Falls Park Engagement | Batare and Femi

Femi came to visit Batare in Greenville on Batare’s birthday. Before they went out to dinner at Halls, they took a walk through Falls Park. They stopped by the Carolina Foothills Garden Club Sanctuary, where Femi proposed!

Femi and Batare first met during a medical school trip in Dominica, and they couldn’t believe they’d never met before. They spent most of their lives in the same city, they were undergrads at the same school at the same time, and they’re both Nigerian. Once they started a relationship, they moved around together until they were placed in different cities for their residencies, about 6 hours apart. They still visited each other often and found a lot of places they love in both cities.

When Femi and I talked through the proposal plan, we decided to have the proposal in Falls Park. It was close to everything else in Greenville, and Femi could easily get Batare dressed up by telling her they had a dinner reservation at a nice restaurant. Femi made a reservation at Halls Chophouse, a place they both like. We ended up choosing the Carolina Foothills Garden Sanctuary because it’s a little bit more private than the rest of Falls Park, but the scenery is still really pretty.

We had some really pretty light since a lot of the trees had already lost their leaves. Since their session was so close to the winter solstice, golden hour was pretty early in the day, so most people were still at work and not hanging around downtown while we were taking photos.  Since Christmas was only a few days away, we got some photos with one of the big and beautiful Christmas trees downtown, and we heard the musicians playing Christmas music. Batare was so shocked in the first few minutes, but the shock became spontaneous laughing and hugging. You can just feel their happiness in these photos!

Check out some of my favorite photos from Femi and Batare’s engagement in downtown Greenville!

If you want photos like these, check out where to take engagement photos in downtown Greenville, where to elope in upstate South Carolina, and my info for engagement and elopement photos!

Ready for the best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. We love finding new outdoor places to visit, but we also love hanging out on the couch and watching Pixar.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Chimney Rock Engagement | Molly & Ethan

Right before Christmas, Molly and Ethan had come down from Indiana to explore different cities in North Carolina. After spending a couple days in Asheville, they headed towards Charlotte, and decided to stop at Chimney Rock State Park. They liked the idea of the big rock overlooking everything, and they don’t see a lot of mountains where they live.

Chimney Rock is a unique area—some scenes from Dirty Dancing were filmed around here, and Chimney Rock State Park itself was one of the filming locations for The Last of the Mohicans. To get to the overlook, there are about 500 stairs, but there’s also an elevator that goes 26 stories through a mountain. Since it was December, the tunnel leading to the mountain had red and green uplighting, giving a Grinch-looking effect, and the railings leading to the overlook were decorated with wreaths, bows, and garlands.

It was a cold morning, but it quickly warmed up because it was sunny and there was no wind. I knew I was the first car to park at the bottom, so I watched the parking lot from the overlook until I saw Molly and Ethan drive in. I took pictures at the top until Molly and Ethan got to the top, and then I pretended to just take photos of the scenery. They looked out over Lake Lure together to take in the view, and Ethan got down on one knee. He gave her a beautiful vintage-looking ring!

After taking some photos at the overlook, we headed down to the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge to get a change of scenery. Since it was a Tuesday morning in the winter, there was nobody at all in the park or at the Flowering Bridge, and we had both places all to ourselves! After we finished taking photos, Molly and Ethan got to spend the rest of the day celebrating their engagement!

Check out some of my favorite photos from Molly and Ethan’s engagement at Chimney Rock!

If you want photos like these, read more about Chimney Rock and my info for engagement and elopement photos!

Ready for the best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. We love finding new outdoor places to visit, but we also love hanging out on the couch and watching Pixar.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Intimate Wedding at Bent Creek Farm | Ashley and David

I met Ashley and David in June for their engagement photos in the South Carolina Botanical Gardens, so I was excited to see them again for their December wedding!

Ashley and David were married on a 70-degree day in December at Bent Creek Farm with about 20 family members and friends. Since they met while playing World of Warcraft, they walked down the aisle to World of Warcraft music, and they quoted it in their vows.

Ashley opted for a green dress instead of a typical white one, and I’m not sure whether she looked more like she belonged in a Disney movie or in White Christmas. She paired it with a burgundy cloak, which made me think of Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas. Thankfully, both of them have seen that movie and knew what I meant when I said it!

David chose to wear a kilt to honor his Scottish heritage. He chose a tartan to fit the color scheme they chose, rather than the tartan for one of the clans his ancestors belonged to. He had a cane with a sword in it, which was super cool.

They kept their reception pretty low-key since it was only about 20 people. I loved watching their nieces and nephew dance around together. Ashley made the party favors and table decor herself, including the same fabric she used as a scarf during the engagement photos. The red and green decor paired so well with everything they chose to wear, and it fit the Christmas scheme so beautifully.

