Parklands Winter Engagement Session

When imagining what month you’d like to plan your engagement session, what season comes to mind? I’m guessing sometime in the spring, summer, or fall...but I’m here to tell you not to sleep on winter engagement sessions. Winter brings many unique opportunities that just aren’t possible in other seasons, so today I’ll be sharing some of my favorite winter benefits as well as dispelling some myths I hear a lot about winter engagement sessions!

Myth: Everything looks dead and brown in the winter.

A lot of people think that if you’re planning a winter engagement session you need to have snow for it to look good. While snow is really pretty, it’s absolutely not necessary for a winter session! For Tobie & Kendall, I chose an area I knew had tall warm grasses, bold evergreens, a pond with good reflections, and some rolling hills— all of these elements came together to bring more color and contrast to their images!

Myth: You can’t stay warm and look nice at the same time.

Tobie and Kendall got lucky with a fifty-degree day in January so they didn’t need to worry too much about the cold. However, they brought a blanket that they were able to not only use to sit down, but also to wrap up and snuggle in as it got more chilly. If you have a colder day for your session, you can wear lots of layers to keep yourself warm and to make the images feel more cozy! Hand warmers in your pockets or toe warmers in your shoes can also make you more comfortable. One final tip is to bring a hot beverage to sip in the car between locations or you can even bring a cute thermos to include it in images to make them feel more date-like.

Benefit: You won’t get sweaty.

This one is kind of a no-brainer, but Kentucky summers can be somewhat brutal with the heat and humidity. If suffering through warm temps while trying not to look sweaty in photos doesn’t sound difficult enough imagine doing that while also trying to snuggle with each other. In the winter you can skip being sweaty and you’ll actually WANT to snuggle up to stay warm.

Benefit: Fewer people around means more privacy.

I schedule almost all of my engagement sessions Monday through Thursday— largely because I usually have weddings on the weekend, but also to avoid crowds. In the winter, there are always fewer people out so places that are usually pretty busy end up being nearly empty. This is great for two reasons. One, we don’t have to avoid people in the background of your images, and two, you don’t have to worry about people watching you all and feeling self-conscious.

Intimate Mellwood Art Center Wedding by Louisville Kentucky Photographer Sarah Katherine Davis Photography

When I first met with Jenny (she/her) and Haley (she/her) they were planning a traditional wedding. We talked about what they were imagining, what they were looking forward to, and how to make the day feel true to themselves. Two weeks later Jenny emailed, "Haley and I really appreciated all the time you spent with us and all the insight you shared! It got us both thinking that maybe this “typical” wedding we’ve been planning isn’t what we actually want, it’s not what really feels like us. SO, we are totally rethinking the big day." I am always thrilled when I can be an advocate for couples choosing to do what feels right for their wedding rather than what they think they "should" do.

While some couples look forward to all the events that come with a more traditional wedding, many others feel like they are performing or jumping through hoops rather than getting to spend quality time with their family and friends. In my wedding planning guide, I describe myself as a “doing whatever you want because it is YOUR wedding” coach. You can read through some alternatives to various traditions at that link and you can check out some wonderful non-traditional wedding venues on my comprehensive list of the best wedding venues in Louisville here.

Another reason I wanted to share their wedding with you is to highlight how much can be captured with the three-hour elopement package I offer! This package is a great fit for smaller non-Saturday weddings or elopements— you can read more about what is included at the bottom of my pricing page.

And finally, the number one reason I'm excited to share Haley & Jenny's wedding with you is that their wedding and their images have brought me a lot of joy. There were so many thoughtful details throughout the day— all of which they describe much better than I could, so I included quotes from them through the post so you can read more about the significant moments from their beautiful wedding.

“We loved doing a first-look! It took a lot of pressure off and gave us time to get some pictures out of the way, while being together and getting even more excited about walking down the aisle. Our wedding ceremony felt so personal and filled with so much love and excitement. Our reception was like a good old fashion house party (minus the random strangers) but outdoors and with the best pizza in Louisville and the best playlist, created by Haley.”

“Our wedding was on the smaller side, but it was the perfect amount of people for us. We were able to have most of our family (some could not travel because of COVID) and our closest friends. Our officiant was JoAnne Morris. She is an ordained minister, but more importantly, she is a friend of ours. It was really meaningful to have someone we know play that role in our wedding. There are two pieces of our ceremony that stand out as our favorites. One was the poem we had read titled “I Have Just Said,” by Mary Oliver. The first time I read the poem I immediately thought of Haley and when we got engaged I knew I wanted it to be read during the ceremony. I still remember the day I read it to Haley and after reading it, I looked up at her and we both had tears in our eyes. It’s a beautiful poem that fits us perfectly.”

