Spring Elopement in the Shenandoah National Park

The Shenandoah National Park is beautiful year-round regardless of weather conditions. From epic overlooks to deeply wooded trails, it’s a perfect place for couples to spend quality time together. Although many of the trails go deep into the forest, all the overlooks are filled with grand landscapes and diverse tones all around.

Kyle and Daniella love the Shenandoah National Park and had been dreaming up an epic small elopement with a group of loved ones that felt like an adventure.

For their spring elopement, they invited their closest family and friends to one of the best natural beauties Virginia has to offer. Fun fact, the Shenandoah National Park requires a permit for groups over 16 people, but fewer than that and you are free to hold your wedding anywhere you like!

Although the day was mostly overcast and rainy, we were hoping to get beautiful light at the ceremony, and we sure did! The ceremony took place at an overlook on Skyline Drive, with mountain ranges wrapping around them, their family, and their beloved dogs.

Dogs are family too after all! Kyle and Daniella invited their furry friends to be a part of the ceremony and the family portraits. The dogs even got some portraits with just Mom and Dad.

Before the elopement day, Daniella had said to me “We’re doing the normal vows and traditional statements. But our dogs are a big part of the day just in terms of being involved with the wedding, so we definitely want photos of them captured.”

Knowing and understanding values like that for a couple on their wedding day is essential for me, because it lets me know what their deep values are and what elements of the wedding day I should be focused on.

Right after the ceremony while the family headed back to the cabin at Massanutten Resort, we hung around the overlook to get some epic sunset portraits. I took Kyle and Daniella out on a rock ledge and flat grassy areas nearby to capture them with the landscape. As the sun was setting, we got beautiful blues and oranges in the sky, which made for some amazing silhouettes.

Most Father-Daughter dances take place on a dance floor. But for Daniella, back at the cabin she and her father got to spend a moment swaying around the cozy living room. Kyle and Daniella also shared their first dance in that living room, as kids rested around on the couches and family watched closely with grins on their faces.

After the dancing, a private chef prepared dinner for everyone. Family and friends mingled, and the dogs lived their best lives roaming around the cabin, getting lots of pets and treats from their everyone.

Daniella and Kyle’s elopement was full of adventure, love, and of course their dogs. Although the day started with rain and cloud cover, the rest of it was filled with beautiful moments, epic portraits, and smiles from everyone who witnessed their elopement in Shenandoah National Park.