Ashley & Logan opted for a November Blue Ridge Parkway elopement and it kinda stole my heart!
You might not know that elopements are not permitted along the parkway in the month of October (when the leaves change color and a lot of people come to visit Asheville) but we didn’t need the autumnal tones for this magnificent elopement! If you too want to know how to get married along the Blue Ridge Parkway, you should contact the NPS to request a permit. You will need to request your wedding permit at least 30 days in advance, the sooner that you can request, the better!
Ashley & Logan chose The Buck Springs Gap overlook, which is just at the base of Mount Pisgah (MP 407.7). This elopement was just the two of them, their gorgeous Rottweiler (Beau) and Phil & Jen from Love & Wisdom (wedding officiants in Asheville).
The morning of the wedding there was a message thread checking in that we were all still meeting for the wedding along the parkway, despite Hurricane Nicole depositing rain and voiding any view. Ashley & Logan said that they would still want to get married outside and I just knew that I had found my “people”. The light….oh, the light and love and joy and fun…it was all there.
Due to the rain, we were the only people venturing out and about that morning and we had the misty, ethereal space at Buck Springs Gap all to ourselves. Did we get any mountain views in the photos? Nope! But we have light which can only happen when the skies are clouded over and they create a Wuthering-heights style romance that cannot be replicated on a sunny day. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m British or I’m just a romantic and old soul at heart, but whenever I know it’s a cloudy, rainy day, I am enthralled!
There is a joy that comes from being in the wilderness and knowing that you are photographing and being present at the wedding of two wonderful people (and their puppy of course!). The Blue Ridge Parkway is such a stunning location and it is, of course a “Leave no trace” location, so make sure to not bring along live flowers or anything that could impact the environment.
This November Asheville elopement was truly special and the fog and mist added to it. Should it rain on your wedding day, not only is it really lucky but your photos will be amazing. So relax and enjoy your amazing day!
xxx Natasha
