Leah + Chuck's Intimate Mountain Wedding at Banner Elk Winery | NC Elopement Photography

Leah and Chuck were looking for a low-stress wedding day experience. They wanted to keep it simple with a small, intimate ceremony instead of taking on the overwhelming task of planning a big destination wedding from far away.

Eloping was an idea the couple explored and they chose an all-inclusive elopement package that the Banner Elk Winery offers to couples looking to get married in the high country without all the fuss.

Another reason they chose Banner Elk Winery as their NC wedding venue is because they visited this gorgeous place the week they got engaged in the Blue Ridge Mountains and they felt like it provided exactly what they were looking for on their wedding day.

Initially, it was only supposed to be Leah and Chuck making the trek from Florida to North Carolina for the wedding, but immediate family was invited after all because they couldn't image doing it without their loved ones there to witness their union.

By the time that I made it to meet Leah at the villa, she had already gotten her make-up and hair done by Beautiful Bride on Location. I recommended this mobile service to the bride because they are one of my favorite wedding vendors to work with here in the high country. Marion Edwards is one talented laydeh and so is her team! Doesn't Leah look gorgeous?!

She's wearing a Casablanca Bridal strapless dress with a lace overlay, intricate bead work, and a small train. Her bouquet was a pleasant surprise as Leah had no idea what it would look like. All she knew was that she wanted it to be tones of PURPLE! It matched the delicate amethyst necklace, bracelet, and earrings she was wearing.

There wasn't much time for me to work with before their ceremony was due to begin, so I had to hustle to get as many detail and getting ready shots of the bride as possible. Once Leah was ready, I had about 7-minutes for bridal portraits outside on the patio before her Dad escorted her to the altar.

The moments in between the excitement of the bride putting her dress on and the anticipation of walking down the aisle with dear ol' Dad are my favorite stages to photograph on a wedding day because of the wide range of emotions felt during that time. It's truly a beautiful thing to capture.

Leah and Chuck's wedding took place in the midst of fall on a seasonably cold and windy day during the month of October.

They kept the nuptials short and sweet because folks were freezing but they were being such troopers, especially Leah in her strapless wedding dress.

At the end of their intimate ceremony we quickly took a few family photos before the small group retreated to the tasting room for a champagne toast, cake, and heat!

After they spent some time with family, I whisked them away to several outdoor locations around the winery for a few bride and good "just married" photos while guests stayed warm and cozy indoors.

It wasn't too long after that Airhaven Limousine showed up in the shuttle bus to chauffeur the group to The Best Cellar in Blowing Rock, NC for the second half of their wedding reception. Air Haven was another vendor that I recommended to Leah when she contacted me for a transportation referral because they also provide such great service!

This was the first elopement/intimate wedding that I've had the pleasure of photographing, and I sincerely hope there will be more to come because they are so different from the full-day weddings I have grown accustomed to. Don't get me wrong, I do love the all-out parties but this was such a nice change of pace.

I only met Leah and Chuck on their wedding day since they were planning all the way from Florida, but we kept in close communication during her planning process.

Leah said, "Out of the photographers we spoke with I felt that Jessica was the best fit for us. I also have been very impressed with how helpful she has been in the overall planning process. I couldn't have done it without her!"

It's too bad that I wasn't able to spend more than 2-hours with them on their wedding day, but I'm so happy that I could capture their special connection even if it was only for a short time.

CONGRATULATIONS to Leah & Chuck! You're MARRIED! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY! I wish you two newlyweds epic adventures in life and love, and I hope that your marriage will only grow stronger as you continue this journey together!

Thank you so much for choosing me to photograph your destination wedding at Banner Elk Winery, it was an honor to be a part of your special day!

Want to see more wedding, engagement, & family photos from Wayfaring Wanderer? Please sign-up for the Weekly Wander to be notified » GET NOTIFICATIONS!

