Magical Wedding in Hocking Hills, OH

MAGICAL WEDDING IN HOCKING HILLS

I don’t normally write blog posts this long, but Natalie and Andy’s story is wild and I firmly believe that each step of the way makes their incredibly epic wedding in Hocking Hills even more meaningful. 

THE JOURNEY TO A WEDDING IN HOCKING HILLS

Choosing a place for Natalie and Andy to exchange their vows began long before they arrived in Hocking Hills. When they originally planned their wedding, they envisioned a celebration with all of their friends and family. Considering their guests lived all over the country, choosing a location was tricky.

At first, they scoured Detroit. But they struggled to find something their family could love as much as they did and moved on to San Diego. Then, the pandemic hit and they decided on a backyard socially-distanced wedding in Ann Arbor, Michigan. As they continued planning, they didn’t feel like they could safely involve their guests at all and approached me about an adventure elopement with just the two of them. 

After brainstorming a million different Michigan locations, Natalie suggested Pictured Rocks. Mission was go until a family member caught COVID19. After so many postponements, Natalie and Andy needed a break. Decision fatigue had totally overwhelmed the both of them and disappointment after disappointment, they stopped. Instead of a wedding, they planned a trip to visit their family.

As soon as they let the pressure release, everything fell into place. Kayla, my micro-wedding planner friend from The Lost Forty posted on instagram that she was legally ordained in Ohio. I commented that I’ve always wanted to photograph a wedding in Hocking Hills. Natalie saw it, and we went from there. 

But there was still one last problem.

LOCATION SCOUTING

The morning of the wedding day, the forecast called for thunderstorms. ALL day. Since all of us vendors (Sarah from Wild Bees Beauty, Kayla from The Lost Forty, and myself) were traveling 5+ hours down from Michigan, we made the decision to postpone one last time. Just until the next morning.

I drove down that day anyway, and instead of photographing their elopement, we went location scouting. I’m so so glad we did! We were able to make a concrete plan for the next day and I could read the light for the best place for their ceremony. Hocking Hills is stunning… but down in the gorges there isn’t a lot of sun. In fact, surrounded on all sides by rock and thick forest, it’s downright dark. So by taking the time to explore in advance, we didn’t waste any time the next day.

FINALLY

I arrived at Glenlaurel the morning of the wedding for getting ready pictures, the first look, and the 20-minute hike to the ceremony. Their room was a bit tight, and every time Andy needed to come in or out, Natalie hid behind the armoir door. Sarah did a stunning wedding updo for Natalie and makeup that was glam without trying hard. Kayla arrived with the bouquet and boutonnière and I got to work photographing all the personal details. The couple got dressed and it was time for the first look!

THE CEREMONY

We hiked the 20 minutes to the end of Glenlaurel’s gorge where the natural rock formations and tiny stream met at a shallow cave. Natalie and Andy exchanged their vows to a soundtrack of birds and water over stone. Their original officiant Brittany prepared readings for Kayla to recite. To the couple’s surprise, she also gathered blessings from their parents. As the wind blew through the trees, leaves fell around us like confetti.

Also, here’s the moment Natalie officially decided to add Andy’s last name to hers. SO EXCITED!

ADVENTURES AS HUSBAND AND WIFE

No visit to Hocking Hills is complete without a visit to Old Man’s Cave. So I took Natalie and Andy on a wedding day adventure. We found a dry spot in the middle of the gorge for them to have their first dance as husband and wife. 

My favorite part of the day happened right after their ceremony. I spotted a break in the shadows, and asked Natalie to run for it. In her dress, holding the train to take the rocky hill with Andy following, we caught this holy moment. It was a ray of sun- like a peace offering from the universe. 

Confirmation that love transcends chaos.

Also, I’m obviously not happy about COVID, but I’m really grateful for the resurgence of adventurous elopements.

Lake Michigan Elopement

LAKE MICHIGAN ELOPEMENT

When I arrived to scout a location for for Kellie and Todd’s Lake Michigan elopement, I almost lost my shit. Because instead of the chill beach I had visited just a month ago, it was crawling with people. Like, the car I parked next to was blasting some Billie Eilish and while I love “Bad Guy,” it isn’t exactly the vibe I was hoping for.

In Kellie and Todd’s inquiry email, they told me that their priority was to marry each other and that they totally trusted me to figure out the rest.

So I did.

With just a few minutes to search Oval Beach for a spot that offered a modicum of privacy for their wedding and didn’t include too many neon bikinis or screaming children, I stumbled upon an overlook above the beach itself with a stunning view of the Lake Michigan sunset. I guarded that spot until the couple arrived with no-nonsense don’t-even-think-about-it glares at onlookers.

The ceremony was short and sweet. I led Kellie, Todd, and their parents in a short centering moment and invited the couple to share their vows. Their words were stunningly similar although written independently and total proof that they are perfectly matched.

After their first kiss, applause broke out on the beach and I realized that we had an audience that was totally hidden below the overlook.

We couldn’t stop laughing.

After a quiet moment away from the crowds exploring the dunes, we headed back to our spot to sign the marriage license. Without a table, the couple signed on their new spouse’s back and I don’t know why, but that gave me chills.

Kellie and Todd brought a blue tooth speaker and had their first dance as the sun slowly sunk beneath Lake Michigan and the crowds began to disperse. It was the perfect end to a imperfectly perfect evening.

One of the things that I mentioned during Kellie and Todd’s elopement ceremony was that Weddings, Marriage, and Life all have the following in common:

Things will not go according to plan, but having your person by your side grounds you in the midst of chaos. Ultimately, that’s all that matters.

Michigan Dunes Elopement

Christina and Victor exchanged their vows with only their parents as witnesses on top of the Lake Michigan dunes. It was simple. It was stunning, and by the end, the sky sang for them.

Hocking Hills Elopement

Hocking Hills Elopement

Sara + Nathan

This was my second time at the Glenlaurel Inn photographing a Hocking Hills elopement (see my first here). The private on-site gorge trail lends itself to an intimate wedding ceremony that is simply not possible at the Hocking Hills State Parks. I am forever grateful to have discovered this treasure of a location for my couples who want an intimate wedding surrounded by nature.

Sara and Nathan decided that while they had to postpone their large wedding celebration until next year, they were done waiting to be married. Since I’m legally ordained in Ohio as well as Michigan, we started thinking about a place that could double as a wedding venue as well as a sort of mini-honeymoon. Hocking Hills was perfect.

I arrived just after sunrise at the couple’s cabin and photographed them as they helped each other get ready. Nathan had to put Sara’s hiking boots on and it was so freaking adorable. Then, we hiked through slippery muddy trails to the perfect little oasis in the middle of the forested gorge. The fact that Sara didn’t get her dress dirty on the way down was a gift from the universe.

After reading letters from their parents, and reflecting on the events that led them to their wedding day, Sara and Nathan exchanged personalized vows. Sealed with rings and a kiss, they began their marriage with a first dance to Bridge Over Troubled Water.

WEDDING VENDOR LOVE

Dress: Spring Sweet
Flowers: Stems Market
Venue: Glenlaurel Inn