Elegant Forest Micro Wedding
at Chapel in the Hollow
Colbie and Jacob – June 20, 2026
When it comes to planning a wedding, some couples focus on grand gestures while others pour their hearts into the details that make the day uniquely theirs. For Colbie and Jacob, every thoughtful touch helped create a truly unforgettable elegant forest micro wedding at Chapel in the Hollow, nestled in the peaceful woods of East Tennessee.
Surrounded by towering trees, fresh spring greenery, and the natural beauty of the Smoky Mountains, these two celebrated their love in a way that was timeless, romantic, and deeply personal.
A Beautiful Forest Wedding in East Tennessee
As one of the most sought-after venues for micro weddings in Tennessee, Chapel in the Hollow offers couples an intimate outdoor setting where nature becomes part of the celebration. Colbie and Jacob embraced that natural beauty while adding classic wedding details that perfectly reflected their style.
They dressed the chapel in crisp white fabric paired with our white floral décor, creating a clean, elegant backdrop that blended beautifully with the surrounding forest. To ensure their guests were comfortable, they added extra seating and welcomed loved ones with a custom sign displayed just behind the pews.
Every detail felt intentional and meaningful.
From their pearl-covered two-tier wedding cake to their personalized cake-cutting set, the entire day was filled with elegant touches that elevated the celebration while still maintaining the intimate feel of a micro wedding.
A Bride with Timeless Style
Colbie was absolutely stunning.
She chose a strapless wedding gown with a dramatic long train that flowed beautifully through the woodland setting. A softly draped mid-length veil completed her bridal look, creating a classic aesthetic that felt both sophisticated and effortless.
What made her look even more memorable were the carefully selected accessories she incorporated throughout the day. Pearl-studded shoes, delicate pearl jewelry, a white velvet ring box, coordinating sage and white vow booklets, ribbon accents, elegant stationery, and a sentimental memory charm all helped tell the story of who she is and what mattered most to her.
One of the sweetest moments came just before the ceremony when Colbie chose to walk down the aisle barefoot. Feeling the forest floor beneath her feet added an organic, heartfelt touch to an already emotional moment. It was the perfect reflection of the balance between elegance and nature that defined their wedding day.
Jacob’s Emotional Reaction
Jacob looked incredibly handsome in a tan suit that complemented both the neutral wedding palette and the natural surroundings.
As guests settled into their seats and the ceremony approached, his excitement became increasingly visible. Like many grooms, the anticipation built with every passing moment.
Then Colbie appeared.
The smile that spread across Jacob’s face when he saw his bride walking toward him said everything. It was one of those genuine moments that reminds everyone why weddings are so special. The joy, anticipation, and overwhelming love were written all over his face.
A Meaningful Cord of Three Strands Ceremony
One of the most memorable parts of their ceremony was the incorporation of a Cord of Three Strands.
This beautiful tradition symbolizes the joining of two lives together while recognizing the strength that comes from faith, love, and commitment. As Colbie and Jacob braided the strands together, they created a visual representation of the promises they were making to one another.
The ceremony was heartfelt and emotional, perfectly reflecting the foundation they are building for their marriage.
Capturing Memories Around the Property
Following the ceremony, the newlyweds spent time celebrating with family and enjoying a cake-cutting moment featuring their stunning pearl-covered cake from River Bend Bakery.
After family portraits, we explored several of Chapel in the Hollow’s favorite photo locations. We captured romantic images around the chapel itself, along the quiet country road, in the rock garden, and finally in the open field overlooking the Smoky Mountains.
The warm near-summer sunshine provided the most beautiful golden glow throughout the evening. Every photograph reflected the romance, joy, and peaceful atmosphere of their day.
The combination of elegant details, natural surroundings, and genuine emotion created the kind of wedding gallery couples dream about.
Why Couples Love an Elegant Forest Micro Wedding
More and more couples are choosing intimate celebrations that allow them to focus on what matters most. An elegant forest micro wedding offers the perfect balance of beauty, simplicity, and meaningful connection.
At Chapel in the Hollow, couples can exchange vows surrounded by nature while still incorporating luxurious details, personalized décor, and traditions that reflect their relationship.
Colbie and Jacob’s wedding beautifully demonstrated how a smaller guest count doesn’t mean sacrificing style or significance. In fact, their celebration felt even more meaningful because every detail reflected their love story.