Enjoy some of my favorite photos from Ashley and David’s December wedding at Bent Creek Farm!

Venue: Bent Creek Farm

Photography: Christine Scott Photography

Hair and makeup: Collective Beauty

Officiant: Evan Welcher

Bride’s attire: Amazon

Groom’s attire: Kilt Renal USA

Catering: Laurenda’s

Desserts: Publix and Whimsy Cookies

Invitations: Truly Engaging

For more information about photos for intimate weddings and elopements in upstate South Carolina, read about my elopement experience and where to elope in upstate South Carolina!

Ready for your best day ever?

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. We love being outside just as much as we love hanging out on the couch together and watching Pixar movies or Back to the Future.

One thing I love about Greenville is that it’s everything you DON’T think about when you picture South Carolina, but it’s still picturesque. Whether you’re into mountains, waterfalls, lakes, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Elopement at Lake Jocassee | Tabitha & Mike

Tabitha and Mike eloped in front of one of my favorite places in South Carolina: Lake Jocassee!

Tabitha and Mike knew for a long time that they wanted to get married. They also knew that they didn’t want their wedding to be a huge event or a courthouse ceremony. When Tabitha was googling what the options were for something in between, she came across my blog post about where to elope in South Carolina. She and Mike were so excited at the thought of getting married in a beautiful place by themselves!

When Tabitha reached out to me, I asked her when would be a good time for a Zoom call. She said that they could drive to Greenville the next day to meet me in person. They made the drive from Florence and we met up at Spill the Beans to talk about their options. They told me they liked water and mountains, and that they were willing to go check some places out after leaving our meeting. I told them that Lake Jocassee was probably the best combination of water and mountains, and they liked the pictures I showed them. Later that night, Tabitha texted me and told me that they visited a few places, but they knew as soon as they got to Lake Jocassee that it was the place for them.

Tabitha picked out a white dress and ordered a fall-colored bouquet, where she hung a small picture of her mom, who is no longer with us. Tabitha and Mike ordered a small cake from Publix with flowers that matched her bouquet. They stayed at Sunrise Farm, the same bed and breakfast where Dan and I stayed after our wedding. They made a dinner reservation at The Lighthouse, where Dan and I had our rehearsal dinner.

We met on the beachy area of Devils Fork State Park, the only public access point to Lake Jocassee. Ken of Upstate Wedding Officiant put together a beautiful ceremony for them in front of the water and mountains. Tabitha and Mike read the vows they had written for each other and sealed the deal! It was cloudy the entire time we were there, but we saw the sky change colors a few times, which was pretty cool. We took some photos at the beach, the docks, and the trees. We hardly saw any people, making for a quiet, private, and peaceful wedding day.

Enjoy some of the photos from Tabitha and Mike’s fall elopement at Lake Jocassee!

Venue: Lake Jocassee at Devils Fork State Park

Photographer: Christine Scott Photography

Officiant: Ken at Upstate Wedding Officiant

Cake: Publix

Does this look like the perfect way to get married? Read about Devils Fork State Park, other places to elope in South Carolina!

Ready for your best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. We love being outside as much as we love being on the couch and watching Pixar movies.

One thing I love about Greenville is that it’s everything you DON’T think about when you picture South Carolina, but it’s still picturesque. Whether you’re into mountains, waterfalls, lakes, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Intimate Wedding at Callaway Gardens | Natalie & Evan

Natalie and Evan were married on a cool November evening at Calloway Gardens with their families and a few of their friends!

Natalie and Evan have the classic Hollywood story of two strangers bumping into each other in a crowded place and building a relationship. In this case, it was a bar in Athens, Georgia, home of the University of Georgia. These two were married at Calloway Gardens in southern Georgia, a place Natalie went to a lot as a child. The gardens are about the size of a state park, with beautiful and unique spots all over to take pictures. As we took the shuttle through the gardens after dark, we saw some of the Christmas light exhibits that had already been set up.

Natalie got ready in the bridal suite in the lodge, which had three balconies overlooking the fountain outside. Even though they chose not to have bridesmaids and groomsmen, Natalie’s mom and two best friends helped her get ready. After Natalie and Evan did their first look in front of the fountains, we did their family photos in the butterfly exhibit, which was a greenhouse full of butterflies and the plants that they like!

With about 30 guests at their wedding, Natalie and Evan were married in the garden’s tiny chapel in the woods with stained glass windows. We came back to the lodge for the reception in the ballroom. Evan’s mom made their wedding cake. We ended the night with a sparkler exit outside of the lodge.

Check out some of my favorite photos from Natalie and Evan’s intimate wedding at Calloway Gardens!