Hi! My name is Jessica a.k.a. Wayfaring Wanderer and I reside in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains here in Boone, NC. I'm a free-spirited wedding, engagement, and lifestyle photographer who loves working with couples, families, and individuals who are committed to travel, adventure, and laid-back lifestyles. If you think we might be kindreds, I invite you to join the WW tribe by signing up [ HERE ] for weekly updates & get connected to the [ WW Facebook page ] to join the conversation! | Website www.wayfaringwanderer.com

{ Featured VENDORS }
» Ceremony, Flowers, & Cake | Banner Elk Winery
» Make-Up & Hair |  Beautiful Bride On Location
» Dress | Casablanca Bridal 
» Tuxedo | Perry Ellis

» Transportaion |  Air Haven Limo

{ Featured LINKS }
» Focusing on the Marriage and Not the Wedding
» Allyson + Younes' Destination Wedding at Westglow Mansion
» Ali + JB's Blue Ridge Mountain Wedding at Grandfather Golf
» Kari + Chad's Mountaintop Destination Wedding at Kilkelly's
» Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | Wedding Styled Shoot @ Camp Sky Ranch

Casey + Sarah's Valle Crucis Anniversary Adventure | Boone, NC Couples Photography

By the time Casey contacted me I was already booked on their anniversary date. I was photographing a wedding that weekend, but because their schedule was flexible we were going to shoot for a session on the day after on Sunday. While I knew I'd be worn out after 16+ hours of wedding photography two days before, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to be a part of his anniversary surprise!

To celebrate their one year anniversary, Sarah bought Casey tickets to see a Washington Redskins game, one of his favorite teams. So, to step it up, he wanted to surprise her with an anniversary session at the Apple Barn in Valle Crucis where they got married in 2013.

It was a beautiful day before their wedding and it was gorgeous the day after, but they told me it poured on their wedding day, which thwarted their plans for the outdoorsy wedding photos they were hoping for.

Due to the heavy rains they had to do all of their photos under cover. They didn't get to do any by the creek nearby and they weren't able to venture over to the Valle Crucis Community Park to have images done by the Watauga River like they wanted to either.

Even though they have images they love from their wedding, they just didn't get everything that they envisioned. That's where I came to the rescue!

With only 24 hours to go before their photo shoot, I got an email from Casey letting me know that they ran into some issues with their transmission, so they wouldn't be able to make it up to Boone.

Scheduling was a bit tricky, but we managed to get a new date on the calendar after a few emails were exchanged. Casey had to spoil the surprise but I heard that Sarah was still overjoyed to learn about this thoughtful anniversary gift.

After our first rescheduling, we hit a few more snags along the way. Some days got mixed up and then we had to cancel because of the dreadful Boone weather we were experiencing, so there were many delays that tried to get in the way. 34 emails and 1-month later we finally made it happen!

Casey and Sarah were a lot of fun to photograph. I mean, look how smitten they are with one another. They made my job ridiculously easy. I love couples that are playful and don't take themselves too seriously. As you can see, these two lovebirds liked to laugh a lot!

When Casey contacted me about the surprise anniversary photo shoot, he told me that all he wanted was a smile for his wife. Seriously, how sweet is that?!

Here's what I would say to Casey: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! I think we all had a blast! :-)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Sarah + Casey! I'm so glad that you two were able to make a day trip up here to Boone so that I could photograph you after your first year of marriage. All of the fuss that we've had to endure in order to make this "surprise" a reality was definitely worth it! I hope you love this sneak peek as much as I do. I can't wait to share more!

Friends & Family: Want to see all of Casey + Sarah's anniversary photos when they are ready to be viewed? Please sign-up for the Weekly Wander to be notified » GET NOTIFICATIONS!

Hi! My name is Jessica a.k.a. Wayfaring Wanderer and I reside in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains here in Boone, NC. I'm a free-spirited wedding, engagement, and lifestyle photographer who loves working with couples, families, and individuals who are committed to travel, adventure, and laid-back lifestyles. If you think we might be kindreds, I invite you to join the WW tribe by signing up [ HERE ] for weekly updates & get connected to the [ WW Facebook page ] to join the conversation! | Website www.wayfaringwanderer.com

{ Featured LINKS }
» Choose Your Adventure Portrait Marathon (Oct & Nov ONLY)
» Focusing on the Marriage and Not the Wedding
» Ali + JB's Engagement Adventure at Grandfather Golf
» Logen + Nick's LGBT Engagement in Downtown West Jefferson

Portrait Photography for Adventurous Folks | Boone & Blowing Rock, NC Area Photographer

I had so much fun doing family portrait photography and engagement photography last year during the fall and holidays that I wanted to offer Choose Your Adventure Sessions again this season!

