Engagement Session in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Kelli and Colin’s engagement session in the Blue Ridge Mountains feels almost ethereal as stunning light envelops them on this lovely afternoon. They enjoyed a glass of wine and the simplicity of the mountainside with such scenic views that truly make you look twice, all captured so beautifully on film and will remain forever timeless!

Kelli and Colin wanted to showcase their love for the mountains and travel in their engagement session. Set atop the blue ridge mountains in Virginia, Kelli and Colin shared an intimate picnic just like the picnic they shared when they got engaged on their second anniversary. They describe their love as effortless and simple and just enjoy spending time together. -David Abel Photography

How did you two meet? What were your first impressions of one another? We met at a happy hour organized by a mutual friend at a local French restaurant. We immediately clicked and became fast friends. Kelli’s first impression of Colin was that he is incredibly kind, open-minded, and intelligent (and of course, very handsome!). Colin’s first impression of Kelli was that she is smart, thoughtful, inquisitive, and cute.

What is your favorite thing about each other? Kelli and I are both very funny adventurous people. I think being each others best friend is our favorite thing.

Tell us a funny story relating to your wedding day or relationship! The morning of our wedding day, the tent company set-up a tent pole in the middle of our ceremony space. We had to scramble to relocate the ceremony to another garden on the property that was not planned for use due to an active bee hive. Colin and several of our friends and family were outside in their underwear weeding and prepping the Garden for use in the ceremony. It ended up working out beautifully thanks to their hard work!

Describe a hurdle you had to overcome in your relationship or during your wedding planning. Our biggest hurdle was COVID. We got engaged at the beginning of the pandemic and decided to wait a full year to begin planning our wedding. We knew we wanted the venue to be at Colin’s grandfathers house but we’re very concerned about exposing him to COVID. Planning during COVID presented many challenges including the ability for vendors to have staff on-site and to see things in person.

Any special ways you incorporated your family or family history into your wedding day? We got married at Colin’s grandfathers house which has been in the family for over 50 years. Colin’s father, uncle, and grandfather grew up in the house and his aunt held her wedding reception on the property 30 years prior to our wedding day.

What part of your wedding day was/is most important to you? The most important part of the day and most memorable was the ceremony where we were married by Colin’s Aunt Molly. Molly had gotten married there 30 years prior to our wedding day and it was incredible to celebrate with her and her husband. We also shared our written vows with each other in front of our closest friends and family.

What was your favorite part about planning your wedding? Our favorite part of the planning process was spending time with our family. As we traveled up to DC almost every weekend in the spring, we were able to spend an incredible amount of time with Colin’s grandfather and the rest of the family. We also want to give a shout out to our good friend Lauren (Lauren bliss events) who was our planner and made the process so much easier.

What is the best thing you’ve learned from one another? We have learned that life is about the journey and not the destination. We try to surround ourselves with people we love and people who love us. We prioritize living in the moment and adventures that make life abundant (and make for good stories).

If you had one piece of advice for other couples, what would it be? Kelli’s advice is to stick to your vision and do not let other peoples wants or desires sway you. You only have one wedding day so make it your dreams. Colin’s advice is to keep your wedding small and intimate. This will give you a chance to truly celebrate with those closest to you who are invested in your success for the long term. Trust me!

What is the most honest thing you can say about love? Marry your best friend and prioritize your time with that person!