An Elegant Mountaintop Wedding at a Lodge in North Carolina

Patrick and Rachael were introduced to one another by a mutual friend in May 2022. "We texted and talked on the phone for a month, and then Patrick flew to DC to take me to dinner in June," Rachael reminisces. After a whirlwind year of long-distance romance, followed by a cross-country move, all while balancing a career shift and travel for work, Rachael and Patrick finally tied the knot in an intimate spring ceremony at Rockwood Lodge in Highlands, North Carolina.

Their love for adventure and exploration inspired their wedding planning, from their picturesque engagement by a waterfall (while hiking in Alaska!) to the venue they chose. "Patrick and I both love the outdoors and felt like beautiful Highlands was the right place for us and that our closest friends and family would enjoy," says Rachael.

Perched on a high mountain overlooking the Nantahala National Forest, this breathtaking location was the perfect setting for the outdoorsy couple. Read on to learn more about their special day.

An Intimate Affair

Rachael wanted a small and intimate wedding. "It reflects who we are because we care deeply about our family and closest friends," she says. From waking up in the same house as her immediate family to driving to the venue alone with her father in his truck, the couple aimed to create special memories to last a lifetime.

A Secluded Venue

In pursuit of hosting a more private wedding, they picked the gorgeous Rockwood Lodge, Highlands, North Carolina, as their venue. "Highlands is special to me because I grew up visiting with my family," the bride reminisces.

A Personal Touch With the Save the Dates

The save-the-dates "had flowers, fish, and fly-fishing flies on them, due to our love of fishing, as well as our state birds. I also snuck some cotton bolls on it to represent my home state," says Rachael. These featured a warm pastel color scheme which was seen throughout the wedding weekend.

The Dress

On a quick trip to New York City, Rachael tried on the perfect dress at Monique Lhuillier and then dashed to catch her train to D.C. Weeks later, she still couldn't get the dress off her mind and began the process of customizing it with Kristen and Molly at Ivory & White in Birmingham, Alabama. Although Rachael made some major alterations (some at the final fitting!) and didn't get to try on the dress until the day before her wedding, it fit like a glove, she says.

A special memory that Rachael holds near and dear is trying on dresses in Birmingham with her mother and sister-in-law. "One of my best friends got to stop by, too," she says. "Even though I didn’t find my dress that day, I felt so loved. It’s a special memory for me."

Something Borrowed

After two sets of earrings didn't arrive in time, Rachael's friend Cassie offered her a pair to borrow. "She met my dad’s truck on the side of the road in Highlands as we were driving by on our way to the venue early on Saturday. She passed them through the truck window and we were off!" reveals Rachael.

The First Look

As Rachael stepped onto the back terrace, enveloped by grass and trees, she and Patrick shared an intimate first glance. The bride was tempted to show her groom the dress several times. "I stayed strong, so it was a true surprise when he saw me," she says.

The Gallant Groom

Patrick sported a midnight navy tux from Indochino for the big day.

A Ceremony in the Round

The ceremony took place outside, with a stunning view of the mountains. They used Thonet chairs arranged in a theatre-in-the-round style, lending an even more intimate feeling to the occasion while enhancing the grandeur of the setting.

Inspiring Live Music

The Ansley Stewart Band serenaded guests throughout the wedding day. During the ceremony, Rachael walked down the aisle to their beautiful rendition of Canon in D in honor of her mother, who walked to the very same song at her own wedding. As they stepped out of the ceremony, "Sweet Home Alabama" began, an ode to the bride's home state (Patrick's idea!). "As soon as everyone heard the intro and realized what it was, there were big cheers... that moment is one I’ll never forget," Rachael recalls.

Floral Notes

"I love flowers, so that was my focus," says Rachael. She wanted to amplify the natural beauty of the wedding venue while adding fun, colorful embellishments. The ceremony was complete with floral end caps, aisle arrangements, and embellishments on the prayer kneeler.

Cocktail Hour

Honoring the brides' Southern roots, the guests mingled and sipped Old Fashioned cocktails and lemon drop martinis (the couple's favorites). "I enjoyed the cocktail hour because we got to soak up time with our guests. We actually got to visit with everyone who was there and have real conversations, which was one of our goals in having a small wedding," says Patrick.

A Reception Under the Stars

The reception was held in an indoor-outdoor tent that overlooked the property. Although it was meant to be al fresco, a sudden change in weather halted these plans. Instead, they used a clear tent to give the feeling that [they] were dining under the stars, said the bride.

A Dinner to Remember

Guests were treated to zesty charred carrot with miso yogurt, fresh local trout, and hearty New York strip for dinner.

A Special First Dance

The couple loves music, especially folk and country. With this in mind, they knew their first song had to be 'All Your’n' by Tyler Childers. Patrick and Rachael loved the deeply personal and emotional sentiment of this song. "We waited a long time to find each other, and this song represents how we feel," says the bride.

A Dreamy Dessert

This whimsical red velvet and coconut cream cake managed to perfectly encapsulate the fun and fresh energy that Rachael and Patrick curated. This sugary boost ensured that the guests could continue to dance all night.

Quick Change!

The bride ended the night by quickly changing into a chic mini-dress by The Own Studio. This allowed her to shimmy and shake with all her guests. Grooving to "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" by Whitney Houston, was one of her favorite moments of the night. "Everyone was having so much fun," she says.

Sources

• Photographer: Tracy Burch 
• Ceremony and reception site: Rockwood Lodge
• Planner: Thorne and Thistle
• Flowers/Florist: Above the Fray Events
• Invitations: Every Little Something
• Paper Goods: Thorne and Thistle
• Officiant: Sharon Gustafson with The Falls Church Anglican in Arlington, Virginia
• Bridal gown: Monique Lhuillier – Ivory & White Boutique
• Veil: Toni Federici 
• Jewelry: Diamond cuff earrings (borrowed); reception dress earrings: Janis Savitt 
• Shoes: Loeffler Randall
• Hair and Makeup: Anna Breeding
• Bridesmaids' dresses: Mac Duggal
• Groom's attire: Indochino
• Groomsmen's attire: Personal 
• Engagement Ring: Ascot Diamonds
• Wedding Bands: The True Gem (Bride); Blue Nile (Groom)
• Music (ceremony and reception): The Ansley Stewart Band
• Catering: Braised & Confit 
• Cake: Sugar Cloud Baking Co.
• Rentals: Professional Party Rentals, Curated Events and Maison de Carine
• Lighting: Professional Party Rentals
• Spray Tan: Tan2Go
• Colorist: Devin Cook at Blackbird Salon
• Reception/After Party Bag: Porto
• Wine: Highlands Wine Shoppe