“The second, and our most favorite part of the wedding ceremony, was the moment we had with our two boys, Nate and Stephen. Nate and Stephen are related on Haley’s side of the family and only a couple of months after getting engaged, they came to live with us. Over the course of our first year together, we formed a family and we wanted to honor that family by making promises to the boys. We also wanted to give them something to symbolize our commitment to them and to being a family. A few weeks before the wedding Haley had the idea to create our very own family crest. We picked symbols that were representative of our family - things we like to do together, our dogs, the Deathly Hallows symbol to remind them that the only thing that can conquer death is love, and a latin quote that translates into english “Fortune Favors the Bold.” We wanted to honor and speak to the boldness the boys showed when they moved in with us, the boldness we showed in opening our home, and the boldness we would continue to show as we move through life as a “non-traditional family” (whatever that even means - because like, what is a "traditional family" anyway?!). After reciting our vows to each other as wives, we recited our promises to the boys and then pinned our family crest onto their shirts. It was a moving moment for everyone present and one that we as a family will cherish forever. In addition to the pins, we had a larger copy of the crest made and to this day it sits on our mantle as a reminder of the promises made to the boys and the beautiful family that we’ve created together.”

Their advice to other couples planning their wedding is, “DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. It’s easy to get caught up in what your family thinks, what your friends think, and what society tells you a wedding is “supposed” to look like. We took the word “should” out of our vocabulary and that made all the difference. We would not have done a thing different. “

“When we first started planning our wedding, we felt a lot of pressure from family to do it a certain way. We knew that we wanted something small, but our families wanted something bigger. The guest list continued to grow and then COVID hit. This meant that the list needed to be shortened, significantly, so that we could keep everyone safe. I wish COVID wasn’t something we have all had to go through, and I am grateful that because of COVID our wedding turned out to be what Haley and I had wanted from the beginning. We tried to make the best out of being a “COVID Wedding,” so we had masks with our hashtag printed on them and hand sanitizers with stickers that had our names and wedding date printed on them as our favors. Our wedding would not have been possible without the incredible support of our friends, family, and Danny Mac’s Pizza. Everything from our signage and floral arrangements (except for the bouquets and boutonnieres) to the cake table and the set up of both the ceremony room and outdoor reception and music playlist, was DIY. Our outdoor reception in the courtyard right outside of Danny Mac’s was more beautiful than either of us could have imagined on our own and we give all the credit for that reception to Danny Mac’s and the team there. Our wedding day was more than we could have ever imagined and it was perfect for us.”

“Another note: there WILL be hiccups. The week of our wedding, our hair person could no longer do our hair, and the woman who was going to (safely) sing, had emergency surgery. We took lots of deep breaths, and made it work. And it worked out beautifully. So, let go of what you can’t control and be present in the moment. Look at the people who are gathered as you walk down the aisle. Be mindful of every step, every word, every hug, and every kiss. It will pass by quickly, but if you pay attention then it will stay with you forever.”

“I also need to shout out Sarah. If it wasn’t for Sarah meeting with us at the very beginning of our planning process, I don’t know that we would have shed the “wedding shoulds” like we did. From beginning to end, Sarah was so helpful. We are forever grateful for her wedding knowledge, the assistance in creating a wedding day timeline, and the incredible pictures she took that we will forever cherish.”

Venue: Mellwood Art Center // Catering: Danny Mac’s Pizza // Florals: Hazelfield Farm // Gown: Rebecca’s Weddings // MUA: Micaela Frances Reeves // Photography: Sarah Katherine Davis

Red River Gorge Elopement Guide // Everything You Need to Plan for 2026

Red River Gorge Elopement Guide

Red River Gorge is an intricate canyon system full of sandstone cliffs, natural arches, waterfalls, and rock shelters in east-Central Kentucky. It lies just two hours from Louisville, Cincinnati, and Huntington which makes it perfect for a day-trip not just for Kentuckians, but also for those living in Ohio and West Virginia. Visitors enjoy hiking, camping, rock climbing, and backpacking through the wide variety of landscapes the Red has to offer, but it’s also a perfect place to get married. Whether you choose to say your vows on a cliff as the sun first rises and illuminates the fog over the valley or you prefer your ceremony to take place deep within the forest while standing over a waterfall, Red River Gorge has scenery that will make your elopement memorable and breathtaking. 

View more from this adventurous hiking elopement here

Red River Gorge Elopement Locations

There are a huge variety of natural areas within Red River Gorge that will provide a stunning backdrop for your ceremony and vows, but there are also plenty of magical locations for your reception and great accommodations for an extended visit as well.

