Look no further, you have found the destination wedding and adventure elopement photographer who shares your same heartfelt passion for wanderlove. You deserve a wedding day filled with inspiring elements in spaces that make you feel alive and activities you enjoy doing together. Whether you want a "just us" experience or your family and friends present, Magnolia + Ember provides in-depth assistance throughout the planning process as your dream vision is brought to life— including, but not limited, to brainstorming ideas to make the experience truly feel like yours, recommendations for the destination of your choice, trail reports, help applying for any permits that may be needed, creating a timeline for the experience, educating about Leave No Trace ethics to ensure we are enjoying the outdoors responsibly.
Sneak peeks in one week and full gallery delivered in six weeks
the big day!
plan your Adventure: brainstorm ideas, LOCATIONs, and permits
sign contract and Pay Retainer
Inquire about your wedding experince
* Less than 30 guests are recommended for adventure elopements due to the nature of the experience taking place in National Parks and public lands
East Tennessee is a popular location for destination weddings thanks to the gorgeous Smoky Mountains. There are several venues in the area, such as The Magnolia and The Trillium, that offer remarkable views throughout your whole experience. With on-site suites and nearby rental cabins for you and your guests, everyone is immersed in nature from the moment they wake up and begin the day up until the last moments of the celebration when loved ones are dancing under a sky full of stars.
Since these venues require another coordinator to plan and be present on your wedding day, I offer separate rates from adventure elopements because I'm not as involved in the planning process. However, I'm still hands-on in assisting with things such as creating a timeline, vendor recommendations, and tips to make the day feel truly connected with you and your partner.
* Travel to other destination wedding venues available and priced as elopement packages
"We hired Julie for our wedding and it was one of the best decisions we made! She is absolutely incredible!! She was so kind, on time, professional, fun, and adventurous which is everything we could have asked for! It was raining and at the very end of evening most of us went outside and danced in the rain. Julie was out in the rain the entire time snapping photos and enjoying the rain with us. Not every photographer would have done that and that is just one of the many examples of how amazing Julie is. I would recommend Julie to anyone!!"
"I don't know how to put into words how amazing Julie is. Her approach to photography, especially for two people who aren't the most comfortable in front of a camera, is incredible. She made us feel so calm during our engagement session as well as our wedding photos. Her style is very unique and truly captures the love between two people. I can't recommend her enough! She is worth every single penny."
"To say I was amazed by Julie is a gross understatement!!! Her want to connect with the bride and groom to share their specific story is unrivaled! She caught moments of my husband, of our families, I missed during our wedding day, that I will treasure forever in her photos! We entrusted one of the most important days of our lives to someone we barely knew and it turned out better than I could’ve ever imagined!!! I could spend hours telling the world how much I will forever cherish these photos, these precious moments frozen in a single image that causes an emotional floodgate. Thank you for giving me something that my heart is able to relive forever and ever!!!"
"I’ll start by saying Julie’s photos are clearly gorgeous. Her style gives a whimsical kind of vibe, with a highlight on nature which is exactly what my husband and I wanted. Julie herself is prompt in responding, SWEET as can be, and catches beautiful moments effortlessly. She loves what she does and it’s evident in her work. We love our wedding photos and are grateful she was available on our day!"
"Stunning photos, service, and person. She provided the timeline, worked with us in a relaxed and positive way the entire time, protected and enabled us to have "us" time on the wedding day ferociously...while being extremely professional. She went out of her way during the day to make sure we were taken care of (relaxed, food, drink, you name it) and paid attention to every detail while expertly balancing our family members. Everyone couldn't stop raving about her and her photos. I hate saying that she's "worth every penny" because these photos are priceless to us, but if you have budget restrictions I would fully recommend adjusting as needed to hire her. From a service standpoint, you will not regret having her on your side and working with you on the wedding day."
"Julie was amazing to work with. Throughout the planning process she was easy to get ahold of and always easy to talk with. I had a surprise planned for my husband, and she not only kept it a secret very well, but got amazing shots of the actual surprise happening on the day of the wedding. It was easy to plan and edit my requested shot list with her as well. The day of the wedding, she was such a great calming presence to have around, and everyone at the wedding loved her... I would absolutely recommend Julie to anyone."
* CUA licensed photographer permitted to work in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park
* CUA licensed photographer permitted to work in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park
A retainer fee of $1500 ($2500 for two day) secures the date, along with a signed contract, and is applied to the full package price. The remaining balance is due 60 days prior to the experience.
Yes. I offer adventure wedding packages that include my travel fees for any place in the world accessible by standard commercial airlines and a 2WD car (you are responsible for an additional charges for private flights, activities, or special vehicles to navigate your experience). I have traveled throughout all 50 states in the USA and now booking abroad. Get in touch to see if I can make your location a reality!
I've been to a lot of places, in fact, all 50 states in the USA and 38 (and counting!) National Parks. And, I’m really great at exploring new territories via Google Maps, extensive research, and online scouting to find all the best views, trails, and hidden gems. When I arrive at a new destination, I will scout the location and trails in person to ensure you have the best experience possible.
You will receive a handful of sneak peeks within one week of your experience to enjoy while I work through the editing process. You will receive your full gallery 6 weeks after your adventure wedding. Engagement sessions and couples portraits take 3 weeks.
You will receive printing rights for your personal use that extends to your family and friends so they can print their favorites too. You are allowed to print at any location of your choice. I retain legal copyrights to the images as the author and creator per USC Title 17.
Almost every single person I photograph thinks the exact same thing. You are not expected to be models, so worry not. I have some fun ways to ease tension and get you relaxed during portraits so you actually enjoy the experience. Most of the time, you are interacting with each other and forget that I am even there. My photography is emotionally driven, and all that takes is just being YOU!
I provide help throughout the entire planning process so that you are well prepared for the adventure of a lifetime. I have traveled all 50 states in the USA and explored every type of terrain. We will chat in depth about all the elements of your chosen destination, providing tips and things I recommend buying for the experience (my Amazon Storefront for gear) and implementing Leave No Trace ethics to ensure we are enjoying the outdoors sustainably and responsibly.
No I do not offer hourly elopement packages. My storytelling approach to photography requires more than one or two hours of coverage to really capture the essence of the epic day and your connection.