Grace and Mark’s Shenandoah National Park wedding in Virginia was incredible! They wanted an intimate wedding surrounded by the golden colors of fall and the natural beauty of Shenandoah National Park. It was a breathtaking backdrop for their intentional microwedding. Discover if Shenandoah National Park is the perfect elopement location for your fall elopement as you look through these details and moments of Grace and Mark’s elopement!
Getting Ready Photos and Elopement Day Details
This beautiful elopement started at Grace and Mark’s VRBO cabin in the mountains. When I arrived, I began photographing their getting ready moments and wedding day details. They had personalized and meaningful details gathered from their relationship. I always love it when couples include details like this as it enhances the intentionality.
Family members hung out at the VRBO while Mark and Grace got ready. These family members offered to help with the wedding by organizing and setting up the wedding florals, food, and decor for the VRBO. It was a thoughtful gift to Grace and Mark, so they could focus on getting ready and start the day with minimal stress. Delegating certain tasks to people can be an amazing way to include family in your wedding day.
A Private First Look
When it was time to leave for the wedding ceremony, all of the guests left first. Grace and Mark stayed behind briefly, so they could have a private first look out on the deck. It will be a moment to remember! They were surrounded by a canopy of golden trees as their first look backdrop. It was beautiful!
An Intimate Wedding Ceremony With Family
Then, we hopped in the car and drove 10 minutes away to Grace’s parents’ property where their guests were waiting. Their parents were building a house on the land, and their field provided a beautiful mountain backdrop for their wedding ceremony.
The ceremony was so special as they had their closest family members there to celebrate them. At the end, Grace and Mark announced their new last name they had created together blending their last names together! This is an up-and-coming trend amongst young couples who would rather change both of their last names into a new name instead of the woman taking the man’s name.
They even did a bubble and streamer exit from the ceremony which made for GREAT photos!
Capturing Family Group Photos
After the wedding ceremony, we took a moment to do family group photos. As their wedding photographer, I crossed off the combinations as I called people’s names out! I always ask for a list of photos, so I can help facilitate the group photos. With an efficient process, family photos are a great way to document all of the loved ones who attended your wedding!
Wedding Couple Photos Around Their Family’s Property
Guests were dismissed to go back to the VRBO to start making lunch while Grace, Mark, and I stayed behind to take newlywed photos around the property. Even though it was under construction, they really wanted photos with the house their parents were building, too. It was a family home and will be very special to them in the future! The beauty of elopements and microweddings is that they are an intentionally-crafted experience curated just for you.
Then, we made our way back to the VRBO for Grace and Mark to make an entrance as husband and wife!!
Celebratory Lunch at Their VRBO
Everyone grabbed plates to sit around the tables on the deck talking and spending time together as they ate lunch. Grace’s father said a few words at one point, and everyone raised a glass as a cheers! There was also a Pittsburgh Cookie Table with a cake, so when they were ready, Grace and Mark cut the cake as their family watched and cheered!
After capturing these important moments, I set down my camera, so we all could take a break for a little bit. The way I support you in planning your elopement day means that we always budget in extra time! That way we are never rushed or running behind, and we have the space and flexibility for breaks, too. Elopements are about the experience! You don’t want to feel like you’re on camera for 8 straight hours when you want to feel in the moment during your elopement.
Shenandoah National Park Wedding Photos During Sunset
Grace, Mark, and I then drove into Shenandoah National Park for sunset photos! We stopped at several overlooks in Shenandoah to capture that iconic fall Shenandoah mountain views. The sunset that evening was stunning. We had sun rays coming through the clouds, making it the perfect ending to their intimate wedding day.
A Key Tip to Planning a Shenandoah National Park Wedding in the Fall
If you want a Shenandoah National Park wedding in the fall, be aware that you will need a permit if you have more than 16 people! If you’re set on getting married in October in Shenandoah, it’s important that you have a backup plan. The Shenandoah National Park office can be strict about weddings in October due to the high number of tourists. Sometimes, they might not even issue permits during October at all!
This is why Grace and Mark decided to have their wedding ceremony on their parents’ property before taking wedding couple portraits at Shenandoah National Park. This compromise allowed them to have multiple guests at their ceremony while still being able to experience and enjoy the park for their couple photos as a part of their wedding day!
For a fall Shenandoah National Park wedding, I recommend considering eloping in September when there are fewer tourists (check out the blog post: Why September is the Best Fall Month for Your Shenandoah Park Wedding) or taking couple photos at the park after your wedding ceremony like Grace and Mark.
Grace and Mark’s Wedding Album
After Grace and Mark’s Shenandoah National Park wedding, they ordered several custom albums that we made together of their microwedding photos! I always offer an online storefront for prints in all of my galleries and offer a custom, done-for-you design for high-end albums because I know how important it is to print your photos. Whether you want to print a photo gallery to display in your home or create a wedding album you can showcase on your coffee table, your printed wedding photos allows you to relive the moments of your day in a more tangible way. If you’re interested, check out what your wedding album could look like here.
Let’s Capture Your Shenandoah National Park Wedding Next!
The way that you get married matters, and everyone deserves to have an incredible wedding experience. I’m here for the couples who crave personal connection, intentional experiences, and finding adventure wherever they can!
If you’re envisioning yourself getting married at Shenandoah National Park, let’s make it happen! I understand that it’s not just about beautiful photos – it’s about planning and capturing an experience that’s uniquely you. Let’s write the most epic story you’ll still be raving about 50 years from now! You can learn more about me here, and if you think I’d be the perfect photographer to capture your wedding, you can inquire with me here. I cannot wait to connect with you!
What Grace and Mark Have to Say
“Juliana was the best choice to make for our micro-wedding photography needs. She made us feel so comfortable throughout the planning process and was always so open to our ideas and seeing how to best make them work. Ultimately, we completely changed the plan on her day of because of the environmental scouting we did the day before, and she was so easy going and adapted so quickly it was like we planned it all along. She made us feel like ourselves in the pictures we sometimes forgot she was there. She captured our inner and outer beautiful.
If you want your elopement/wedding day to be as stress-free and focused on showcasing your love, Juliana is your woman.” – Grace & Mark
Juliana Wall Photography | Virginia & Washington DC Elopement Photographer
See more of these fall Shenandoah National Park wedding photos below!
Can you see yourself in these wedding photos? Book with me to capture your Shenandoah National Park elopement, and check out these blog posts for planning your wedding at this park.
Shenandoah National Park Elopement: An Adventure Wedding in the Virginia Mountains
Unique Wedding Planning Details & Ideas for Your Fall Elopement
