While big, grand weddings with all of your friends and family can be great, there is also something really special about a small ceremony with just you and your partner. That’s exactly what Mateo and Cody did with their Bald Rock elopement, and it was the perfect way for the two of them to start their life together.
When most people think about elopements, their first thought might be running off to Vegas or Atlantic City and getting married by an Elvis impersonator. Don’t get me wrong, this can be super fun and makes for a great story to tell your grandkids; however, your elopement doesn’t have to be in some cheesy chapel or with a bunch of random people.
The great thing about elopements is you can do them just about anywhere, especially if you decide to have your ceremony with just you and your partner (and your photographer, of course, 😄). In fact, a lot of times, you can have your ceremony in places that you could only dream of because it’s just you and your partner.
Mateo and Cody took full advantage of this with their Bald Rock elopement and had the most special, intimate ceremony to celebrate their love.
About the Couple
Their love story starts just like any modern love story: online. The two actually met on OkCupid back in 2014 and, after talking for a few months, decided to finally meet up, and, as they say, the rest was history.
There is so much love between these two that you could feel it from a mile away. Not only are they soul mates, but they are also best friends, and there is no denying their connection. They love spending time just the two of them and love hiking together, so a Bald Rock elopement overlooking the mountain was the perfect spot for them to say I do in an intimate ceremony.
A Bald Rock Elopement
If you’ve never heard of Bald Rock before, it is an overlook in the Bald Rock Heritage Preserve that offers sweeping views of the mountains surrounding it. It is located just a few miles from Ceasar’s Head State Park (which also has a stunning overlook of the area) and can be easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
This incredible overlook can seem underwhelming as you drive along the highway and pull into the small parking lot. However, once you walk across the small bridge and start to walk up the large granite rock, you will instantly realize why this overlook is so amazing.
Now, I do want to put it out there that there is a bit of graffiti on the rock. However, that does not take away from the stunning views that you will get of the mountains. You will feel like you can see for miles, and I promise you will not be disappointed by what you see. Plus, you can get an amazing view of Table Rock from one side which you will not want to miss out on!
While this is an area that is somewhat popular, it is also still low-key enough that you can slip off towards the side and have an intimate ceremony without being interrupted by other people or feeling like all eyes are on you.
You will also get some beautiful colors in your photos, depending on when you head out there. The fall colors are absolutely amazing, and the yellow and orange leaves on the trees create the perfect contrast against the rock for stunning photos.
The great thing about an elopement, too, is that you can hang out here as long as you want and capture the perfect golden hour pictures with your new spouse without having to worry about holding up your guests or getting back to your reception!
I also love that there are a few spots around the area where you can get stunning photos. As I mentioned earlier, Caesar’s Head State Park is just a few miles away from Bald Rock, and there are some beautiful overlooks in the park as well.
If you do a bit of planning, you can also easily get up to Pretty Place Chapel. The chapel gained a lot of attention on TikTok so you now need a permit, but it’s definitely worth it if you can plan ahead!
Mateo and Cody opted to head down to a local hotel, Hotel Domestique, where we got to capture a few photos in front of a beautiful fountain that they have there on the property. Honestly, the whole area is beautiful, and you have great views of the mountains, so you can’t go wrong regardless of where you choose to explore after your elopement!
Is an elopement right for you?
There is no arguing that a Bald Rock elopement is going to be beautiful and unique, but you may be wondering if an elopement is right for you and your partner. Elopements are starting to become more and more popular, and I think that they are such a special way for you and your partner to celebrate the next chapter in your life together.
I touched on it a bit earlier, but elopements offer you the unique opportunity to get married in places that you would never be able to if you were to have a full wedding. I mean, it’s not like you can set up chairs and have a whole ceremony on the overlook or in a forest.
Elopements can be a great option if you are looking for something super small and intimate, a way to celebrate your and your partner’s love without worrying about everyone else around you. Yes, you love the people in your life, but sometimes having everyone around and having to coordinate everything can take away from you just being present and enjoying this incredible moment with your partner.
You can also still have a small group of your closest friends and family with you during your elopement as well. For example, Brooke and Ellen invited a few of their friends to their elopement, but Mateo and Cody decided to just enjoy this special moment with each other. Depending on where you are getting married, you may also have a few people there to be witnesses (North Carolina requires two witnesses), but some states don’t require any (like South Carolina), and you can really run off with your love and get married all by yourself!
At the end of the day, your wedding is for you and your partner, so regardless of if you have a grand wedding with everyone you have ever known or just you and your love, you are still going to marry your best friend, so it’s a win-win!
Plus, if you don’t want to feel like you are leaving all of your friends and family out of this special moment in your life, you can still have a reception. This is a great compromise, and a lot of couples are starting to do this to have the best of both worlds.
This way, you get the perfect, intimate moment with your partner and can go through your wedding day without having to worry about anyone else or be on anyone else’s timeline. Then, you can kick back and have the party of the year with all of your friends and family to celebrate the start of this new chapter.
Final Thoughts on a Bald Rock Elopement
If you are looking for the perfect, intimate spot with amazing views to have your wedding in South Carolina, then a Bald Rock elopement may be absolutely perfect for you. With sweeping views and enough space to have a private moment, you won’t be disappointed with your ceremony here.
If you are still looking for the perfect photographer to capture this special moment in your and your partner’s life, look no further! You can click here to learn more about my packages (which all include a complimentary engagement session). I can also work with you to create an elopement package just for you starting at $450 (or $850 with an engagement session).
You can also get in touch with me if you have any questions or are ready to have me capture the beginning of your and your partner’s life together!
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