Bridge Building Wedding in Summer
Downtown energy without the chaos? Yes please. For this Bridge Building summer celebration, I photographed the first look, couple’s portraits, family and friends, and details — a streamlined coverage plan that still gave us iconic skyline frames and a relaxed timeline.
At a Glance:
- Date and season: June 2024 — Summer
- Venue: The Bridge Building, Nashville, TN
- Coverage: First look, portraits, family and friends, details
- Vibe: candid editorial, modern city views, warm summer light
- Portrait spots: rooftop, riverwalk, John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
- Light plan: late‑day portraits for skyline glow
- Comfort plan: shade scouting, water breaks, minimal walking in peak heat
- Lead photographer: Cayla Evans
Getting Ready Touchpoints and First Look
We kept prep light and candid — a few detail frames, quick moments with friends, then straight into a first look to beat the heat. The bridge doesn’t offer much privacy but we made it work. The result: editorial frames with the skyline peeking in, minus the midday harshness.
Downtown Portraits With Skyline + River Views
With a compact shot list we could wander without rushing. We took a short stroll onto the pedestrian bridge for that classic Nashville skyline and then made our way to the underside of the bridge for some modern, architectural frames.
My direction is minimalist: micro‑prompts over poses, so portraits feel comfortable and read candid on camera. Think walking, leaning into each other, a spin when the breeze cooperates, and a quick forehead‑to‑forehead reset when it’s, you know, spicy af outside.
Planning a Summer Wedding at The Bridge Building: What Works Best
- Timeline and light
- Schedule portraits late afternoon into golden hour. Downtown concrete reflects; the light gets much friendlier as the sun drops.
- Heat strategy
- Shade scouting on rooftop and riverwalk
- Short walk windows and built‑in water breaks
- Blotting papers and a compact fan are good to have on hand
- Portrait route
- Pedestrian bridge → below the bridge → riverwalk → back to AC
- Wind and audio notes
- Rooftop breezes can be real. Veil pins help, and if you’re doing private vows, move 10 feet out of the wind tunnel for clean audio.
- Rain or extreme heat backup
- The indoor space with floor‑to‑ceiling windows still gives city‑view portraits in AC. We can also use covered areas near the riverwalk.
Vendor Credits
Planning: Infinity Hospitality
Venue: The Bridge Building
Florals: Lauren Sartain
Ready to plan your wedding? Check availability.
My couples usually tell me the same thing: having me at their wedding felt easy. Like they could actually be present and soak everything in, knowing someone was paying attention without needing anything from them.
That's the whole point.
You're not hiring me to direct you through a shot list or make you perform for the camera. You're hiring me to document your day as it unfolds. The way your mom looked at you during your vows. The toast that made everyone lose it. The moment you two finally exhaled and realized you were married.
If you're planning something outdoorsy, intimate, or a little adventurous, if you value natural moments, and want a photographer who feels more like a friend than a stranger with a camera, then you're in the right place.
You get to laugh, cry, and actually experience what's happening on your wedding day. I make sure nothing slips by. Your photos feel real because the energy behind them was real. No forcing, no performing. Just you, living your day.