Venue, catering, and bartending: Callaway Gardens

Coordinator: Magnolia Lane’s Polished Events

Photographer: Christine Scott Photography

Florals: Evan Bloodworth

DJ: Crash Boat Sound

Cake: Evan’s mom, Jenny

Dress: David’s Bridal

Officiant: Chuck Shaheen

Does this look like the small wedding you had in mind? I’d love to help you make that happen! Read more about my photography services for small weddings and then we can talk!

Ready for your best day ever?

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. We love being outside just as much as we love being on the couch and watching PIxar movies.

One thing I love about Greenville is that it’s everything you DON’T think about when you picture South Carolina, but it’s still picturesque. Whether you’re into mountains, waterfalls, lakes, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

South Carolina Mountain Engagement | Stephanie & John

John and Stephanie live in Houston, but decided to make a fall trip to the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. They’d never been to the Carolinas or Tennessee before. Stephanie remembered seeing Pretty Place Chapel on TikTok and decided that she wanted to see the sunrise there while she was in the area. She and John saw that it would be open for sunrise on the Monday that they would be there, and decided to go then.

John knew that this was where he wanted to propose to Stephanie. He showed a coworker some photos that had been tagged there on Instagram and they came across my photos of a couple who got engaged there a few weeks earlier. He went to my blog post about them, where I’d also linked all my info for visiting and having photos taken at Pretty Place. He sent me an email, we set up a time to talk, and we made the plan to go!

The windy road to Pretty Place from Greenville is one lane in each direction and goes up a mountain through the woods.  I always get nervous driving there for sunrise because so much of that drive is in the dark. But when I’m almost there, I’ll notice that the sky has turned from black to dark blue, and I’ll start to see reds and oranges coming through. It was cold when I got there, but I was relieved to see that there weren’t a lot of cars in the parking lot. I easily found a seat in the aisle that felt like the right distance from the cross. John had sent me a selfie they had taken that morning, so I knew who they were when I saw them.

Stephanie asked someone to take a photo of them in front of the cross on her phone. She went to take her phone back, but when she saw that John was on one knee, she gave her phone right back the person and went back to the cross. After Stephanie said yes and everyone cheered, John pointed me out to Stephanie, and both of them gave me a big hug.

After we took some photos around the chapel, we went down to Bald Rock and Wildcat Wayside, where there were almost no people. It was so quiet and peaceful! Bald Rock Heritage Preserve has a rock face that overlooks Table Rock Mountain. Even though there’s graffiti all over it, the view is still beautiful. We also took some photos at the stream by the parking lot, where a lot of red leaves were floating. After we finished taking photos, Stephanie and John went back up to Pretty Place to soak it all in, then went out to eat in Brevard.

Enjoy Stephanie and John’s fall engagement photos in the mountains of South Carolina!

If you’re looking for a photographer, read about my elopement and engagement photo services! If you like these locations, read what I have to say about Pretty Place and Mountain Bridge Wilderness!

Ready for the best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. We love finding new outdoor places to visit, but we also love hanging out on the couch and watching Pixar movies.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

South Carolina Mountain Engagement | Diana & Christian

Diana and Christian moved to Greenville from Houston a few months ago. So far, they’ve loved exploring the mountains together and they really wanted fall foliage in their photos. They liked the idea of having a summit view versus having mountains in the background, so based on my descriptions, they chose Pretty Place and Caesars Head, neither of which they’d been to before. I recommended going to Pretty Place first and finishing at Caesars Head, about 20 minutes down the road, because Caesars Head faces west and has a better view of the sunset.

We checked the schedule for Pretty Place and saw that it would be open on a Monday evening at the beginning of November. Everyone talks about how pretty the view from the chapel is, but nobody talks about how it has some of the best fall foliage in South Carolina. The leaves change earlier there since it’s so much higher in elevation than Greenville, so we missed peak foliage, but we still had some beautiful color. The mountains looked orange, there was a beautiful tree with red leaves, and the leaves covered the ground in the wooded area next to the chapel.

I usually have Pandora or Spotify playing in my car, but I can’t get signal on a lot of the road that leads to Pretty Place and Caesars Head. I rolled down my window—the temperature was perfect and I could hear and smell the fall leaves. When we got to Caesars Head, we came out to the overlook first so they could take in the view. I pointed out Table Rock Mountain in the distance, and Diana and Christian told me that they reached that summit together, so it was cool for them to have that in their photos. Since it was a Monday, there weren’t a lot of people there to watch the sunset, so we almost had the overlook to ourselves. The sunset colors came through with a fall breeze that made Diana’s hair move. It was pretty much everything we could ask for in a fall engagement session in the mountains!

Enjoy some of Diana and Christian’s fall engagement photos in the mountains of South Carolina!

If you’re looking for a photographer, read about my elopement and engagement photo services! If you like these locations, read what I have to say about Pretty Place and Caesars Head!

