married | christina and lucas | knoxville wedding photographer

Christina is one of my best friends and was one of my earliest (and most enthusiastic) cheerleaders when I began my photography business back in 2010, faithfully reading my blog when no one else was and encouraging me to keep moving forward. So when she and Lucas got engaged and asked me to be their photographer, I was truly honored to do so.

This wedding was so much fun to photograph, not only because I spent the day surrounded by my favorite people (two more of our BFF's - Kaley and Megan - were bridesmaids and our friends, Claire and Spence, attended the wedding), but because Christina's style and the details that she and her fabulous planner, Peggy Love, incorporated into the day were absolutely gorgeous.

The day began with the girls getting ready (and enjoying mimosas, of course) at the Inman family home in Knoxville...

After hair and makeup were finished, everyone headed to Butterfly Gap Retreat in Maryville, TN, to begin the wedding festivities. While I was with the ladies, Josh joined the guys as they prepared for the day ahead...

Lucas and Christina chose to do a First Look earlier in the day to allow for some time alone together and more time for photos. These images are some of my favorites...

The groom's niece played the role of flower girl and was just the cutest! She loves her new aunt!

Over the course of their relationship, Christina and Lucas have had milestones in several states throughout the southeast. They met in North Carolina, got engaged in Mississippi, moved to Alabama, and got married in Tennessee. These signs that reflected that journey were simply adorable...

Christina, my friend, you are BEAUTIFUL.

Lucas and Christina had their first dance to John Legend's "All of Me"... aren't they just precious?!

Christina+Lucas :: Thank you times a million for allowing us to document such a beautiful day and have so much fun in the process! So much love and best wishes to you both! xoxo

Wedding Coordinator :: Plan It With Love
Venue :: Butterfly Gap Retreat
Florist :: Lisa Foster Floral Design
Cake Artist and Caterer :: Bradford Catered Events
Ceremony Musician :: Logan Murrell
DJ :: Ogle Entertainment
Hair Stylist :: Amanda Maddox Salon
Makeup Artist :: Kaley Schwab
Bridal Gown :: Lea Ann Belter from Wedding Wonderland
Bridesmaids' Dresses :: Bill Levkoff from Wedding Wonderland
Men's Attire :: Jos. A. Bank
Stationer :: The Happy Envelope
Officiant :: Ed Inman of Rosedale Baptist Church
Rings :: Windsor Jewelers
Linens :: White Table

Watch the sneak peek video preview of Lucas and Christina's wedding day here.

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Engaged? Contact us today to reserve your wedding date.

All content ©2014 Glessner Photography. Please do not save, copy, edit, screenshot, or use in any way without Glessner Photography's express written permission. Violators may be prosecuted.

spence+claire :: married :: nashville wedding photographer

Our last wedding of the year was one for the record books, as my dear friend Claire married her sweetheart, Spence, the weekend before Christmas at Nashville Event Space's aVenue in downtown Nashville (you may remember them from their engagement session in the fall of 2012 - it's one of my all-time favorites). To say it was a crazy wedding day would be an understatement - it was an unusual 70-degrees in December with a 90% chance of rain (and possibly the windiest day ever), I was as sick as I've been in 3+ years with a fever (purposefully unbeknownst to the bride - no need for unnecessary stress!) and getting through the day with the help of Dayquil and cough drops, and during the reception, everyone was sent down to the basement of the building due to tornado warnings (that was definitely a first for Glessner Photography). But in spite of the craziness, or perhaps because of it, the day was absolute perfection. Claire looked gorgeous, Spence wore a grin from ear-to-ear all day, the guests had fantastic fun, and tears of joy flowed freely.

The day began at Claire's brother and sister-in-law's home in Franklin, which was full of beautiful spaces to photograph the bride's attire...

While I was with the girls, Josh joined the guys at a hotel downtown to capture their getting ready rituals...

How awesome is this groomsmen gift?! Festive holiday socks, an awesome plaid tie, and most importantly, a little Jack and Coke to start the day off right.

