Emma and Christian's Wedding at The Barn on New River

I met Emma and Christian last year at the Married in the Mountains showcase at The Barn on New River and we hit it off right away. I could tell by they way they teased each other and were relaxed about the wedding details we’d be a great fit. They were excited about how they met through a common love of White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake and couldn’t wait to gift honey jars to their guests becase they met on Bumble.

They chose not to have a first look with each other, but Emma did have a sweet first look with her dad and her bridesmaids before the ceremony while Christian poured bourbon for his fellas and helped wrangle the littles.

The Barn has a magnificent flower garden for portraits and we were so excited to utilize it before the reception started. Not to mention the ice cream cookie sandwiches from Blue Deer. ;)

The four by four ride to the top of the mountain for sunset photos is a highlight for every couple .Not just for the beauty of the photos, but for the chance to savor the day together. As much as you love each and every guest, no one compares to the one the day was created for to begin with. It was so sweet watching them play around together and talk about how the day had played out. When the Mustang arrived to pick them up, we had to create a few fun memories! Let’s do it again soon you guys!

The Wedding Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola with Aja White

Venue : The Barn on New River

Coordinator: Caroline with The Barn on New River

Dress: Justin Alexander Signature

Suit Designer: Kenneth Cole at Men’s Warehouse

Rings: Diamond’s Direct

Hair: Jill at Shine Hair Lounge

Florist: New River Escape

Officiant: Richard Tidyman

Live Music: Mountain Peak Sound

DJ: Mountain Peak Sound

Catering: The Scarlet Hen

Bartending : Vintage Pours

Dessert: Blue Deer

Rentals: A&J Rentals

Katherine and Rob's Wedding at Sky Retreat

“Actually, the best gift you could have given her was a lifetime full of adventures ”

— Lewis Carroll #aliceinwonderland

When Katherine first messaged me, she said she found me through various instagram tags, and my work stood out as bright and colorful. I immediately knew we’d get along great because bright, bold colors are my favorite….and THEN she said their wedding date was my birthday! June 10th! What more could you ask for?!? I knew we were going to have way too much fun!

She and Rob were connected to both Raleigh and Boone, like me, so we decided to capture their engagement session in Raleigh since their wedding would be at Sky Retreat, one of my favorite Boone Venues. The JC Raulston Arboretum was sure to have plenty of color and I knew it would fit with with their adventurous side.

Fast forward to their big day! We had actually had multiple chats before hand as they navigated various mountain vendors and I was so excited to work with such an incredible team. Most of my couples resonate with my style in one way or another, but I swear Katherine and I could be the same person.

As her friends and family described her adventurous way, they also spoke of her excitement for life and great big feels. She was not shy with her tears, hugs or celebratory cheers! Further they described Rob’s perfect compliment to her personality through grounding; he balances her without holding her back. He might seem shy at first, but he was so comfortable in her presence, he was happy to share a cheers or a cigar, twirl her on the floor, surprise her with a dip and run through the sparklers twice!

You could simply feel the energy between them all day. They were both a big ball of nerves until the moment they saw each other and everything else fell away. When they finally had to chance to really embrace and share a moment together after the ceremony, she melted right into him and you could tell she was home.

I would celebrate with you two every weekend if I could! Thank you for including me in your big day! It was the happiest of birthdays!

The Wedding Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola with Jesse Roberts

Venue: Sky Retreat

Coordinator: Katie Brooks Event Co

Dress: Maggie Soterro - Artimus dress from Simply Blush Bridal

Suit: The Black Tux

Rings: Raleigh Diamond

Hair: Brittany Pruitt

Make Up: April Bennett

Live Painter: Abby Lynne Artist

Arch Florist: Bouquet Florist

Bouquets: Something Borrowed Blooms

Officiant: Megan Roberts

DJ: Welter Entertainment

Catering: Casa Rustica Catering

Cake: Hallmark Cakes

Rentals: The Festive Elk

Bar: Bartenders Plus CLT

Ashe and Justin's Wedding at The Inn at Crestwood

I had the best time getting to know Justin and Ashe at their engagement session at Moses Cone last year. We hit it off right away of course; they are so down to earth and easy to be around. They had no expectations, they just wanted to capture this moment in the exact weather of the mountains. Their proposal was in a thick fog and they loved every minute of it. They hoped their engagement session and wedding day would each be something different to capture the mountains in their entirety. They were not disappointed.

These two met just before covid and found that the world’s shut down only brought them closer together as their dates looked more like long talks on the porch or walks in the park rather than watching a movie. She bought a puppy together they trained little Benson, and that too only brought them closer.