Ready for the best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. We love finding new outdoor places to visit, but we also love hanging out on the couch and watching Pixar.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Proposal in Downtown Greenville, SC | Jordan & Noah

Jordan and Noah were engaged on a beautiful fall evening in downtown Greenville, South Carolina!

When I talked with Noah, he told me that they had moved here together from the Midwest after they met in college. He said they liked walking the Swamp Rabbit Trail together and he wanted to propose downtown. We talked about possible places to do it, since there are so many beautiful places in downtown Greenville, and we ended up choosing the Carolina Foothills Garden Club Sanctuary. This is a shadier spot off in the woods, just out of sight from the Liberty Bridge, but super easy to stumble upon. There are stone staircases and a small waterfall. The bonus is that the sun comes through the trees to the back, making for some glowy lighting, I went there a few days beforehand and sent Noah a video so he could see where I would be and where I’d want him to stand. As soon as I got into view, Noah got down on one knee. It was a much more private spot than the Liberty Bridge or the Reedy River Falls, but there were still a few people on the stairs who cheered them on.

Noah had told Jordan that they were going to try the restaurant Limoncello for the first time, then go to one of their favorite spots: Jack and Diane’s piano bar. The reservation for Limoncello was later than what Noah actually told her, but he gave enough time for photos and for sharing the news with their family and friends. By making a dinner reservation, he also was able to get Jordan to wear something she would want to wear in photos.

Enjoy some of my favorite photos of Jordan and Noah on this beautiful November evening in Falls Park!

If you’re looking for engagement photos in Greenville, check out some of my favorite places to take photos in downtown Greenville, and check out the details for engagement photos. If you’re thinking about eloping, read about some of my favorite places to elope in upstate South Carolina and about the elopement experience!

Ready for the best day ever?

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. We love finding new outdoor places to visit, but we also love hanging out on the couch and watching Pixar.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Engagement at Caesars Head | Amber and Logan

Amber and Logan were engaged on a beautiful fall evening at one of my favorite places in South Carolina: Caesars Head State Park!

They met and started their relationship when they were both living in Utah. They took the leap and moved across the country together when Logan accepted a job in Greenville. They love exploring the outdoors together, and Logan said that Caesars Head was on his mind for a while. From the photos he’d seen, he thought the overlook would be the perfect place to propose. He came across my photos of Melanie and Karl’s engagement there and knew that this would have to be the place.

Logan told Amber that he made a reservation at a nice restaurant that was really far out. He did make a reservation at Topsoil, which he and Amber dressed nicely for, but he told her it was farther away than it really was. Instead of bringing her to the restaurant in Travelers Rest, he continued up the windy road for a while until he reached Caesars Head. He brought her to the overlook, where he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him, using his grandma’s engagement ring.

This was a classic, slightly chilly fall evening. There were leaves all around them on the ground. We were lucky to not have many people around on this Friday evening, so we were able to use a lot more of the space on the overlook. We went down the narrow staircase and took photos in Devils Kitchen, which has a cave-like feel to it. We took some around the woods and on the walkway until the sun started to go down. I think the overlook at Caesars Head is one of the best places to see the sunset, and it made for a fantastic place to soak in the feeling of saying yes to forever.

Check out some of my favorite photos from Amber and Logan’s engagement at Caesars Head State Park!

If you’re looking for a photographer in the Greenville area, read more about Caesars Head State Park and check out my info for elopement and engagement photos!

Ready for the best day ever?

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. We love finding new outdoor places to visit, but we also love hanging out on the couch and watching Pixar.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Table Rock Wedding | Danielle and Jamie

Danielle and Jamie were married on a perfect fall day at the Gaines Lodge at Table Rock State Park!

Danielle and Jamie wanted mountains to be part of their wedding day, and the Gaines Lodge had everything they were looking for. I was so excited to be part of a wedding here because Table Rock is one of my favorite state parks, but I’d never been to the Gaines Lodge. This beautiful lodge has a porch that overlooks Table Rock Mountain, Pinnacle Mountain, and Pinnacle Lake. The fall colors were just starting to change here, so we had a good mix of green and yellow leaves.

Danielle and Jamie were married in front of about 60 friends and family members, plus their dogs, Phoebe and Guinness. Danielle and Jamie did a first look (having photos together before the ceremony), which helped them feel more at ease going into the ceremony. I loved that Danielle had a color palette for her bridesmaids’ dresses instead of having all of them wear the same color. Jamie rocked the galaxy cat socks. One of the bridesmaids arranged wooden flowers into bouquets, boutonnières, and corsages, so they will look exactly the same years down the line. At the reception, Danielle changed into a lighter dress. There was pumpkin beer at the bar and a beautiful fall-themed cake with cupcakes! The temperature was perfect and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky all day long.

Enjoy some of my favorite photos from Danielle and Jamie’s wedding at Table Rock State Park!

