The hills are alive with the sweet romance of Holly and Josh’s rustic elopement! Their big day in Tennessee started with a hike up to Roan Mountain, which was the perfect spot to say their vows. Not only was the spot breathtakingly beautiful, it was where Josh proposed to Holly six months earlier.
Photographer Katy Sergent captured all the beautiful magic for the lovely couple to treasure forever. Gorgeous!
Holly, 32 & Josh, 35
Location: Roan Mountain,Tennessee
Wedding Date: June 29, 2016
Number of Guests: None. It was just us, the officiant, and the photographer.
Wedding Cost: Around $1,500 including the photographer, officiant, dress, etc.
Wedding Ceremony Location: Round Bald in Roan Mountain State Park
Wedding Reception Location: We didn’t have a reception.
Why did you have an intimate wedding?
Neither of us wanted a traditional wedding. We wanted our wedding to be about expressing our love to one another, and I think the stress that comes with having a large wedding can sometimes take the focus away from that. Also, having an intimate wedding allowed us more flexibility in choosing a spot that would be meaningful to both of us. Since we both love hiking and being outdoors, we thought Roan Mountain would be a perfect location since it’s beautiful and also a special place for us (we got engaged there six months prior to the wedding). Another reason we liked the idea of a small and simple wedding is that it would allow us to put more money into our future, like preparing for buying a house.
What are some the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?
Trying to plan out all of the small details was a little challenging but everything came together perfectly on the day of the wedding. Another challenge was the weather since we wanted to do an outdoor wedding. Roan Mountain is especially tricky because it tends to be either rainy or very overcast during the summer. We were extremely lucky to have a clear and sunny day with beautiful mountain views even though the weather forecast had been showing rain prior to the wedding.
Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?
It was a little difficult to decide if we wanted any friends or family members there, but we ultimately decided to keep it simple and just have it be the two of us.
Did you have any issues with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?
We didn’t really have any issues. Both of our families were very understanding and happy for us. It helped that we had great photos to share with everyone afterwards.
What were the highlights of the ceremony?
We couldn’t have asked for better weather and we found a great spot with beautiful panoramic views of the mountains in the background. We were also lucky to find an amazing photographer, Katy Sergent, who was willing to hike up to Round Bald with us and help us find the perfect spot for the ceremony.
What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?
Our wedding was very low pressure and relaxed, so we both felt like we could really enjoy our day and focus on each other. Since we didn’t worry about all of the craziness that comes with planning a big wedding, we were able to put our full attention into all the small details and make sure everything turned out exactly the way we wanted it to on our wedding day. We were both amazed at how smoothly everything went.
What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?
Choose a spot that is meaningful to both of you and reflects your personalities. One of the best parts about having an intimate wedding is that it gives you the flexibility to do that. Keep things simple to make your wedding day low-stress and focused on the two of you truly enjoying your day. Also, I think finding the right photographer can be particularly important when having an intimate wedding (especially if it’s just the two of you) so you can share pictures of your day with friends and family. Research photographers and find one with a style that suits the type of wedding you are planning.
Vendors:
Photographer: Katy Sergent Photography & Design
Dress Designer: BHLDN
Jewelry: Blue Goldsmiths
Floral Designer: H and H Botanicals
Officiant: Karl Hess – Universal Wedding Officiant
Location: Roan Mountain State Park