We are so honored they chose Chapel in the Hollow to begin this next chapter together.
Congratulations, Colbie and Jacob! We wish you both a lifetime filled with love, laughter, and countless beautiful adventures.
From the Bride
Some love stories begin with fireworks. Ours began with a spark at a New Year’s Eve party in middle school—two kids surrounded by noise, but somehow seeing only each other. As the countdown echoed around us, everything slowed. No kiss, no grand moment—just an unexplainable pull. Even at that age, we both felt something we couldn’t name yet, but we would spend the next decade learning exactly what it meant. From middle school movie dates to high school proms, our relationship became the thread running through every stage of our youth. We grew up side by side, learning how to love while still learning who we were ourselves. By 19 and 20, while most people our age were still dreaming of independence & still figuring out who they wanted to be, we were signing papers on our first home together. We were young, brave, & stubborn. We were so sure that love alone was enough. We believed in our love fiercely and wholeheartedly. We were two kids building a life that everyone said was too serious, too young, we made it happen anyway. Real love, the kind they write about, is tested by reality. Real love is not always gentle. As life grew heavier, so did the unspoken struggles—anxiety, depression, anger, stress, the pressure of adulthood before we were ready for it. Slowly, painfully, our relationship cracked. And in September 2024, it broke completely. We had both become people we weren’t proud of, people who hurt one another, and walking away from each other was the hardest and most heartbreaking decision we ever made. It shattered us in ways we did not talk about publicly. We separated—but love didn’t. Behind every blocked-out Instagram post, every forced smile, every “I’m fine, I’ve moved on” there were two people who never stopped loving each other. We never truly let go. We kept talking. We kept checking in. We kept hoping that maybe God wasn’t finished writing our story yet & I never stopped believing that our love was still somewhere under the rubble, waiting for the right moment to breathe again. And in those months apart, something powerful happened. Separately, quietly, intentionally. Time, prayer, and distance did something we couldn’t do for each other then—they changed us. I believe wholeheartedly that God broke us apart only to rebuild us the right way—to soften us, to heal us, to show Jacob the man he truly wanted to be, and to prepare me to receive the love we both deserved.
When we found our way back to each other in May 2025, it felt like coming home, but to a safer, healthier, healed version of what we always knew was possible. We had seen every part of each other—the good, the broken, the rebuilding—and somehow our love survived it all. Just two months later, Jacob brought me to the place that has always felt like our heart’s second home—Gatlinburg, Tennessee. We’ve vacationed there for years, through every season of our relationship, and the mountains have held pieces of our story long before we understood how important they’d become. They’ve been witnesses to every season of us. So when Jacob suggested a trip that July, I thought it was just another vacation—another memory added to our long list of them. That July day, the Smoky Mountains were especially smoky, wrapped in thick clouds that made the view look like something out of a dream. What I didn’t know was that Jacob had hired a photographer. That he had practiced what he wanted to say. That he planned to mark our healing exactly where we had made so many memories. He proposed on Foothills Parkway right at sunset and it was perfect!!
We chose the Smoky Mountains for our wedding because we have always vacationed here and it’s always felt like home! We had our first vacation together alone as teenagers here, he proposed here and we wanted to come back for the wedding! We can’t wait to celebrate our love with all of our favorite people! We picked this day for our wedding because the date looks cool and we can have tropical summer anniversary trips. We enjoy golf, DIY, church, spending time with our families!
Planning Your Own Elegant Forest Micro Wedding?
If you’re dreaming of an intimate wedding surrounded by nature, we’d love to help bring your vision to life. Explore our wedding packages and learn more about hosting your celebration at Chapel in the Hollow:
https://www.chapelinthehollow.com/
You can also browse more real weddings and inspiration on our blog:
https://www.chapelinthehollow.com/blog
Vendor Team
Venue: Chapel in the Hollow
Photography: Star Noir Studio
Event Management: Beverly with Custom Love Gifts & Events
Bouquet: Etsy
Dress: Songbirds Bridal
Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse
Invitations: Zola
Rings: Kay Jewelers
Cake: River Bend Bakery
Hair: Olivia Smiley
Makeup: Destiny Henson
Favors: Bride’s Mother