Western North Carolina Hiking Engagement Session

When Alex & Brad first reached out to me, I had a feeling we’d be fast friends. They got engaged on a 30-mile hike in the Shining Rock Wilderness, so when we started planning their engagement session, we decided to meet back up there for a day of hiking and sunset chasing. I love planning engagement sessions like this one, when we get to collaborate and choose locations that are meaningful to my couples! It helps that we’ve been hiking and camping in this area all along the Blue Ridge Parkway for the past 16 years, so Aubrey and I have a lot of experience scouting out the best spots.

We started out our day meeting Alex & Brad at a fairly easy trail with a creek and waterfall, and had the BEST time getting to know each other along the hike. After that, we headed up the Blue Ridge Parkway to our next spot, near the Art Loeb trail. Aubrey, Elsie, and I have camped up there so many times, but it was our first time getting to hike up with one of our couples! It was absolutely perfect - the weather was great, sunset popped off, and everyone hiked like champs (including Elsie, who tagged along and entertained Alex and Brad by talking about video games and nature stuff throughout all 5 miles 😅). She even got to art direct a couple shots, which made her day.

Side note - If you’re on the fence about hiking for your engagement session or elopement - DO IT. I know it can seem intimidating to plan and orchestrate, but that’s what we’re here for! We’ll collaborate with you to find the perfect spots, whether you want waterfalls, big views, cool rocks, or all of the above in one rad day. We can work with any level of outdoorsy-ness, because nature is for everyone. So come as you are - the most important thing is that your photos are true to you. We’re here to help, so reach out when you’re ready to start planning your session!

Bryce Canyon National Park Couples Session

Way back in March 2021, our family had the chance to scope out some of the best national parks that the Southwest has to offer. We were able to visit Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Death Valley National Park all in one trip (lots of driving, but so worth it). We biked through Zion, explored the salt flats and pupfish in Death Valley, and hiked through a foot of snow at Bryce Canyon! But one of the best parts of the trip was spending time with Aubrey’s brother and his girlfriend, Stephanie. They live in Phoenix, and we are always so stoked to explore with them. When they’re around, we’re basically chopped liver to Elsie, but I wouldn’t have it any other way 🥰

I was able to do a super sweet little couples session for them while we were at Bryce Canyon, which was so much fun. We hiked the Mossy Cave trail, which was an easy, out & back trail with a really rad waterfall/icicle view. It was pretty chilly in March, but it did mean that we had the area pretty much to ourselves! Remember to always follow Leave No Trace principles and all Bryce Canyon NP guidelines if you decide to hike this trail.

We only had 30 minutes or so for this session, but it was so much fun. It got me so stoked on exploring more of the southwestern US, and I can’t wait to do more desert couples sessions in Utah.

Rustic Modern Amelia Island Destination Wedding at Walker's Landing

Katelyn and Chris planned the most beautiful destination wedding in Amelia Island, and we were so honored to capture every sweet moment. 

Amelia Island is the perfect backdrop for a modern coastal wedding - the Spanish moss, the vast marshes, and the sleepy waterways create a relaxed and romantic vibe for portraits. There’s so much ground to cover for such a small island! Aubrey and I have visited several times in the past with our family, and we always find something new to love about it (this time around, it was a bottomless mimosa brunch at Leddy’s Porch).

Katelyn & Chris chose Walker’s Landing at Amelia Island Plantation to host their ceremony and reception, and it was the perfect blend of everything Amelia Island has to offer. We planned for the first look and portraits all around Drummond Point Park, which worked out absolutely beautifully and gave us some really great variety in their photos.

Side note - this wedding makes a really great case in support of a first look. I never try to sway my couples one way or the other (it’s a really personal choice - Aubrey, for one, did NOT want a first look on our wedding day). But when you’ve got so many cool places to work with for portraits, the bottom line is that we likely won’t get to hit all of them without doing a first look. There are so many logistics involved with keeping the couple separated until the ceremony, and it’s usually much more time consuming. So if you’re looking for a way to maximize your portrait time and cover the most ground you can, I’d suggest considering a first look.

Katelyn & Chris chose to work with an incredible team of vendors for their wedding, and I can’t say enough what an honor it was to be a part of the squad! Simply Grace Events handled every gorgeous detail, with Shea Hopely behind all the blooms. I can’t even deal with those GIANT coral peonies. They were so perfect paired with all the muted green tones in the palms and moss at the ceremony site, AND with the natural wood tones in the reception space. One of my other favorite details was that Katelyn and Chris chose to display both of their mothers’ wedding dresses at their reception. So sweet, and both dresses were gorgeous, of course!

Throughout the night, the guests played giant board games on the boardwalk outside while I took Katelyn & Chris for more portraits down by the water (can’t beat that coastal sunset). Then, everyone danced for the rest of the evening until a super fun golf cart sendoff. It was so much fun, and I hope you enjoy the photos.

Photography: Lauren Rae Photography
Venue: Walker's Landing at Amelia Island Plantation
Event Design: Simply Grace Events
Floral Design: Shea Hopely
DJ: Island Sound
Catering: Catering By Liz
Dress Boutique: Bridals By Lori
Dress Designer: Eve of Milady
Bridesmaid Dresses: Jasmine Belsoie
Groomsman Attire: Men's Warehouse
Jewelry Designer: Chaplin's Jewelry
Calligrapher: Love, Louise Designs
Invitations: Paper Source
Cake Designer: Nana Teresa's Bake Shop
Rentals: Luxe Party Rentals; Jax Chair Boutique
Photobooth: Shutterbooth
Musicians: Music by Pegge, LLC