Samantha & Cole’s Blue Ridge Mountain Vows in North Carolina

Samantha & Cole share a love of God, mountains, and dogs. And all of these were part of their relationship story! They spent their first date attending church online, and Cole’s proposal involved a puppy collar. They chose to have the epic Blue Ridge mountain range all around them as they exchanged their vows in front of family and friends. Adorable flower girls, wearing pretty burgundy dresses, stood by holding the bride’s bouquet as Samantha & Cole had their first kiss as husband and wife. Read on to find out why this couple chose Simply Eloped to arrange their stunning sunset elopement at Something Blue Mountain Venue in Asheville, North Carolina. 

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

Samantha: We met on Hinge! We were 0.3 miles away from each other, and both of our profiles mentioned dogs and Jesus. We talked for a while on the phone and decided we would meet in person by watching online Sunday service from our churches (Covid) while each was eating Mexican food. We also ended up playing board games, and Cole loves to tell people that he won all of them!

How did you accept the proposal? 

Samantha: Cole came back from the army, and we went to visit my parents in Nashville, TN. We had recently acquired a  puppy, and we took him to the dog park with my mother for the first time. We went down a secluded path, and Cole said, “What is on Rory’s collar?”. I looked down at the dog tag that said ‘My Daddy Loves You’ on one side, and on the other, ‘Will You Marry Me?”. I screamed and said, “yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,…”. The puppy and my mother’s dog were extremely confused, but my Mom was so excited!!

Where did you choose to elope and why did you choose that destination?

Cole: We chose to elope in Asheville, NC, because we LOVE the mountains. Also, we traveled the Blue Ridge for Samantha’s birthday with her family. We see the mountains as a wonderful creation of God and wanted that represented at our wedding. It was also halfway between where the parents were and where we lived.

What attracted you to the venue you eloped at? What were your favorite parts about eloping there?

Samantha: The view at Something Blue Mountain Venue attracted us, and we didn’t need to know more! It was absolutely stunning, and they communicated so quickly with us. Our favorite parts were the bridal suite and the owner, who was so involved in making sure everything was perfect. We also loved the amazing views, the amazing setup, and the fact they worked so hard to marry us at sunset. They also have so many amazing locations on the property for photos.

How would you describe your elopement venue to someone who has never been there?

Samantha: I would describe it as a hidden and secret spot to view the Blue Ridge. It also has a wonderful brick setup, as you see in castle courtyards.

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

Samantha: We rented a house on Lake Lure before the wedding. We celebrated New Year’s there with family! We also took advantage of the amazing views, hiking, kayaking, boat rides, and lots and lots of food! We practiced with the flower girls, stayed in contact with our wedding coordinator, and wrote our vows. Simply Eloped did everything else, so not that much preparation, which is the point! We felt very excited, prepared, and anxious to see the site in person after only viewing pictures online.

How was your experience with Simply Eloped?

Samantha: I recommend Simply Eloped to every person I know who is getting engaged. I would never ever do it differently. As a bride, stress is something that usually comes with a wedding. However, I view my marriage as stress-free and focused on our love for God and each other, which is precisely, what we wanted.

How did you choose to celebrate your elopement?

Samantha: We went back to the rental house and had a fajita bar, cake cutting, and drinks! Then we said our ‘goodbyes’ and went to Chimney Rock. 

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

Samantha: I say, ‘do it!  You can have people there as well, as we had our family and closest friends. We also had our Pastor come up for the wedding. Eloping does not have to mean just the two of you. Also, eloping is the best stress-free way to celebrate your love. You can party later!

Photography by: Cappy Phalen
Hair & Makeup by: Emily Van Scoy
Flowers by: Merrimon Florist
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Something Blue Mountain Venue, Asheville, North Carolina

Written by Janessa White

Janessa White is the co-founder of Simply Eloped and has helped thousands of couples plan elopements. As an expert in the field, she has been featured on Brides.com, Vox, and HuffPost. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot.