Bold, Beautiful, and Blooming with Love:
A Dreamy Forest Elopement in the Smoky Mountains
Dani and Jackie – May 24, 2025
There’s something truly magical about a forest elopement, especially in the heart of the Smoky Mountains — where tall trees whisper blessings and soft mountain breezes carry your vows into the wild. When Dani and Jackie said“I do” beneath the canopy at Chapel in the Hollow, their love lit up the forest in the most beautiful way.
Their wedding was everything we love about elopements: intimate, emotional, unique, and filled to the brim with personality. From their bold fashion choices to their heartfelt vows, this Smoky Mountain forest elopement was nothing short of unforgettable.
A Romantic Setup for a Spring Forest Celebration
For their woodland ceremony, Dani and Jackie chose a color palette that felt straight out of a fairytale: dusty sage and lavender fabric dressed the chapel in soft elegance, while our lavender florals brought texture and pops of purple that mirrored the new blooms of spring.
The entire scene was peaceful and romantic — a private moment in nature where the only sounds were birdsong, rustling leaves, and promises whispered between soulmates.
Two Brides, Two Stunning Styles
Dani and Jackie came ready to wow. Dani wore a gorgeous white gown adorned with floral details that looked as if the forest itself had gifted it to her. Jackie, never one to shy away from making a statement, wore a stunning black dress covered in blooms, showing us exactly what fierce femininity and romance look like when they meet in the middle of the woods.
Their bouquets were filled with purples and blues, echoing the colors of the forest in spring. Their rings? Uniquely them — crafted as beautifully and intentionally as the love they share.
This was more than a wedding — it was a celebration of authenticity. And that’s what we believe forest elopements are all about: showing up exactly as you are, and choosing each other with your whole hearts.
Witnessed with Joy, Celebrated with Love
The only guest at their intimate forest elopement? The legendary Uncle Mike — and let me tell you, this man brought all the joy. He laughed, cried, cheered, and celebrated these two extraordinary women like it was the event of the century. And honestly? It was.
Eloping doesn’t mean going it alone — it means curating a moment that feels real, grounded, and full of soul. Whether you bring a handful of your closest people or say your vows with just the trees as your witnesses, a Smoky Mountain forest elopement offers space for your love to shine.
Enchanted Forest Photo Adventures
After the ceremony, we took our time exploring the woodsy trails of Chapel in the Hollow — capturing dreamy moments at the mossy tree, the archway, and the highland area. These are the kinds of places where magic lingers in the air and golden light filters through the trees like nature’s spotlight.
Dani and Jackie’s love was radiant, and the photos reflect every ounce of it. If you’re dreaming of portraits that feel timeless, earthy, and a little bit enchanted, a forest elopement in the Smokies might be your perfect fit.
From the Bride
During COVID, my first travel nurse contract (Jackie) was Dani’s staff nurse job. I was moved to her hospital less than a week before arriving in Long Island, NY, and I was the only travel nurse assigned to her unit. Dani was assigned to orient me to the hospital on my very first day, despite the overwhelming stress and twice as many patients assigned to us as normal, I loved being in her company. We both mutually expressed (much later) how excited we were that the rest of our faces matched our eyes after we got to finally take off our N95 masks in the break room. After I finished my first travel nurse contract at Dani’s hospital, I convinced her to begin travel nursing with me. We left New York for Maryland and moved into our first furnished apartment in early September (we met in April, began dating 5/24/20).For our first date, I took Dani to a nice steakhouse (Tellers) that is a converted bank. We had a lovely dinner, talked all night, and had 2 bottles of wine. One of those bottles of wine was Duckhorn Cellars. Ever since we have used Duckhorn wine to celebrate many holidays, anniversaries, birthdays, and other special occasions.We both proposed to each other. I (Jackie) proposed first to Dani on NYE 23 to 24, on our best friend’s rooftop in San Francisco at sunset with a view of the city in the background, set up as a Harry Potter theme. I asked her to make an unbreakable vow. Dani proposed to me in February on Pier 39 in San Francisco while taking our dog to build a bear, we walked out to the end of the pier, where Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge are in the background. After asking me to marry her, she made a joking reference to me being her ball and chain.
We hoped to be close to Dani’s aunt/uncle, who have been incredibly supportive of our relationship from the beginning, and then we found and fell in love with your venue. We new it would be the perfect place for us to start of new life as wife and wife. On our wedding day we look forward to being together, saying I do, and getting some amazing pictures! We picked this date because 5/24/25 is our 5-year dating anniversary!
Currently, we are both in graduate school to become CRNAs (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists). We have been fortunate to have a fair amount of time together to do fun things, we enjoy spending time with our dogs (Sadie and Rylie), we are Harry Potter addicts (who would spend all of our time at Universal Orlando if we could), we like to build Legos and we love our local drive in (also another tradition of ours, we try to find one everywhere we live). We will have less time to spend together over the next year, as we will be in clinical 4 days a week and often in different places (sometimes away overnight 3 times a week), even so we hope to be able to take our RV back out camping when we get time off together (it was our home for 3 years while we did travel nursing all over the country and it also holds a special place in our hearts).
Planning Your Own Forest Elopement?
At Chapel in the Hollow, we specialize in creating intimate, customizable elopements tucked deep into the Smoky Mountain forest. Whether you’re planning a spontaneous ceremony or a styled celebration like Dani and Jackie’s, our goal is to help you create a day that feels 100% you.
From floral packages and fabric options to photography and planning guidance, we’ve got everything you need for a stress-free, heart-filled forest elopement in East Tennessee.
Guest of Honor: Uncle Mike, Professional Vibe-Bringer
Rings: Derco Jewelers
Officiant: Ian Parrott
Chapel Florals: Chapel in the Hollow
Congratulations, Dani and Jackie — your forest elopement was a radiant celebration of authenticity, joy, and love without limits. Thank you for letting us be part of your story.
