There are venues that feel like backdrops, and then there are venues that feel like characters in the story. The Estate at Cherokee Dock is the latter — a place so layered with beauty that every turn of the grounds offered something new, something unexpected, something made entirely for photographs.

— Rachael Knaak, Harp & Olive Photography

I had the privilege of attending this celebration as a second photographer — supporting the incredible lead photographer Rebecca Musayev, and capturing the moments unfolding all around the day. And what a day it was to be behind a camera at. Nestled on 15 acres of breathtaking Tennessee landscape just outside Nashville, The Estate at Cherokee Dock sits on the banks of Old Hickory Lake and the Cumberland River in Lebanon, TN. The lakefront views alone stop you mid-sentence.

This was a day defined by light and florals. Bright, abundant spring blooms in shades of blush, cream, and vivid coral cascaded everywhere — from the ceremony arch to the tabletops to the bride’s oversized bouquet. Against the blue-grey shimmer of Old Hickory Lake and the lush green grounds, the color was extraordinary. As a second shooter, I had the freedom to move fluidly through the day — catching candid moments, wide establishing shots, and quiet details while the lead photographer focused on the couple. My camera loved every frame.

A Venue That Does the Heavy Lifting

As a Nashville wedding photographer who has had the privilege of working both as a lead and as a second shooter at some of Tennessee’s most celebrated venues — from grand historic mansions to intimate garden estates — I can say without hesitation that Cherokee Dock holds its own with all of them. And it does so in a way that is uniquely its own: layered, romantic, and undeniably lakefront.

One of the things I love most about second shooting is the perspective it gives. While the lead photographer is anchored to the couple, I’m free to roam — to find the grandmother wiping a tear in the third row, the flower girl spinning in the aisle, the way the water catches the light at the far edge of the lawn. At a Cherokee Dock wedding, there is genuinely no shortage of things to point your lens at.

What sets The Estate apart is the sheer variety of spaces across the 15-acre property. A couple choosing this venue isn’t choosing one backdrop — they’re choosing an entire landscape. The Lakeview Event Center with its retractable glass doors and panoramic views. The Lakeside Lawn extending right to the water’s edge. The Sunset Terrace catching the last golden light of evening. The intimate Serenity Gardens and the sweeping Willow Oak canopy. For any photographer working this day, it is a gift.

There is something about second shooting with a lake at your back and golden Tennessee light coming through old oaks that makes every photograph feel inevitable — like the camera was always supposed to be here.

The Ceremony: Lakeside in Full Bloom

The ceremony took place on the Lakeside Lawn — one of the most striking outdoor ceremony settings at any Tennessee wedding venue. The wide-open lawn opens directly toward Old Hickory Lake, so guests seated in ceremony chairs have an uninterrupted view of the water shimmering behind the altar.

As the second shooter, I positioned myself on the opposite side from the lead — working the crowd, the reactions, the small moments that tell the fuller story. When the bride came down the aisle, I was in the middle of the guests capturing the emotion in the room. The lake was right there behind her, framing everything.

The florals were nothing short of spectacular — lush, overflowing, and full of that early summer vitality. Hydrangeas mixed with garden roses and trailing greenery spilled over every surface. Against the natural backdrop of the estate, the flowers looked wild and intentional at the same time, which is the hardest balance to achieve and the most beautiful when it lands.

Ceremony light at Cherokee Dock is something worth noting for any photographer considering this venue: the open lakefront orientation means the space is beautifully lit even mid-day, because the water and sky create natural reflective light rather than harsh shadows. Remarkable to shoot in.

Golden Hour on Old Hickory Lake

If you are planning a lakefront wedding in Tennessee and asking what one thing matters most for photographs — it is the light. And at Cherokee Dock, the Sunset Terrace on the west side of the property gives every photographer something extraordinary. When the sun drops toward the Cumberland River, the entire estate goes golden. The water catches fire. The trees glow. Every surface turns warm and cinematic.

As the second shooter, golden hour is where I thrive. While the lead worked with the couple on the shoreline, I was moving through the reception space, catching guests in that last warm light, details on the tables, the way the tent glowed from inside as dusk came on. The images from this window of the day are consistently among the most treasured — and this wedding was no exception.

01 Request a Sunset Ceremony Time The Sunset Terrace earns its name. Plan your ceremony or cocktail hour to catch the final hour of light on the west-facing water. The photographs are unforgettable.	02 Use the Lake for Portraits Many couples stay near the main venue spaces — but the shoreline of Old Hickory Lake offers a completely different backdrop. Ask your photographer to plan time here.
03 Embrace the On-Site Lodging Cherokee Dock offers weekend lodging on the property. Getting ready with your bridal party right on-site adds morning light moments and saves precious time on the day.	04 Plan a First Look on the Lawn With the lake as your backdrop, a first look on the Lakeside Lawn is among the most natural, emotional, and beautifully lit moments I’ve ever photographed at any venue.

The Estate at Cherokee Dock: A Venue for Legacy Photography

There are weddings where you finish the day and feel like you did your job well — and then there are weddings where the venue does something to you, changes what you understand a photograph to be. Cherokee Dock is the second kind.

The combination of the lakefront setting, the variety of spaces, the quality of light, and the simple natural beauty of 15 private acres outside Nashville makes this one of the truly exceptional wedding venues in Tennessee. Having experienced it as a second shooter, I walked away already hoping to return as a lead — because every space on this property deserves a full day of attention.

If you are considering The Estate at Cherokee Dock for your own wedding, or if you are searching for a Nashville wedding photographer to lead your photography from start to finish — I would love to connect. Reach out through the link below, and let’s begin the conversation.

View the full gallery of a wedding at The Estate at Cherokee Dock here.