February 2019

27 Feb Shannon & Luke | Sky Retreat

Posted on February 27, 2019 by High Country Wedding Guide

Imagine a couple whose devotion to one another rivals the commitment and dedication you have to your own country. Cue entry of today’s super cool couple, Shannon and Luke who occupations are, wait for it, an Emergency Medicine Physician for the US Navy (her), and a Marine Special Operations (him). Talk about a serious power couple. Now there are plenty of fish in the sea, but these water warriors found their one and only in each other. The couple aimed for the High Country for their September nuptials, as it was their sweet escape when were both stationed at Camp LeJeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina (five hours away from Boone), during their first year of dating. Being a benevolent and adventurous couple, like you think they would be knowing their jobs, they surprised their bridal party with welcome boxes that encouraged exploring all the beauty to be had in the Blue Ridge. Cured beef sticks, apples, popcorn, Lara Bars, Tylenol, water, and fudge … everything you need to soak up a a view or relax under a waterfall. Let’s take a look at what Shannon has to say about the whole shebang … and as a special treat, we included a few snaps from their rehearsal dinner, all courtesy of Brian Schindler.

High Country Wedding Guide: How and when did you two cuties meet?

Shannon: I had recently returned from a deployment and went out with one of my good girlfriends to a wine bar. There one of our old friends, Luke, showed up and garnered the attention of the whole crowd. Luke and I immediately began to verbally spar. Luke thought it was odd when I followed “the guys” to the beer house next door instead of staying at the wine bar. We rode together to an after-party where he forewarned me that it would seem like he was taking me to a remote field. After that night, we didn’t speak again for a couple months until the girlfriend who introduced us stole Luke’s phone and texted me from it. I insisted on seeing a picture of Luke shirtless, but never did get that photo as the friends around Luke refused to send it because of his hairy chest. Fortunately, when we met again, it was love at first hairy chest.

HCWG: Thankfully it turned into a marriage! You guys must have had an interesting courtship … and proposal, yes?

Shannon: We dated for three years before we were engaged. Luke proposed on my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. I had come home late from working a shift at the ER on Thanksgiving Day and was in a hurry to get ready to go to a friends for dinner. Luke, already being dressed and armed with a dozen roses, was ready for me. He had to physically sit me down to get me to pay attention long enough to tell me he had another accessory for me to wear to dinner. I had no idea what he was talking about until he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

HCWG: We always knew food was the way to a woman’s heart. How did you guys decide on the High Country to host your wedding?

Shannon: My grandparents are from the area and my mother owns a home where we would vacation with our two fur babies. Luke also grew up in the rolling hills of Upstate New York. We had been planning to hold the wedding in the Catskills to facilitate Luke’s father to be able to attend. Unfortunately, Luke’s father—who loved the mountains—passed away before the wedding planning began. But, no longer being constrained to Upstate New York, we were free to look in the North Carolina High Country. Being that the High Country was one of our favorite slices of earth, away from the busy world and with familial significance to me, it was the obvious choice. It simplified the planning, reflected the likes of both Luke and me, and was a fitting tribute to our family members who are no longer with us.

And here’s a little peek into their cutie-pa-tootie rehearsal dinner :

VENUE Sky Retreat

PHOTOGRAPHER Brian Schindler

PLANNER Events by Elizabeth Ashley

FLORIST Millefleurs

CATERING Reid’s Cafe & Catering Co.

CAKE Ugga Mugga Bakery (wedding cake); Hallmark Cakes (groom’s cake)

LINENS BBJ Linens (“Siler Nova,” “Mercury Sequins); party tables

STATIONARY, SIGNAGE Snow in July Designs

CALLIGRAPHY Hello Margaux

BRIDE’S GOWN Jenny Packham

BEAUTY Clynda Down (hair); Sharla Bance Makeup Artistry (makeup)

MUSIC Deans’ Duet (ceremony); Party Patrol (reception)

RENTALS Classic Event Rental

FIREWORKS JECO Pyrotechnics

REHEARSAL DINNER The Cardinal Boone

14 Feb Landis & Jordan | Linville Ridge Country Club

Posted on February 14, 2019 by High Country Wedding Guide

Two things working in Jordan Fuller’s favor … one, he nails a job right after graduation. Two, the eventual love of his life happens to be the daughter of his boss’s best friend. Are the stars aligning? We think so. Jordan met Landis Elam at a Wells Fargo Golf party and needless to say, he hit a hole in one with this blonde beauty. A few dates later, the couple took their first trip together with family and friends. Landis, smitten with Jordan from the get-go, couldn’t contain those three very special little words … “I love you,” and uttered them just one month in. Girls making the first move? Heck yaasssss. After a tropical proposal of epic proportions, Landis and Jordan knew that the mountains, not the beach, was the way to go.The pair secured Linville Ridge Country Club for their nuptials and incorporated tributes to their loved ones that will make you melt. Hear more from this Charlotte, North Carolina, couple below and feel free to grab a tissue. Lots of happy tears ahead.

Asheville Wedding Guide: Tell us where it all started.

Landis: We met during the Wells Fargo golf tournament in May of 2014. Jordan had just graduated college and landed his first job and he was entertaining clients all week at his boss’s house. His boss just happened to be one of my dad’s best friends. I was just there for the party. My dad’s friends introduced us. We went on a date a week later and have been inseparable since.

AWG: Looks like it. Now tell us, how did your man pop the question?

Landis: I was on what was supposed to be a girl’s trip with my stepmom and sisters in St. Maarten until my dad decided to tag along on. We were lying on the beach and a huge storm was coming but there was no urgency to leave. I was so confused! It was the hottest day we had there so I was not into getting fancy and instead, just put my hair in a ponytail. My sisters came in offering to fix my hair and makeup, and I was just thinking to myself, “What in the world is going on?” They made up some story about how we needed to take some family pictures before my dad left and I just went with it because we did need actually need some updated family pictures. A few minutes after we were posing for these pictures, Jordan walks out from the other side of the house and gets down on one knee. I was in complete shock. He was so nervous and just utters, “Will you marry me?” And of course, I said yes!

AWG: After an unimaginable proposal, where did you all head from there?

Landis: We both wanted the wedding to be personal. We tried to keep it small enough to where everyone could enjoy each other. We both come from big families so it was important to incorporate everyone. My mom passed away in 2014 and since her passing, I knew I wanted her to still be a part of our day. I wanted to have big, beautiful blooms during the ceremony in memory of her. Before my mom passed away she wrote me a letter for my sisters to give to me on my wedding day. It is the most cherished element of our wedding. I also really wanted her memory to be present at the reception so I did a huge table of photographs just of her. I had a lot of fun doing that.