Rainy Wedding in the Blue Ridge Mountains: Emily + Dustin

When Anna sent me this gallery she titled it “Weathering the storm together” and I can’t think of a more appropriate title for a post today with everything that’s going on in the world right now. But this post isn’t about that. It’s about Emily and Dustin and their amazing wedding day.

They did their first look in the rain and smiled and laughed their way through they day despite shifting the ceremony time twice due to weather. The joy of doing something small is that you can make those last minute adjustments when Mother Nature didn’t get the original wedding timeline.

Please enjoy these gorgeous photos and some Q & A from the couple below.

Photography: Anna Bowser Photography

Location: Raven’s Roost, Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia

Dress: David’s Bridal

Flowers: George’s Flowers

How did you meet?

We went to the same middle school, but we didn’t get together until college when we shared an English class.

How did you decide to have a tiny wedding? Did that decision present any challenges?

We simply preferred an intimate setting over a larger one. Our biggest challenge was definitely the weather. It was rainy and cloudy, and we were going to be on top of a mountain. The day of the wedding, we changed the time of the ceremony twice, in an attempt to avoid rain. It did end up raining a bit, but it turned out perfectly fine and I really love the moodiness of the fog and the mountains in the background.

How did you decide on the location?

We wanted something fairly local that wouldn’t be too difficult for our family and pastor to get to. I chose Raven’s Roost because the view is spectacular. The Blue Ridge Mountains are dear to both of us, so it was fitting to be married on a mountaintop.

How did you tell everyone about your decision to elope/have a tiny wedding?

We announced our engagement a year and a half before the wedding day. I originally wanted it to just be the two of us, along with the officiant and pastor. This ended up changing once we realized how much it meant to some of our family members that they be able to attend the ceremony. We chose to invite immediate family.

What was your favorite part of the day?

My favorite part was saying “I Do” and exchanging rings. There was a moment during the ceremony when the sun peeked out from behind the clouds to shine on us.

What advice would you give to other couples planning their weddings?

Try to be laid back and open minded about minor details. I remember having this exact vision of how I wanted things to be. It turned out pretty different from that vision, but it was still absolutely perfect.