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 Gates—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 spirit—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 truth—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 adventures—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 pictures—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 away—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

A woman and a young girl in a hammock inside a room with wooden walls. The woman has her back to the camera, while the girl looks intently out the window. There are shelves with books and a chair with a patterned cloth near the window.
A woman giving a piggyback ride to a young man on a tennis court with a fence in the background
A woman and a child hugging outdoors, black and white photograph.
Black and white photo of a woman and three children playing together, with all appearing to be laughing or smiling
A young boy with dark hair and freckles touching a woman’s nose, both smiling and engaging in a playful moment indoors.
Four young people sitting on rocks at the Grand Canyon with a view of the canyon in the background.
A group of four people, two boys, one girl, and a woman, sitting on a trampoline outdoors, smiling, with trees and a suburban neighborhood in the background.
Two women smiling and playing near a river with a city skyline and a bridge in the background
A group of four people, two adults and two children, sitting on the front porch stairs of a house, smiling and hugging each other during sunset.
Three women smiling and posing for a photo indoors, with a stone fireplace and wooden decor in the background.
A woman with short brown hair, wearing large sunglasses and a patterned blouse, is taking a selfie with two young boys on a sandy beach during sunset. The older boy has curly brown hair and is wearing a black t-shirt, while the younger boy has short
Two boys playing at the beach with a shoe in shallow water during sunset.
Two women wearing beanies and glasses eating avocado toast and pink meat from toast.
Three people taking a selfie outside a building with a door open behind them.
A woman shopping for plywood in a hardware store, leaning over a large sheet of plywood.
Two people are smiling and hugging outdoors with a mountain and cloudy sky in the background.
Woman with short brown hair wearing sunglasses and a striped shirt, outdoors on a sunny day.
A woman with short, tousled brown hair smiling and posing outdoors in sunlight, with a wooden shutter and stone wall behind her.
A woman and a teenage boy taking a selfie indoors near a window with greenery outside.
A young boy sitting barefoot on straw, smiling, surrounded by a variety of pumpkins and gourds in an outdoor fall display.
Two children sitting and interacting in front of a large aquarium tank filled with various fish and sharks underwater.
Woman lying on a wooden platform outdoors near a creek, smiling, with one arm raised and the other resting on her head, surrounded by trees and greenery.
A family taking a selfie outdoors in front of an apartment building, with three children and one adult woman smiling at the camera.
Two women lying on a couch with one holding a small dog, smiling and enjoying a relaxed moment indoors.
Three children stacking on each other's shoulders in a swimming pool, with a brick building and a fence in the background.
A young boy with short brown hair, blue eyes, and freckles smiling at the camera, sitting at a wooden table near a window with natural light. There are shelves and green objects in the background.
A woman takes a selfie in a field of colorful flowers, with a sunset sky and wooded hills in the background.
A woman helping a young girl with glasses practice swimming in a pool.
Two young adults sitting outdoors at night, smiling at the camera.
A young boy with brown hair and freckles holding a gold heart-shaped mirror in front of his face with his eyes closed in a retail store setting.
Four people, two women and two boys, smiling and taking a selfie indoors near a window with sunlight and string lights in the background.
Three women smiling outdoors in front of a yellow house, standing close together.
Two women sitting on a kitchen counter looking at a phone together, smiling inside a well-lit kitchen with cabinets, a wooden table, and a window letting in natural light.
Three children lying on a bed, with one hugging the other two from above, in a room with wooden panel walls.
A woman and boy standing on a wooden balcony with a view of trees and a sunset, holding a small dog.
Sunset over a layered mountain landscape with a cloudy sky and a faint rainbow.
Three women joyfully riding in a convertible car through a green, wooded area, with one woman in the driver's seat and two in the backseat, smiling and enjoying the outdoor drive.
A woman and a teenage boy outdoors taking a selfie, smiling, with trees and a house in the background.
Person peeking through green, striped-leaf plant on a porch with white siding and outdoor furniture.
Two women smiling outdoors in a green garden or backyard.
A woman walks along a garden path surrounded by colorful flowers and greenery under a bright blue sky.
A young woman with short brown hair wearing a pink floral dress, smiling outdoors in a green park with trees and a partly cloudy sky.
