Ever since Chris and I began discussing getting married, we wanted simple and intimate. Neither of us desired a large wedding; the more we discussed a small ceremony, the more it seemed to grow. By the time we expected close family and friends, we would still have at least 100 people. We both lost our fathers years ago, making a wedding less of a priority to us. Both of us having siblings that live out of state seemed to force any potential wedding into next year, which we didn’t want to wait for. We finally settled on eloping as a solution and just keeping the moment between the two of us. We don’t regret one single decision. Let me tell you about our day since you couldn’t be there!

We started by booking an intimate treehouse Airbnb in Chattanooga called “The Roost”. Upon arrival, we knew it was the perfect choice. Trekking up the stair to the private tent structure and tiny home feel was everything we wanted for our cozy getaway. We purchased a few wedding decorations before arrival and ventured to Whole Foods for the final details, flowers, and cake. Since we were just feeding ourselves, we each picked our favorites, and then the middle was the compromise cake. All 3 received a cake topper, the middle happy couple, and our two pups on each side- Chase and Darla.

The next morning, we woke up and went for brunch. then came back to get ready. We had an 11 am appointment with a notary at the Hunter Museum. In Tennessee, no witnesses are required, and a notary is all that is needed to perform your ceremony. I’d have to say Tennessee makes it extremely easy to elope.

My friend Brita messaged me on the day and asked if we would at least have a photographer as she assumed I wouldn’t take the photos myself. I quickly responded that I brought remotes, tripods, and all the accessories. We did our best, and it was even more fun!

I want to take a moment to mention a few of our wedding details. We did work to cover our “Something old, something new…”

Something old- earrings from Chris’ mother, Janet

Something new- my wedding dress

Something borrowed- heart necklace from my mother, Tishana

Something blue- My dad’s suit jacket from his wedding (dad passed away in 2017)

Sixpence in your shoe- a steel penny from 1943, we couldn’t find a sixpence, so we chose a unique coin from my dad’s collection.

The ceremony was simple, but the day was spectacular. We enjoyed the simplicity and the lack of stress and planning. Afterward, we changed and enjoyed kayaking/paddleboarding on the Tennessee River followed by a well-deserved nap. We constantly wondered how many couples get to take an afternoon nap on their wedding day. After our rest, we went to our 7 PM reservations at OPA! Greek Restaurant. An experience for sure. Upon arrival, we were served appetizers, 3 entrées, and dessert. Then a stack of plates was brought to our table by the owner. He quickly demonstrated how to shout “OPA!” and smash the plate on the floor. The entire restaurant quickly joined in while Greek music played in the background. A dance party on top of the plates began. The entire meal & plate breaking took over 3 hours! An incredible way to end our wedding evening!

A wedding day to remember, and it’s an amazing story we can share, but only we experienced. We hope you enjoy sharing the photos and captured moments with us.

Wedding Day total (not including excursions or Airbnb since those were more “honeymoon” type moments)

Not that a wedding should be cheap, but we enjoyed the lack of expense with eloping and the ability to spend our money on other things. Just a fun memory to look back on.

Marriage License- $40 (discounted due to online marriage counseling)

Cake-$13

Notary-$65

Flowers-$16

Decorations-$35

Dress-$16

Wedding Photography- DIY

Parking- $20

3-hour Greek 5-course meal complete with plate breaking- $207 plus tip

Grand Total: Less than $500