Blue Ridge Mountain Elopement: Jessica & Colin
A true inspiration for a full day elopement adventure in the mountains, from a gorgeous sunrise hike, kayaking on a crystalline lake, and a delicious chef dinner.
When I first hopped on the phone with Jess and Colin to talk about their elopement, they mentioned they were thinking about just heading to the courthouse. Why? Mostly because they didn’t love the idea of being posed all day—and honestly, they weren’t sure if those dreamy Blue Ridge Mountain elopements they’d seen online were actually as good as they looked.
They were drawn to those adventurous, intimate elopements they’d seen in photos—but deep down, they didn’t fully believe they could have something like that for themselves. It felt a little too far-off, a little too staged. And since they didn’t exactly love being in front of a camera, the idea of spending money on what felt like a photoshoot didn’t make much sense.
Which, to me, was perfect.
Because here’s the thing—I’ve always believed the experience of your elopement day matters just as much (if not more) than the photos and video. The memories you make together, how present you feel, how much joy you soak in... that’s what brings your photos and film to life later.
If you’re being posed and directed all day, even the most beautiful images can feel kind of empty. But if your photos and video are just a reflection of a day you actually loved living through—those are the ones that’ll mean something for decades.
Thankfully, Jess and Colin trusted me. We planned a full-on adventure day that felt easy, personal, and true to them from start to finish. And it was so good.
The Elopement Need-to-Knows:
Their Package: Full (10 Hours)
Time of Day: Morning and Evening
Location: Cherokee National Forest, Watauga Lake, & Private Rental
Setting Off from the Trailhead
Jess and Colin met me at the trailhead way before sunrise—so early it was still completely dark out. We said our sleepy hellos, strapped on our headlamps, and started up the trail with all our gear on our backs.
As we hiked, we talked about life, their plans, and how they’d been so nervous about getting up this early. (Honestly, they’d even joked that maybe they were a little crazy for saying yes to a pre-dawn start.) But once we were out there, breathing in that cool mountain air and watching the sky slowly lighten, they kept saying how glad they were that they didn’t back out.
We had a beautiful morning sky that shifted from starlight to pink and orange goodness. Once we made it to the top and found a quiet little spot tucked away from the trail, Jess and Colin took a few moments to change into their wedding clothes—separately, so the first time they saw each other would be extra special.
There wasn’t any rushing. No big production. Just the two of them, getting ready in the soft morning light with a little nervous energy and a lot of love.
First Looks at Sunrise
When Colin turned around and saw Jess for the first time, everything seemed to pause for a second. He got this quiet smile on his face, the kind you can’t fake, and Jess immediately teared up. It was sweet, simple, and so full of emotion—the kind of moment that doesn’t need anything extra to feel absolutely perfect.
They hugged, laughed, and stood there for a while just soaking it in: the view, the quiet, and the fact that their day was finally here.
An Emotional Exchange of Vows
When it was time for their vows, I told Jess and Colin to find a spot that felt right—a place they could settle into, feel grounded, and take it all in. They wandered just a bit before picking a quiet little overlook, with the mountains stretching out behind them and the first golden light of day still warming the ridge.
They stood facing each other, took a few deep breaths, and opened their vow books. And then came the words—words they’d written in private, now spoken out loud with teary eyes and full hearts.
This is one of the reasons I love mountain elopements so much: you get to be fully in the moment. There's no pressure, no stage. Just you, your person, and the steady presence of nature all around. Sunrise was already stunning—but the way these two shared their love and gratitude made it feel like the most sacred part of the day.
“Our elopement day was everything we hoped and more. We had truly one of the best days of our lives doing the things we love most. Hiking, drinking coffee, kayaking, good food and drinks.”
— Jessica & Colin
Picnic Breakfast on the Mountaintop
After their vows, Jess was feeling a little chilly—so she pulled on her rain jacket and cozied up while the coffee brewed. As the sun finally crested the ridge and started to warm everything up, she wrapped her hands around the mug and tilted her face to the sky, eyes closed, just soaking it all in.
It was such a simple, beautiful moment—and one that reminded me why I’ve come to love the slightly uncomfortable parts of these adventures. The early alarms, the cold fingers, the long hikes… they make the comfort and the joy that much sweeter when it finally arrives.
Jess and I ended up sharing some cold oatmeal (glamorous, I know), while Colin wasn’t quite hungry yet. But we were all perfectly content—sitting on the mountaintop with the morning sun warming our faces, trading stories and watching the light shift across the ridges.
And what really made the morning feel so full was how much these two made each other laugh. All day long. It was constant, effortless, and just so lovely to witness.
Taking in the Morning Together
By this point in their Blue Ridge Mountain elopement, we had plenty of breathing room—no rushing, no timeline pressure, just space to be present and enjoy the stillness that followed such a meaningful start to the day.
