Chimneys Elopement | Andrea + Adam
Andrea and Adam hiking out to the ceremony location with proper footwear and comfortable clothes.
A few months ago, a couple from Michigan reached out to MountainWed Photography about documenting their elopement in the mountains near Asheville.
Back home, Andrea is a nurse, while Adam works in law enforcement. They have busy schedules, are expecting a baby (oh, yeah, Andrea was 6 months pregnant!) and vacation can be hard to plan.
They gave themselves a little extra time before and after the actual wedding day, and I have to say, I am all about that. We talked it over together and they wanted to get married on an off-peak day and time, which would allow a greater chance for privacy on the public lands they planned to marry on.
As you might have guessed, weekends during the tourist season can be crowded at the popular sites, so anticipating that and choosing a mid-week day was perfect for them. Plus, with a few days on either side of the wedding, they also gave all of us the potential backup option in case of bad weather. (In fact, I just had this happen. A recent couple’s chosen wedding day called for high winds, hail, and thunderstorms! And I had an alternate day available, so we ended up pushing the wedding day back a day and for what turned out to be perfect weather.)
Andrea and Adam chose this spot to exchange vows - a beautiful overlook of Linville Gorge.
Having a few extra days surrounding an elopement is a great idea. It allows couples time to go see the location(s) firsthand. For out-of-towners, visiting an unfamiliar spot is a great idea! You get to experience the trail - see what it’s like, how hard or easy it is, how long it takes to get to the view, what to bring, where to have the ceremony, etc. I always scout our locations ahead of time, too, and I like to work with couples to find just the right spots for photos.
The officiant, the couple, and I all met and introduced each other in the parking lot. We connected on things like babies, living in the Midwest, beer, etc., and by the time we were really shooting, it felt like we were friends laughing at old jokes.
Adam brushes the hair out of Andreas face during sunset at The Chimneys.
It was pretty warm that day. Between the sun and blue skies – temps were in the low 80s, which felt a bit hot, but we were all prepared, and thankfully, frequent breezes, shade trees, and occasional clouds kept everyone from feeling too warm.
Full-disclosure: I actually forgot my water jug in the car (which I later hiked back out to get). I can’t stress enough the importance of bringing plenty of hydration and food along. We planned to stay out until dark, so that meant we had several hours in the daytime heat. I highly recommend bringing at least a bottle or two of water per/person (a minimum of 32 to 64oz) if you’re planning to be outside 5 or more hours. If the hike is hard, plan to bring more hydration!
Also, because of the warmth, Adam (smartly) decided to hike out in a moisture-wicking tee and they both wore shoes that were meant for hiking/walking. Hiking in comfortable athletic clothes can be a great option it’s hot out. Showing up overheated can be uncomfortable and be a problem for hair and makeup. Double-check that your dress and suit materials allow for movement, airflow, etc., if you plan to hike far in them. Being over or under-dressed can make even short hikes pretty uncomfortable. If you’re worried about where to actually change into your clothes once you’re out in the mountains, I own a portable changing tent folks can use. It’s easy to assemble, can be carried to location, and has hangers inside so you can hang a suit coat or other item up.
When everyone was settled and felt ready at the location – a beautiful and iconic looking platform of rock, the couple and the officiant found their spots and began the ceremony. I began exploring different angles from various vantage points and made sure to capture candid moments of emotion while setting the scene – which was above a massive gorge of green trees and shrubs, colorful wild flowers and mossy rocks. At one point, a few F-16 fighter jets flew through which was a little surreal and we laughed that they had planned that fly-by as a way to celebrate their marriage. (That would be pretty epic if it actually had been part of the wedding plan all along ;)
Once the ceremony ended, we said goodbye to the officiant, Meagan, and we continued chatting and shooting until dark. The day was a mix of exploring and just some great conversations. They are expecting a baby in a few months and we also had a great time talking about babies and kids and life as a new parent. We all left that day feeling like friends who’d just enjoyed one of the prettiest evenings any of us had seen in a while. For them, the chance to leave the Midwest and experience a place like the Chimneys, which was reasonably close to a sizeable city like Asheville – where they were staying, was really special. The access to such locations being pretty painless and easy - they were beyond stoked! Expectations were met and exceeded!
Below are a few more images from the day—enjoy!
–A
