Smoky Mountains Elopement & Intimate Wedding

Brittany and Cale’s Joyous Intimate Wedding and Waterfall Adventure in the Smokies

Authentic Love in the Smoky Mountains

When we first connected with Brittany and Cale, their excitement for an intimate and meaningful wedding day was striking — and their deep love for each other really showed! From the very beginning, they made it clear that their priority wasn’t about putting on a grand production but about honoring God, celebrating their families, and enjoying each other in the beauty of the mountains. 

Their inquiry email captured it all: “We both knew eloping was the way to go to keep the important things first!” Their vision of a day in God’s Creation, honoring Him; combined with their adventurous outlook on life and deep love for one another, made it such a joy to help bring their dream day to life. 

We can’t resist sharing just a few quotes from their questionnaire to show you the depth of their love for each other! 

“He’s always put others before himself, and his kind demeanor and zealous drive for Jesus is what made me fall for him.”

“Her heart is so pure and I immediately fell in love with her charisma and her goofiness.”

The “Why” Behind Their Decision to Elope

Brittany and Cale had considered the traditional wedding route, but as they expressed to us, “it all felt so insincere—like a production instead of a celebration.” They craved a day that kept God at the center of their day and focused on the things that truly mattered: their love, their faith, and their families.

They had a vision of saying “I do” surrounded by the beauty of the mountains but didn’t have a specific location in mind. That’s where we stepped in to guide them. For them, it was less about finding a “venue” and more about creating an entire experience that felt intentional, sacred, and full of joy.

Their love for God and each other—and their desire to honor their families and embrace adventure—resonated deeply with us. Brittany and Cale’s story felt so aligned with our philosophy of creating meaningful, personalized elopement experiences, and our gratitude for what God has given us in creation to enjoy and explore!

Designing Their Elopement Experience

We worked with Brittany and Cale to develop their initial vision, and it came to include three key needs: an accessible ceremony location for family, a small reception space to celebrate, and nearby adventure spots to explore as a couple. Mountain views and waterfalls were non-negotiables. To bring this all together, we looked across Western North Carolina and eventually found the perfect fit: an event-friendly Airbnb near Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

This Airbnb wasn’t just one house—it was an experience in itself. The property included a large home for the ceremony & reception, a smaller house where Brittany and her bridal party got ready, a converted garage “man cave” where Cale prepared for the day, and even a yurt where more family stayed. Perched on top of a mountain, the property had breathtaking views that set the tone for their day. 

We then curated a plan that blended meaningful moments with family and intentional time for Brittany and Cale to adventure and connect as a couple. From their ceremony surrounded by loved ones to their private hike through waterfalls, every detail was designed to reflect their vision of their day.

Their Elopement Vision: God, Family, and Adventure

For Brittany and Cale, their faith was the absolute foundation of their day. They wanted to honor God in every aspect of their ceremony and made sure to incorporate prayer and intentional moments to reflect this. Their ceremony was one of the most moving we’ve witnessed! During the service, family members came forward to lay hands on the couple and pray over them. It was a powerful, emotional moment that left everyone in tears … including us!

Their day wasn’t just about the ceremony, though. It was also about spending meaningful time with their families and creating memories as a newly married couple. Brittany and Cale’s desire for adventure with a touch of spontaneity led us to plan a post-ceremony hike to explore the stunning waterfalls in the Smokies. They danced, laughed, and soaked in the beauty of their surroundings, ending their day with a quiet picnic by a mountain stream. We call this the “Afterglow” time — we love designing this into your day to give you space & time to soak in that “we just got married” feel!

Brittany and Cale’s Elopement Story | How the day unfolded

Their day was like a beautiful symphony, with each part flowing seamlessly into the next. Here’s a glimpse of how it all came together:

Act I: Family and Anticipation

The morning began with Brittany and Cale getting ready in separate spaces on the Airbnb property. Brittany shared an emotional first look with her parents, while Cale got ready separately in the “man cave.” During this time, we shuttled letters between the two of them that they had written the night before.

Sometimes couples opt for a first look, but they chose not to see each other before the ceremony; instead, they shared a quiet moment of prayer around the corner of the house, holding hands and grounding themselves in faith before finally seeing each other at the ceremony and saying their vows.

