What a beautiful Roan Mountain Wedding! We loved capturing this beautiful fall elopement in the North Carolina Mountains for Stormy & Sergio!
Stormy + Sergio
From our very first phone call all the way through their incredible day together, we were completely taken in by these two. Their love of life and joyful spirits around each other are intoxicating! So awesome to spend the day with Stormy and Sergio – which was pretty much non-stop smiles, laughs and so full of emotion. We started with getting ready moments at their Beech Mountain airbnb, then a first look in the Roan Highlands just off of the Appalachian Trail, and finished off the day with the ceremony for their Roan Mountain Wedding at elevation, celebrating through sunset. Epic day, to say the least! Follow along with us on the adventure of their wedding day!
The Roan Mountain area is fairly close to Asheville, so if you’re looking for more info on eloping in the area, check out our Guide to Planning your Epic Asheville Elopement. You might also be interested in taking a peek into how we create customized Asheville Elopement Packages, or our post on what you should ask your Asheville Elopement Photographer. Just a few resources we’ve created to help you get started!
Beech Mountain Airbnb | Roan Mountain Wedding
Pro tip: Always rent an awesome airbnb nearby your elopement ceremony location that matches your vibe. There are a few reasons we recommend this:
- Having a home away from home will allow you to start your wedding day in relaxed form
- An awesome rental property that you like adds so much to your getting ready photos
- Weather. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out – that’s when a covered porch or large living area inside an A-frame cabin comes in handy!
Of course, Stormy and Sergio chose an awesome vacation house for their elopement! Located in Beech Mountain, NC it was located reasonably close to Roan Mountain and convenient to so much nearby. They chose to have family and friends along and this big house was perfect.
Free Download: Elopement Budget Spreadsheet
Getting Ready for an afternoon ceremony
Stormy and Sergio were planning a first look on their way up the trail, so we played a little bit of musical chairs at their airbnb keeping everyone separate. Their friends were so helpful to us to work all of this out! We kept the bride and groom in different rooms and then traded spaces to take photographs in the main living area. The large windows were perfect for capturing them in natural light!
Sergio was first up and we loved how his “serious guy” moments would break out into a smile. Marrying your best friend is kind of a big deal after all – so it’s perfectly normal to have a few nerves. But eventually you realize that this is everything you’ve always wanted, and those nerves melt away – especially when your brother steps in to help you with the tie you’ve been messing with for a little too long!
After we “stowed” Sergio away in the basement (really wasn’t all that bad, the guys hung out and played video games for awhile) it was time for Stormy to enjoy her time in the light. She is so much like Sergio … you might catch a serious look here or there, but really there’s all smiles and laughs just waiting to come out! And while we’re talking about photos of Stormy, don’t you just love her choice of colors? Love the greens and dark reds!
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First look | Roan Mountain Wedding
We left the airbnb first with the guys to give Sergio a bit of a head start up the trail to a first look spot we had scouted out for them. Part of the way up the mountain, we knew of this great spot overlooking the valley with two solitary evergreens in the midst of the brown mountain grass. Mark walked with Sergio out to this spot, and it felt very poetic – giving him time to wait alone as he and this perfect pair of trees anticipated his bride.
Meanwhile, Carolyn and the ladies were on their way up the trail. Parking was a little full on this day, a beautiful sunny Saturday in November, but we all made it work!
The next few minutes were absolutely incredible. They both held hands and couldn’t decide when to turn around – and you could see Sergio just dying to look at his bride. Eventually the laughs ensued and they both gave in. So many sweet moments!
Free Download: Elopement Budget Spreadsheet
(Short) Hike to their Wedding Ceremony
This is a great example of why we advocate for thinking about your elopement in terms of a whole day instead of hours. Even hiking a short trail to your ceremony location, there are so many opportunities to stop and take great photos. Not only that, it’s like the old saying “stopping to smell the flowers” or “it’s about the journey, not the destination.” Not that we planned any of this specifically, but we planned space in their day for it to happen. No rush, no stress. Take your time and let the day flow.
On the way up to the top of the mountain, we knew of another great spot to capture them together. Mark ran up ahead to take a wide shot with the mountain in the background, and Carolyn stayed nearby for closer shots. Love how they are catching the sunlight!
Ceremony | Roan Mountain Wedding
Just a short distance up the mountain we arrived at their ceremony spot! We worked around a few other folks who were there to enjoy the view and landed on a heart shaped rock for their ceremony. How fitting!
First Dance Together
Right after their Ceremony, we took Stormy & Sergio to a small stand of trees just below the summit. That’s where they had their first dance, just as the sun covered them in beautiful golden light. How incredibly awesome to see them sharing a moment alone, the light covering them all around!
Photos together
After their first dance, Stormy & Sergio rejoined their friends back at the summit. It was starting to cool off and Stormy covered up in a wool wrap, then we captured them all together! We love interacting with small groups of friends and family during this “photo” time … everyone has a different personality that shines through. The ladies were super proud of their hiking boots, and the guys were all about their sunglasses!
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Celebrating together
One more thing left to do before the sun disappeared over the horizon – pop some bubbly!
Soon the sun disappeared over the mountain and on the way down we stopped to take this panorama of the view.
There is so much to look back on for Stormy & Sergio’s Roan Mountain Wedding. Tops for us is their abundant joy around each other! When we first started planning their day with them, we asked what they are known for among their friends and family. They have a reputation for lightening the mood no matter where they are, and we would totally agree!
Congratulations Stormy & Sergio – thank you so much for choosing us for your awesome elopement in the mountains!
