Shenandoah National Park Elopement | Jon and Christine
Being outside is something that is always rejuvenating for me. So it’s nothing less than an absolute joy when I get to photograph a wedding in the mountains. This time around, it was an elopement wedding in the Shenandoah with Jon and Christine on a rainy, beautiful day in the clouds.
While Christine is from the east coast originally, Jon and Christine now enjoy a life of adventure in the west. In Christine’s words, “to be honest, we wanted to get married on a mesa in southwest Utah, where we got to know each other and fell in love. It's such a special place. But because our families all live back east, and we didn't want to put them at risk by asking them to travel in uncertain times, we decided to get married on the east coast. We picked the Shenandoah National Park because it has the things we love - beauty, open space, and nature. Getting married with our loved ones present is important to us, but getting married in a place that reflects who we are individually and as a couple is almost as important!”
The day started together by preparing in a room at Big Meadows Lodge in the Shenandoah along Skyline Drive. There wasn’t much to do, just get dressed and get ready to be married! We made our way to the ceremony site, which we choose by an overlook in an special area that isn’t well known in the park. A handful of family and friends joined together just as it startled to sprinkle. Unfazed, Jon and Christine exchanged vows, a first kiss, and even a first dance in the light rain. It was the perfect setting for these two outdoor lovers to commit their lives together.
Following the ceremony we drove a few minutes north to the trailhead of Stony Many Mountain for couples portraits. Jon had never been to the Shenandoah before and never set foot on the Appalachian Trail, so it was exciting for me to show off these jewels of the Shenandoah. Each of them changed into their hiking boots and we were off, hoping that the overlook would not be completely obscured when we arrived.
Although we were met with dense fog when we first arrived at the Stony Man summit, steady wind shifted the cloud cover and revealed layers of clouds arrayed against the valley. My assistant Stan and I were excited to be on the summit with such a display! In the dozens of times I had been to the Shenandoah, I had never seen it like this. We got to work, letting Jon and Christine explore, crafting epic images, and enjoying the time we had on top of the mountain.
Thank you Jon and Christine for inviting me to document your story! This was an elopement I’ll never forget. Are you or someone you know thinking about eloping? No matter if it’s in the city or on top of a mountain, I’ll help you document it in a way that is truly you, just like Jon and Christine did. Find out all about it right here.
