Intimate Wedding on Nantahala Lake | Molly + Josh

May 17

Written By Bailey Batten

Intimate wedding near Asheville, North Carolina | Nantahala lake in the fall

Weddings in the mountains of Western North Carolina. I truly could photograph them over and over again and it never get old. Especially in the fall when the leaves begin to change colors. It’s one of the most beautiful times of year here on the East Coast. The Nantahala gorge and the nearby lake is the place my family and I have called home for the past 5 years. I grew up visiting this area as a kid and it has been really special to share some of those memories with my own daughter. Splashing in the cold Nantahala River and whitewater rafting all summer. Paddle boarding on the lake and packing a picnic to enjoy as my husband jumps from some of the nearby cliffs. It really is a magical place and a beautiful area for an intimate getaway, retreat style wedding for friends and family.

Molly and Josh chose to get married at what has become one of my favorite venues to work at in this area, Nantahala Weddings + Events. They wanted a place where they could share a full weekend of wedding celebration with their guests. Nantahala Weddings + Events is a great option for those looking to house their guests onsite and make a full weekend of their wedding day. Not to mention how beautiful the scenery is all year long in the Smoky Mountains but especial mid October when the fall leaves are at their peak for color. It’s simply breathtaking!

A quick pro tip for couples getting married at Nantahala Weddings: I love photographing weddings here later in the season because the water levels start to drop on the lake making for really beautiful portraits along the shore line. Summer weddings here are beautiful as well but there’s something about hopping out on those rocks that’s just so pretty!

Are you dreaming of a Fall Wedding? Fall in Western North Carolina is a busy time for the wedding industry and for good reason. The fall leaves are beautiful and definitely a coveted time to get married. One word of advice for anyone looking to get married in late September or the entire month of October. Book your venue and photographer as soon as possible because our schedules fill fast! Peak leaf season = beautiful colors = peak wedding season.

A fun new trend for my mountain brides out there: The bridal tennis shoe! More and more brides getting married in the mountains are opting for a comfortable shoe that matches the terrain of the place they’re getting married in. Still just as cute as ever, but way more practical. I love seeing how brides are adding a little bit of their personality into their wedding attire and honestly a tennis shoe just makes so much more sense in some of the areas you are walking around in here in Western North Carolina. // Check out what I’m talking about: Bridal Tennis Shoe

Want to see Molly + Josh’s Wedding day captured on video? The Bailey Batten photography team also loves telling love stories through cinematic + documentary style videography so, check it out if you’re interested. // Molly + Josh’s Wedding Film + Videography Portfolio

Venue: NANTAHALA WEDDINGS & EVENTS // Planner: Cara Jones // Florals: Great Blue Farms // Music + DJ: Rock Botton Entertainment // Photography + Videography: Bailey Batten Photography