An Adventure Elopement for Emilie & Stephen at Roan Mountain in North Carolina

Emilie & Stephen met on the job, but it wasn’t work when they were together! They quickly began spending all their time together adventuring. A wonderful proposal on a boat led to the two of them working with Simply Eloped to plan their elopement at Roan Mountain Gardens in North Carolina. The two of them loved the idea of exchanging vows in a mossy forest with spectacular views behind them. Emile & Stephen planned a first look, and the photos are so fun! Emilie brought sophistication to this ceremony in her gorgeous gown with Watteau train (we had to look this up…it’s a combination of a train and veil falling from the shoulders).  After the ceremony, the newlyweds sipped champagne with their families. Take a look at these photos, and you can see why these two were so happy with their elopement with Simply Eloped.

How did you meet? What was your first impression of one another? 

Emile: We met at our first nursing job together. I thought that he was cute, but I was recently single and figured we would become close friends.

Stephen: She said that we were going to be “great friends”- with her crazy laugh and charming personality I knew I wanted something more.

When did you first fall in love? How did you know?

Emile & Stephen: We feel like it was mutual. We both fell pretty quickly. We found that we started to spend all of our time together, making dinners, going to concerts, and hiking. We had the same interests and were busy bodies with a lust for adventure.

Emilie: I’ll never forget the first time he told me loved me. He left me a little scavenger hunt after work one evening. It led me to a nearby park, where he had made a sunset picnic dinner. We chatted about all of our plans over a bottle of wine. It was the perfect way to openly admit that our feelings for one another had really taken root. 

How did you propose or accept the proposal?

Emile & Stephen:  We spontaneously booked a trip to Maine, where our friend sails a boat. We stayed at the sweetest bed and breakfast. Stephen had arranged for our friend to pick up the ring and hide it on the boat. We sat up front by the wheel, and then Emilie got put in charge of steering. Stephen got the ring from its hiding place and proposed in front of the boat load of people. After we docked, we hung out with the crowd, sipped Champagne, and ate Chinese takeout on the boat. It was the best engagement ever.

What do you love about your partner? 

Emilie: I love that he can make friends with anyone. He is caring and romantic, and is ok with all of the crazy adventurous ideas that pop into my head. 

Stephen: I love how she is always uniquely herself, her laugh, and nurturing personality.

What is the greatest strength of your relationship? 

Emile & Stephen: Our friendship has always been the basis of our relationship. 

 

Why did you decide to elope? 

Emile & Stephen: It was important that our day was just for us. We wanted to share that time with only each other, embrace and soak up every second. 

How did you find Simply Eloped?

Emile & Stephen: Our friends used Simply Eloped in Colorado.  When we saw all of the possibilities of locations that we could create our own adventure we were very excited. Having a mossy forest wedding was forever on my mind from that point on. 

How did you know Simply Eloped was the right fit for you?

Emile & Stephen:  We wanted our ceremony to be just for us, not based around certain expected traditions or what other people thought we should do. We had the ability to pick a beautiful location, and modify our wedding to suit us as couple. 

What attracted you to the venue you chose for your elopement? 

Emile & Stephen: The forest feels! We were in love with the moss and the ferns. At the top of Roan Mountain, you can see for miles and miles. You are right on the boarder of North Carolina and Tennessee, if being in two places at one time needs to be checked off your bucket list!

What did you do before the wedding? How did you get ready? How did you feel in the moments leading up to your elopement? 

Emile & Stephen: We woke up early and got ready, and drove to the location in separate cars. We were both a little anxious, I don’t think any amount of preparing can keep those feelings from coming. Once we did our first look, we busted in laughter just because you spend so much time working up to that moment, and boom it was there. We were doing the dang thing!

Tell us about your experience with Simply Eloped leading up to and on your big day! 

Emile & Stephen: Simply Eloped was fantastic; they arranged everything, and all the information was accessible at anytime you needed to triple check your location. The show’s real stars are the people they select to help run your ceremony- the photographer, videographer, and officiant. We had the ultimate girl squad that truly kept everything special from beginning to end. 

How did you celebrate after your elopement?

Emile & Stephen:  After the ceremony we sipped some Champagne, listened to the post-wedding playlist we made and drove back to our Air BNB to change. We went out for brunch and ran off to a little mini-moon in the mountains. 

What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping? 

Emile & Stephen: Your ceremony should be just for you two! Slow down and take in all of the intimate moments that eloping can offer you. This is an opportunity to make your day completely your own, without the pressure and stress of numerous outside sources weighing on you.

 

Officiation by: Amanda Jones
Photography by: Cappy Phalen
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Roan Mountain Gardens, Asheville, North Carolina