All bets are (almost) off when it comes to finding a wedding venue in Tennessee for a summer wedding where the bride, groom, and guests won’t feel like they meandered into the seventh circle of hell.  

(I said, almost…)

That is, until Karsten and Mikayla introduced me to The Emerald Union, an enchanting, rustic wedding venue in Gallatin, Tennessee. Boasting an absolutely ICONIC indoor space nestled in the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee, The Emerald Union is the wedding venue of choice if you’re planning a summer wedding in the South.

Not only is it brimming with character and look like something straight out of a fairytale, but it has an incredible number of versatile spaces serving as the backdrop for some of the most romantic moments you’ve ever laid eyes on. 

And did I mention a lot of those spaces are entirely indoors?!

I’d say, “Enough said,” but I couldn’t possibly let you leave without a tour.

“The state of Tennessee offers a vast array of gorgeous wedding venues to choose from. When it came time to choose our venue we wanted something that would emulate our personalities perfectly and that could speak for itself. The Emerald Union in Gallatin, TN exceeded all of these expectations. It was the perfect size venue with the most rustic, unique, and moody details that instantly sold us on the space. We fell in love with the crystal chandeliers, the exposed brick, the hardwood floors, and the beautiful natural lighting during the day and mood lighting at night. I knew it would be the perfect space for us and that our guests would be left speechless by all of the intricate details that make the venue so special and unique.

After securing the venue it was my priority that I find a photographer who could not only capture the beauty of our wedding day itself, but also one who could capture the beauty that was our venue. In our minds, Ali was the only person we knew who could accomplish all of our goals and then some. Just from receiving our preview photos alone, I knew she had nailed the assignment and exceeded our expectations. The shots she took truly captured all of our wedding’s details and the members of our wedding party perfectly. She has such an incredible eye for lighting, details, scouting photo locations, and capturing the most incredible candid photos I’ve ever seen. I’m truly blown away by her work every time I see what she’s captured and I couldn’t imagine having anyone else shoot our wedding day.” –Mikayla

A Moment for the Bridal Suite, Please

I won’t lie– When I first stepped into the bridal suite in this wedding venue in Tennessee, I got a bit nervous about the lack of natural light. But then I remembered how much of my career I’ve spent honing my flash photography skills for this exact reason, and I now had a welcome opportunity to place a heavy emphasis on it. 

And the vibes were all the better for it. 

With gem-toned upholstery and gold frames everywhere you look, vines climbing up the pillars, and a red brick backdrop tying it all together, the bridal suite looked like it could have been the location of Taylor Swift’s ‘Enchanted’ music video. Except instead of Taylor, it definitely should have starred Mikayla.

Don’t get me wrong, we KNOW how much I love T. Swift, but Mikayla was every bit the fairytale bride with her eco-friendly Grace Loves Lace gown, tasteful hair and makeup, and beaming smile. 

But the vibes were only just getting started.

Vendors | Venue: Emerald Union Weddings and Events | Wedding Gown: Grace Loves Lace | Florals: Alex with Poppy Flowers | DJ: JTunesMusic | Groom’s Suit: | Men’s Wearhouse | Hair and Makeup: One10Beauty | Cake: Homestyle Bakery Nashville | Bridesmaid Dresses: Birdy Grey | Groomsmen Suits: Men’s Wearhouse | Catering: Crave Catering

Two-Story Layout of Elegant Wedding Venue in Tennessee

Give me a balcony, and I’m going to make the most of it. Give me an indoor balcony on the other hand, and I’m going to properly SWOON. 

And swoon, I did. 

Capturing the exposed brick, glimmering fairy lights, and ceremony from up above was magical beyond belief. It’s not every day you get a bird’s eye view on your own love story, but Mikayla and Karsten certainly did when I sent them their gallery. One of the many ways to get stunning documentary-style photographs from your wedding day is to have a lot of variety to choose from in one wedding venue.

If the fact that The Emerald Union is a wedding venue in Tennessee where you can escape the sweltering Southern heat isn’t reason enough to have your summer wedding here, then this balcony (and the different vantage points I was able to capture, as a result) should definitely do the trick.

To make the deal even sweeter, the combo of The Emerald Green’s reception space and flash photography was to DIE for. Vibes on vibes on vibes.

See for yourself.

Charming Southern Street View of Wedding Venue in Tennessee

Oh, but I’m not done making my case for this charming, detail-adorned space. Not at all. 

I could certainly keep going on and on about the chandeliers and the florals and the warm atmosphere. But we can’t forget about what waits on outside of the The Emerald Union. 

While I know staying inside for your Southern summer wedding is kind of the point, Karsten and Mikayla were totally game to wander outside for a hot minute (no pun actually intended) to take advantage of the quintessential small town Tennessee vibes that Gallatin offers. The brick buildings and emerald green front of the wedding venue kept the rich, warm tones consistent, but it also just gave us something a little different to work with. 

One of my claims to fame, so to speak, is crafting an entire story out of a single day, and having different settings to capitalize on only helps that cause. 

Worry no longer, newlyweds-to-be. You can, in fact, have the Southern summer wedding of your dreams, thanks to The Emerald Union and how much heart and soul they’ve put into their indoor space.