It's not something that I can do throughout the year as often as I'd like even though I get many requests for family photos. Weddings are taking over! But, I decided to set aside some time this October and November so that I can help families, couples, and individuals create lasting memories because it's something that I truly love to do!

Choose Your Adventure Sessions are for free-spirited folks who are committed to travel and laid-back lifestyles. These sessions are all about having fun and enjoying time with your loved ones! They're great for updating family photos, engagement pictures, anniversary gift, and they can be used for Christmas cards or save-the-dates, too!

The Choose Your Adventure marathon that I am hosting during October and November will be held around the Boone and Blowing Rock, North Carolina areas. I will be hosting a special weekend of mini-sessions that will be photographed at three different outdoor locations here in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains on November 7th, 8th, and 9th:

» Greenway Trail in Boone, NC (Nov. 7th - Friday)
» Valle Crucis Park in Valle Crucis, NC (Nov. 8th - Saturday)
» Bass Lake in Blowing Rock, NC (Nov. 9th - Sunday)

If you aren't able to do a family photography session that weekend, I also have other packages available for the other dates I have remaining in October and November. There are a couple weekend dates available as well as a handful of weekday dates available during both months. The only December availability I will have is from the 1st-7th because I will be taking the rest of the month off to recharge!

I invite you to skip the boring family photos this year and let me focus on moments as they unfold naturally so I can capture you and your family being yourselves. You don't have to worry about stuffy, staged, and unnatural posing when you choose me to be your photographer because the adventure will help you feel more relaxed in front of the camera along with my direction.

Below is a link (click on the image) to my session shop where you can view packages that I currently have available to see if I may have something that fits your needs. To make things ridiculously easy this year, you can pay for your session online right then and there to reserve your space! I'm only accepting a certain number of bookings, so when they are gone that's it!

I'll be doing a fun giveaway that I will announce on Oct. 17th for anyone interested in winning a FREE 60-minute Choose Your Adventure Session for up to 4 people! There will be a chance to win a session in October and November, so stay tuned! Weekly Wander subscribers will get the details first, so I recommend that you sign-up for weekly updates so you don't miss that announcement!

Hi! My name is Jessica a.k.a. Wayfaring Wanderer and I reside in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains here in Boone, NC. I'm a free-spirited wedding, engagement, and lifestyle photographer who loves working with couples, families, and individuals who are committed to travel, adventure, and laid-back lifestyles. If you think we might be kindreds, I invite you to join the WW tribe by signing up [ HERE ] for weekly updates & get connected to the [ WW Facebook page ] to join the conversation! | Website www.wayfaringwanderer.com

{ Featured LINKS }

» No More Boring Family Photos! | Choose Your Adventure Family Photography
» Pennington Family Adventure at Valle Crucis Park 
» Hersey Family Reunion Adventure on Lake James, NC
» Scott Family Hiking Adventure on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Allyson + Younes' Destination Wedding at Westglow Mansion in Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Chatter from family and friends could be heard upstairs as they began to gather in the Westglow Mansion. Allyson, the dazzling bride, stayed behind closed doors with her bridesmaids as she eagerly awaited word that, "It's time!"

At 3:00 pm the ceremony proceedings had yet to begin, so I elected to go downstairs and find out where we were in the timeline. Jen, the wedding coordinator whispers, "Don't tell Allyson, but the groom hasn't arrived yet!"

After hearing this development, the last thing I wanted to do was go lie to her face, but keeping a calm bride was more important! So...I sucked it up and told the laydehs to hang tight since they were "waiting for more guests to arrive."