Claire headed to aVenue to finish getting ready with the girls...

Claire's gift to her bridesmaids was a lovely gold and ivory scarf and a pair of earrings for each lady, presented beautifully.

It's no secret that a First Look is one of my favorite parts of a wedding day, and Spence and Claire's was an absolutely lovely moment on the Shelby Street Bridge downtown.

Isn't Claire absolutely stunning?!? I swear, she's one of the most beautiful people I know.

I can't help but be a bit emotional when a daddy walks his little girl down the aisle, and this one certainly resulted in a few tears...

I always think the first dance results in some of the best photos of the day, filled with pure joy. It's usually one of the first events of the reception, after the most stressful parts of the day are over, and the bride and groom are able to relax and reflect on the day thus far... so sweet!

We stepped outside after dark to photograph some of the best Nashville scenery that can't be seen during daylight hours...

Claire's dad was loving the camera during the father/daughter dance - the image below is definitely one of my favorites!

Claire+Spence :: We love you guys to pieces and wish you all the very best for a long and happy marriage that feels like Christmas every day! 

Venue :: aVenue
Accommodations :: DoubleTree by Hilton Nashville Downtown
Coordinator :: Natalie Finley of Randi Events
Videographer :: Bruce Karcher
Caterer and Cake Artist :: Chef's Market
Reception Band :: Party of 5
Makeup Artist :: Kaley Schwab Consulting
Hair Stylist :: Shay Hart of Troubadour Salon
Wedding Gown :: The Bride Room by designer Augusta Jones
Bridesmaids' Dresses :: Nordstrom
Men's Attire :: Jos. A. Bank
Stationer :: ChampagnePress via Etsy
Rings :: Genesis Diamonds
Officiant :: Dean Barnham of Woodmont Hills Family of God
Photographer :: Glessner Photography

Engaged? Contact us today to reserve your wedding date.

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All images ©2013 Glessner Photography. Please do not save, copy, edit, or use in any way without Glessner Photography's express written permission. Violators may be prosecuted.

new york city :: nyc vacation photographer

A few weeks ago, my friend Kaley called me up telling me that she had to go to New York City to do some buying for Snap Kids, and of course, when I said I should fly up to meet her, she said that was her exact thought, too! 

Of all the places I've been in and out of the country, I'd never had the chance to go to NYC, so I was over the moon to see the city for the first time this past weekend. I've travelled alot and generally don't feel very out of place anywhere I go, but when I arrived in the Big Apple, my accent felt a little thicker, a bit like molasses each time I spoke :)

We were only in the Big Apple for a little over 48 hours, so we decided to pack in as much sightseeing as possible between the times that Kaley had to go to Market. We saw Times Square...

... Rockefeller Plaza, the September 11th Memorial... (Going to St. Paul's Chapel - seen below - adjacent to where the World Trade Center towers once stood, was especially moving, and I couldn't help but tear up being in that sacred, solemn place. This church was left standing with not so much as a broken window when the buildings collapsed and is the place where first responders came to rest and seek refuge in the days, weeks, and months following 9/11. Remembering the fear, uncertainty, and sense of loss that surrounded that horrifying morning when we learned that our country had been attacked - I was in my 9th grade Mississippi history class when my teacher turned on the radio and began crying - anyone who remembers that day couldn't help but be emotional.)

We enjoyed pizza (twice!), killer Italian food, cheesecake, the best Compost cookie from Momofuku Milk Bar, and frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity. We strolled 5th avenue, rode the subway, explored Central Park, and we even managed to see Chicago on Broadway.  (And I probably shouldn't mention how excited we were when we spotted the Empire Hotel from Gossip Girl ... ).

Here are a few of my Instagram shots of our adventures...

We walked way more miles than a person's feet should be able to stand, but it was so worth it, and there's no one else I would have rather laughed, explored, and got lost with than one of my very best friends.

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