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An Old Money Elopement with Modern Confidence | Northside Presbyterian, Chattanooga

I’ve been a silent witness to this love story for years. Watching Beth and William take the long road back to each other—and being invited to document the start of their forever—was an honor I won’t soon forget.

Their vision? A Northside Presbyterian Elopement in Chattanooga: Sophisticated. Subtle. Stylish. As Beth described it, I said, “So… Ralph Lauren meets Brooks Brothers, but make it classic and Presbyterian?” She laughed and said, “If that’s a photography style, then yes!” (For the record: it is now.)

Bride and groom seated on church steps inside Northside Presbyterian in Chattanooga. Bride wears a sleeveless white suit dress with gold buttons; groom in a gray suit and polka dot tie. Cross and communion table in background.
A quiet moment on the steps of the sanctuary—tailored, timeless, and full of heart.

This wasn’t a day for fanfare or fuss. It was a Thursday afternoon, on their lunch break, between grown-up responsibilities and a gaggle of children at home. But what it lacked in scale, it made up for in soul. It was intentional, fashion-forward, and full of feeling.

Three gold wedding rings—an emerald-cut engagement ring, a plain band, and a diamond eternity band—styled on an open Bible turned to Ephesians 5 at Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. Frosted window in the background.
Rings placed on Ephesians 5: a quiet nod to faith, devotion, and the kind of love that chooses daily. Classic cuts, timeless meaning.

The rain didn’t ruin a thing. If anything, it slowed the day down in the best way. Instead of rushing through a tight timeline or faking golden hour, we embraced what the day gave us—and that made room for deeper connection.

Sepia-toned image of bride and groom walking down the aisle together at Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga, viewed from behind. Bride wears a short white sleeveless dress and heels; groom wears a suit. Large wooden cross at the altar.
Walking forward in quiet confidence. No aisle to impress, no audience to applaud—just a shared step toward forever.

Northside Presbyterian’s historic sanctuary gave us warm wood tones, soft window light, and a sense of peace that wrapped around the whole experience. The space felt like a quiet witness to something sacred—and it framed their vows perfectly.

Bride and groom stand before a minister during their wedding ceremony at Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. The bride wears a white sleeveless mini dress and block heels; the groom wears a gray suit. The minister reads from a book in front of a large wooden cross and white-paneled walls.
With no crowd and no chaos, their vows were the focus.

Beth wore a sleeveless, double-breasted ivory dress—tailored and elegant, with just the right amount of edge. It blended femininity with structure, giving “editorial elegance” without trying too hard. William paired a classic gray suit with a light blue shirt and a classic tie with slightly tousled hair, striking that perfect balance between effortless and elevated.

Close-up diptych of a bride and groom exchanging vows at their wedding. The bride smiles softly as she looks at the groom; the groom smiles while she reads her vows. Both are dressed in modern, tailored wedding attire inside Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga.
There’s something sacred about being seen like this.

Together, they looked like a spread in a European fashion magazine.

Three-photo collage of a bride and groom sharing their first kiss and embracing during their wedding ceremony at Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. The bride wears a sleeveless ivory dress and heels; the groom wears a gray suit. One image is edited in sepia tone.
A kiss, a laugh, a moment that felt like home. Effortless, honest, and exactly right.

Because of the rain, we stayed inside a little longer than planned—trading outdoor portraits for quiet time in the chapel. And honestly? It was perfect. Just the two of them, soaking in a few uninterrupted moments of peace (because let’s be real—this was the honeymoon, with a full house waiting at home). It felt sacred, unhurried, and exactly what they needed.


Sepia diptych of a newly married couple walking hand in hand down the aisle at Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. The bride wears a sleeveless ivory dress and heels; the groom wears a suit and patterned tie. Both are smiling at each other.
Signed, sealed, married. A midweek walk down the aisle—cool, collected, and completely in sync.

In those few quiet minutes, with no one else around, it was clear: this wasn’t about recreating anyone else’s idea of a wedding. This was about them. Their history, their growth, and a commitment that had already been lived-in, tested, and chosen again.