Venue: Gaines Lodge at Table Rock State Park

Coordinator: Jessica Innes of Social Events Design

Photographer: Christine Scott Photography

Caterer: Larkin’s Catering

Hair and makeup: Trisha and Staci with Cotton Rouge

Dress: Elizabeth Cole Bridal

Cake: Bonnie Bundt Cakes

For more information about Table Rock State Park, check out this post, and check out my info for elopement and engagement photos!

Ready for the best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. Sometimes we wear hiking boots, sometimes we wear dress shoes, and sometimes we’re barefoot in the surf.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Engagement at Pretty Place | Barbara and Christian

Barbara and Christian were taking a fall trip from Florida with their families through Pigeon Forge and Asheville. Barbara had seen photos online of Pretty Place and wanted to come see it for herself. Christian knew when he saw the photos that Barbara would love to get engaged there, so he and I coordinated a plan. We watched the visitation schedule closely to coordinate with their open hours and the dates Christian and Barbara’s families would be nearby. Eventually, we saw that it would be open for sunrise on a day when they could be in the area, and we planned for that.

For the whole week leading up to the proposal, right up until I got in the car, the forecast said there was a high chance of rain. Pretty Place Chapel is covered, but I still brought my umbrellas for the shots we took outside of the chapel. There was rain on the drive up, but it had totally stopped by the time we got to the chapel. I wasn’t sure if the chance of rain, or the fact that it was a weekday, would keep some people away, but when I saw parked cars along the road before I could see the chapel at all, I knew the answer. It looked like a whole church service! When I reached the chapel, the fog was so intense that it just looked like a white sheet behind the cross. Within just a few minutes, that fog turned into low clouds that hung around the mountains, just in time for a beautiful sunrise to come through! The sunrise and clouds over the mountains behind the cross literally looked like the pictures people share on Facebook and Instagram on Easter Sunday, except it wasn’t a picture. As people came and went through the chapel, I moved down the seats in the aisle until I reached an aisle seat on the second row.

Christian and Barbara stood in line down the aisle to have their photo taken while I took photos of the people before them to get the lighting right. When Christian’s mom took a photo of them on her phone, Christian got down on one knee. Barbara was so excited! So many people started cheering and taking their picture, and Christian pointed to me as the one to look at. I waved my arms and people started to back off. When we moved out of the chapel, Barbara said, “Oh, I forgot to say yes!”

We moved away from all the people in the chapel and off to the side. There is a tiny overlook over the mountains that had a small line forming, so while we waited in line, I took some photos of Christian and Barbara with the trees. The foliage was some of the best I’ve seen in South Carolina so far, and we went further into the woods to just get some photos with the trees.

What a way to start a fall morning! Check out some of my favorite photos of Barbara and Christian’s engagement at Pretty Place Chapel! For more information about visiting Pretty Place, check out this post!

Ready for the best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. Sometimes we wear hiking boots, sometimes we wear dress shoes, and sometimes we’re barefoot in the surf.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Vow Renewal at Lake Jocassee

Melissa and Hunter were married 17 years ago. They had been thinking for a long time about renewing their vows and decided to take a trip by themselves to somewhere new!

Melissa and Hunter live in Louisiana and had never been to South Carolina before. When Melissa’s friend showed her a photo from a wedding she went to at Pretty Place, Melissa became intrigued with the idea of visiting South Carolina. She came across my blog post about places to elope in South Carolina and emailed me about coming in October. She told me that they both love mountains and water, so I showed her some photos I’d taken at Lake Jocassee, and she loved it!

Lake Jocassee is accessible through Devils Fork State Park, one of my favorite state parks in South Carolina and the best combination of water and mountains you’ll get in this state. Some of the scenery in this park reminds me more of the west coast than South Carolina—it’s so hard to believe that this is the same state that gives us places like Charleston!

The day we met was a perfect fall evening. Melissa wore a white dress and Hunter wore a dress shirt with suspenders. A friend made them a bouquet and a boutonnière. Melissa makes cakes professionally, so she wanted a small cake to bring. She made a cookie cake because it would last better during the long car ride.

We took some photos in the shade at the beginning of the Oconee Bell Trail, but we didn’t get photos with the Oconee Bells because they only bloom in the spring. We did find an American Beauty Berry bush, which has lime-green leaves and bright purple berries in the fall. As the sun got lower, we moved towards small beachy area that faces the lake. We tried to chase the buzzards away, but a random dog showed up to do it for us. Aside from that, it was a pretty quiet evening, making a pretty intimate experience in nature.

I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect fall evening to show Melissa and Hunter how beautiful this side of South Carolina is. They’re already talking about when to come back to show this place to their boys! Enjoy some of my favorite photos from Melissa and Hunter’s vow renewal at Lake Jocassee!

