Red River Gorge Elopement Guide // Everything You Need to Plan for 2023

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!

Elopement Planning Guide for Louisville, Kentucky // Updated for 2023

The very first wedding I ever photographed back in 2007 was a micro-wedding. They had a small, intimate ceremony with their children and immediate families. It was casual, stress-free, and full of quality time with each other and their families. I absolutely loved it.

Kate & Ben enjoyed an afternoon of hiking and exploring Red River Gorge for their elopement after their backyard mini-wedding earlier in the year.

Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to be part of a few elopements every year. Recently, "elopement" has been used as a catch-all to describe all different types of smaller weddings— from two people going to the courthouse together to couples renting a 20-person cabin for the weekend to celebrate with a smaller group. You’ll also see the terms intimate wedding, tiny wedding, and even minimony floating around. They all have slightly different very nuanced meanings, but if you’re going this route I recommend just choosing the term that feels like the best fit for you and your day!

Sydney and Rick had the most gorgeous sunset for their cabin mini-wedding!

There have always been many advantages to elopements, but after COVID-19 threw a wrench in so many couples’ plans for 2020 and 2021, elopements and micro-weddings have become more and more popular. I love that couples are able to have a more affordable celebration, a chance to really connect with each guest present, and the opportunity to utilize locations that would have been too small for a more traditional, larger wedding.

Lizzie & Kevin had an adventurous sunrise hiking elopement in Red River Gorge.

So if you’re choosing to have a more intimate celebration, where do you start? How do you plan an elopement or mini-wedding in Louisville, Kentucky?

First, narrow down a guest list— this will inform a lot of your other decisions. For Kentucky, you need two witnesses and an officiant to be present for the ceremony, so you’ll need at least three other folks as part of your day.

Then you’ll want to choose a date. I recommend talking to important guests as well as your photographer about availability in order to find a day that works for everyone involved. Often elopements take place on non-Saturdays — which can really help with availability.

Hallie & Shawn had a smaller 40 person ceremony on a Friday and then a larger reception on the Saturday

How do we make our marriage official and legally binding?

Both of you will need to apply in person for your marriage license at the county clerk. There is no waiting period, so once you have your license you can have your ceremony anytime in the next 30 days. Kentucky marriage licenses may be used in any Kentucky county, so if you live in Louisville but are wanting to get married at Red River Gorge or another natural area that is easy to do!

Harry & Sara eloped in a treehouse at Red River Gorge!

When choosing an officiant, if you’d like to have a friend perform the ceremony, they can get ordained online for free through The Universal Life Church. The website has information on rules & regulations by area as well as some example scripts you can modify to suit your needs. This is where I got ordained! If you’d rather hire a professional instead of having a family member perform the ceremony, Inclusive Kentucky Weddings has a directory of inclusive vendors and there are several very talented officiants listed there. 

I got to photograph and officiate Alex & Kriston’s Elopement!

From there, it’s time to choose a venue! The Parklands have several beautiful spots for a ceremony as well as really nice pavilions that can be rented for a reception starting around $175. The Parklands’ five parks are some of my favorite places— there is a lot of variety in landscape and flora. Louisville Metro Parks are also a great outdoor option— they have wedding permits for $150 and a variety of different shelters in all of their parks. If you’re interested in traveling outside of the city, Bernheim Arboretum is absolutely stunning and has a variety of options for elopements as well. And of course, Red River Gorge is one of the most popular spots to elope in Kentucky for very good reason! I love it so much that I made a whole guide specific to eloping in Red River Gorge.

A summer micro-wedding in the Parklands

You can also look to Airbnb or even Hipcamp for unique venue options! I had a couple get married at a treehouse in Nashville once and it was such a unique space. Lots of more traditional wedding venues or restaurants also have smaller spaces that can be really great for micro-weddings. And last but not least, there is always the option of your own backyard! Eloping at home can be so romantic and intimate.

Treehouse elopement in Nashville

Once you have a venue, you can start thinking about what you all would like to wear and how you’d like to decorate. For some spots, you might not want to decorate at all! I’ve seen couples bring a few houseplants from home for centerpieces or to define a ceremony spot. You can do as much or as little as you’d like! If you find yourself wanting someone else to work it out for you, Inclusive Kentucky Weddings also has lots of talented planners in their directory, as well as florists, hair & make-up artists, caterers, and more. 

Sunrise elopement in Cherokee Park

The best part about elopements is that you can really choose how simple or extravagant you want to be. I know couples who skipped decorations and ordered pizza after their ceremony and others who went big on decor for the one table in their backyard. Both options were perfect for each respective couple. It is 100% up to you and you should do whatever feels like the right fit for who you are! Not all of my wedding planning tips translate to elopements, but I’d say 80% of them do— it can be a great resource when planning as well.