While Jess and Colin soaked it all in, I took a few portraits of them separately—just each of them, in their own little moment, surrounded by the mountains. Not stiff or overly posed, but more like quiet glamour shots with a backdrop that truly matched the vibe of the day. It was sweet and grounding to give each of them a bit of time to themselves—to feel beautiful, powerful, and present in the space we’d hiked up to together.
Once we’d soaked up the stillness, we decided to make our way back to the spot Jess and Colin had originally envisioned for their ceremony. When we’d passed through earlier, it was completely fogged in—but now the clouds had cleared and the view had opened up beautifully. It felt like the mountains were giving us a little gift, right on time.
A Foggy Stroll Down
One of the things I love (and sometimes love to tease about) when you’re eloping in the Blue Ridge Mountains is how quickly the weather can change. That morning, even though rain was in the forecast, we were lucky to get a few solid hours of clear, stunning views.
But as the day went on, the fog rolled in, wrapping the mountains in a soft, misty blanket—and suddenly our hike back down felt like a completely new adventure.
The shifting landscape gave everything a mysterious, magical vibe, and honestly? We loved every minute of it. Sometimes the unexpected moments are the ones you remember the most.
Kayaks, Kisses, and a Cannonball
For the afternoon, we planned some time out on a beautiful mountain lake with their kayaks. Jess and Colin had mentioned in their questionnaire that they own two kayaks but hadn’t gotten much chance to use them lately.
So I asked—what better day to change that than your elopement day?
We set off for a fun paddle and swim session to wrap up the adventure, and it was exactly what they needed. There were plenty of laughs (and maybe a cannonball or two), a lot of sweet moments, and the kind of carefree joy that makes memories stick for a lifetime
Jess and Colin were totally giggly and silly the whole time, and we had an absolute blast soaking in just how perfect that water temperature was. (Seriously, it felt like the lake was giving us a little high-five.) The view? Yeah, it wasn’t half bad either.
I even taught them the classic life jacket floaty trick—perfect for swimming without having to actually do any work. Honestly, THE BEST way to relax in the water.
Then, just for fun, they decided to jump into the lake fully clothed—in their wedding outfits—as a final, joyful HURRAH!
I’m all about doing things just for the heck of it, because sometimes, why not? Those spontaneous moments often end up being the best stories.
“I barely remember her taking photos or video for most of the day. So, when I look at my pictures I feel like I'm stepping into that memory - rather than looking at a picture someone took.”
— Jessica & Colin
Private Chef Dinner for Two
The drive back was rainy, so we had to skip the fire we’d originally planned. But honestly? After all the kayaking and swimming fun, staying a little longer felt completely worth it—and that’s one of the best parts about eloping: you get to move at your own pace.
We didn’t quite make it to that hot tub dip before coverage ended, but no complaints here—because waiting for us at the end of the day was an absolutely incredible dinner prepared by a private chef. Talk about luxury!
It was the perfect way to unwind and savor all the magic from their Blue Ridge Mountain elopement day.
★★★★★
A Love Note from the Couple
“Evergreen Era Films is the BEST!
My husband and I wanted an adventure-style elopement, but initially weren't sure it was really all that it seemed. Were couples actually having blast hiking around in their wedding clothes, or were they just on a big awkward photoshoot? I did ALOT of googling for a photographer/ videographer that seemed authentic and more experienced based. The moment I found Kathryn I reached out, we connected over the phone, and my husband and I knew she was exactly who we were looking for and yes, an adventure elopement was for us.
Kathryn was incredibly fun, responsive, knowledgeable, and professional throughout our planning process. We weren't really sure what an elopement day could look like but through conversation and some Q+A Kathryn put together a full-day timeline that was perfect - she even gave us fantastic location suggestions, among other recommendations.
Our elopement day was everything we hoped and more. We had truly one of the best days of our lives doing the things we love most. Hiking, drinking coffee, kayaking, good food and drinks. Kathryn felt like a friend along for the hike, and the energy she brought to the day was both calming and invigorating. (Outside of being an amazing videographer, she is an incredible human) I barely remember her taking photos or video for most of the day. So, when I look at my pictures I feel like I'm stepping into that memory - rather than looking at a picture someone took.
Speaking of pictures... our photos and video are both incredible. When we received them we both lost our breath a few times. Kathryn did a remarkable job of documenting that day, and our relationship, in a way that feels so true to who we are. It is everything we wanted and more.
If you're on the fence, I'd recommend connecting with Kathryn to get a better sense for the whole experience. And, if you're considering what type of day to book - I'd recommend a full day if possible. We had a 10 hour day, and still ran out of time!”
