Katie & Nicholas Take The Leap At Jump Off Rock In Asheville

Meeting in a bar on St. Patrick’s Day sounds like a great start to any story, and so it was for Katie and Nicholas. As their plans for a traditional wedding unfolded, it didn’t take long for the stress to make an appearance and the joy to take its leave. Katie and Nicholas decided instead to focus on what really mattered, and that was their love for each other. Inclement weather redirected their elopement to Jump Off Rock in Asheville, North Carolina, complete with beautiful mountain views. Read more about Katie and Nicholas’ wedding and how a change of plans led them to a pretty perfect day.

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

Katie: We met on St. Patrick’s Day 3 years ago at a local bar. I thought Nick was a gentleman. He was kind and respectful and I was happy that he loved dogs.

Nick: I felt that Katie was friendly and down to earth from day 1. I also thought she was super cool because she liked VW’s

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

Nick: I first fell in love with her when we went on a long weekend camping trip to the PA Grand Canyon. I knew I had fallen in love with her because I couldn’t help but smile every time I looked at her and she continues to make me a more knowledgeable, thoughtful, and patient person

Katie: I fell hard for Nick very early on. Within the first few months of dating, I even told him I would marry him if he wanted. He only solidified my feelings for him each day through his kindness and our shared humor.

How did you propose or accept the proposal?

Nick: I proposed in our best friends’ living room just a few hours after picking up the engagement ring. It simply could not wait ANY longer

Katie: I very happily said yes!

 

What do you love about your partner?

Nick: I love her willingness and curiosity to learn new things. I also love that she always stands up for her beliefs and values

Katie: I love that Nick is spontaneous and always up for my crazy ideas. He is compassionate and considerate of others and cares about effective communication between us. He’s also hilarious!

What is the greatest strength of your relationship?

Nick: I believe our relationship’s greatest asset is showing respect for one another.

Katie: I’d have to agree with Nick. We believe that by remembering to show respect for one another, we avoid many problems.

Why did you decide to elope?

Katie: We decided to elope after attempting to plan a fairly traditional wedding. It was extremely stressful and we were not enjoying it. We had talked about eloping before and once we starting researching and found out how special it could be, that was it!

How did you find Simply Eloped?

Nick: We searched online for elopement packages.

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

Katie: We loved that Simply Eloped let us pick a destination and seemed to take care of most of the details. It was really so simple to plan and book. The less stress, the better!

What attracted you to the venue you eloped at?

Katie: We had never been to Asheville but had heard great things from friends and family. Everyone seemed to think we would love it there. We originally chose Black Balsam Knob because it was beautiful and appeared whimsical to us. We eloped at Jump Off Rock in Asheville due to the weather, and it worked out wonderfully. Even with the rain, we had great visibility and amazing views of the mountains!

What activities did you do before the wedding? How did you prepare? How did you feel leading up to the moments of your elopement?

Katie: We spent the day of our ceremony getting ready in our Airbnb drinking mimosas. I had a hair and makeup artist through Simply Eloped and she was really great to talk to all morning. After she left, we got to see each other all dressed up and the excitement really set in. As soon as we arrived at the venue, we met the team of vendors. They were so kind and personable that it really put us at ease and allowed us to focus on each other.

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

Katie: Simply Eloped was super easy to work with. They stayed in touch from our initial inquiry all the way to the day of. Our customer experience manager even got our location moved and secured a permit at the very last minute due to the rain!

How did you celebrate after?

Nick: Afterward, we had a few drinks, called our families, and then went to a lovely vegan restaurant. We stayed in our wedding attire all evening and got lots of compliments from kind strangers. The attention was really fun.

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

Katie: Follow your heart! The day is about you and your significant other. Big weddings are beautiful but so is an intimate elopement ceremony!

 

 

Officiation by: Amanda Jones
Photography by: Cappy Phalen
Hair & Makeup by: Stephanie Rae & Emily Van Scoy
Flowers by: Merrimon Florist
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Jump Off Rock, Asheville, North Carolina