Wedding Venues in Red River Gorge

Hemlock Springs is a beautiful event venue located in the heart of The Gorge. With over 100 acres on their property, there is plenty to explore! You’ll have private access to rock shelters, waterfalls, streams, and mountain meadows, as well as their actual wedding venue which is eco-friendly! The structure features an impressive timber frame built using wooden pegs instead of nails in Amish style. You can also enjoy mountaintop views from the veranda or meadow views from the patio. They provide plenty of thoughtful touches that make logistics and planning easy— such as their hand-crafted harvest tables and other custom pieces like a rolling bar, signs, easels, and lawn games. The main ceremony site features a custom-built gazebo and benches tucked among the trees with amphitheater-style seating, but there are several spots to choose from for your vows! Hemlock Springs is the perfect spot for your smallest elopement up to 150 attendees.

Cliffview Resort offers a unique opportunity for you and your guests— you are able to rent out their 16-room lodge for the weekend so that you and your guests can all stay in one place and celebrate longer! You can say your vows at Overlook Point with a stunning panoramic view, but in case of rain, they have indoor options as well.

AirBnBs, cabins, and treehouses in the Red River Gorge Area

These treehouses by Canopy Crew make for a magical honeymoon suite!

Dome Town is a set of three geodesic domes connected by suspension bridges. You can rent one or all three.

There are several cabin companies as well if you’re looking for something a little roomier.

Airbnb offers several options including cabins, treehouses, yurts, as well as some unique tiny houses. We once stayed in an old mail house that was only 15 minutes from Sky Bridge!

You also have the option of camping. There are several campgrounds to choose from— or pick up a backcountry permit from the Shell station or the Gladie Visitor Center. You can learn more about dispersed camping on the forest service website.

Best Time to Visit Red River Gorge

Red River Gorge is beautiful all year, but April through November provide the warmest weather. In the spring, you can see rhododendrons and wildflowers in bloom— as well as larger waterfalls from the rainfall. In the summer it’s nice to cool off in the creek or even brave Jump Rock if you’re feeling adventurous. In the fall, the leaves put on quite a show and later in the season you can have a better view from the ridge-line, plus it gets just cool enough to snuggle up by a fire at night.

Best Red River Gorge Hikes For Your Elopement

I recommend downloading the Alltrails app when planning where to hike. Reviews and images from other users can be really helpful— especially when trying to find something more off the beaten path. I have a list of favorite locations that range from overlooks that only require a few steps from your car to longer hikes that have a rewarding view at the end. When talking with my couples about their elopement, I’ll suggest hikes based on what time of day they are wanting to share their vows, their prior hiking experience, and how much time they would like to spend exploring. Chimney Top and Auxier Ridge are two hikes that should be on anyone’s list who wants to see the epic views from the cliffs of Red River Gorge. Please keep in mind that I do not personally offer elopement planning services— it is up to all of my couples to plan their day, but I love providing feedback, talking about options, and giving a jumping-off point for your own research!

View more from this autumn elopement here.

Permitting information for elopements, weddings, and photographers

If you are only using private land (i.e a wedding venue, cabin, or restaurant) for your elopement then you would not need to worry about obtaining a permit for your ceremony. However, if you will be using public lands such as a national forest, national park, state park, or local park then you would want to reach out to the appropriate office to make sure you have the correct permissions in place.

RRG is part of Daniel Boone National Forest and permitting is handled by the Cumberland Ranger District. On their website as of fall 2022 they say. “Permits may be required for certain special activities, such as large groups (75 people or more), educational activities, or weddings. In general, permits are necessary for any activity that requires the forest to be altered in any way. Please contact any Ranger District Office for information about any special use permits.” Please know that rules and regulations around permitting can change as staff evaluates the impact of different events on the land. By reaching out ahead of time for your specific event you can ensure you won’t negatively impact the land— and make sure you don’t show up at your preferred ceremony site only to find another wedding in the same location!

All photographers will need to submit an application for a special-use permit with the Cumberland Ranger District if they are photographing weddings or couples on national forest land within the Red River Gorge.

National Bridge State Park is managed by Kentucky State Parks and requires different permits. Photographers must submit this form and couples can learn more about their options for weddings in state parks here.

Ready to experience the beauty of Red River Gorge for your elopement?

Elopements begin with three hours and can be customized to fit your needs from there. All elopement packages come with personalized planning assistance*, vendor recommendations to fit your style, curated suggestions for locations & activities, and an online gallery full of edited high-resolution photos you can download and print. *Please keep in mind I am not an elopement planner or a guide— I am happy to make suggestions & offer feedback, but ultimately you are responsible for planning your day and hiring your vendor team.

You can view all of my pricing details here, then contact me so we can start talking about how your elopement could look!

I also have guides for how to elope in Kentucky and a more general one for wedding planning!