If this looks like the kind of wedding day you want, I’d love to help you make that happen!

Ready for the best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. We love being outside just as much as we love being on the couch and watching Pixar movies.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Finding Spring and Fall Colors

How do you find spring colors? How do you find fall colors? It’s actually a lot more complex than it sounds! The short answer is that it depends on the altitude, how far you are in the season, and what plants are in the area. Here’s a more in-depth explanation, plus some details about where the best color is in upstate South Carolina.

The creek next to the parking area at Bald Rock Heritage Preserve, mid-November

How to Find Spring and Fall Color

My first suggestion is to Google when fall colors typically show in the area you’re looking at. A lot of places will have maps to show you where the color will peak throughout the season. I’ve found the Smoky Mountains fall foliage map to be mostly accurate for the Southeast.

Lake Lure Flowering Bridge, early April

My second suggestion is to use somewhere like a botanical garden as your location because there will be more of a variety of plants that will change color at different times. No matter when during the season you’re there, something there will turn colors and catch your eye, making this a great option if you can only be in the area on specific days. If you can be there when the color is at its peak, that’s even better! Below, here are two photos I took in the South Carolina Botanical Gardens. The first was taken at the end of February and the second was taken on the last day of November. Both times, I only found a few trees with any color on them and used them as much as I could.

South Carolina Botanical Gardens, end of February

South Carolina Botanical Gardens, last day of November

I have an entire blog post dedicated to the South Carolina Botanical Gardens in Clemson, South Carolina and another one for the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge in Chimney Rock, North Carolina. The North Carolina Arboretum is also an excellent choice in the fall, and the Furman Rose Garden looks like a fairy tale in the spring.

Fall at North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina

My third suggestion is to keep the geography in mind. The air tends to be cooler at higher elevations and latitudes that are farther from the equator. The the trees around the mountains will change earlier in the fall and later in the spring. Also keep in mind what trees are common in that area and what they’ll look like. For example, in the fall, New England has a lot of maple trees that will turn red, while upstate South Carolina foliage tends to be more like a random yellow or orange tree, and lowcountry South Carolina might not have the right trees or temperatures to see a lot of foliage. New England will also have more fall color in September while South Carolina’s usually peaks in November. In the spring, most of the blooms in upstate South Carolina will be gone by the end of April, but you’ll still find beautiful pink rhododendrons in the mountains of North Carolina in May and June.

Rhododendrons in Linville Gorge Wilderness, taken mid-May. I also took some photos of the rhododendrons at Craggy Gardens in early June of that same year.

Where to Find the Best Spring and Fall Color in Upstate South Carolina

After spending the past several years in upstate South Carolina, I’ve noticed some patterns in where I find myself taking photos at different times. Here are some of my favorite spots:

Spring and Fall at Clemson University

I’ve done so many photo sessions at Clemson over the years that I have a favorite spring tree and a favorite fall tree on Clemson’s campus, and I know where to find the first pink tree and the last red tree of the year. Obviously you can go to the South Carolina Botanical Gardens, but there are plenty of other beautiful trees that you’ll see on the main campus. President’s Park usually gets full of pink and white in April, but you can find some pink and white between the Carillon Gardens and Martin Hall in March. The Carillon Gardens also has a nice orange tree, and you can find a yellow one and a red one around the Reflection Pond.

In downtown Greenville, there are usually flowers everywhere from the spring to the fall, with some trees and bushes that turn pink and white at different times. I usually only find a few trees at a time that give fall or spring color. There’s one tree along Liberty Bridge that stays yellow for most of the fall, and the road by the Medusa Tree will usually have some color late in the year, after almost all the leaves are gone.

Medusa Tree/Swamp Rabbit Trail, late November

Liberty Bridge, late November

Across from Passerelle Bistro, late May

South Carolina Mountains

The lake at Paris Mountain is one of the more colorful places to visit in the fall, but contrary to the name, you won’t get a mountaintop view here. Mountain Bridge Wilderness (towards Caesars Head State Park and Pretty Place Chapel) are at higher elevations, so they will start to show fall colors earlier than the rest of Greenville County. Pretty Place has some of the best foliage in the area, in my opinion, and a beautiful woodsy area next to the chapel. These two photos were taken on the same day—a beautiful fall road trip during peak foliage in the upstate.

Paris Mountain State Park, late October

Pretty Place Chapel, late October

The woods next to Pretty Place Chapel, late October

I hope this helps you narrow down where to go and where to take your spring and fall pictures! I’m always finding new places and I hope to continue to update this with more photos. Even if you can’t be there during peak color, you can embrace the beautiful light that comes through bare trees, trees that are still green, or any Christmas decorations that might be around.

