kind of wondering how it would turn out because of several things that tried to get in our way, but we were all so pleased with the result!
Keep a look out for where we’ll be creating next month!
Full list of vendors from the day:
Photography and Styling: @bsloanphotography team
Model: @bellahgrace
Gown: @loveliestbridal
Planner: @Idoweddings.kenzie
Venue: @relixvariety
The Julianna
If this doesn’t make you want to have a bridal session of your own, I’m not sure what will..
We recently attended an editorial shoot fundraiser where we raised over $2400 for charity! Faith was the most beautiful model in a gown from Lillian Ruth in Knoxville, Tennessee. The shoot was set at one of Knoxville’s newest wedding venues, The Julianna. Scroll to see some of the images from the day and to see the full list of local vendors.
If this doesn’t make you want to have a bridal session of your own, I’m not sure what will!
A full list of amazing vendors featured here:
Photography: @bsloanphotography
Model: @faithhjoness
Hair/MUA: @vanitybyjb
Gown: @lillian.ruth.bride
Venue: @the_julianna
Host: @kelsi.waters.photography
Floral: @melissatimmdesigns
Shelby and Nolen’s Wedding at The Cordelle
Take a look at Shelby and Nolen’s wedding at The Cordelle in beautiful Nashville, TN.
Shelby and Nolen’s wedding set at The Cordelle in beautiful Nashville, TN was a day to remember. Each vendor worked together effortlessly to create the wedding day every Bride and Groom dreams about, under the direction of planner Ashley from Posh Occasions.
Justin and Kaitlin’s Howe Farms Wedding
Justin and Kaitlin’s wedding day was nothing short of romantic, intimate, and simply breathtaking. They are proof that you can have a rainy wedding day and still receive beautiful photos to cherish for years to come.
Justin and Kaitlin’s wedding day was nothing short of romantic, intimate, and simply breathtaking. They are proof that you can have a rainy wedding day and still receive beautiful photos to cherish for years to come. Howe Farms plays a big role in that as well because of the light and bright chapel set on the hill. It’s every photographers dream!
Justin is one of my husbands best friends so you can imagine the added desire I had to ensure they had a perfect day. Lucky for me everything from the decor to the macaroons ended up being just as sweet as their love for each other and the day went off without a hitch.
