
Who Is Appalachian Wedding Photography?
Hi, Iβm Emilie Gatesβthe 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 spiritβcurious, 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 truthβdocumenting 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 adventuresβcracking open cans without a can opener and sleeping beneath the stars. That early love for simplicity and connection still guides me today. Iβm endlessly drawn to elopement weddings and intimate celebrations that feel intentional and grounded in love.
Iβm 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 isnβt just about pretty picturesβitβs 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 awayβyour 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, Iβd love to be part of your story.
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















































































































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