An Intimate Elopement Overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains in Asheville, North Carolina

Not having loved ones present is one of the main drawbacks couples weigh when planning to elope. However, Adrienne Michelle (33 and a therapist, educator and speaker) and Brittany Glover (33 and a product management executive) found a creative way to have a private ceremony while still involving those closest to them. “We had a ‘Get Ready with Me’ style elopement,” Adrienne says. “Our five closest friends made the trek up the mountains to join us for brunch and help us get ready. We had them all wear jewel-tone silk pajamas, so we could relax and enjoy mimosas.” After starting the day with friends, the couple ended it with dinner for just the two of them. Adrienne and Brittany asked a private chef to make their favorite dishes for their intimate newlywed dinner. 

"Our day was so untraditional. We did what we wanted, like order a mini lemon-raspberry cake. It felt great to center ourselves and truly celebrate. To couples feeling overwhelmed about wedding planning: Focus on you and your partner, not others. That’ll alleviate some, if not all, of your stress." In addition to exchanging vows, the couple included a Maya Angelou reading in their ceremony. Adrienne and Brittany shared their first dance to “Simple Things,” by Miguel—the same song that played during their first kiss many years before. “It meant the world to us to have [our musicians] sing a beautiful acoustic version of it,” Adrienne says. “One of our favorite moments was the morning of: waking up, having coffee and taking time for the two of us—it was really special,” Adrienne says. “Afterward, we also had a relaxing few days in the mountains with tons of leftover food. We made a whole weekend out of it since we had to cancel our honeymoon to South Africa” because of the pandemic.

To celebrate Brittany’s love of classic cars, the couple rented a vintage Mustang and hired a driver to take them on a scenic cruise. To make the post-nuptial drive through the mountains even more special, Adrienne and Brittany brought along cigars and Johnnie Walker Blue Label to toast to their marriage. “We wanted to splurge and get the best of the best,” Adrienne says of their Scotch of choice. "We went on a mountain drive to celebrate the day. We love taking long drives, especially in the scenic mountains, so it was a perfect way to commemorate the day while enjoying the sunset," says Adrienne.