A Sunset Elopement in Linville Gorge: Julia & Melanie
Experience Julia & Melanie’s intimate Linville Gorge elopement in Western NC. Witness love, personal vows, and a sunset ceremony in this tale of connection.
It’s not often that I get to work with friends of past elopement couples, but these two are close with Dani & Mel (you’ll even spot them helping Julia & Melanie get ready in the photos and film below — how fun is that?). Once Julia & Melanie booked their elopement with me, I sent them my questionnaire. One of my favorite questions asks: “What drew you to one another?” Their responses were so heartfelt that I just have to share them with you. I think it gives such a beautiful glimpse into who they are.
Melanie: “Julia is pretty shy and quiet, but also has very cute/artsy style, so for me that’s incredibly adorable and interesting. I could tell immediately that there was a lot underneath the surface and I was dying to know more. She is also highly respected at work and incredibly creative and talented, so I have immense respect for her and that was something that drew me to her initially. Over time I learned that she is very kind and thoughtful, with a beautiful heart, and that is what I love about her most.”
Julia: “I remember Melanie from before and knew that she was a very cool and well-respected teammate, so when I found out she was coming back I was excited to get to know her better. What I didn’t expect to find, but am so grateful I did, was just how smart, funny, caring, and stylish she is! She is so gentle in her approach and thoughtful in her actions. I couldn’t be more grateful to take this next journey with her.”
Aren’t those the sweetest? With words like that, you already know their day was going to be filled with love and intention. Let’s dive into their elopement story, shall we?
Elopement Overview:
Their Package: Half Day (6 Hours)
Time of Year: Early November
Time of Day: Evening / Sunset
Location: Shoji Spa & Retreat / Linville Gorge Wilderness
Getting Ready With Friends
Like I mentioned earlier, one of my past couples — Dani & Mel — are best friends with Julia and Melanie, so of course they were there to help with the getting-ready portion of the day. It made the morning feel extra special, with laughter and support woven into every little moment.
Julia and Melanie chose to spend their elopement weekend at Shoji Spa & Retreat, a local Japanese-inspired resort tucked into the mountains. Their cozy cabin set the perfect tone for the day: warm, inviting, and full of calm. But my favorite detail? Their wedding outfits. Each one was so thoughtfully chosen — casual yet formal, and perfectly reflective of their unique styles.
It was such a beautiful reminder that your elopement day is yours. You get to choose what feels right, and you don’t have to follow any traditions unless they truly resonate with you.
A Quiet First Look & Making it Official
Once they were dressed and ready, Julia stepped out onto the wooden walkway, tucked among the greenery, to wait for Melanie. In a tender little twist, Danny “walked Melanie down the aisle” before sending her off to see her bride. Their first look was simple, quiet, and so heartfelt — just the two of them soaking each other in before the day unfolded.
Right after, they took care of the official part: signing the paperwork with their friends as witnesses. With hugs, happy tears, and a few goodbyes, Julia and Melanie were officially married and ready to begin their celebration.
“We wanted a warm and intimate celebration. Kathryn was able to help us navigate all of the details, she made the whole process easy so we could focus on each other.”
— Julia & Melanie
Hiking Up Hawksbill
With the legalities taken care of and their hearts feeling light, it was time to head up the mountain. Julia and Melanie laced up their boots, packed their vows safely away, and started the climb. The trail wound through quiet forest and opened up here and there with little glimpses of the views waiting at the top.
This part of an elopement is one of my favorites — the in-between moments where you can laugh, pause to catch your breath, and just be together. There’s something about walking side by side toward the place where you’ll say your vows that makes it all the more meaningful.
Since their day fell in early November, most of the autumn leaves had already dropped, leaving the evergreens to take center stage. The rich greens against the bare branches made the hike feel calm, still, and perfectly suited for an intimate celebration.