In their sweet ceremony at St Elizabeth’s Church, they shared their first communion together, as well as a their first prayer to Mary as a united couple. After that they had scheduled a two hour break before the cocktail hour began so they were able to enjoy their day together privately before entertaining their guests.

Back at Crestwood, Emerald Empire band brought the party and everyone danced the night away with the chill of fall beginning to settle in around them. It was a perfect day!

You guys thank you so much for including us in your special day!!

The Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola with Shannon Leopold

Ceremony: St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church

Reception Venue: The Inn at Crestwood

Dress: Sealed With A Kiss

Rings: Paffrath Jewelers

Make Up: April Bennett

Florist: Callista Flower Company

Officiant: Deacon Larry O'Toole

Band: Emerald Empire Band

Aspen and Ty's Wedding at the Barn at Fraser Hill

“Love isn’t losing yourself. Love is finding who you are in the arms of another person”

— Marisa Donnelly

What an incredible weekend with these two babes! Surrounded by the thriving Christmas Tree farm at the Barn at Fraser Hill, it felt like Christmas in June! We had to be patient with a little rain in the morning, but the rest of the day was perfect for a mountain summer wedding and everyone danced the night away!

These two met while hiking with their ski team at Price Lake and of course Ty thought that made the perfect backdrop to pop the question just two years later! Both their families were so excited they had met in the mountains and wanted to tie the knot here too because it gave everyone a chance to escape the summer heat and celebrate them in their favorite little mountain town.

In his Best man speech, Ty’s dad said he had found Ty’s mom while attending App State and when he dropped off his son for the first day of freshman year he wondered if he would find his future wife as well. When Ty said he was going to join the ski team, having never raced before, Tait didn’t see how that was going to turn out well… until he met Aspen, when everything fell into place.

In Aspen’s vows, she said, she was looking for a reason to push away every guy before him, but with Ty, she stopped looking for reasons. He was everything she was looking for and more.

It was such a perfect day you guys! Thank you so much for including me!

The vendors who made the day possible:

Photographers: Cynthia Viola with Aja White

Coordinator: Jill Mills

Venue : The Barn at Fraser Hill

Dress: Allure from South's Specialty Clothiers

Engagement Ring: Hayes Jewelers in Lexington (wedding bands from grandparents) :)

Hair and Make Up: Mia McNeill of Mia's Mark Salon

Florist: Bouquet Florist and Gifts

Officiant: Pastor Leigh Tuttle

DJ and Photobooth: DJ Don from Cherished Memories

Catering: Sagebrush Steakhouse

Beer Trailer: Happy Trailers

Cake: Sassy Cat Bakery

Rentals: Boone Rent-All

Get Away Car: Highland Limousine Service

Haley and Kurt's Wedding at The Barn on New River

“When love is a habit, joy is a reflex”

— Bob Goff

Where do I even start with these two. After like 5 minutes of chatting on the phone, I knew we’d be besties for life. I couldn’t imagine another couple more suited to celebrating my birthday weekend with while capturing their special day! They are both total joy bombs who love the world with their whole selves. They said the hardest part of planning the wedding was going to be making sure every single person they loved had exactly what they needed and wanted. They weren’t worried about themselves at all! So completely genuine and compassionate. I just adore them.

And then of course after walking around downtown Old Salem with them at their engagement session, we had already shared all of our best adventures and future adventure plans…hopefully some together! We knew this was going to be such a fun year!

Fast forward to Haley’s Bridals on The Blue Ridge Parkway just a couple weeks ago!! Haley was already becoming a fast favorite human, then she introduced me to Boone! Her nephew is as much a Harry Potter Fanatic as I am and we pretty much left Haley, his mom Ashley and their mom Denise to fend for themselves on the shoot as we chatted about all things magic and muggles lol. When he showed up with a Polaroid Camera on the wedding day I knew who my next second shooter would be!

Side note…is Haley STUNNING or what?!?! I have been dying to share these images!

And then holy moley what a DAY! I couldn’t wait to shoot at The Barn on New River and it did not disappoint! What an incredible venue and I just adore their whole crew. Caroline is a freaking powerhouse coordinator who will make all the things happen, and Paula is just the sweetest venue owner you could meet, so very helpful and genuinely excited about her couples.

