Three women outdoors in a forest, each holding a camera. The first woman is squatting on the ground with a camera in hand, the second woman is standing and smiling with her arms outstretched, wearing a long coat, and the third woman is standing among trees holding a camera, smiling.

Who Is Appalachian Wedding Photography?

Hi, I’m Emilie Gatesβ€”the heart, hands, and lens behind Appalachian Wedding Photography, based right here in Blue Ridge, Georgia.

I grew up in small-town Florida, where summer storms turned roads into rivers and kudzu forts were our playgrounds. Skateboarding with a trash-bag sail and thrift shopping out of necessity taught me to find magic in the everyday. I still carry that spiritβ€”curious, creative, and drawn to stories that feel lived-in and real.

Today, I live in a window-starved but love-filled farmhouse in the North Georgia mountains, raising three incredible kids and preserving memories as a full-time Blue Ridge, Georgia wedding photographer. My photography is rooted in truthβ€”documenting not just how your day looked, but how it felt. Whether you're planning a Georgia wedding, a Blue Ridge elopement, or a quiet ceremony across the border for your North Carolina wedding, I'm here for it.

My childhood was full of camping adventuresβ€”cracking open cans without a can opener and sleeping beneath the stars. That early love for simplicity and connection still guides me today. I’m endlessly drawn to elopement weddings and intimate celebrations that feel intentional and grounded in love.

I’m a sucker for vintage fabric (because yes, one more crossover bag is necessary), handwoven baskets, and fermentation experiments. I dance in grocery store aisles, chase light with my camera, and wake early to edit love stories in the soft glow of the morning.

Appalachian Wedding Photography isn’t just about pretty picturesβ€”it’s about preserving the energy, emotion, and essence of your day. Whether your wedding takes place on a misty mountain in Blue Ridge, Georgia, in your own backyard, by a waterfall, or oceans awayβ€”your story matters. It deserves to be told with artistry, honesty, and heart.

So if you're looking for a Blue Ridge Georgia wedding photographer who values connection, creativity, and the beauty of the in-between moments, I’d love to be part of your story.

Logo for Appalachian Wedding Photography featuring mountains, river, trees, and a sunrise or sunset in bright colors

You will hear directly from Emilie when you contact us. She is your direct contact to pick packages, build timelines and answer questions. Emilie is highly invested in relationships and getting to know everything there is to support you during the planning stages and wedding day.

Logo from Sydney Little,

Bridesmaid graphics artist from one of our Cherokee Mountain Cabins Weddings in 2021

Illustration with the text 'This is what I'm all about' in teal, cursive font.
My Favorites things as owner of Appalachian Wedding Photographer
  • Skinny dipping

  • Wind

  • Birds nesting  in the evening

  • Making anything instead of buying it

  • Old lady retirement communes

  • Lacto-fermented anything

  • Leftover handmade party decorations

  • Goat cheese

  • Nuts on everything

  • Almost icy hard cider

  • Hot food

  • Camp stoves

  • Worn-in old Chacos

  • Haircuts on the back porch

  • Cats chasing falling leaves

  • Giggles

  • Blanket forts

  • Pop-up dinner parties

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@APPALACHIANWEDDINGPHOTOGRAPHY