Adrian Etheridge Photography

Posts in Asheville

Golden Hour Wedding Ceremony in October Overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains || Asheville, NC

Golden Hour Wedding Ceremony in October Overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains || Asheville, NC

I think we and the wedding party collectively spent hours watching last Friday’s radar, optimistically discussing our fair-weather photo plan but realistically planning for the rain. Julie & Cormick’s wedding day dawned gray and rainy, but just as it was time for their first look, the skies cleared and the sun brilliantly shone through.

However, when it really came down to it, these newlyweds were just as giddy to dance together in the rain that came down moments after they said “I do!” Thank you so much for trusting me with documenting your beautiful day, and thank you to everyone who worked their wedding magic! 💙

Sunlit & Nature-Inspired October Wedding at Fields of Blackberry Cove ||Asheville, NC

Sunlit & Nature-Inspired October Wedding at Fields of Blackberry Cove ||Asheville, NC

October 14, 2023: beautiful day with the very sweetest family. The meticulously hand-stitched wedding gown designed by the bride’s sister, the ceremony officiated by her parents, the pages worth of tear-inducing vows from both partners, the first dance set against the just-changing leaves, the exceptional toasts, and the happy couple even taking the time out of their special day to congratulate all of the recently married and engaged couples. We had the most perfect October day in the mountains possible - first cozy under a blanket of fog and then brilliantly colorful once the festivities began - and it was such an honor to get to document a day full of love like this one.

Downtown Asheville + Crest Center Vibrant Fall Wedding || Asheville, NC

Downtown Asheville + Crest Center Vibrant Fall Wedding || Asheville, NC

The absolute best thing I get to hear as a photographer is that a couple - who began our partnership weary of having their photo made - genuinely enjoyed the experience. When I first met Stephanie and Marc in person for their spring engagement photos, Stephanie had just had back surgery. So, not only were they both nervous to have their portrait made, but I was scared I’d somehow pose them in a way that wasn’t doc-approved! . By our fall engagement session (we’d split it into two to allow Stephanie time to recover) they were cautiously dancing together in the garden, preparing for their first dance. By their wedding day? They smiled for the camera as if they’d been doing it for years!

Elegant Summer Sunset Wedding at The Crest Center & Pavilion || Asheville, NC

Elegant Summer Sunset Wedding at The Crest Center & Pavilion || Asheville, NC

If we gave out superlatives for wedding couples rather than vendors,Laura and Gabe would definitely get “most welcoming.” Certainly from their loved ones - it seemed like everywhere they turned they threw their arms up excited to hug another guest, almost all of whom traveled quite a distance to attend. In every single photo, I caught both Laura and Gabe with huge grins on their faces, making sure each person knew just how much their attendance meant to them.

Epic Sunset Summer Destination Wedding at The Crest Center || Asheville, NC

Epic Sunset Summer Destination Wedding at The Crest Center || Asheville, NC

And as always with this kind of theme, their wedding day dawned with the sure promise of rain right at the time of their first look. As their photographer, this was disappointing for me as well because I’d scouted what I knew to be an epic selection of first look and portrait locations amongst the River Arts District studios, but Mother Nature had other plans. Not only were Mike and Lexi exceptionally relaxed as we changed plans on a dime, but they graciously trusted me to guide them through their first look, wedding party portraits and couple’s photos in a location they’d never seen, simply happy to be together.

Picturesque Spring Wedding Surrounded by Blue Ridge Mountain Vistas || Asheville, NC

Picturesque Spring Wedding Surrounded by Blue Ridge Mountain Vistas || Asheville, NC

Bringing together large groups of people can be daunting, particularly when planning a wedding in the middle of Covid not knowing what everyone’s exact circumstances might be. But when Amanda and Harrison’s families and friends came together for their wedding last month, I was struck by just how amiable every single guest and vendor was. Amanda’s bridal attendants especially were completely devoted to ensuring that the happy couple have the best (and smoothest) day ever. So I have to give a shoutout to that exceptional group of ladies for helping me to round up people for photos, for being conscious of time so that we remained on time to the minute all day long, and for putting together a really sweet getting ready playlist!

