The Smokey Mountain Region of Northern Georgia and Southern Tennessee is a pretty special slice of the American South. There are endless roads that wind through eerily quite forrest, over gushing streams and along epic mountain vistas. Parts of the region are a little quirky, a little mysterious, perhaps even what some urban dwellers might call a little "backward". But all that aside, it's an astoundingly beautiful place that in some strange way, draws you in, fills you with a sense of peace and calm, and changes you. Oh, and if you need proof that Southern hospitality is a real thing, visit the Smokeys. The people there are exceptionally warm, welcoming and delightfully curious. 

The Lake Burton area near Clayton, GA is not exactly brimming with wedding venues and vendors all lined up ready to cater for hundreds of weddings per week. So I was surprized to receive a wedding enquiry for an intimate lakeside ceremony pop up in my inbox a while back. I was even more surprized to discover that the couple, Brea and Tom were from Sydney, Australia and had chosen this unsuspectingly beautiful piece of the world as the backdrop for the most important day of their lives.

I had to find out more.

As it turns out, the couple fell in love with the region (as did I) a couple of years back while exploring the southern US fueled by a passion for country music, wide open spaces and off the beaten path adventures. If there's one thing I could say to every engaged couple out there, it would be to choose the place that means something to you and holds relevance to your story and relationship. Somewhere that makes you smile when you picture it. Somewhere that is unequivocally and unapologetically you. It doesn't matter if that place is the community church you met at, the park where you had your first kiss, the chalet where you learned to ski together and crashed so many times that you resorted to making snow angels instead... or a quiet lake house deep in Appalachia where there is almost zero chance of running in to anyone with the same accent as you. 

Brea and Tom did just that, which is exactly why I knew I had to document their story!

The day finally came and did not disappoint. With only immediate family attendance, the intimate group had no fears in showing their emotional sides at the overwhelming joy that surrounded the occasion. It was the most relaxed and serene wedding I've ever been a part of, but also one of the most emotional and fulfilling.

Here's how it all unfolded...