Two-photo collage of a bride and groom laughing and exchanging rings during their wedding ceremony at Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. The officiant smiles in the background as they share a lighthearted moment.
Proof that sacred and silly can coexist. Joy like this? It’s the good stuff.

The rain never let up, so we stayed inside—and honestly, it couldn’t have been more fitting. Framed by quiet architecture and soft light, we created portraits that felt intentional, understated, and entirely true to them. No dramatic poses. No performative romance.

Four-photo collage of a bride and groom seated in a pew at Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. The images show candid moments of laughter, closeness, and connection, with natural light pouring in through tall windows. Sepia and color images are mixed.
In a quiet pew, between shared glances and soft laughter, you could feel the years that brought them here—and the ease of choosing each other again.

Their love is more Parisian than pop novel: measured, mature, rich in the kind of way that feels lived-in and well-earned.

Two-photo collage of a bride and groom at Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. The top image shows the couple seated on the altar steps, smiling. The bottom black-and-white image shows them walking down the center aisle together, holding hands.
No grand exit, no big sendoff—just two people walking back into the world, hand in hand, a little more married than before.

Moments like this are why I believe deeply in creating space for connection—not just poses. I don’t show up with a shot list and force you into it. I pay attention to who you are and how you love… and then I craft a gallery that reflects that with intention.

Overhead view of a bride and groom sitting close together in a church pew at Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. The groom has his arm around the bride as they look at each other, captured in a quiet, intimate moment.
From above, the world falls away—and all that’s left is the comfort of being chosen.

When Beth said, “These are EXACTLY what I had in mind!” I smiled, because I knew. I’d listened—and I delivered.

Screenshot of a text exchange with the bride saying, “These are exactly what I wanted and so beautiful!!” followed by, “Eeeeeek!! So happy. You are the best.”
When your client says, “These are exactly what I wanted,” you know you did your job right.

That’s what I mean when I say my work is candid and connected. It’s not about chasing trends or staging perfection. It’s about showing up with heart, matching your energy, and telling the truth of your love story… beautifully.


Here are a few more favorites from Beth and William’s timeless downtown Chattanooga ceremony—refined, personal, and quietly full of heart.

Two-photo collage of a bride and groom during their wedding ceremony at Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. The first image shows the full sanctuary as they stand with their minister at the altar. The second is a close-up of the groom holding the bride’s hands and smiling as she reads her vows.
Big space, quiet moment. Vows exchanged with steady hands and full hearts.
Four-photo collage of a groom becoming visibly emotional during the wedding vows at Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. The bride reads from her notes while the groom wipes tears from his eyes, standing beside their minister at the altar.
The moment it all hit. Sometimes vows don’t just say how you feel—they show it.
Three-photo collage of a bride and groom standing with their officiant at Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. Images include a moment of prayer, stillness before vows, and the officiant smiling at the bride. Mix of sepia and color tones.
A few still moments before the vows. Steady hands, grounded hearts, and a ceremony that felt like home.
Two-photo collage of a bride and groom posing after their wedding ceremony at Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. In the first image, they stand confidently with arms around each other; in the second, they laugh while embracing near a church pew.
That "just married joy" is a very real thing - even during an elopement!
Black-and-white photo of a bride and groom standing closely together between the pews at Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. The groom leans casually against the pew, their foreheads almost touching as they hold each other.
One last moment, just the two of them. No audience. No rush. Just love.
Two-photo collage of a bride and groom taking a celebratory selfie after their ceremony at Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. The bride holds the phone up smiling in the first image; in the second, they both laugh while looking at the screen.
Married in the church, documented on the camera roll. A little joy, a little glam, and a whole lot of love.
Black-and-white candid image of a bride mid-laugh and slightly out of focus, with the groom walking beside her at Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. Captures motion and emotion in a spontaneous moment.
Sometimes the best photo is the one you almost missed. Blurry, breathless, and full of joy.

In a world of big weddings and louder moments, this one whispered—and I’m still thinking about it. Beth and William, thank you for letting me capture something so timeless, so grounded, and so you.








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© 2024 by Ivey Photo

Ivey Photo by Paige Ivey Evatt, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee | Available for National + International Travel
iveyphoto.pie@gmail.com

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