Elope to the Mountains

Our Weekend Getaway

We wanted to do something different. It has been a difficult couple of years for everyone, and we were lucky to have it pretty easy. Still, the stress of COVID and quarantine hit us too. We didn’t want to have a never-ending engagement, we missed traveling, and we never wanted a huge ceremony in the first place. After getting quotes from several venues, the idea to elope came to us, and we were encouraged by some couples to do it.

Eventually, we decided to go to Smoky Mountains National Park. Liz had never been there, there are great chapel venues all over Gatlinburg, we wouldn’t have to risk flying, and we could have a professional photographer to share our moment with the people we love.

Going into this trip, we knew that Gatlinburg was slowly becoming a hot spot for COVID, so we prepared ahead of time to ensure that we didn’t go out too often. Before leaving for Gatlinburg, we prepared breakfast hash, cooked a big pot of chili, and brought plenty of snacks, which took away any potential risk that came with eating out in a restaurant. Despite COVID, we were determined to have fun while keeping both ourselves and others safe.

Low-Stress Travel

Thursday morning, Oct. 7 we said our goodbyes to our cat, Charlie, and started the five-hour drive to our cabin. We made such good time on the drive that we were able to stop by the Sevierville County Courthouse to apply for our marriage license. This was a real treat, as it gave us an extra day of hiking without interruption. Leaving the courthouse for our weekend lodge, we arrived at a secluded two-room log cabin up in the foothills of Sevierville. As people accustomed to camping in tent or car, we couldn’t have asked for a more comfortable accommodation (although the humidity, in general, was real).

Our First Day on the Trail

The next day, we woke up, had a hot (yay!) shower, cooked a hearty breakfast, donned all of our hiking gear, and hit the trail. We chose the Abrams Falls trail on the Cades Cove scenic loop. It was a beautiful hike, thankfully without too much climbing, that had a beautiful view from a ridge, and terminated in an absolutely magical pool under a waterfall. We stopped at the waterfall to rest, snack, and take in the gorgeous view. (Editor’s Note: We also saw a child nearly fall off a boulder because she was afraid of a Daddy Long Leg! It was simultaneously funny and terrifying).

The 340-foot vertical change over the 5-mile trail was enough to tire our legs just enough to make the evening hot tub romantic and relaxing. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

The Big Day!

Saturday we woke up rested, but anxious. Our chapel didn’t have the means to keep me from seeing Liz in her wedding dress before the ceremony. No big deal, not much of this is “traditional” anyway. So we got dressed in the cabin, each of us fighting for time with the bathroom mirror. Neither of us had seen the other fully dressed for the wedding, having tried our outfits on in secret, so I was still gobsmacked to see her in her wedding dress.

I like to think that I’m not a very nervous person these days, but the closer we got to our vows, the more I could feel butterflies in my stomach. Liz was beautiful in her dress, and she is my best friend. Together, we were about to make a commitment to each other that will last the rest of our lives.

When we took each other’s hands, looked into the other’s eyes, and said our vows, it was impossible to keep the tears from forming. Liz went so far as to quiver her chin on the verge of bawling. We were named man and wife!

(Note from Liz: My chin did in fact quiver several times, and I truly felt dramatic. One single drop of snot pooled at the tip of my nose and made me feel very unattractive, but Kyle still thought I was beautiful!).

One Last Hike

Before going home, we wanted to make one last trip up the Smoky Mountain. Liz drove us and only got mildly annoyed at traffic a few times. As we slowly made our way up the mountain, the air became refreshingly crisp. By some miracle, we found a parking spot near Clingman’s Dome and made the half-mile hike to the dome itself. Despite the trail being half a mile, it was a surprisingly tiresome walk, crowded with many people who also wanted to get a glimpse of the breathtaking view.

Despite the crowd, both the walk and our time on the dome were worth it. Liz had never been in Appalachia, nor had she ever been up that high. Our view was even blocked temporarily by a cloud passing by!

Although we are sad to say goodbye to our weekend, we’re happy to say hello to a new chapter of our lives.

For more pictures of the ceremony, you can check out our Wedding Gallery Here