Elizabeth and Michael were married this past June in the beautiful mountains of Banner Elk at the Elk River Club.   They were a beautiful couple with equally beautiful hearts.  I am so happy for them, and I want to share a little more about them…(pictures of their wedding to come soon!)
How did you meet each other?
We met at a bar in Manhattan – the Ginger Man.  It is a beer bar and Mike loves his beer!
How long have you two been together?
We have been together for 3 years.
When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
We got engaged last March. We were on a ski trip to Whistler Mountain in British Columbia Canada. It was our first run down the mountain and it was a beautiful clear day. We got to the top of the mountain and I was busy looking at the map to plot our way down when Mike called my name and I turned around and there he was with the ring. I have to admit that the first words out of my mouth after “YES” were don’t drop it!!! I did not take my glove off all day as I was so scared to lose the ring on the mountain.
What do you two do for a living?
Mike works in IT as an infrastructure manager and I work in Finance of a large bank.
What are some of the activities that you like to do together as a couple?
Skiing is really one of our favorite activities. In addition to skiing we love to hike, bike and go exploring wherever we go.
Why did you choose the Elk River Club in Banner Elk as your wedding location?
Elk River is where I have spent every summer since I was 8. When I look back on my childhood it is the place I have the fondest memories of my parents and our summers together as a family. It is also the place I learned to ride horses and play golf, two of my favorite hobbies. Elk River holds a special place in my heart that is just hard to explain but if someone said you could go anywhere in the world for a week, I would go to Elk River, it is my most favorite place in the world.

When you thought about your wedding, what were you most excited about?
We were so excited to spend time with our family and friends. It is once in a lifetime that you have everyone you really care about in the same place. We really enjoyed having several days with our family and friends.
What are some of your favorite moments at your wedding?
Waiting with anticipation to walk down the aisle
Seeing Mike for the first time
Having my Dad walk me down the aisle and dance with me
Our time on the golf course taking pictures (we had some time to enjoy our day just the two of us – and the photographer)
Being introduced for the first time as husband and wife
Seeing all our friends and family dancing and having a great time
The band surprising us with the Jefferson’s theme song as our last song and Mike twirling me around on the dance floor! A Social Function was awesome!!!
Where did you go on your honeymoon, and did you love it?
We went to British Virgin Islands for 4 days and Caneel Bay for 5 days. We had an amazing time hiking, hanging out on the beach and snorkling.
Any advice for couples planning their wedding?
I am a planner, I had a list of a few things for us to do every month for the 10 months we really spent planning the wedding. It helped with getting all the tasks done and not being overwhelmed at any of the critical moments. As soon as we arrived in NC and finished all our final meetings, we let it all go, it was now our time to enjoy our family, friends and our wedding. We got to treasure every moment because we had complete trust in all our vendors, especially Tara!

What do you love about each other?
Elizabeth: What I love about Michael is…his smile; it constantly tells me how much he loves me, if he is being mischievous or just happy. Mike has a way to calm me down and remind me about what really matters in life. He is my best friend and knows me better than anyone else.
Michael: What I love about Elizabeth is… her balance of sensibility and adventure. Elizabeth has a true ‘let’s seize the day… but have a plan to do so’ attitude that keeps us going through everything we do. She is a great counterbalance to me and we go everywhere together on our adventures.
Anything else you would want people to know?
We would just like to take a minute and thank Tara for being a wonderful wedding planner. She was truly instrumental in making our day better than we could have ever imagined. From every vendor she recommended to her creative ideas, our day was truly amazing and reflected “us” in every way. Thank you Tara!