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Joe and Jenny

Linville Gorge Elopement: Sharon + Forrest

Updated: Mar 25


bride and groom standing on the edge of a cliff together

In December of last year, we first made contact with Sharon! Her and her fiance (at the time) Forrest were going to be traveling to Asheville around New Years’ Eve 2017 and they were looking to get their engagement photos captured while in town! Initially they were hoping to go up somewhere off the Parkway with some beautiful views but due to winter, the Parkway had been shut down for a while at that point. After figuring out what would work best for their vision, we decided on meeting in downtown Asheville on New Year’s Eve. Well anybody that was in the area knows what happened on that day, the town completely iced over and shut down. We’re talking 3-4 hours to drive the distance that would usually take 10 minutes. Many cars were abandoned at local business around the area and for the few of us that were able to make it home, we were at the mercy of the gridlock. Unfortunately for Sharon and Forrest, this meant their engagement session would have to be re-scheduled. We were disappointed about not being able to make this one happen so I know they were bummed and but we talked briefly and the idea was to wait until it warmed up a bit and some of the greenery came back.

When Sharon and Forrest reached back out, we found out that they had since gotten married but they still wanted to take their couples portraits in the mountains, so instead of an engagement session, we would be having a wedding portrait session. After figuring out exactly what all the details were going to be we decided on one of our new favorite locations, Wiseman’s View in the Linville Gorge Wilderness area. It’s definitely a longer drive than most of the other local options closer to Asheville but due to the more remote location, lack of phone signal, and rugged gravel road drive to get there, it tends to not be as crowded which makes it perfect for these kind of occasions and the views (OMG) are epic! It’s a photographer’s dream spot to shoot if you love outdoor sessions and if you’re a more adventurous couple who loves nature and the mountains, you’ll love it too!

Even though we had been communicating via email, phone, and text for a couple of months now, there’s always that excitement that comes with getting to meet a couple in person for the first time! Sharon and Forrest were the absolute sweetest! From the get go they were so at ease and in tune with each other that at certain points we contemplated not even saying anything and just letting them do their thing. The story they told with their body language and the way they looked at each other was a beautiful combination of romance and inspiration. Their chemistry was simply amazing! Of course like all good stories, there has to be a little drama right? As the thunder in the distance and gray skies seemed to move closer and closer, we were faced with the decision to wrap it up or keep shooting. Having had mother nature ruin their previously scheduled shoot, Sharon and Forrest forged on with a sense of adventure. We had umbrellas just in case but something tells me they would’ve totally been down for some romantic rain photos. We finished up cliffside with one of most picturesque views! The rock they stood on jutted out of the tree line and into the gorge below. Even with a heart for adventure, it still gives you that feeling in your stomach when you get close to the edge that high up. The sounds of the river flowing by below with the sense of feeling like you’re in the middle of the wilderness all combines to create a special feeling. A feeling that Sharon and Forrest completely embraced as they told their story for the camera.

groom getting his pocket watch
bride pinning the boutonniere on the groom
bride adjusting the groom's boutonniere
the bride smiling as the groom adjusts himself
bride and groom holding hands and walking down a path together
bride and groom's outfit details and bouquet
bride smiling at the groom
groom kissing the bride on the temple
bride and groom walking to the overlook at wiseman's view
bride and groom with their arms around each other looking at the mountains
bride and groom looking at each other at wiseman's view
bride's eyes gazing into the groom's eyes
bride and groom kissing in front of a mountain view
the bride and groom smiling and holding each other
bride caressing in the groom's chin
bride and groom kissing as the groom holds her from behind
bride and groom looking over the edge
candid moment of the bride and groom laughing
groom nestling up on the bride's ear as they sit together
the bride smiling as the groom brushes her hair off of her shoulder
the bride and groom's legs and shoes
bride and groom hiking through the woods
bride looking down and holding her dress
vogue portrait of the bride looking off and the groom looking at her
bridal portrait on the edge of a cliff
bride looking down at her bouquet while standing on a ledge
the bride flaring out her dress while standing on a ledge
groom caressing the bride's face as they stand on a ledge
bride and groom kissing on the edge of a cliff
bride and groom smiling and holding hands in the mountains
bride and groom taking a selfie in front of table rock in nc

Congrats to Sharon and Forrest and thank you guys for letting us be a part of your special journey!

Also a big thanks to Stargazers Designs for the beautiful bouquet and boutonnière inspired by the natural greenery!

Joe & Jenny

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