Roan Mountain Elopement

Just us, a nice view, and a day that was actually about us.

When E + M first reached out to me about their Roan Mountain Elopement, they already knew what they didn’t want their wedding day to look like.

They didn’t want a traditional wedding.

They didn’t want family drama, complicated expectations, or a day spent worrying about whether everyone else was having a good time.

They wanted:

“Just us, a nice view, surrounded by nature and an uplifting and supportive environment.”

And honestly? That gave us a pretty damn good place to start.

At the time, E + M were living out of state and planning to relocate to Tennessee. They envisioned getting married somewhere around Knoxville or the Smoky Mountains, with huge mountain views, flowers if possible, a slow morning, and a sunset ceremony.

They imagined a day filled with little things that felt like them — coffee together, a short hike, a picnic, a campfire, a first dance, handwritten vows, and plenty of time to simply be together.

So that’s what we planned.

And eventually, after narrowing down several locations throughout eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, they chose Roan Mountain State Park.

Looking for more elopement inspiration? Check out this blog for 47 elopement locations in the Southeast!

Planning their Roan Mountain elopement

E + M wanted big mountain views, but they also wanted their day to feel slow and private. Choosing Roan Mountain was perfect for them.

We decided on a weekday sunset ceremony in September, which gave us a better chance at a quieter experience while still having the green and blue Appalachian landscape they envisioned.

And the weather couldn’t have been better.

We met at the trailhead on a warm September afternoon with a cool breeze, clear skies, and not a drop of rain in sight.

Instead of rushing to the top, we took our time.

We stopped to admire the views.

We stopped to rest.

We stopped just because we could.

And that’s one of my favorite things about planning an elopement this way: the hike doesn’t have to be something you rush through to get to the wedding. The hike can be part of the wedding.

My Blue Ridge Mountain Elopement Guide helps walk you through planning a Blue Ridge Mountain elopement and my Tennessee elopement guide walks you through all the legalities!

A first look at the top of the mountain

When we reached the summit, E + M found the perfect spot for their ceremony.

But before getting ready, they took some time to just sit with the moment.

They had made it.

They were standing on top of a mountain, surrounded by miles of Appalachian scenery, with their wedding day finally happening.

Then we got into wedding mode.

M changed into his attire while E started on her hair and makeup. Once M was ready, he found his spot for their first look.

E finished getting dressed, took a breath, and walked toward him.

And then they finally saw each other.

No audience.

No wedding party.

No grand entrance.

Just the two of them, on top of a mountain.

Exactly what they had wanted from the beginning.

“I promise…”

After their first look and some portraits, we prepared for the ceremony.

There were one or two other people around while they were getting ready, but once the ceremony began, the summit was theirs.

And then came the vows.

They were emotional.

Really emotional.

The kind where you have to stop because you can’t get the words out.

There were deep belly laughs.

There were sobs.

There were long pauses while they tried to make it through everything they had written.

And there was so much love packed into those words that it was impossible not to feel it standing there with them.

Their ceremony wasn’t long because they were following some predetermined script or trying to fit everything into a wedding timeline.

It took as long as it needed to take.

Because this was the part of the day that mattered.

Champagne, charcuterie, and tarot cards

After they officially became husband and wife, it was time to celebrate.

So we pulled out a picnic.

E + M shared charcuterie and champagne while listening to music, talking about all the things they love, and eventually pulling tarot cards.

It wasn’t elaborate.

It wasn’t a five-course reception.

It was just a beautiful little pause in the middle of their wedding day to sit together, eat something good, drink champagne, and enjoy being married.

And honestly, that’s one of the things I love most about elopements.

You don’t have to fill every minute.

Sometimes the best part of the day is sitting on a mountain with your person and doing absolutely nothing important.

Dancing above the Appalachian Mountains

As the sun began to sink lower, we moved to another spot with 360-degree mountain views.

And they danced.

Not the carefully choreographed kind of first dance where everyone is watching.

Just dancing.

They laughed, moved around, chased each other, and took in the view around them.

Eventually, we made our way toward the trees for some more woodsy portraits.

We brought out the lanterns and wandered through the forest as the light changed around us.

They danced between the trees.

They chased each other with lanterns in hand.

They laughed.

And then the sky started turning red and orange.

So we stopped.

They stood together and watched it happen.

No posing.

No rushing to the next thing.

Just two people who had spent the entire day intentionally making space to actually experience their wedding.

Hiking back down under the stars

By the time we started hiking back down, the sky had completely changed.

The warm sunset colors faded into deep blue.

The moon came up.

The last pink hues disappeared behind the mountains.

And our lanterns and headlamps became more important than the fading daylight.

But even then, the day wasn’t quite finished.

Along the trail, we stopped to catch cicadas and listen to the bugs singing around us.

It was quiet except for the sounds of the forest.

And after spending the entire day surrounded by some of the biggest views in Tennessee, ending the night down in the woods felt strangely perfect.

Your wedding day doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s

When E + M first contacted me, they didn’t give me a Pinterest-perfect wedding plan.

They gave me a feeling.

They wanted a day that was slow, intentional, private, natural, and completely about them.

And that’s what we built.

Their Roan Mountain elopement wasn’t just a ceremony at a pretty overlook.

It was a hike.

A first look.

Emotional vows.

Champagne and charcuterie.

Tarot cards.

Dancing on a mountain.

Lanterns in the woods.

A sunset.

The moon coming up.

And two people who never had to wonder whether their wedding day was actually about them.

Because it was.

And one day, all of this will be a memory.

A story they’ll tell about the time they hiked to the top of a mountain, got married at sunset, danced through the trees with lanterns, and walked back down under the moon.

That’s the kind of wedding day I want to photograph.

Planning your own Roan Mountain elopement?

If you’re dreaming about your own Roan Mountain Elopement or an intimate mountain wedding in Tennessee, North Carolina, or somewhere else in the Blue Ridge Mountains, you don’t have to have every detail figured out before reaching out.

I help my couples with more than just the photography — from choosing a location that actually fits the experience they want to have, to building a realistic timeline around hiking and mountain driving, to making sure there is room in the day for all the little moments that make it theirs.

Your elopement can be slow. It can be intentional. And it can look however the hell you want it to.

Ready to plan yours? Check out my packages and inquire here!