Innovation Brewing 

Welcome drinks!

The Parker Mill

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Reception

Our Wedding

It all started on November 16, 2017. The Banque, a western bar in Norfolk, VA had a deal on Thursday nights where Military &amp; ladies got in for free. Laura &amp; Andrew both decided to go &amp; met through a couple of mutual friends. After hours of talking non-stop, Andrew built up the courage to ask for Laura’s number. The two started talking &amp; getting to know each other &amp; went on their first date on December 16, 2017 which was an afternoon hike at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, VA, &amp; dinner &amp; dessert back in Norfolk, VA. A month later, on January 16, 2018, Andrew asked Laura to be his girlfriend &amp; Laura said yes despite him going on a seven month deployment at the end of January. When you know, you know! Over the past 7 years, the two have gone through multiple deployments together &amp; months apart while Andrew was training at the range; 5 moves; a college graduation; multiple road-trips across the east coast; tons of concerts; getting 2 kittens &amp; 2 puppies, Andrew transitioning out of the Navy, a rigorous fire academy; COVID; Hurricane Helene; a scary car accident; buying a new house together; &amp; a lot of laughs in between. Andrew is now a Firefighter for the City of Asheville &amp; Laura works from home as a Financial Planning Assistant. We are so happy &amp; grateful to celebrate with y’all!

Where it all started

We woke up at 5am in West Glacier National Park to drive over to East Glacier to start our 14 mile hike around Grinnel Glacier Trail. We drove the infamous Going-to-the-sun road during sunrise &amp; it was gorgeous. We started our hike &amp; eventually made it to the Glacier at the top where it was freezing! Laura was exhausted from hiking the initial 7 miles &amp; wanted to sit down to eat her sandwich. Little did Laura know, Andrew was scoping out people to take our photos at the top of the mountain that included a proposal. Laura wanted to sit for a moment to take in the view, but Andrew urged her to get up to take some photos at the top of the mountain. After a few shots, Andrew got down on one knee &amp; asked Laura to marry him-to which she said yes! It was a complete surprise for Laura which made it all the better.

The Proposal

Our Story

Photos

Stella

Jackson

Ryan Alcott

Henry Averett

Walter Averett

Andy Habel

Dylan Husted

Colin McNeil

Amanda Averett

Lauren Fitzgerald

Grace Heide

Alyssa Jacobsen 

Morgan Smith

Liv Stamey

Wedding Party

FAQs

The Lodge at Smoky Cove

Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort

Comfort Inn Sylva - Cullowhee

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sylva - Western Carolina Area, an IHG Hotel

Best Western Plus River Escape Inn & Suites

There are plenty of Airbnbs in the area as well. Please let Laura or Andrew know if you have any questions with booking an Airbnb!

Plenty Of Airbnbs!

Specially negotiated group hotel rates for our Wedding are below.

Travel

There is plenty of hiking in Western NC. Check out some trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway or in Smoky Mountain National Park.A few trails: Oconaluftee River Trail, Waterrock Knob, &amp;&nbsp;The Pinnacle&nbsp;Overlooks:&nbsp;Newfound Gap, Thunderstruck Ridge

Lots of hiking!

There are a lot of nearby rivers &amp; lakes to go fishing, boating, battle boarding, or tubing. Quite a few falls are nearby as well to hike to.Falls: Mingo Falls, Soco Falls, &amp; Dry FallsRivers: Tuckaseegee RiverLakes: Fontana Lake, Lake Junalaska

Water activities

The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian Reservation is close by and offers plenty of activities for the entire family. Choose from the various dining options, shows and other entertainment at the Casino, gem mining, browsing the local craft shops, and the frequent Elk sightings!

Indian Reservation

Visit the neighboring towns of Dillsboro, Sylva, Waynesville, Cherokee, and Bryson City for a stroll down Main Street - each lined with quaint shops and boutiques, local breweries, and delectable eateries. Check out their websites beforehand for any scheduled events and festivals! Also, the Harrah's Cherokee Hotel &amp; Casino Resort is nearby for some active nightlife. Located within an hour from Asheville and Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, you can easily retreat to these popular tourist destinations for spectacular restaurants and even more entertainment suitable for everyone! Larger cities such as Charlotte, Greenville, Atlanta, and Knoxville are also accessible within a 2-3 hour drive.

Laura & Andrew

Laura & Andrew

L&A

Welcome drinks!

Wedding Day

4:30 PM–5:00 PM

Ceremony

5:00 PM–6:00 PM

Cocktail Hour

6:00 PM–11:00 PM

Reception