A Ceremony at Sunset
After their hike, Julia and Melanie arrived at the mountaintop to find their officiant already there, waiting with everything set for their ceremony. The view was breathtaking — sweeping layers of mountains stretching out under a sky turning gold, pink, and deepening blue.
With no one else around, it was just the two of them and their officiant, making the moment incredibly intimate. They had chosen an ordained officiant to make their marriage legal in North Carolina, giving the ceremony both a personal and official touch. As they exchanged vows and held hands, it felt as though the mountains themselves were witnessing their promises.
Even though November hadn’t brought the bright blooms or lush greenery of other seasons, the landscape had its own unique beauty. The grasses and hills carried a brassy warmth, glowing in the soft light, and the cool, crisp air made every breath feel refreshing. It was quiet, intimate, and perfectly suited to their kind of adventure—just wandering, talking, laughing, and taking it all in together.
“Melanie and I were floored with just how beautiful our photos and video were. We couldn’t believe it. Kathryn’s creative eye captured our day perfectly.”
— Julia & Melanie
Private & Personal Vows
Even though these two wanted to have an official ceremony so they could be legally married on this day, they also really wanted to share their personal vows in a private space and time. I made sure we scheduled to do that right after they had their ceremony, so we snuck away into a quiet corner of the mountaintop. As the wind whipped through and sun sank below the horizon, they held each other close and read the heartfelt outpourings they had written each other.
If you watch their film at the beginning of this blog post, you can hear parts of their vows. I particularly love how gentle and soft their tone is with each other. It was something that really stood out to me and I wanted to mimic throughout their film, since it seemed like a core piece of their relationship.
Picnic at Dusk
It was starting to get dark, so Julia and Melanie found a cozy spot to set up a picnic they had brought while looking out at the view. A pretty epic way to spend an evening, if I say so myself! They brought wine and crackers and got to rest and chat to catch up on the feeling of the day so far.
Also, the electric candles really make all the difference for evening celebrations like this! They add such a pop of warmth.
Full Moon Night Hike
Once their bellies were full and the full moon peeked out over the backside of the mountain, we stargazed for a bit together before heading back down the trail. Illuminated by our headlamps, we chatted about life and work and fun and all the beautiful things life brings us for living it.
First Dance in the Headlights
When we arrived back at our cars, we were the only ones in the parking lot, so we turned on the lights and set up for a first dance right there in the middle of nowhere. You could only hear the sound of their feet swishing through the fallen leaves before their song came on the speaker of a phone.
They hugged and put their foreheads together while I swelled inside with joy. What a beautiful thing to witness two people in love, and to be chosen to capture it is an even greater honor.
★★★★★
A Love Note from the Couple
“Kathryn is truly an amazing human. She made our day incredibly special and uniquely tailored to our requests. For Melanie and I, deciding to elope was easy, our biggest challenge was deciding on the location. We knew we wanted it to be in the fall. A chill in the air, big skies, wonderful fall colors. Deciding where, was hard. Kathryn, helped guide us to the perfect location. Providing options for us to research, allowed us to select the experience we envisioned: a sunset hike to the top of the blue ridge mountains. Hiring her was a game changer and made the entire process far more enjoyable. We had actually heard about Kathryn through our close friends. They worked with her for their elopement. I knew first hand about her services and the level of care and thoughtfulness she puts in. When it was time for our celebration, the choice was easy. We wanted a warm and intimate celebration. Kathryn was able to help us navigate all of the details, she made the whole process easy so we could focus on each other.
Now let’s talk about the pictures and videos! Melanie and I were floored with just how beautiful our photos and video were. We couldn’t believe it. Kathryn’s creative eye captured our day perfectly. From our first looks, our mountain top I-dos, to our night hike down, they have become a touching reminder of all the things we love about each other. I would tell anyone on the fence about eloping or using Kathryn, to just go for it. She is incredibly thoughtful and cares about all the details that go into creating a wonderful experience including the people behind the story.”