Golden Hour Wedding Overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains || Asheville, NC

Golden Hour Wedding Overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains || Asheville, NC

Seeing their faces light up, eyes shining, as they saw each other for the first time in their wedding finery, it was like no one and nothing else in the world mattered at that moment. I love first looks for that reason, but particularly because even in the middle of a hectic day, the instant they were together they both breathed easier, seemed so much more at peace.

After an engagement session, a bridal portrait shoot and several hours spent planning, I felt like I really knew these two, so watching them exchange vows left me just as teary-eyed. To get to celebrate two people who are unendingly caring and sweet to all they encounter was such an honor!

Summer Beer Garden Wedding in the Blue Ridge Mountain

Summer Beer Garden Wedding in the Blue Ridge Mountain

I’ve been doing things differently this year simply offering coverage of the entire wedding day rather than trying to condense it into one smaller packaged set of hours. And this especially came in handy when we decided to drive separately up to the Blue Ridge Parkway 25 minutes away for their first look! The first look is almost always my favorite part of the day anyways, but getting to coordinate one with the sunlit mountains in the background, no one else in attendance and only the sounds of birds chirping and breeze blowing? Absolutely perfect.

Intimate Outdoor Wedding in Lake Lure, NC || Carolina + Almon

Intimate Outdoor Wedding in Lake Lure, NC || Carolina + Almon

Carolina called me only three weeks before their proposed wedding date - after multiple wedding reschedulings she and Almon were finally just going to elope! They’d picked a beautiful mountain spot, planned to have a few family members attend, and wanted their ceremony beautifully photographed.

Only a few days later we were able to meet up to photograph their engagement session in one of my favorite overlooks off the Parkway, right at sunset. Though they were initially unsure how they felt about having their photo taken, they were absolute naturals! The moment they looked at each other, everything else simply melted away and they giggled and cuddled up during the whole evening session.

Intimate Sunset Ceremony at Grove Park Inn on October 8, 2020 || Asheville, NC

Intimate Sunset Ceremony at Grove Park Inn on October 8, 2020 || Asheville, NC

When Cassie and Charles cancelled their wedding back in the spring, concerned that COVID-19 wouldn’t allow for a safe and enjoyable wedding, Emmaleigh and I knew we wanted to do everything we could to ensure they still had a beautiful day together, even if it wasn’t what they originally planned. And boy were we rewarded; this was such a reminder that everything happens for a reason. As I write this on October 10th, the day they had originally planned to wed, it has been pouring nonstop all day long. But on Thursday, two days ago, Cassie and Charles got to read their vows to each other on a quiet hill under a vibrant sunset. And then the four of us shared an incredible cake and a bottle of champagne (purchased by sweet strangers!) by the fireplace after dark.

Beautiful Family Home Wedding with a View on September 6, 2020 || Asheville, NC

Beautiful Family Home Wedding with a View on September 6, 2020 || Asheville, NC

But most of all, to document their commitment ceremony precisely two years to the minute from the start time of their first date - an evening when each realized that the other was something very special - may have been the most meaningful piece of all. Particularly since Nick’s vows left every single one of us in tears.

Reliving this wedding, I still can’t believe how quickly these two pulled together such a beautiful and flawless event. I’m honored that we not only got to document the occasion, but that we could also live stream their intimate ceremony so that her parents and other family and friends back home still got to very much be a part of their day.

September 28, 2019 Mountain Wedding in Downtown Asheville, NC

September 28, 2019 Mountain Wedding in Downtown Asheville, NC

For the very last photos of their Charlotte engagement session, Laura and Chris (per Chris’s half joking idea) ran through a fountain. We finished our photoshoot all laughing; them completely drenched, Emmaleigh’s shoes and pants soaked through from holding a flash, me nicely dry but nonetheless ecstatic about our photos.