A woman and a teenage boy sitting outside on a porch with green trees in the background. The woman is smiling and partially hidden behind the boy, who has short, dark hair and is looking at the camera.
Two women taking a selfie on a sandy beach with waves and a blue sky in the background.
Woman wearing a striped blouse and blue pants, with a brown cloth draped over her shoulder, standing inside a room with a beige wall and a framed picture of San Francisco in the background. She has her right hand behind her head and a headband on her
Three people, two children and an adult, are sitting at a black piano with white and black keys, indoors near a window. The adult is helping the younger child play the piano, while the older child is standing and exploring the keys.
Two women sharing a green beverage with straws, smiling and enjoying the moment outdoors.
Person jumping on a rock at the beach with ocean waves and cloudy sky in the background.
A man in swim trunks doing a handstand on a large black rock at the edge of the ocean with waves and a partly cloudy sky.
Three children standing on a large rock at the beach, with ocean waves and blue sky in the background.
A woman and a young boy smiling outdoors, with a mountain and forest in the background. The woman is wearing a brown beanie and a gray jacket, while the boy has a red beanie and a red and black checkered jacket.
Two boys are sitting on a rocky ledge overlooking a rushing stream below, surrounded by trees and moss. One is wearing a green jacket and yellow beanie, and the other is in a red and black checkered jacket.
Two smiling people taking a selfie in front of a calm mountain lake with dense evergreen trees and snow-capped mountains in the background under cloudy skies.
Young man sitting by a river on a grassy bank, wearing a brown cap, listening to wireless earbuds, and looking at a tablet or phone.
A person sitting outdoors on a small folding chair, having their hair cut with scissors by another person. The person sitting is wearing a gray T-shirt, green shorts, white socks, and sneakers. The scene takes place in a forested area with blue sky a
A boy standing among green bushes and yellow flowers in a grassy field, with a white van parked on a dirt road amid a scenic landscape of trees, hills, and mountains under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.
Woman taking a selfie at sunset with the Grand Canyon in the background, showcasing layered red rock formations and cliffs.
A woman and a boy outside in a rocky, desert-like environment, both wearing wide-brimmed hats and smiling at the camera.
A woman and a young girl smiling in front of orange rock formations and tall trees under a bright blue sky on a hiking trail.
A woman and a teenage boy hike outdoors with mountains and a bright blue sky in the background, both smiling and wearing backpacks.
A person performing a handstand on a railing along a hiking trail in Zion National Park, with towering red rock cliffs and a snowy mountain in the background.
A smiling young woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a patterned shirt stands next to a shirtless young man with a chain necklace, in a rocky canyon with steep walls and a shallow creek.
Two women lying in a hammock near a river, surrounded by rocks and dry terrain.
A group of five friends taking a selfie in front of a waterfall surrounded by trees and rocks during the daytime.
Two people, a woman and a young man, taking a selfie outdoors in front of tall trees with a blue sky. The woman is smiling, wearing a cap that says 'Smoky Mtn,' and has a backpack. The young man has a neutral expression and is touching his face with
A young man sitting on a rock ledge overlooking a mountainous landscape with granite cliffs and forested valleys under a blue sky.
A smiling young boy with a backpack and a tie-dye shirt stands outdoors next to large rocks, holding a walking stick.
A smiling woman and boy outdoors in a forest, both wearing caps, with the boy brushing his teeth.
Person sitting on a large rock surrounded by green foliage and ferns in a natural outdoor setting.
Three people sitting on rocks at the edge of the Grand Canyon under a partly cloudy sky.
Person sitting on the edge of a rocky cliff overlooking the Grand Canyon under a clear blue sky.
Person sitting on a rocky ledge overlooking the Grand Canyon with trees nearby and a vast, layered canyon landscape in the background.
A smiling woman and a young man sitting on a rocky ledge at the Grand Canyon, with the canyon's layered cliffs and a partly cloudy sky in the background.
Two people, a woman wearing a large hat and a boy wearing a cap, taking a selfie at the Grand Canyon with the canyon and a partly cloudy sky in the background.
Two young boys in red and black plaid shirts walk across a hanging bridge over a green body of water, accompanied by a small black and tan dog.
