10/22/2024
We all felt the importance of it as we made our way up the mountain, our breath misting in the cool morning air. As we reached the peak, however, instead of the sweeping sunrise we anticipated, we were greeted by a thick, impenetrable fog. The mountains, the valleys, everything was hidden. But in that moment, it felt like the world had narrowed its focus to just us.
Then came the ceremony. The family and Phil lined up, the fog still thick around…and then it happened—the first few notes of “Liz on Top of the World” from Pride & Prejudice started to play. The song floated softly through the air, and as Korrin stepped out, I felt time slow down. I often get so focused on capturing every detail of a wedding that I don’t always process the emotion in real time—but this was different. Tears welled up in my eyes as the moment unfolded in front of me. It was ethereal.
Everyone felt it. The fog seemed to hold us close, but as Korrin and Phil began to exchange vows, something incredible happened. Slowly, the fog started to lift, and as they shared their first kiss, the colors of the sunrise began to break through. Through the mist, the soft hues of sunrise painted the sky, and the distant mountains finally revealed themselves; we all watched in awe as the park revealed itself just in time to celebrate with them.
After the ceremony, we spent the morning chasing the fog and sunlight, exploring different parts of the park together. The family shared breakfast and coffee and enjoyed sharing easy time together. We hiked back down the mountain, and Korrin and Phil joined me for a spontaneous adventure through Shenandoah. We drove along Skyline Drive, stopping at every overlook we could, laughing as we ran through Big Meadows, the fog still lingering here and there. We even stopped at the visitor center to grab a stamp for their National Park passport and, of course, got a picture by the Shenandoah sign to cap off the day. Every moment was filled with so much joy, laughter, and pure adventure—it was a day that perfectly reflected who Korrin and Phil are as a couple. 🍂🤍🍁