Wedding

September Sunset Shenandoah National Park Elopement | Cabin Wedding in Virginia | Blue Ridge Mountains Elopement

We started our day at their Airbnb, out in the middle of nowhere. They found a lovely spot in the yard to exchange vows and rings. For extra privacy, I kept my distance during their ceremony. Then we wandered around the cabin, checking out everything it had to offer : the driveway in the tall trees, the porch, the field of ferns, and the waterfall was all within such a short distance. Then we took a drive through rain up onto Shenandoah National Park, but when we got there the rain had stopped and the sun was coming out from behind the clouds in full force with the wind. It felt exactly like Scotland, which was perfect because that’s where they got engaged. They had a toast of Scotch while we enjoyed the quiet, peaceful, breezy sunset.

This Elopement Included :

  • Getting ready at their Airbnb tucked away at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains - where they stayed for a whole week.

  • A private ceremony in the yard of their Airbnb - I stayed back far enough to get photos but kept their privacy.

  • Hand-written vows in their own journals.

  • Beautiful floral bouquet and a classic silk wedding dress.

  • Exploring around their Airbnb - fern fields and a short hike to a waterfall.

  • Driving to Skyline Drive to watch Sunset and drink Scotch.

  • Back to their Airbnb for champagne and cake.

Gorgeous bouquet by She Loves Me

Stony Man Summit Elopement in June | Sunrise Hiking Elopement in Shenandoah National Park

This wedding day consisted of :

5am meet up - meaning a 2:30am wake up.

A small hike through the dark woods.

Putting the boutonnière on by flashlight (app).

Getting completely naked to change into wedding clothes on top of a mountain.

Setting up a video to send to family and friends after.

Crying during vows, songs, and poems.

A first dance to a favorite song, all alone.

Reading letters from family.

Laughing and crying.

Taking off the dress shoes.

Hiking through the woods in the fresh daylight.

Finding a forest of giant ferns.

Napping.

Cloudy May Sunset Ceremony | Elopement in Shenandoah National Park

Remember these two? I photographed Jacob’s proposal to Kaylea back in November at this exact same spot where their ceremony was.

Kaylea and Jacob had to change their wedding plans quickly. Originally they were doing a backyard wedding in May with all their family and friends, but with groups being down to 10 or fewer, they decided to switch their date and location and it was just in time because a couple days later Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive closed due to Covid-19 (they’ve announced they are open again!!)

It was just their parents and their officiant. Jacob’s suit arrived quickly from an online order and fit perfectly (phew!) and Kaylea’s bouquet was picked by her mom there at their farm.

After their ceremony they took family photos and were given an envelope with their instructions for how to get to their Bed & Breakfast - it was like a scavenger hunt! We took couple portraits at a few overlooks, where they got some congratulatory honks from passersby.

It was wonderful and emotional and gorgeous, even if it was pulled together quickly and unlike their original plan - but at the end of the day they were married and still had some of their important people there to celebrate them.