“Congratulations!!!”

I cannot tell you how many time Stefany and Travis heard that yelled from passing cars as we traveled about Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to do bridal portraits after their elopement. Well, most people were out to spot bears (and over the course of our time together we came across at least a half dozen) but when they spot a bride, a groom, and a bouquet . . . people get happy.

And why wouldn’t they be? Couples in love bring joy to the mountains. Stefany and Travis had a quick ceremony, just the two of them, before we headed around the loop road in Cades Cove, which is not a bad way of getting married. I am not knocking the “soup-to-nuts” grand affair, but as I remind my elopement couples, a smaller wedding is no less important.

So, they drove down from Kentucky, got a license, got married, and here we were, trying to avoid bear jams on a Sunday afternoon.

Some folks like to keep it simple … and maybe they can be an example for others!

Let me echo the sentiment so often heard that afternoon - congratulations to Stefany and Travis!

And a quick note about the famous black bears of the Smokies - the original inhabitants, the Cherokee, held the black bear to be a sort of spirit guide or elder to their people. The presence of so many bears while we were in Cades Cove can only mean a blessing from the mountains on Stefany and Travis!