Jess and Colton

Dual-military couple tie the knot at 5,342 feet

Jess and Colton were students when they met at the US Naval Academy. Great lovers of the outdoors, they took their first vacation together during spring break at Lake Nantahala in Western North Carolina. At an elevation of 3,000 feet, the lake is surrounded by spectacular, high-peaked mountains and unspoiled national forest. They felt like they had stepped back in time. No hotels, no billboards, no traffic jams – just pure, untouched natural beauty. They were mesmerized.

When they got engaged, they were both officers in the US Navy and stationed in San Diego. With family and friends spread across the country, they wanted to turn their wedding into a vacation for their guests. They loved the idea of sharing their “discovery” with the people most precious to them. Lake Nantahala, at the intersection of the Appalachian and Bartram Trails and adjacent to the Nantahala River, was the clear choice.

The wedding itself was held on the terrace below the fairytale-like Wayah Bald Tower. At 5,342 feet, Wayah Bald offers a stunning 360-degree view of the Nantahala National Forest. The bridal party descended from the tower to meet the groomsmen who emerged one by one from the Appalachian Trail, just behind the tower. With the dramatic backdrop of the Nantahala National Forest, the spirit of the landscape awed guests.

Jess and Colton’s feast focused on local: venison sausage made from Nantahala deer prepared by a butcher in Bryson City; smoked trout dip created from Carolina trout; baked brie with local Sourwood honey, pecans, and rosemary; locally raised, hormone-free smoked pork; a variety of salads made with local produce; homemade cheesecakes in flavors like Amaretto, Kahlua, and white chocolate served on wood slabs from Wooten’s Sawmill in nearby Andrews.

Summer nights are long in Nantahala – it stayed light until 9 pm. As the sun went down and the happy effects of red blueberry pomegranate and lemon-mint sangria kicked in, the dancing heated up. They didn’t need a DJ to get the guests stirred up – Jess and Colton’s favorite playlist, a good sound system, and a large dance floor kept people going until after midnight. A bonfire pit and s’more party followed, quietly closing the day of celebration.

The next morning, everyone convened one last time for Sunday brunch in the tent to wish the new couple well, and say good-bye.