For more information about weather and how it affects your photos, check out these posts:

• Hot Weather

• Cold Weather

• Cloudy Days

• Choosing Between Sunrise and Sunset

• Rainy Days

Ready for the best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. Sometimes we wear hiking boots, sometimes we wear dress shoes, and sometimes we’re barefoot in the surf.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Taking Photos in Cold Weather

Even though it doesn’t usually get that cold in South Carolina, sometimes winter is the best time to take your photos. Maybe you’re only able to see each other on winter break, or you had a Christmas engagement and want to take advantage of the Christmas scenery for your engagement photos. Either way, taking photos outside in cold weather takes some extra preparation.

I actually prefer cold weather over hot weather for photos. You can layer up as much as you want in cold weather and you won’t be sweaty. Bring hats, gloves, scarves, and extra layers so you can adjust for how warm you are.

Choosing a location is important for cold weather because you need to be careful of ice. In the mountains, or even in the shade, there may be a portion of the road closed for ice. Ice also makes things slippery, so walking or driving might be a little more hazardous.

It’s a good idea to choose a location that’s a good balance of shade and open space. Shade lowers the temperature, but trees and buildings can help block cold wind. Even though the trees won’t have leaves, it doesn’t look “dead” like you might think. I love the way the golden hour sun comes through the trees, like in the photo below.

You can even coordinate them to your outfit—I love this off-white peacoat for this winter session, and her mom made both of their scarves! In hindsight, gloves would have made this session a lot more enjoyable because the wind was so cold and strong that their hands were hurting and we ended sooner than planned.

I hope this was helpful! For more weather tips, check these out:

• Hot Weather

• Rainy Days

• Cloudy Days

• Choosing Between Sunrise and Sunset

• Finding Spring and Fall Color

Ready for the best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. Sometimes we wear hiking boots, sometimes we wear dress shoes, and sometimes we’re barefoot in the surf.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Lake Lure Flowering Bridge

September 2024 update: the Lake Lure area has been devastated by the effects of Hurricane Helene, and the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge was torn apart. It will be a long road to recovery for the bridge and the surrounding area. Please do your research before you attempt to visit the area to ensure that it’s safe for you and everyone else around. In the meantime, you can look back on some of the photos I took in this lovely little place before the storm came through.

Original post:

Today’s featured location is the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge! This is a little over an hour away in North Carolina, but it feels like such an easy drive to get there from Greenville. It’s a must-see if you’re visiting Chimney Rock State Park (also a must-see), just a few minutes down the road. As some of you might know, Lake Lure is where some of the scenes in Dirty Dancing were filmed, so I highly recommend listening to that super fun soundtrack on the way there.

The Flowering Bridge is a small botanical garden that covers a footbridge over a section of Lake Lure, literally right off of Memorial Highway. It may look small from the road, but there’s so much to see here! There are actually two levels to it, as part of the garden extends below the bridge and down to the water. Each section is so full of different plants and themed sections, so something will always catch your attention and make you slow down. Every time I’ve had a session here, I feel like there’s not enough time to include all the scenery.

I love the recurring theme of famous books throughout the garden, which made it an ideal location for this Harry Potter engagement session. For example, a small section has yellow bricks with slippers next to a brick painted like the Wizard of Oz book. One section is modeled to look like the garden in Peter Rabbit.

My first visit here was in the spring, after I had a session at Chimney Rock State Park. It was my first time in the area, but I saw a sign for the Flowering Bridge and remembered that I’d seen some photographers share pictures from there on Instagram. I couldn’t get over how good it smelled—so many flowers were in bloom, but there’s also a rosemary bush, which is one of my favorite scents. The next time I came back was in August, and the garden was so full of color! There were so many butterflies and bees hanging around the flowers, and I could just watch and listen to them all day.

Even though we tend to not see flowers in cold weather, this place still looks beautiful in the winter! The Christmas decorations and winter scenery are perfect!

For more information on the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge in Chimney Rock, North Carolina, check out their website! Scroll down to see some of the photos I’ve taken in the Lake Lure area, or send me a message to get started with planning your photos!

More Photos from Lake Lure

Ready for the best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. Sometimes we wear hiking boots, sometimes we wear dress shoes, and sometimes we’re barefoot in the surf.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Table Rock State Park

When you hear “Table Rock,” you might think of super hard hikes. Yes, some of the hardest hikes in the whole state of South Carolina are accessible from this park, but this park really has something for everyone. We’ve been to every state park in South Carolina and Table Rock is one of our favorites because it pretty much has everything—long hikes, short hikes, pretty views that don’t involve hikes, mountains, waterfalls, a lake, you name it! We even had our own family photos here because we love the scenery here so much.

Where to Get Married at Table Rock

Table Rock actually does have its own venue for larger weddings, the Gaines Lodge, but it’s also a great place for engagement photos and elopements!