When I first spoke with Haley and Kurt about their day, it was evident immediately that the little details, heirlooms, and moments with their cherished people mattered more than anything. For something old, she had her bouquet wrapped in a 4th generation handkerchief passed down through her mother’s family. She had borrowed her grandmother’s wedding band to wear on her right hand. And since they love rival sports teams, her something blue was a Duke patch sewn into her dress. (He had a Carolina Blue lining in his suit)

When her Nana realized she wasn’t going to be present for the wedding, she made her a special book of notes and letters and drawings to send her love from afar and Haley had the whole room in tears as she opened it. Packaged with her Nana’s favorite yellow roses, her presence was felt immensely.

The fellas got ready at the cabins down the road and kudos to my girl Jenni for capturing the morning from Kurt’s perspective!

Don’t ever skip sunset portraits my friends…just don’t. (Or the opportunity to escape the party for a few moments to savor the day with your love)

When you can’t decide if you want a private last dance, a sparker exit, a champagne popping, lit balloons or a firework fountain for your final exit… DO THEM ALL! Seriously! WHAT an exit!! SO very happy for you guys!! Thank you for inviting me on your journey! I cannot wait for all the adventures we’ll share in the future! Cappadocia here we come!!

The vendors who made the day possible:

Photographers: Cynthia Viola with Jenni Chandler

Venue + Coordinator : Caroline with The Barn on New River

Hair: Megan Matthews & Tami Smith

Make Up: Sarah Warrick

Dress: Maggie Soterro from Lasting Impressions

Suit: Stitched By Mitch

Rings: Ballerina Jewelers

Florist and Cake: Dandelions All Things Wedding

Officiant: Rebecca Maynard

DJ: Ben with Mohr Fun Events

Photobooth: Elation Digital

Video: Serrano Film Co

Catering: Gadabouts Catering

Dessert: Blue Deer Cookie

Beer Truck: Tap Truck

Shuttle: Jeff Prestige with Prestige Limousine Service

Rentals: A&J Rental Group

Allison and Karen's Wedding at Overlook Barn

Oh my goodness. I feel like I know these two almost as much as they know each other!

I met them when Allison wanted to propose to Karen at a Treehouse AirBnb in Asheville… I was only TOO excited to drive down there first to see the space and make sure everything was perfect before their arrival. Karen’s mom and best friend were there too, to set up all the fun extras.

When I realized there was no place for me to hide in the bushes, I called Allison, on the road with Karen, and pretended to be the AirBnB host and told her “I would be there to greet them and show them the house.” She rolled with it and when they arrived, of course Karen started asking me questions about when we built the space and I made up all kinds of nonsense. Until of course we reached the bridge, when Allison knew she’d pop the question and I snagged my camera out of the bushes! Never a dull moment in the surprise wedding proposal world!

Fast forward a few months and Karen contacted me to capture HER surprise proposal to Allison at the Linville Falls Winery Christmas Tree Farm! I was so happy there were actually trees to hide behind and could not wait to pop out and show Allison I was there to capture her moment too! Her mom had set up the cutest Christmas tree in the middle of the farm with ornaments and presents, hot chocolate, and of course the ring!

The build up for this weekend made everything flow seamlessly. It didn’t matter that it rained literally 100% of the day without so much as a 5 minute break for photos. They were surrounded by their loved ones and more importantly these two love each other more than I can possibly describe.

Inside or out, their heartfelt vows had everyone (including me!) in tears so no one even noticed the weather. They had every guest fill out well wishes and place a pebble in the bag while they etched their names in their own pebbles. All piled together, every stone brought them to where they are today on their journey and will help blaze the path ahead.

There was never a moment where it wasn’t raining as least a little, so we played with umbrellas for a bit and they just decided to let the rain fall for some as well. Never without a smile on their face, and always filled with love.

That said, we still decided to meet up again over the weekend when the weather broke so they could get the mountain backdrop they were hoping for from Overlook Barn. It was no less special a couple days later, and in fact, more so because there was no wedding day pressure or timeline, just love. While I will always be sure to capture your day no matter what happens with the weather, if you have the option to meet up again the next day with better weather… it never hurts ;)

I have been so honored to be a part of your journey you guys and cannot wait to see what the future holds!

The Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola Photography

Coordinator: Miranda with Simply Bliss Weddings

Venue : Overlook Barn

Florist: Thistle and Twig

Officiant: Amanda Kerr

Hair: Myan Littleton

Band: Courtney Lynn and Quinn

Catering: Sage and Spice

Bartending: Happy Trailers Beer Truck

Dessert Truck: Blue Deer Cookies

Cake: Sunflower Baking Company

Erin and Ian's Wedding at Brown Mountain Beach Resort

“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for a newer and richer experience”

— Eleanor Roosevelt

Erin and Ian know how to throw a party. From the very first conversation they knew they wanted me on site for both the rehearsal and the wedding day, and by the end of the chat, they were adding me for the river day that would follow on Saturday with their guests. And not long after that they decided I needed to be there for the Luau that would follow the river day and of course Sunday Brunch to send everyone off!

