the monarch wedding venue

The Monarch Sydney and James

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by CATEGORY

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 I want to create imagery in moments that feel like you. With the utmost intention in everything I do, this experience should feel like yours. 

Pour a glass of wine and stay a while, won't you?

i'm KÉra

Sydney and James celebrated their love for Jesus, family, and each other at The Monarch wedding venue in Baxter, TN. Just under two hours from Nashville, this small town and this wedding venue was the perfect intimate setting for vows and celebration.

Sydney and James first met in 2019 when James was meeting up with one of her friends to get a feel for St. Petersburg and a job opportunity. Sydney tagged along with her friend to prevent any possible awkwardness.

James and Sydney officially met at a brewery the first night he was in town. She thought he was cool and very friendly but didn’t think he would be sticking around. James was living in California and after a few visits to Florida, they became long-distance friends. A few months later when James relocated to Florida, they became close friends and started doing almost everything together.

“James and I had a lot of conversations about us being “just friends” and how I thought we weren’t a good fit romantically. I can now agree with James (and everyone else) that I was wrong and we were becoming more than just friends.”

I love that Sydney and James started with a foundation of friendship — I am not a marriage expert by any means, but I’ve seen and worked with enough couples to know that when they are friends first, everything just flows almost seamlessly.

After Sydney and James said their vows in the white room of The Monarch wedding venue and were introduced as husband and wife, we got to have a lot of fun during their romance session. From minimalist walls full of old character and willow trees around the corner — we had fun capturing the happiness and magic from the day.

A Note on Timeline

James and Sydney’s wedding day was unique in that they had a morning ceremony (11 am) and ended their reception BEFORE golden hour (4 pm). It was a lovely way to spend the first half of the day! Most people may be nervous that the earlier timeline may mean harsh lighting and less partying, but truthfully, I felt none of those restrictions! The Monarch provided beautiful indoor areas for photos, and although we shot most of their romance shots at 2 pm, it was easy to maneuver through the highlight and shadows from the sun. See what I mean below!

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