Elopement on a Boat- Lake Santeetlah, Robbinsville, North Carolina
The 2020 pandemic put a kink in so many wedding plans. Our couple, Rachel and Rusty, decided to forget about the big wedding and go back to their original plan to get married on their boat in the mountains. Lake Santeetlah is located in Robbinsville, North Carolina, high up in the Appalachian Mountains. Rachel’s family has a lake house and Rusty dreamed of marrying his love on his boat- then cruising off into the sunset. That is exactly what happened.
I could not have prepared myself for the beauty of it all. The lake house surrounded Rachel with childhood memories and family during the getting ready part of the day and then held the family and friends close together during the reception at the end of the evening. Two pontoons and Rusty’s fishing boat found each other around a bend in the lake, where the ceremony was held. The couple got together in the small fishing boat and took off into the sunset. Fireworks were set off to celebrate their union. The sky celebrated with us; changing from blue to soft pinks and oranges with hints of lavender. I was overwhelmed with gratitude to be a part of this event. Sometimes big weddings need to be cancelled. Sometimes those first dreams need to be the final plan; the boat, the couple, a wedding, and the lake. What more is there to worry about? For Rachel and Rusty, it worked out better than we could have imagined. We are grateful for this beautifully unique wedding, this beautiful couple who trusted us from the very first call and for the beautiful weather that was gifted to us. “Let’s get married on my boat,” Rusty said. “Hell, yes,” Rachel replied. And they did, in the end.