This isn’t even including the 3 days of Widespread Panic they attended before the wedding, the Tuesday group hike and Wednesday Rafting excursion. I could not have planned a better wedding week if I had laid out every single detail myself. These two are adventurers to their core and I adore them for it!

When I pulled up to the rehearsal on Thursday after unpacking my gear, I walked down to the beach to find these two love birds having the time of their lives in a bathtub that had been pulled into the river. I knew right then this was going to be one hell of a weekend and they did not disappoint.

After hours around the bonfire Thursday night with all their friends who had just arrived, everyone got up early to detox from the hangover with some group yoga on the deck, and now I must insist that EVERY couple offer this to their party on the morning of the wedding. It was such a relaxing way to start the day and the focus on gratitude brought many happy tears and hugs and simply set the tone for the day. It was like nothing could possibly go wrong after everyone set their intention for the day to be grateful for this space and these people. Truly incredible.

One of the most important pieces of the weekend for Erin and Ian was good music. They knew the music would set the tone for every activity so they went all out. Rebekah Todd serenaded the crowd during the ceremony and cocktail hour with some surprise songs that were super meaningful to the family.

The Dickens Band got every single person on the dance floor for the reception, bringing the mic to the floor and getting everyone to sing their hearts out to their favorite punk rock and alternative bands. It was an absolutely wild night followed by another fun bonfire.

Next up, Saturday was designated as the river day! Everyone hopped in the trolley and made their way down the beach on bright blue floaties! It was such a fun and relaxing afternoon filled with love and laughter.

If you know me at all, you knew this was coming :)

My favorite shoot of all time will forever be trash the dress and I knew these babes would be up for anything so I had them throw their outfits back on and hop in the river!! Always 200% worth it!! So fun and carefree!

The grand finale!

A low country boil, oysters leis and cocktail umbrellas. What a night! These two brought in Daniel Korzelius, the Human Juke, for their beach luau. There is no song he can’t play and they did their best to stump him! From Bohemian Rhapsody to Taylor Swift he had everyone singing along and made the night truly memorable. Definitely a weekend for the books. Please feel free to invite me to your next Smittfest you guys!!

Thank you so much for including me on your special day!

The Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola Photography

Venue and Accomodations: Brown Mountain Beach Resort

Coordinator: Leah with Brown Mountain Beach

Rings: Perry's Emporium and Matheu's Fine Watches & Jewelry

Hair and Make Up: TM Bridal Beauty

Florist: Edgemont Garden

Officiant: Jay Webb with Love and Wisdom

Ceremony Music: Rebekah Todd

Reception Music: The Dickens

Luau Music: Daniel Korzelius The Human Juke

Catering: Plate Perfect Catering

Alex and Harry's Wedding at Brown Mountain Beach Resort

“I’m not good at making specific plans. Just meet me under the sky somewhere and be alive with me”

— Victoria Erickson

I vibe really well with all my couples. They and I can usually tell right away from the initial consult that we will or won’t be a good fit and we book accordingly. That said, some vibes are next level. The fact that Alex and Harry are both avid adventurers and love all things camping and exploring was a given that we’d be a great fit, but then they chose my favorite wedding venue, Brown Mountain Beach Resort.

BMBR encourages the whole wedding party to hang on the river all week, stay in yurts, roast s’mores at the nightly bonfires, drink bourbon and smoke cigars. I mean… if you’ve known me for any amount of time… nothing speaks my love language more than alllll that.

Harry and Alex were actually exploring the area looking for a place to camp when they stumbled upon BMBR & just knew it was where they were going to get married! They weren't even engaged yet, but Harry had the ring, and it was only a matter of time. They were college sweethearts and knew each other well enough to know, it was their perfect magical place.

Triple bonus, I found out Harry is an automotive engineer and actually builds the racing breaks for my baby!! We geeked out more than once over the weekend lol. There seriously could not be a better match.

Alex’s relationship with her father and brothers is much like my own, and was therefore absolutely necessary to share a first look (and first sip of bourbon) with them. She and I might actually be twins in another universe.