Where to Take Photos at Table Rock State Park

First of all, there’s about a 5-minute drive between the park headquarters and the trailhead, so make sure you know where you’re navigating to because it’s hard to get signal in the park. The trailhead is on State Park Road and the park headquarters is on Ellison Lane. The trailhead has a small waterfall, and there’s another one just a short walk up from it.

The photo below was taken at Carrick Creek Falls, along the Carrick Creek Trail. This is a moderate 2-mile hike and took us about an hour with all the stops for photos. It goes a lot farther than what you see in the photo, but this is where it was safe for me to stand.

If you go to the park headquarters, you’ll see a beautiful view of the mountains over Lake Oolenoy, including the famous Table Rock, which is easily recognizable with its granite face. There’s enough grass in front of the park headquarters to make it look like a big field in front of Table Rock. There is a T-shaped pier on Lake Oolenoy, with one side overlooking the mountains and the other side overlooking more of the water.

In the fall, the visitor center has some beautiful tall grass down by the water. The walkway to the visitor center is lined with beauty berry bushes, which give almost neon purple and green colors.

Also, while you’re in the area, feel free to check out some other nearby state parks, like Caesars Head, Keowee-Toxaway, or Devils Fork! You can also read about our adventures through all 47 state parks in South Carolina! For more information about Table Rock State Park, read about it on the South Carolina State Parks website.

Check out some of my other photos below from around Table Rock State Park, read more about my engagement photo services, or click here to get started with planning your session!

Ready for the best day ever?

If you’re envisioning photos like these, click the button below to send me a message, or check out some of my other pMy name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. Sometimes we wear hiking boots, sometimes we wear dress shoes, and sometimes we’re barefoot in the surf.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Taking Photos in Hot Weather

“Summer

It turns me upside-down

Summer, summer, summer

It’s like a merry-go-round”

—The Cars

Maybe you’re on a break from school, taking a summer vacation, or you just love summer scenery. Summer in South Carolina means our plants are flourishing, but our heat and humidity are as intense as the mosquitoes. Here are some of my tips for taking photos on summer days:

1. Consider choosing sunrise instead of sunset. Sunrise tends to be the coolest time of day. Even right after sunset, it’s still warmer and more humid than sunrise. It also tends to be less crowded at sunrise because it involves waking up early, and a lot of people don’t want to get up early enough for sunrise in the summer. Sunrise is about 6:15 in Greenville around summer solstice. For more information on deciding whether sunrise or sunset is the right choice for you, check out this post!

2. Bring a change of clothes. I always recommend having two outfits to give you variety, but this also gives you the option to spend less time in an outfit that makes you hot, and you can change into something else if you get sweaty. Check out this post for suggestions on what to wear!

3. Pick somewhere that’s not as exhausting to get to so you won’t be red, sweaty, and tired in your photos. For more suggestions for choosing a trail for your photos, check out this post.

4. Keep a bottle of water with you. Sometimes you don’t notice dehydration until you actually start feeling weak or sick. And don’t forget water and a bowl for your dogs if you’re bringing them! Here is more information about bringing your dogs for your photos.

5. Take advantage of shadier spots when the sun is higher in the sky. For this beach session, we used the shade to block out the sun, then we went out to the water as it got darker. The water acts as a giant mirror, so any sunlight will look really bright if there’s a lot of water.

6. Use sunscreen in the days beforehand. Please. Being pale looks better than being sunburned or having weird tan lines.

7. Be strategic with your location. Summer means that a lot of people will be traveling, and they may be visiting the same scenic location you’ve chosen for your photos. Sunrise can help with avoiding crowds, but so can going on a weekday, or finding lesser-known places. For more ideas on where to take engagement photos in upstate South Carolina, check out this post.

8. Have a rain plan. Summer evenings in South Carolina pretty much always have that forecast of “50% chance of scattered thunderstorms in the evening.” If it’s difficult for you to reschedule, we can find a covered area, like the Wyche Pavilion in downtown Greenville. Here are some more ideas for locations in downtown Greenville, and here is some info on how to navigate cloudy days.

Bonus for photographers: take your camera out of your bag a few minutes before you want to start taking your photos. Your camera might fog up if it’s really hot and humid out, and there’s nothing you can do except wait.

Bonus for upstate South Carolina: the South Carolina Botanical Gardens has a desert garden area that looks best in the summer when the succulents can thrive on the heat! Check out this post to see more photos from there!

I hope this was helpful! For more weather tips, check these out:

• Cold Weather

• Rainy Days

• Cloudy Days

• Finding Spring and Fall Color

• Choosing Between Sunrise and Sunset

Ready for the best day ever?

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. Sometimes we wear hiking boots, sometimes we wear dress shoes, and sometimes we’re barefoot in the surf.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources