Sunrise Serendipity: A Morning Summer Elopement

Let’s swoon over the beautiful love story of Lyle and Molly as they embark on a magical morning summer elopement in the picturesque Smoky Mountains at Chapel in the Hollow! The chapel was adorned in delightful white and sand fabric, creating an enchanting and serene backdrop for their heartfelt vows. Our white florals added an elegant touch, perfectly complementing the overall ambiance.  Molly looked like a boho goddess in her off-the-shoulder dress, exuding an effortless and bohemian charm. Her hair adorned with dried flowers and her choice to go barefoot added a touch of whimsy to her bridal look. Lyle looked charming in brown jeans, a white shirt, and brown leather suspenders, perfectly matching the rustic and natural vibe of their elopement. His dried flower boutonniere added a delightful touch of nature. 

Their love story is truly one-of-a-kind and heartwarming. Both Lyle and Molly had previous marriages and children with other partners, but fate had something extraordinary in store for them. As they got to know each other, they realized they had crossed paths before, meeting at a 4H camp when they were young without truly knowing each other at the time. The universe had its own plan, aligning their lives in unexpected ways.  They discovered an uncanny connection as they found out they got married on the same date in the same town, a remarkable coincidence. To add to the serendipity, Lyle’s birthday shares the same date (although not the same year) as Molly’s first husband’s. It felt like destiny was slowly weaving their paths together, bringing them closer through unique twists of fate. 

Now, they have formed a beautiful blended family. Lyle has a daughter, and Molly has three, and the bond between them all is heartwarming and genuine. They embrace their roles as sisters with excitement and love, making their journey together even more meaningful and joyous. We were honored to witness and capture the magic of Lyle and Molly’s heartfelt elopement, filled with love, laughter, and the promise of forever. May their love continue to bloom, just like the beautiful white florals that adorned their special day. Congratulations to the incredible couple on their new chapter together!

How did you meet?

Lyle and I met in high school at 4-h summer camp. After many years, and a divorce for each us later…we reconnected on social media. Started talking and realized we had a great deal in common. Lyle has a daughter from a previous marriage, I have 3 daughters from a previous marriage. Lyle’s birthday and my ex husband share a birthday, but not the same year…and oddly enough we both got married on the same day, same year, in the same town to our ex spouses. I guess you could say fate had its hand in our love story.

What is your proposal story?

We love the outdoors, camping, hiking, and kayaking. We went hiking in the beautiful Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio. It was a drizzly March day and I had a hunch that something was up. But, after the chilly hike past all the crowded sights and caves…we turned around to return back towards the car. A bit disappointed, and accepting of the fact that the proposal might not happen that day…he dropped to one knee. Perfectly timed three couples (not in our group) were hiking behind us.. the men in the group were totally oblivious to the proposal and begin trekking past us loudly singing “When the Saints Go Marching In.” We found it quite humorous and a fun bit to add to the day.

Tell us a little a bit about your wedding (your vision, color, style, and location choices).

Our wedding was very simple. Just the two of us. I decided to go barefoot…something I have done since childhood growing up on a farm in Appalachian Ohio. I wanted a boho feel so I found my dress on Amazon, pinned my wild curly hair up into some twists with the dried flower crown that my mother made and away I went down the aisle. Lyles outfit was a rustic modern look from Amazon/kohls. We truly aren’t flashy over the top people so we knew right away that “Chapel in the Hollow” was the place for us. It was such a welcoming environment with the laid back vibe that we were looking for.

Tell us about your attire choices.

See above

What was the most important to the two of you while planning? Was there anything that you chose to splurge on or skip?

We chose to skip out on many of the traditional items for a wedding since it was our second marriage. The most important thing for us was our vows. Having been married before we both took traditional vows with previous partners. We wanted an extra special piece added to our marriage with quips and sentiments from our own story together.

What were your favorite parts of the day? (memories and stories)

Favorite parts of the day for us included the first look, reading our personal vows and seeing a very cool barn owl in the tree while taking photos.

Tell us about your wedding flowers.

Wedding flowers were put together by myself as the bride and my mother. We spent an afternoon choosing pieces of dried flowers that had a boho vibe and enjoyed talking and reminiscing of her wedding day and making her arrangement with my grandmother.

Tell us about your wedding cake.

None

What did you do for favors?

None

Please describe any DIY, handmade, or personal details.

Flowers…see “wedding flowers”

Did you include any family heirlooms or special traditions?

None

Do you have any advice for couples planning their weddings now?

Our advice to couples planning their wedding would be: keep it small/intimate, do you—add your own style or personal flair to it, do it for the both of you…not what your mother/mother in-law or anyone else wants. It’s YOUR day. Soak it in. Lastly…splurge on the photos. You won’t regret it!!

Event Credits

PhotographyStar Noir Studio
Ceremony VenueChapel in the Hollow
Wedding DressAmazon
HeadpieceHobby Lobby