Then Harry’s crew had their own surprise for him, which shall not be named here, but the bottom right photo below is a good indicator. They were all banned from the bar afterward lol.

In addition to sharing a first look on the river rocks, they decided to do a private vow exchange as well. They knew their ceremony vows would be perfect and meaningful in their own way, but there were other things they wanted to share with each other in a more intimate way. I highly recommend this you guys. Tears were shed by all of us, they were able to get all the initial jitters out of the way, it insured they had alone time to just enjoy their wedding day for a bit, and the rest of the day was a party with everyone they loved. Best of all worlds.

Harry is actually from England, so they had several international guests staying onsite who had never been to North Carolina, or even the U.S. so they had so much fun introducing them to their favorite way of life.

My favorite vow from anyone on any wedding day I have ever witnessed, happened to also go down this weekend. Harry vowed to always have chocolate on hand for Alex, to cure any blue day…then he pulled a Kit Kat out of his pocket. Ladies and Gents… this is a proper vow. Take note.

After hours of dancing the night away, they shared one final solo dance while their crew lined up for the sparkler exit. A perfect quiet moment to soak in a day full of love and laughter.

You guys thank you so much for including me on your incredible day. So grateful to know you! Hopefully we can share a hike or camping trip soon!! Enjoy Punta Cana!

The Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola Photography

Venue and Accommodations: Brown Mountain Beach Resort

Coordinator: Sonia with Brown Mountain Beach

Her Dress: Angel Rivera from Hayden Olivia Bridal

His Suit: Tommy Hilfiger from Men's Warehouse

Her Ring: JSV Concepts

His Ring: MN Handcrafted

His Tie: Kind Design

Hair and Make Up: Tiffany at Brushes & Braids

Florist: Edgemont Garden

Officiant: Derek Portugal - Bride's Brother

DJ: Mountain Peak Sound

Catering: Plate Perfect Catering

Desserts: Nothing Bundt Cakes

Marcus and Inita's Wedding at Amity Creek Farms

These high school sweethearts pulled out all the stops this weekend! I have never met another couple more excited about surprises than I am! Inita and Marcus both pulled me aside during our initial meeting to tell me about their fun plans for the wedding weekend. Then both their moms did the same, then they both added another through email later!! I *may have been the most excited person the whole day because I actually knew about every single surprise in advance (in order to capture it of course). I was bouncing around waiting for the next thing to happen, I had to send them one timeline that everyone could see, and then keep a separate actual timeline to include each element.

There were of course special gifts: a set of pearls during the first look, a set of cufflinks and a necklace honoring his late grandmother, tons of items for the wedding party, a bracelet from his mom to her - welcoming her as a daughter. There was a hysterical fake first look with his twin brother complete with dress and blonde wig, then the same brother whipped out a cartwheel down the aisle as he suddenly shifted from best man to flower boy. The day was filled with happy tears and riotous laughter as they celebrated fully with their loved ones. Everyone had the very best time.

The full moon surprised us all when it made a strong appearance over the hills. We had to step out of the reception for a few to capture it! We had the best time! Congratulations to you both! Looking forward to many more surprises in the future!

The Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola with John Bahamon

Venue: Amity Creek Farms

Wedding Coordinator: Ashley Causby-Hicks

All Wedding Attire: Bridal Traditions Wedding Attire

Cake Baker: Nutmeg Bakery

Linen/Chair/Tent Services:

Get Away Car: Volkswagen EOS

Favors: Soap bars from Soapy Chicks

Taylor and Sam's Wedding at Chetola Resort

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore”

— Andre Gide

These two babes somehow found each other living on two different continents, a half a world away from each other, but the moment they met, they knew it was meant to be. Taylor and Sam are perfect for each other in every way and it was so fun to watch them celebrate with each other. The wedding itself was a little bittersweet as his half of the family in New Zealand were unable to travel due to Covid, so they joined via zoom, but her half of the family doubled down on making them feel loved. The weather even cheered them on with the most vibrant fall colors and blue sky.

Even though I hadn’t met them in person before this weekend, I knew from our conversations they would be really fun! Then the moment we started a few portraits at the rehearsal they turned into giggly sweethearts who were so adorable and easy to shoot I just knew the wedding was going to be a blast.

