Summer in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains offers the absolute besttttt backdrop for a wedding elopement. With mild temperatures and lush greenery, the mountain landscape creates a stunningly romantic atmosphere. The picturesque views of the mountains from the Blue Ridge Parkway, combined with the vibrant flora and fauna, make for a truly breathtaking setting. Plus, the many hiking trails, waterfalls, and other natural wonders offer endless opportunities for adventure and exploration.

Delaney & Brandon’s North Carolina mountain elopement was a truly unforgettable experience.

Follow along and see their beautiful summer day!

 

 

 

The Couple

Delaney and Brandon met working on a Solar Farm. They have been together for 3 years.

Brandon proposed to Delaney the night before their 3rd year anniversary, sitting by a campfire outside the “Hobbit Hole” airbnb they were renting for the weekend. 

Delaney enjoys reading, crochet, and social dancing like salsa and kizomba. Brandon loves musical instruments including guitars and piano and playing video games. They have a 6 year old son and love to go camping and hiking. 

It’s always inspiring to see a couple who loves to be outdoors really embrace that for their wedding day. It just makes sense to marry the love of your life in a private ceremony, with nature all around.

The couple decided to elope because they have their eye and budget on saving for a house, so a big wedding just had no real appeal. With family scattered all over the country, it also would have been difficult to find a perfect location, so an adventure elopement with just the two of them really resonated. 

Delaney said “A courthouse just never sounded attractive, and we both agreed something outdoors and simple would be preferable. A google search led me to you guys, and the photos are just amazing.”

We were honored to plan and capture their summer North Carolina mountain elopement and provide them with memories to last a lifetime.

 

 

Special Touches 

The beautiful rope above was used for Delaney and Brandon’s hand-fasting ceremony and we loved the way the white and blue popped amongst the brown and green forest colors. 

A hand-fasting ceremony is an ancient Celtic ritual that involves binding the hands of the couple together with ribbons or cords as a symbolic gesture of their commitment. It represents the couple’s union and the tying of their fates together.

Including hand-fasting can create a more personal, intimate ceremony for the couple. The colors of the hand-fasting rope can be customized to reflect the couple’s individuality and personal tastes.  It can also honor and incorporate the couple’s cultural heritage, especially if they have Celtic roots.  But while the hand-fasting ceremony has its roots in Celtic tradition, similar rituals have been used in various cultures and religions for centuries.

For instance, in some Hindu wedding ceremonies, the bride and groom’s hands are tied together with sacred thread, known as “Mangalsutra,” which symbolizes their union and commitment to each other. Similarly, in some Native American traditions, couples may participate in a “binding ties” ceremony where their hands are bound together with cloth or other materials.

 

The First Look

The “first look” is a treasured moment shared between the couple just before their wedding ceremony. It’s a moment where they can see each other for the first time, in all their wedding attire, and bask in the joy of their love.

Even if the couple is eloping, and it’s just the two of them, having a “first look” can still be incredibly meaningful. This moment allows them to connect in a private space, to calm any pre-wedding jitters, and to hold space before for each other before involving anyone else into their experience. 

When the time comes for the ceremony, the couple will feel more present, having already had a chance to see each other and spend some time together. And let’s not forget the opportunity for breathtaking photos that will be cherished for years to come – props to our photographer Maddie for the amazing snaps!

 

 

 

The Ceremony

When we asked Delaney was she was looking forward to most about eloping, she said, “The actual ceremony. Transitioning from two separate people to a married couple. We live together, share finances, and are essentially married in every way that matters, but the ceremony just means a lot to me. “

Officiant Jay led the couple through a beautiful ceremony in the woods which included hand-fasting, exchanging of rings, and of course, a big kiss to seal the deal!

 

 

 

 

 

Wandering & Climbing

 

 

 

Ending the Day

After meeting these two and seeing their love in bloom, we know they will share their light with the world around them!