Amy and Brandon Virginia Mountaintop Elopement

When your plan is to exchange vows at an elevation of 3200 feet, the hope is that there is nothing but clear skies – but it didn’t look like that was going to be the case on the morning of Amy and Brandon’s elopement. The day started with nothing but clouds and rain, but there looked like it was possible for the rain to subside right around the time they planned to exchange vows. So, after a few hours of texting back and forth and watching the sky, we finally decided on a time and sent up lots of prayers that all would work out.

Lo and behold, just as I got into my car to go meet them, the rain stopped and I let out a big sigh of relief…

…until I took the exit for the Blue Ridge Parkway, and panic struck. Turns out the the last storm that occurred right before I left had created dense fog that loves to hang out at higher elevations. Unfortunately, though I knew there may be some lingering clouds, I didn’t expect the type of fog that only allows you to see five feet in front of you. The kind where you literally feel like you’re stuck in a cloud and driving while wearing a blindfold.

So, since I was technically still 40 minutes early, I pulled off onto an overlook and tried to call Amy. She and Brandon were coming from Lynchburg, so I was praying I could catch them before they got to the mountains. My fix-it-right-now side was convinced that we should go to a plan B spot for fear that they’d be in danger AND their pictures would look like their heads floating in a cotton ball. Not at all what either of us wanted for sure, so going back down into a cozy little forest spot would work I thought.

However, thanks to poor reception, it took me 20 minutes to get in touch with Amy, just as she and her parents hit the crazy fog, too. They also pulled over, trying to get in touch with Brandon, who had driven ahead of them, but were unable to reach him at first. Which of course caused a little more panic on both ends, and I’m still sitting at this overlook and shaking my head in disbelief at how this day seemed to be falling apart.

Then, praise the Lord, Brandon picked up with the news that he had arrived at Raven’s Roost and (forgive me for paraphrasing): “it’s gorgeous up here! Get through the clouds and you’ll see.”

Get through the clouds and you’ll see. Pretty profound, right?

Because here’s what ultimately happened:

I drove for another two miles up the mountain in the blind fog, and I was scared. Scared of what could happen and what was waiting ahead.

Just as soon as I felt like the fog would never end and I was sure to drive off a cliff, the clouds broke and this beautiful sunshine shone on the wet road. *Relief* Until…

…the fog came back, followed by a sunshine break. Then, more fog, and a sunshine break.

For ten miles this pattern continued, until I finally reached Raven’s Roost. And oh my goodness, the word breathtaking would be an understatement. The scene below looked like something out of a prehistoric movie, and it immediately struck me how much this experience of getting through the clouds to see this immense beauty was really a big metaphor for life and faith.

Because as we all know, for every little dose of sunshine in life, there are going to be a few clouds. And how often do we panic the second the road gets blurry? We want so badly to know exactly what to expect every step of the way, and yet it’s in those times when we can’t see that we learn to hold onto our Creator and the hope He gives us. And if we can just make that choice to stay strong in faith and believe that He’s going to pull us through whatever cloud we’re in, we’re rewarded with beauty on the other side – often more incredible than we could have imagined.

I think this little experience was also a reminder that sometimes you may even have to make the choice to jump into the unknown (or big scary cloud if you wish) in order to see the reward. I almost threw away the most incredible experience of my photography career all because I was scared of what was ahead. I panicked and tried to find an honorable way to run (hello forest elopement Plan B) instead of having the faith that the road could get better. Meaning here I was, once again, reminded that His plans are always better than our own.

SO…

here’s how the day ended up. Everyone arrived safely, and the drizzle that had started literally stopped the second gorgeous Amy began to walk down the aisle with her adorable son and daughter. The most meaningful vows were exchanged amidst that incredible view we’d been gifted, and I silently cried behind the camera more than I usually do. Family hugs and celebration ensued, followed by Amy and Brandon ending the night with their own quiet time for portraits – where those clouds that had threatened to ruin the day rose up to greet us just as the sun began to set.

To Amy and Brandon, thank you from the bottom of my heart for trusting me to capture such a big day in your lives, even when I wavered.  And to Jenn from Nature Composed, thank you for donating the beautiful bouquet!

And now for the pictures to go along with that story (and thank you if you managed to get through reading all of that).

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