A few weeks later, Emmaleigh and I stood on the balcony of the penthouse suite of the Indigo Hotel watching an enormous rain cloud roll over West Asheville towards us, this time quite a bit less excited about the impending drenching.

August 3, 2019 Magical Garden Wedding at Haiku I Do || Asheville, NC

August 3, 2019 Magical Garden Wedding at Haiku I Do || Asheville, NC

Fal and Richard had quite the week leading up to their wedding: medical boards on Tuesday, moving on Wednesday and driving to Asheville on Thursday. So, come Saturday, it seemed almost surreal that they’d been able to pull everything off. As they were sitting on the floral sofa under the twinkle lights taking their couple’s photos, in the middle of gazing lovingly at each other Richard suddenly gasped and threw up his hands, “We really did it!”

June 8, 2019 Wedding at The Laurel Room at High Vista || Asheville, NC

June 8, 2019 Wedding at The Laurel Room at High Vista || Asheville, NC

My absolute favorite thing about being a wedding photographer is getting to see families work together to make their bride and groom’s day the most special possible. For Lauren and Alex, while the weather wasn’t what we’d hoped and several plans had to change, we got to see just how loved and appreciated these two are by all their family and friends. Even better, the rain stopped just enough for us to run outside for photos against the perfectly misty mountains. It was such an honor getting to spend the day capturing the new Mr. and Mrs. Wall’s love for each other.

May 18, 2019 Mountainview Wedding at the Crest Center || Asheville, NC

May 18, 2019 Mountainview Wedding at the Crest Center || Asheville, NC

Wedding days are often a great metaphor for life: you can plan for months or years to have that “perfect day,” but no matter how foolproof your strategy, things will never happen quite that way in real time. The beauty of wedding photography is that when things go off course (and timelines go out the window!) we’re there to document families, friends and our fantastic wedding industry colleagues working together to help make each couple’s day, as Emmaleigh says, “perfectly imperfect.”

Amber + Chris's Elopement at the St. Jude's Chapel of Hope in Asheville, NC

Amber + Chris's Elopement at the St. Jude's Chapel of Hope in Asheville, NC

Susan Marlan of Beloved Ceremony officiated the simple ceremony, and because this was a “true elopement” I also got to serve as a witness. Just after the bride and groom exchanged rings, and just before their first kiss, Chris leaned forward and rested his forehead against Amber’s, where they simply stood breathing each other in for a few moments. It’s these moments, the quiet and intimate scenes, that impact me the most - both as a photographer capturing the emotions before me and a human who feels everything deeply.

Parent Photo Albums || Nicole + Chris's Highland Brewing Company Wedding in Asheville, NC

Parent Photo Albums || Nicole + Chris's Highland Brewing Company Wedding in Asheville, NC

I loved giving people gifts. I love even more getting to make said gifts. From age 5 onward, whenever I could, I handmade all family Christmas gifts, starting as early as June to ensure that everyone’s was completed on time.

So, to be able to incorporate gift giving into my business has been a real pleasure. My favorite product that I started offering last year was a parent album, a smaller version of each couple’s photo album showcasing almost exclusively the images that the couple, the parents and siblings are in. This way, each parent gets their own commemorative album tailored to them, highlighting the moments that they were a part of.

Photo Album || Dee + Sam's Botanical Gardens Anniversary Session

Photo Album || Dee + Sam's Botanical Gardens Anniversary Session

The 5th anniversary gift is typically wood, so we spent Dee and Sam’s anniversary accordingly - hanging out in the woods! Dee and Sam had already planned a weekend getaway to Asheville. So, to help celebrate their beautiful milestone, Dee’s sister arranged a couple’s photoshoot with me so that they could commemorate their weekend. As we were in the middle of June, we chose the Botanical Gardens of Asheville as our backdrop to make use of the bounty of greenery highlighted by a brilliant sunny evening.