Chattanooga Choo Choo Wedding – Kara + Chris

Another wedding in the middle of a pandemic and it was perfect! Kara and Chris planned the start of their Chattanooga Choo Choo wedding in the courtyard so friends and family would have space to gather around or watch from a bit of a distance. I met up with them a month before their wedding day to walk the grounds and talk through what locations would likely work best for their ceremony and their formal photographs. Which made their wedding day a breeze as we all knew what to expect based on the weather, lighting, and number of guests for them and the hotel who were milling around the courtyard.

The People Always Make it More Special

This wedding day was extra special as I have known Kara since we were in fifth grade together. We have kept in touch through facebook and had occasional and fabulous taco truck meet ups. I’ve watched her boys grow from littles into young men. The next extra special part of the day is one of their three, yes THREE, officiants was also a fellow classmate of ours whom I’ve known since sixth grade. Kara was marrying a pastor, so it only made sense for Chris’s three best friends who are also pastors should come together on this lovely day to conduct a marriage ceremony.

Chattanooga Whiskey + Chattanooga Choo Choo Wedding Photos

We got special permission to make photographs of just the two of them in the Chattanooga Whiskey brewery across the street before their wedding. Which was a super cool location! Then we headed back to the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel and knocked out all the group formals before their ceremony. It was a quick process made even better with Kara and Chris designating their own people wranglers to help call names and mark them off the list. After their wedding ceremony in the courtyard, we took about thirty minutes to photograph just Kara and Chris together for their own formals around the Chattanooga Choo Choo train yard.

The day was perfect all around and I was incredibly honored to document my friend’s wedding day at the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel! Kara + Chris, you have all my best wishes!

Wedding couple standing close and smiling in front of stacked Chattanooga Whiskey barrels
Bride and groom holding hands in air as they walk down steps at Chattanooga Whiskey brewery
Bride holding bouquet and kissing her groom in Chattanooga Whiskey barrell room
Front of Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel with the blur of a biker riding past
Black and white photograph of bride and groom holding hands while running across the street
Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel sign and American flag blowing in the wind
Bride and groom kissing in Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel lobby
Bride and groom walking side by side under CHATTANOOGA sign at the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel before their wedding ceremony
Bride and groom holding flower bouquet and laughing hard
Friend applying lipstick to bride before wedding ceremony
Bride and groom smiling during wedding ceremony
Bride smiling up at her groom with flowers surrounding them
Bride and groom laughing during wedding ceremony
Bride making a funny face as Groom and their sons laugh during Chattanooga Choo Choo wedding ceremony
Bride, groom, and their sons laughing during their wedding ceremony at the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel
Bride hands slipping wedding band onto groom's finger
Black and white photograph of bride and groom hands holding each other
Three officiants standing together during a wedding at Chattanooga Choo Choo
Bride and groom kissing in front of train cars at their Chattanooga Choo Choo Wedding
Groom kissing his bride's cheek while she smiles and touches his neck
Bride smiling and resting her forehead on her groom's
Six pairs of blue shoes and one pink for the bride as they stand in a circle
Bride pulling groom's tie while he acts surprised
Bride holding grooms tie while she kisses him on steps in front of building with tall windows
Black and white reflection of a bride and groom standing next to train cars at Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel
Bride + Groom holding hands while walking through Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel lobby
Ring shot of bride and groom holding hands up and smiling

If you’re planning a destination wedding in Chattanooga (or anywhere else!), contact Kelley! I’d love to talk to you about it and make sure you’re asking all the right questions in advance. I know you don’t want to leave anything up to chance or miss special moments on your wedding day!

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