September Evening Micro Wedding
Jen and Johnny – September 5, 2025
Romantic Vows, Cowboy Hats, Mountain Views, and a Little Johnny Cash
There is something extra romantic about a September evening micro wedding in the Smoky Mountains. The forest is still lush and green, hints of fall are beginning to creep into East Tennessee, and the softer evening light gives couples plenty of opportunities for gorgeous wedding portraits.
Jen and Johnny embraced all of it for their intimate wedding at Chapel in the Hollow. Surrounded by their nearest and dearest, these two created a wedding day that was heartfelt, relaxed, a little bit country, and ridiculously romantic.
And yes, there was Johnny Cash involved. ❤️🔥
An Earthy September Wedding in the Forest
For their September evening micro wedding, Jen and Johnny chose dusty sage and cream fabric for the chapel, paired with our bohemian florals. The earthy colors blended beautifully with the greenery surrounding our little outdoor chapel in the Smoky Mountain foothills.
A Gorgeous Bride and Her Cowboy
Jen looked AMAZING.
She chose a sleeveless wedding dress with a soft lace train that was perfect for a warm September evening in Tennessee. She wore her hair swept up, and her mom, niece, and future daughter joined her while she got ready before the ceremony.
Johnny brought a little country style to the woods in jeans, a suit jacket, and a cowboy hat. 🤠
Before Jen made her entrance, Johnny had already announced that he was not going to cry.
Technically, he succeeded.
Barely. 😂
Jen’s dad walked her down the aisle toward him, and watching Johnny’s face as he saw his bride coming through the forest was one of our favorite moments of the day. He might have kept the tears from actually falling, but that expression gave him away completely.
Personal Vows Beneath the Trees
Once Jen reached the chapel, the two exchanged vows they had written themselves.
Their words were beautiful, thoughtful, and genuinely inspiring. Personal vows have a way of letting everyone gathered for a wedding see a tiny piece of the relationship that exists when no one else is around, and Jen and Johnny’s vows made it easy to understand just how excited these two were to begin this next chapter together.
With Ian Parrott officiating, they exchanged rings, made their promises, and officially became husband and wife surrounded by the East Tennessee forest.
After the ceremony, we gathered their loved ones for family portraits around the chapel before transitioning from sentimental to celebratory.
Jen and Johnny shared a shot toast with everyone, and Johnny’s daughter offered a toast of her own. 🥃❤️
Then we sent their guests off to relax and stole the newlyweds for one of our favorite parts of a wedding day — couple portraits!
Chasing September Evening Light
Jen and Johnny booked plenty of photography time, and that gave us the opportunity to explore.
For couples who love photos, having extra time can completely change the feel of a micro wedding. Instead of rushing through a short list of must-have portraits, we can wander around the property, watch the light, and take advantage of unexpected little moments.
And the September evening light definitely gave us something to work with.
We started around the chapel before spotting a gorgeous beam of sunlight streaming through the trees. Obviously, we had to stop everything and play in it. ✨
From there, we headed toward the highland area for another completely different forest backdrop. Jen and Johnny played together in the road before snuggling up for photos around the old truck.
One of the advantages of choosing a longer Smoky Mountain micro wedding package is having time to enjoy more of the property. Our Signature Micro Weddings can incorporate multiple portrait locations, including our mountain-view areas when the timeline allows.
For Jen and Johnny, that meant one thing:
It was time to chase the mountains. 🏔️
A Mountain View Grand Finale
We visited both of our mountain-view locations as the evening light continued to soften, eventually making our way into the field.
The mountains in the distance, the changing evening sky, and two ridiculously happy newlyweds gave us the perfect ending to their September wedding adventure.
Well… almost perfect.
There was one thing missing.
Johnny Cash. 🔥
Jen and Johnny danced together in the field to “Ring of Fire,” surrounded by the Smoky Mountain scenery as their wedding day came to a close.
Could there possibly be a more appropriate ending for a wedding involving cowboy hats, mountain views, and a groom named Johnny?
We think not. 😂
From the Bride
He “super swiped” me on Bumble! After chatting online and through text for a couple weeks we met for dinner and ended up taking a long backroads drive. We ended up at the Jasper-Pulaski Sandhill Crane Observatory watching deer in the field and sitting out there talking for quite a while. It was a different level of comfort and never any of the awkward silence and small talk…we just clicked.
Johnny proposed. He took me back to the sandhill crane observation tower at sunset (where we went on our first date). It was simple and perfect! We both knew we wanted a small wedding outdoors in a beautiful setting and that we wanted Cash (my dog) to be a part of our ceremony so we needed somewhere drivable. As soon as we saw the website for Chapel in the Hollow, we knew that was the place. We both get to marry our best friend in a beautiful place with the people we love most there to share it with us. Nothing special about the date… we just thought the long weekend would make it easier for our guests to attend.
We love traveling, whether we’re traveling abroad, hopping a flight for a football game or concert or just taking a quick day or weekend roadtrip for thrifting or antiquing. We’re also just as content hanging at home, making dinner, watching a show or sitting on the porch enjoying the sunsets
Planning a September Evening Micro Wedding in Tennessee
September is a beautiful time to plan an intimate wedding in East Tennessee, especially for couples who want to combine the greenery of summer with the first hints of fall.
Just remember that Tennessee doesn’t always get the memo that September is supposed to be cool. Jen and Johnny’s wedding evening was hot and muggy, but these two were completely game for everything we threw at them.
More importantly, they were just so incredibly happy together.
You could see it every time they looked at each other.
That’s what we love most about micro weddings. With a smaller guest list and a more relaxed timeline, couples can focus less on putting on a giant production and more on actually experiencing the day together.
Chapel in the Hollow specializes in intimate elopements and micro weddings for up to 35 guests in a private woodland setting near Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Townsend, Sevierville, and Knoxville. Couples interested in creating their own September celebration can explore our Smoky Mountain elopement and micro wedding packages, review current wedding pricing, or start the booking process.
Beautiful personal vows, a shot with the family, cowboy hats, golden evening light, mountain views, and Johnny Cash playing in a field…
I’d say that’s a pretty fantastic way to get married in East Tennessee. 🌿❤️
Congratulations, Jen and Johnny!!
Wedding Vendors
Venue: Chapel in the Hollow
Event Management: Meredith with Custom Love Gifts & Events
Chapel Florals: Chapel in the Hollow
Bouquets: Bride
Boutonnieres: Etsy
Wedding Dress: Facebook Marketplace
Menswear: Cavender’s
Invitations: Basic Invites
Shoes: Roper and Ariat
Rings: Kay Jewelers and Revolution
Officiant: Ian Parrott
Hair and Makeup: Southern Sirens
Videography: Yugen Productions
Photography: Star Noir Studio
September Evening Micro Wedding Inspiration
If you’re dreaming of a romantic September evening micro wedding, a forest ceremony in the Smoky Mountains gives you the best of so many worlds — an intimate guest list, beautiful natural scenery, a relaxed wedding experience, and the opportunity to chase that dreamy evening light with your new spouse.
Come get married in the woods with us. 🌿💍
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