After quietly eloping the year before, Miranda and Charles gathered their closest family and friends for the mountain wedding they’d always dreamed of; a heartfelt DIY celebration nestled in the breathtaking beauty of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Set against the misty peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains, every detail was thoughtfully chosen to reflect their journey together, from saying “I do” on the bride’s late grandmother’s birthday to weaving her favorite color, green, throughout the décor as a touching tribute. With a custom bridal gown, a handcrafted bouquet, a full wedding weekend spent in neighboring Airbnb cabins, and unforgettable golden hour portraits, their intimate wedding proves that meaningful moments and stunning scenery are the perfect combination. If you’re dreaming of a romantic Great Smoky Mountains wedding filled with personal touches and inspiration for creating a wonderful wedding weekend, you’re going to fall in love with every detail of this celebration.
Miranda + Charles
The Great Smoky Mountains
5.7.2026
From the couple: We officially tied the knot in an intimate elopement last year, but always knew we wanted to share a more grand and formal type celebration with the people we love most. Our diy dream came to life in the breathtaking peaks of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where we hosted our stunning mountain wedding. Surrounded by sweeping, misty ridges and the warmth of family, our celebration perfectly blended deep, personal touches with the wild romance of the Great Smoky Mountains.
How did you meet?
Miranda:At a mutual friends party 12 years ago.
Tell us about your engagement!
Miranda: It was Christmas day and all the gifts had been open except one which was given to me and as I opened it , he knelt down. Thats when I realized and started crying , tears of joy.
What was the vision & theme for your wedding? What details were used to create this vision?
Miranda: The vision was simple, we incorporated green, which was my grandmother’s favorite color. She passed away a few years before And we chose her birthday as our wedding day. Green was the perfect accent with a natural feel to bring in the mountains and surrounding forest.
Where did you splurge? Where did you save?
Miranda: I splurge the most on a custom dress that I had my alteration lady make. I saved the most by personally making my own bouquet which was a purse type bouquet with faux flowers of the best quality that looked and felt real. I also got a bang for my buck by booking an air bnb for an entire weekend instead of eight hours at one venue for 1 day. It wood have been the same price as a venue in nashville for one day. This allowed us to have a full wedding weekend.
What is your best piece of advice for others planning their wedding?
Miranda: It’s easy to get swept up in the endless logistics. Make your non negotiable from the get go. Get a planner to keep all of your info.Written down so that it doesn’t get scrambled in your head. There will be so much info to take in. Allow plenty of time to plan. Being engaged is fun. Don’t rush it!
What was your first dance song?
Miranda: Chris Stapleton. joy of my life we have attended his concerts together so it was a no brainer.
Can you share your favorite memory or any special moments from the day?
Miranda: Golden hour photos were so peaceful but the dancing was the best. Seeing family members dancing that I have never seen move like that before made us smile.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Miranda: Personally I feel like micro weddings that are 3 day weekends are the way to go. Its much lower stress and you really have time to catch up with family and friends. We had two air bnbs right next to each other that slept 28 people each. We had these for 4 days and it cost less than some of the venues in nashville that we would have only gotten for 8 to 10 hours.
