It’s not very often elopements hit our inbox, so when this dreamy riverside editorial came our way, we just couldn’t stop scrolling through all the romantic imagery from Daisy Moffatt Photography! To start, the picturesque location offered a serene ambiance for an intimate setting for just the two to take all the time needed to exchange vows and pray over the moment without any pressure. And when the bride is a professional wedding planner by trade, well you can guarantee a few personalized, statement-making details, including a dreamy bouquet (hello coal charm peonies!), a romantic two-tiered cake displayed on a teal velvet linen, and effortless style. See it all below!

From Daisy Moffatt Photography…To Morgan & Kent, water is one of their favorite metaphors for their relationship, representing the cleansing and washing away of their past and the creation of new life in the future. Standing on the riverbank, surrounded by nature in a truly magical setting, Morgan & Kent took communion, had a beautiful Cherokee Indian prayer read over them, and pledged their love for each other. Standing alone, without the outside pressures of a full wedding and reception, they were able to be still, to look into each others eyes, and to be fully present in the moment.

Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette? Did you incorporate any cultural or religious traditions in any part of your day?
Before we left the country to say our “I Do’s” in front of family and friends in Playa del Carmen, we needed to take care of the legal US version here in Tennessee. It was important to both of us that we have a private, intimate ceremony that highlighted our religious backgrounds and the path that brought us together. We asked a dear friend and my (Morgan’s) former pastor Amy to write a very personal ceremony for us that would take place in Kent’s favorite place in the world, the Ocoee River. He has spent the better part of his life rafting and kayaking on the river and we relish in the idea that water is one of our favorite metaphors for our relationship, representing the cleansing and washing away of our past and the creation of new life in our future. We took communion while standing on the riverbank and listened to Pastor Amy read a beautiful Cherokee Indian prayer that was traditionally read for the marriages before us that likely took place when the Indians inhabited that area.

Let’s talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?
The nature that surrounded us was more than enough to create the most magical setting, but we chose to incorporate a few personal items into our decor. We brought with us a handcrafted wood table that displayed our rose gold goblet and gifted pottery plate for the communion elements. We later changed this table over to include a gorgeous velvet linen table cloth (BBJ Linen) and our wedding cake (Cake Junkies, Becky Epperson) that we were also able to cut (Kate Spade Rosy Glow Serving and Toasting Set) on the riverbank.

Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?
Everything about our elopement was personal for us. It was such an exciting experience to be standing alone, without the outside pressures of a full wedding and reception, and be able to take all the time we needed to look in to each others eyes, say our vows and pray over the moment.

Location: Ocoee River / Photographer:  Daisy Moffatt Photography / Caterer: Cake Junkies / Event Planner: Soirées of Chattanooga / Floral Designer: Humphreys Flowers / Bride’s Dress: Lulus / Cake Table Linen: BBJ Linen