Nantahala Weather in June

In June, an offshore South Atlantic high-pressure system, the Bermuda High, strongly influences Smoky Mountain weather. Warm and moist air streams contribute to the iconic haze that gives the Great Smokies their name. Emerald green is the color that marks summertime in Nantahala. Flowers in the gardens around the venue are bursting their showy heads.

Chris and Gabby’s June 2022 Outdoor Destination Wedding in NC Mountains on Lake Nantahala

Chris and Gabby are both dancers for the famed Ballet Hispanico, a ballet company based in NYC that is dedicated to exploring Latin American dance culture, training others in the art, and performing all over the world. Their wedding celebrated ethnic and sexual diversity, interracial marriage, and simply exquisite beauty. Such gorgeousness!

Here is their love story, in their own words.

How and where did you first meet?

We first met at Ballet Hispanico, the largest Latinx/Latine/Hispanic cultural organization in the United States. We were both dancers with the company and became friends when I joined in 2017. Chris had already been with the company for about 4 years .

At what point did you realize you were in love?

We realized we were in love almost a year and 1/2 after meeting each other. We, surprisingly, weren’t really friends at first. We had great admiration and respect for each other as colleagues, but it wasn’t more than that until the summer of 2018. We were teaching together for 2 weeks in Houston, TX that summer and it was there, one night, that we looked at each other and felt something indescribable. From there, we decided to take it slow and see what exactly we were feeling for each other but we quickly realized, soon after those 2 weeks in Houston, that we were in love.

What life goals and dreams do you share?

We share A LOT of life goals and dreams together. We are artists through and through. We are so lucky to get to travel the world together doing what we love and sharing it with communities. The most important goal and dream we share together is that we will consistently push each other to grow. That we will hold each other accountable, when needed, and not just talk about what we want out of life but make sure we do what we need to do in order to get it. We are constantly finding ways to make sure we stay on a path of self expression and to never let go of who we are as artists, while cultivating meaningful relationships that bring us joy and peace, being activists, and staying true to who we are…together.

What have you learned from each other?

When you are able to learn from your partner, we think that one of the pretty clear signs you have found the one. One of the reasons we work so well is our complimentary outlooks and skillsets. We honestly fit together like puzzle pieces in that way. We have found the beautiful lesson to be in having the space and humility to recognize when to leave room for the other person to handle something they are better equipped for and realizing that makes us a complete team rather than competing individuals.

What do you look forward to most in your life together? 

We both have a lust for experiences, so we are most excited for whatever ride that will lead us on. We believe a good marriage is one that provides the safety and security that allows for all parties to feel fully free and actualized. Our job is never to rein each other in but to be a catalyst for experiences that lead to joy, growth & change. We are looking forward to traveling to places we have never been and finding adventure in those places. Who knows what form the ride will take but we plan for it to be wild!

Why did you choose Nantahala?

When you know, you know. Nantahala has that X factor we needed. Nestled in the mountains above a lake, the feel of the place is engrossing. The isolation reduces distractions, and we knew it would create the perfect setting for us and our guests and join in a celebration of love. Add to that Jody’s aesthetic choices for the design of the property and we were sold! Not only are those choices beautiful but practical as well. Jody has anticipated every potential issue and has a solution ready and waiting so that your wedding is easy and convenient. Her attentiveness and attention to detail is second to none and it was immediately clear that not only is she a lovely person but exactly the right person for us to do business with. Nantahala lived up to our expectations in every possible way and it’s exactly where we would hold our wedding if we had to do it again.

Photography: Images by Bri