Small weddings are 110% my favorite. Heather and Shane decided to have an intimate Asheville wedding, with just their family and closest friends. They rented a mountain house, said their vows in the yard, and then drove a short ways away to an epic waterfall to have their first dance before returning to a dinner party (with Chipotle, like, does it get any better??) on the back porch. Everything about their day was centered around celebrating their love with just their nearest and dearest. No frills, no over the top extravagance, just a white dress and a whole lot of love and support from their loved ones. They spent the weekend in Asheville for a mini moon so we met up a few mornings later a sunrise for some gorgeous mountaintop wedding portraits, which you’ll see in the next post! But this one is just focused on their special day.
Some highlights:
{As Heather was getting ready, her mom gave her a sweet surprise; Heather’s father had passed away before getting to see his little girl walk down the aisle, so Heather’s mother had made his wedding ring into a necklace for Heather to wrap around her bouquet and carry down the aisle with her, so her daddy could walk with her on that most special of journeys. Her mom gave it to her right after Heather had put on her wedding dress, in the company of her best friends, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. It’s moments like these that are why I do what I do.}
{Heather and Shane pulled off something I’ve never seen or photographed before: A first dance by a waterfall! It was the most perfect way to celebrate their new marriage and a great way to take advantage of having an intimate Asheville wedding. They couldn’t even hear the music their friends played out of a small bluetooth speaker, but it didn’t matter. They just held on to each other and danced to the music of the roaring water.}
{Toasts at intimate wedding dinners are always emotional, and this one was no different. From Heather’s mom, to her best friend, to one of Shane’s Army buddies, there was no lack for emotional, heartfelt words of love and support for these two}
Be sure to also check out part two…sunrise mountain bride and groom portraits!
