If I were to pick any venue in West Virginia, it would be Smokey's on the Gorge/Adventures on the Gorge in Fayetteville. I'm a big fan of the outdoors and after Melissa and Jason's awesome engagement session (which took place all over Richmond, Va.) we knew we had to make an adventure out of this wedding. The day started off on the wet and dreary side early in the morning. I will admit I was bit nervous, however, our bride and groom didn't seem to worry at all. Perhaps this was because the buzz from the party the night before probably hadn't worn off but there was also sunshine in the forecast for the day.

With a noon ceremony quickly closing in, we made sure to capture all of the details first and worked in all of the fun moments as Mel got into her dress and the couple exchanged gifts. With a team of two photographers we eventually spread out so we could capture the girls and guys cabins as everyone was preparing for the big event. We had a slight rain delay but sure enough the ceremony eventually started and they tied the knot in front of a breathtaking view overlooking the New River.

After the ceremony the reception was going in the normal fashion that most modern weddings do: first dance, a late lunch (remember this was around 2:00pm), and then back to the dance floor. I was definitely caught off guard when Mel's sister was giving her speech and then it turned into a karaoke surprise. I can't look at those reception photos without "Total Eclipse of the Heart" getting stuck in my head.

Since this was such an early wedding, we had a long break between the reception and the after party. Melissa and Jason had scouted out the Long Point Trail before and they were all in. So, we grabbed our gear, hiked up the dress, and headed down the mile and a half trail. I just can't seem to find the words to describe the view out there so I'll let the photos do the talking. Enjoy!

Venue: Adventures on the Gorge