Act II: A Ceremony Rooted in Faith

The ceremony took place on the Airbnb’s mountaintop overlook, surrounded by their closest family and friends. As Brittany walked down the aisle, Cale’s tears of joy set the tone for the rest of the ceremony. Everyone was riding on an emotional high! There were so many great moments (like when Brittany was trying to keep it together during her vows, both laughing and crying) but if we had to choose one highlight of the ceremony — it was the collective prayer, with everyone gathered around to bless their union. It was a moment filled with love, faith, and connection that we will always remember.

Act III: Celebration

Following the ceremony, all their guests moved to the back of the house for the brunch reception; and we kept Brittany and Cale aside for a few moments to just be with each other and take in the moment. Then they rejoined everyone to a celebratory entrance for their reception at the main house! They shared their first dance, dances with parents; then some very emotional toast from family. Everyone then settled in for an amazing meal complete with live music from an amazing guitarist, to enjoy quality time with loved ones.

Act IV: Adventure

Now it was time for their adventure! We set out with Brittany and Cale to explore a beautiful part of the Smokies’ with two waterfalls & a leisurely stroll next to a river. Before we got to the park though we stopped for an impromptu coffee break! On our hike they shared laughs, stopped to enjoy the views, danced by the water … we just love how this time allowed them to be immersed in their joy for each other and the day the were experiencing. We ended with a quiet picnic beside a mountain stream, a moment of peace and reflection after an unforgettable celebration.

Fun fact: Brittany brought a polaroid and asked us to take a few shots with it along the way. The catch? There were only a few slots of film left. What a fun challenge to pull it out just at the right time to end up with a string of polaroids at the end of the day! We lined them all up just before saying goodbye, to take a photo of the photos!

Personalized Elements of Their Day: Faith, Family, Adventure, and the unique Airbnb

Brittany and Cale’s day was full of intentional details that reflected their personalities, their relationship, and the special people they included. Here are a few highlights!

Waterfall Exploration: We spent just as much time hiking and exploring as we did for their first part of the day, just to illustrate the importance that going on an adventure was to them! 

Prayerful Moments: From their private pre-ceremony prayer to the group prayer during the ceremony, their faith was woven into every part of their day.

Blending Family and Adventure: In the design of their day, we created just the right balance between celebrating with family and carving out time to connect as a couple.

Unique Airbnb Venue: We specifically chose their Airbnb for the layout which allowed for a seamless flow of their day while offering stunning views and plenty of space for their loved ones.

What They Had to Say About Their Day

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Brittany and Cale’s feedback about their day was full of joy and gratitude. They had spent quite a lot of time trying to figure out the plans on their own, and after working with us they said “We definitely wish we would’ve found y’all sooner!!! After their elopement, their smiles and happy tears said it all. 

Every elopement that we plan and coordinate leaves us with a sense of accomplishment, but also that exhausted feeling that we put 110% into their experience. With these two though … their zeal for enjoying life completely energized us. Brittany and Cale, thank you so much for choosing us and our experience with y’all will always be in our hearts!

Final Thoughts: A Day Rooted in Love and Faith

Brittany and Cale’s elopement wasn’t just a celebration of their love—it was a celebration of their faith, their families, and the adventurous life they’re building together. It was an honor to help them create a day that felt so deeply personal and meaningful!

Looking back, we love how it all came together making God the center of their day. The prayer during their ceremony, truly illustrated that, and in fact — it was nearly the very middle of their day on their timeline — not a coincidence I’m sure! Surrounded by family, hands laid on them in blessing, Brittany and Cale stood as a testament to love rooted in faith. It was a moment of pure connection and grace, and it perfectly captured the heart of their story.

If you’re dreaming of a day like Brittany and Cale’s—full of love, adventure, and meaning—we’d love to help you bring it to life. Let’s craft an experience that feels truly yours.

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The reality of planning a completely customized elopement is that there are many details to pull off the perfect experience. It is a lot more than just finding a beautiful place to get married! If you want expert help putting it all together, we are here to help!

Let’s create something unforgettable together!