A smiling young person with short dark hair wearing a blue polka dot shirt and a silver necklace, standing next to an older woman with short brown hair wearing a black tank top, both taking a selfie outdoors with trees and parked cars in the backgrou
Four people gathered around a table with a rice crispy treat cake with two candles, looking at it and smiling in a kitchen setting.
A woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat and black shirt climbing a tall ladder leaning against a tree in a lush forest surrounded by green leaves.
Four people smiling and standing together at an outdoor market or event booth, with a table covered with a patterned cloth and price signs visible. They are in front of a parking lot and wooded area.
A person working on a wooden shelf above a laundry sink in a small laundry room.
Person spray painting a white and red bookshelf outdoors near a wooded area.
Two people eating large muffins, one with eyes closed and the other with eyes open, indoors with a wooden wall and blue curtain behind them.
Two women smiling inside a van with backpacks and a wooden interior.
Three people, two adults and a child, lying on green grass, holding up travel tickets in front of their eyes.
Group of five people sitting on front porch steps of a house, smiling, in black and white.
Three women taking a selfie outdoors in front of a garden and trees, smiling at the camera.
Two women smiling for a selfie outdoors, one wearing glasses and a black tank top, the other with sunglasses on her head and a green shirt, in front of a turquoise door with a decorative metallic grill.
Two women taking a selfie outdoors, surrounded by green foliage, with one woman wearing red glasses and the other with short brown hair.
Three women smiling and lying down together, close-up selfie.
Two women standing outside a store, posing together and smiling. One is wearing green overalls and the other is wearing light blue denim overalls. They are standing in front of a brick wall and a storefront decorated for Christmas.
Two smiling women taking a selfie inside by a large window, with a city street, brick building, trees, and parked cars visible outside.
Illustration with the text 'This is what I'm all about' in teal, cursive font.
Digital graphic with teal background with white text asking about favorite weekend activities and suggesting swimming in a lake at sunset and reheating leftovers.
A teal background with white text asking what one food they'd eat for the rest of their life, followed by the answer: salads loaded with warm, nut coated goat cheese.
Text on teal background reading, 'Where’s the most memorable place you’ve ever traveled? Cretan mountainside sharing homemade Raki with an 80-year-old native lighting candles for his wife he’d lost decades before.'
Text on a teal background asking, 'What's a simple pleasure that makes you ridiculously happy?' with a response about picking figs from the side of the road and eating them from a pocket.
A teal-colored graphic with white text posing a question about preferences for early mornings or late nights, and giving a humorous response about early mornings being the start of the little life.
A teal background with white and italicized text asking about favorite thrift finds, mentioning vintage rugs and wool rugs as personal favorites.
Text image with a question about where to live in the world, mentioning preference for a small home with soft cotton sheets.
Text with a question about childhood memories and a humorous answer about a bag of Twizzlers under a tree.
A teal social media post background with white text asking about go-to comfort foods, answering with saucy Thai food.
Text on teal background asking about free afternoons and activities, with a suggestion to make burgers on the grill and eat with kids on the back porch.
A teal-colored background with white text asking about a skill or hobby someone has always wanted to learn, and making a playful comment about singing.
A teal background with white text reading, "Who or what inspires you the most? My kids the most for sure."
A text-based image with a teal background displaying a question about small rituals or traditions, followed by an example about brushing and flossing in the shower nightly.
A teal background with white text asking who three people would invite to dinner, living or not, by Sojourner Truth, Karah Thompson, and Waris Dirie.
A teal background with a quote: 'What's a quirky habit or trait you have? I like to be early to my early time.'
Inspirational quote on a teal background about enjoying a perfect day with sunrise, coffee, snuggles, kitchen forging, and house projects.
A teal background with white text that reads, 'What’s something you’ve created that you’re proud of? I am most proud when I connect with my family, since I am a project driven productive spirit and that comes easy, my most proud times are when I am s
A teal-colored background with white text that reads, "What’s your favorite way to connect with others?" and "Projects side by side."
Text image with a teal background that has a message about a personal favorite food, bacon, and a humorous comment about eating BLTs with lots of bacon.
A teal background with white and light blue text asking about reliving a moment in life, with a personal reflection about dancing at the age of 24.
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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