If you don’t know their proposal story already, you should read that first, it’s so cute. Taylor describes it like this:

“I love our proposal story. It was Christmas morning 2020. We woke up early to a white Christmas in Blowing Rock at my parents house. We haven't had a White Christmas in YEARS. Sam literally never gets to see snow since it didn't snow where he grew up in New Zealand so I thought he was all excited to get up and go in the snow so early in the morning at like 7:30am. We had our Christmas jammies on (a cute tradition in his family), got our jackets and gloves on, and went outside in the front. I was playing around and sliding on the road out front and kinda hanging on to his jacket, having no idea what was in the pocket. He kinda quickly asked if we could go take pictures outside on the back deck instead with our amazing view of the mountains in the back and I of course said yes. My mom was up and he asked if she could take some pics of us. So we go on the back deck taking pictures and all of the sudden he asks my mom to take a video, he turns and looks at me and starts saying the sweetest things about us and the love he had for me and all of the sudden he gets on one knee and opens a box! I was totallllly shocked and surprised and just couldn't believe it was happening. I had these big gloves on so he just had to hold the ring while I cried and hugged him and of course said yes! It was one of the best moments (if not the very best moment) in my life. The rest of the day was literally perfect, filled with celebration, so much love with family and friends, and so much more. It was the best Christmas ever!

They are just the sweetest together! And right after their first look with each other, Taylor decided last minute to do one with her brother as well, neither of them expected tears, but were both just so happy to be celebrating something so wonderful.

What I didn’t realize before the wedding was that I actually when to high school with both the bride and practically the entire wedding party. We had so much fun catching up, I even joined them at the after party! They were an amazing crew!

Taylor and Sam thank you so much for including me on this special day! I am so grateful for you both and excited to hear about your New Zealand celebration!

The Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola

Venue and Catering: Chetola Resort

Wedding Coordinator: Megan Drake with The Elegant Event

Her Dress: Maggi Bridal, Raleigh, NC

Bridesmaids Attire: Bella Bridesmaids Charlotte, NC

Men’s Attire: The Tuxedo Shoppe

Rings: Ballantyne Jewelers

Hair Stylist: Susan Geer-Fickling and Chetola Spa

Make Up Artist: Layne Barter

Florist: Bouquet Florist Boone, NC

Officiant: Jon Murto

DJ: Split Second Sound

Videographer: Elliot Wilks

Cake Baker: Hallmark Cakes

Favors: Welcome bags for the guests with party supplies

Jodi and Matt's Wedding at Twickenham House

“I’m not good at making specific plans. Just meet me under the sky somewhere and be alive with me.”

— Victoria Erickson

Despite the torrential downpour we received right as the reception began, Matt and Jodi’s wedding was one for the books! I have been dying to shoot at Twickenham House in Jefferson, NC and it did not disappoint! The views are unbelievable and of course the coordinator, Leigh, was so super helpful the entire weekend. They have tons of rooms for your guests to stay in if you want to make a weekend out of it and beautiful hiking spots all around. We were able to hike right up to the edge of the mountain at their Cliffside Ceremony location and the backdrop was incredible for photos.

While they are from Wisconsin, and currently living in Florida, the mountains have always held a special place for them, so they had all their family meet in the middle in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Matt proposed on a 4th of July trip to the Great Smoky Mountains back in 2015. They had been exploring all day and ended up hiking to Cataract Falls where he got down on one knee to propose. They were the only ones at the bottom of the waterfall until suddenly there was a large family watching them to celebrate the proposal! The mountains seemed like the perfect way to capture that important piece of their story.

They, of course had to include their fur baby Slinky in the big day. She was very excited and showered them in kisses all day while also being the perfect companion to the sweet flower girls.

It was thundering and lightening as we were finishing up all the photos and we knew we didn’t have much time but they were willing to risk it for the photos. Shortly after we reached the reception hall a huge thunder clap was heard all around and the lights went out! Luckily Twickenham has excellent generators so we barely skipped a beat before the bottom dropped out and all the rain that had so graciously held off all afternoon came all at once!

You guys I cannot thank you enough for including me in your big day! I had so much fun exploring the cliffs with you!

The Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographers: Cynthia Viola with Martha Shannon

Venue: Twickenham House

Dress: Alfred Angelo Bridal

Tux: Ike Behar from The Tux Lady in Jefferson

Her Ring: Jareds Galleria of Jewelry

His Ring- Custom from Celestial Rex

Hair and Make Up: Mark of Eden Salon, Tera Shaw

Florist: Log House Florist

Officiant: Gerard A. Murphy with High Country Ministers

DJ: Dan Etzler, On Target DJ

Videographer: HoneyDew Films

Catering: Frugal Gourmet Catering

Invitations: Minted.com, Artist - Grace Kreinbrink

Favors: Koozies