Jennifer & Tyler chose the Virgin Islands for their intimate wedding

A courthouse elopement followed by wedding band tattoos

Do you still have questions about elopements? Want to talk through some things to see if a micro-wedding might be the right fit for you? Contact me and let’s brainstorm together! 

How to Choose Outfits for Your Couples Session // Interview with Cassie Scott

A couple weeks ago I sat down with model & photographer Cassie Scott to get some feedback on my what to wear guide. I’ve been working on developing it as a resource for my couples to use as they are planning outfits for their engagement or anniversary sessions and I wanted some expert advice. Because Cassie is used to being on both sides of the camera, she had so many helpful things to add that I decided to make this blog post in addition to incorporating her feedback into my existing post!

How do you choose clothes for shoots?

Picking clothes for a shoot can be a daunting task, and I’ll admit even after many years of having my photo taken I still stress about it sometimes! I ask myself two main questions that usually help:

Where is this shoot going to be?

This is always my first question because it dictates everything else. If for instance, I’m going to be outside in the woods I know that wearing heels won’t work because not only will I be sinking into the mud but it simply doesn’t match the location. You want to match your surroundings when your portrait is being taken otherwise the photos can come off as too set up. What would I wear if I were hanging out in this location? What time of year is it? It’s okay to dress casually! Casual doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. Often people think they need to wear their very best clothes for their photo to be taken and it’s just not true. Simply looking through Pinterest is a great way to find inspiration or how to style clothes you already have.

What is this shoot for?

Keeping in mind what the photos are supposed to show and signify is extremely important. If you’re doing a couples shoot that’s supposed to be about you as a pair, making sure you don’t clash with your partner is important. You want your clothes to look like yourself but not distract the viewer. If they’re too fancy for the location they can stand out in a bad way, and vice versa.

Are there any fashion rules you keep in mind when planning an outfit?

• Find clothes that can be dressed up or down so that you can change the mood of the shoot quickly. A wrap dress, for example, can be casual with a jacket over it or more fancy with a pair of heels.

• Pick clothes that are flattering to your shape. You want to show off your best assets but also not distract from your face. Being comfortable is also key!

• Find colors that suit your skin tone. There are lots of guides online for this, but making sure you avoid colors that make you look washed out or ill is also good to keep in mind. As a pale woman, I usually avoid things that are light pink as they're too close to my actual skin tone, and pale green can make me look sick.

• Patterns can be great so long as they’re timeless. Geometric, stripe, plaid and floral prints never go out of style and are good options if you’re really wanting to add some interest. So long as the tones are fairly neutral (avoid neons) and the shapes aren’t too overwhelming and large you’ll be set.

• You should feel good in the clothes you wear! If you don’t feel your best in the clothes you put on it’ll show on your face, trust me!

During engagement sessions, we are often in public places and it can be difficult for clients to quickly transition into a second look. Any tips on how to do that in five minutes or less?

Personally, my favorite way to transition between looks quickly is either by adding lipstick or swapping accessories. The best way to do this is to start with clothes that can be dressed up or down and work with a variety of shoe, jewelry, and even hat choices. You can also add a stylish coat or jacket over what you have which can give any outfit a totally different vibe. Adding a lipstick can transform a look to be more glamorous or fun quickly, and if you bring a small mirror can be done anywhere. Personally, I’d bring a lipstick that’s an “all-day” variety so it’s kiss proof for couples pictures.

So I know that my shoots are usually shorter and more laid back than a full-on modeling gig would be, but just out of curiosity, what do you bring with you to a shoot?

Most models have a “model bag” that they bring to all their shoots that has essentials they need for either being on set all day or on location. I personally find these items are great for anyone planning on having their photo taken on location:

• Garment bag for carrying/protecting clothes

• Regular nude bra + strapless nude bra (the goal is to avoid any undergarments showing as they’ll distract from the clothes, and make sure the bras fit well)

• Seamless nude underwear (I personally love Calvin Klein’s Invisible Hipsters)

• Make-up wipes

• Concealer and powder for touch-ups (faces tend to get shiny when you’re outside for a bit, just check yourself between locations)

• Small mirror

• Hairbrush

• Tennis shoes (really any practical shoe for walking between locations)

• A snack! Don’t let hunger creep up on you!

• A weekender bag to carry all this and any accessories you may have

For these images, Cassie started in jeans so she could easily pull on a skirt and pull off the pants without getting indecent in public. I love how different both images feel by only changing that one element of clothing!

We went to Joe Ley in Nulu and Cassie's dress was the perfect blend of modern and vintage— it really worked well in the space. Fun fact, we only spent twelve minutes shooting there because they were closing, but I'm so pleased with what we got!

I hope you found this interview as helpful as I did! If you are wanting to dive even deeper into what to wear for your engagement session check out the guide I'm working on!