I've been wanting to blog this very special elopement for a while, but I knew that if I didn't dedicate the proper amount of time to it, there was no way to do this day justice. Today I am finally able to sit down, recollect all these beautiful memories, and present you with Sarah and Bradley, who did the most amazing job making their wedding day just about them.
I got to meet this wonderful couple back in the fall of 2020. Bradley had decided to turn this turbulent year around and propose to his college sweetheart Sarah. He reached out to me to capture his surprise proposal and I was more than happy to be there!
Of course Sarah said yes, otherwise there would be no point in me writing this story, and a couple months later they contacted me again to be part of their elopement. After emailing back and forth a couple times, it turned out, that their dream elopement was just as much my dream elopement, and I started to get REALLY excited! Listening to their vision of Asheville, mountain views and breweries had me plan a road trip to North Carolina before things were even set in stone.
Just a couple of months after their engagement we all headed to Asheville!
My and my favorite videographer, Jacqui, met at Bradley and Sarah's Airbnb, which provided mountain views and plenty of space for both of them to get ready without seeing each other. We also found a cool spot to do their first look before taking off for a fun day in town. We first hit up Wicked Weed Brewing Pub, and then The Funkatorium, both in Downtown, Asheville. Sarah and Bradley enjoyed some beers while we grabbed some candids of the two of them just hanging out doing what they love: Playing cards! Talking about a fun and relaxing wedding day! How cool is that?!
Huge thanks to the super helpful and accommodating staff at both breweries for letting us use their beautiful spaces for our photo sessions!
After we filled up on some yummy snacks we headed to our next stop, Black Balsam Knob for the ceremony. This is such a great location, because you get amazing views without a strenuous hike. My tip: Choose a weekday if possible, because a lot of people love this location for the same reason. This elopement happened on a Tuesday, and it was still quite busy up there!
After scouting the location the day before, we prepared for some epic golden hour mountain views, but the fog had different plans. The views were limited, and all of us so were cold, but Sarah and Bradley were troopers! Despite the cold, the wind, the fog, their great sense of humor and determination to celebrate their love on a mountain top kept everybody in good spirits. We laughed so much, and then we all cried a little during the beautiful foggy ceremony.
Amanda from Happily Ever Asheville did an incredible job creating a super personal ceremony, tailored just for Sarah and Bradley. If you're looking for an officiant in Asheville, we couldn't recommend her enough!
This adventurous elopement was topped off by a first dance and a champagne pop in the woods. Sarah and Bradley created such an amazing wedding experience for themselves, unconventional, full of fun and filled with so much love. We're beyond grateful we got to be part of this wonderful experience.
Cheers to Sarah & Bradley!
Photography & Videography: Yours truly, Steady&Sway in collaboration with Jacqui Otano
Officiant: Happily Ever Asheville
Flowers: DIY by Sarah with solawoodflowers
Locations: Wicked Weed Brewing & Funkatorium , Asheville, NC