I can't remember who spilled the beans, but they nonchalantly shared that Younes wasn't there on site! Surprisingly, she laughed it off and joked that she should have told him to get here at 2:45 so he had a chance of being on time! hahaha

I'm happy to report that starting the ceremony 15-minutes or so later was the only snag this couple hit all day! Truth be told—you're going to be shocked when I tell you this—the majority of weddings DON'T start on time! Gasp!

Going with the flow on your wedding day is crucial and Allyson was definitely a mellow bride so she wasn't phased at all by the delay! But, I will say, she was ready to get the party started!

It took an extensive amount of planning for this Charlotte, NC couple to put together their destination wedding here in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but Allyson fell in love with the panoramic views at the Westglow Resort and Spa so she was willing to put forth the extra effort to make it happen!

Bringing family and friends together from far away to celebrate their marriage in the mountains was most important to them.

Younes' Mom traveled all the way from Morocco to see her son get married and escort him down the aisle! While they wanted to keep their ceremony short and sweet, the couple wrote their own vows that had everyone emotional.

Even though we didn't have the opportunity to meet Allyson and Younes prior to their wedding day, we became fast friends. From the get-go I knew that this bunch was laid back and that they liked to have fun!

They had no qualms about letting loose and treated Cody (my side-kick and second shooter) and I like one of the gang. I felt like family from the instant I met the Holmes tribe because they joked and cut up with us all day!

I will admit, though, that they were a lively and unruly bunch at times but it was all in good fun! It definitely kept me entertained, that's for sure!

At one point, Cody and I were asked, "Is it always this hard to coordinate family pictures?" In unison, we both shouted, "YES! ALWAYS!" hahaha It's actually pretty funny to witness even though I have to be Mrs. Bossy Pants! :P

I loved the vintage-inspired wedding decor that Allyson used. It was super chic and complemented her gold, light rose, and moss color scheme so nicely.

The palette was picked to match the jaw-dropping back details of her Claire Pettibone wedding dress!

Allyson had a couple DIY wedding details that she worked on to add a little natural flair to their reception table decor. I liked how simple but elegant the gold-painted pine wood carved table numbers were.

And how adorable are the succulent party favors in painted gold pots?! She told us to grab one for ourselves on our way out but I totally forgot, and now I'm kicking myself because they were so cute!

This formal affair had a casual vibe that I think was connected to the spirited guests. The dance party photos will attest to the liveliness of this crowd, although you're going to have to wait to see those!

We had a lot of fun photographing Allyson & Younes' wedding at Westglow in Blowing Rock, NC, and I hope that they enjoy this sneak peek of their wedding photos while on honeymoon in Key West, Florida!

CONGRATULATIONS to Allyson & Younes! You're MARRIED! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY! I wish you two newlyweds epic adventures in life and love, and I hope that your marriage will only grow stronger as you continue this journey together!

Thank you so much for choosing us to capture your destination wedding at Westglow, it was a blast being a part of your special day!

Friends & Family: Want to see all of Allyson + Younes' wedding photos when they are ready to be viewed? Please sign-up for the Weekly Wander to be notified » GET NOTIFICATIONS!

Hi! My name is Jessica a.k.a. Wayfaring Wanderer and I reside in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains here in Boone, NC. I'm a free-spirited wedding, engagement, and lifestyle photographer who loves working with couples, families, and individuals who are committed to travel, adventure, and laid-back lifestyles. If you think we might be kindreds, I invite you to join the WW tribe by signing up [ HERE ] for weekly updates & get connected to the [ WW Facebook page ] to join the conversation! | Website www.wayfaringwanderer.com

{ Featured VENDORS }
» Ceremony, Reception, & Catering | Westglow Resort & Spa
» Floral Designer | Pink Petunia Designs
» Dress Designer |  Claire Pettibone

» Music (DJ) | Split Second Sounds

{ Featured LINKS }
» Focusing on the Marriage and Not the Wedding
» Ali + JB's Blue Ridge Mountain Wedding at Grandfather Golf
» Kari + Chad's Mountaintop Destination Wedding at Kilkelly's
» DIY Down-Home Backyard Wedding: Emma + Alex
» Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | Wedding Styled Shoot @ Camp Sky Ranch