Asheville Engagement Photographer | The North Carolina Arboretum Engagement

I love when couples choose The North Carolina Arboretum for their engagement session location. The huge, well-maintained arboretum has so many opportunities for great photos, complete with minimally-touched nature trails the follow the crystal-clear river in addition to immaculate, vibrant gardens. The hiking trails are lined by a gorgeous forest of trees, and it’s easy to find open fields blooming with wildflowers. With a variety of natural backdrops, this has always been one of my favorite places to shoot. Plus, dogs are allowed, which is a necessity for many couples. Can’t leave your best pup companion behind on such a momentous occasion!

about this sweet couple

And Jessie and Evan did just that – they brought along their adorable, brand-new Boston terrier to the shoot! I love incorporating pups into the session, and she was so well-behaved! She definitely earned her treats. How cute are her ears?! – I love how one flops over while the other sticks straight up, ha!

Jessie and Evan are the sweetest couple! She is in graduate school at WCU right now, and my Evan lives in Winston-Salem. They are moving to and getting married in Greensboro later this year, but they wanted to have engagement photos in Jessie’s hometown of Asheville.

They coordinated their outfits so well for this outdoorsy shoot, and I absolutely love Jessie’s dress. She told me she got it at Altar’d State in Biltmore Park. So pretty! The bright colors of their wardrobe looked great against all of the natural greens and browns of the arboretum, really making the couple the focal point of every photo. I think we got a pretty good variety of photos with every from more formal portraits among the manicured gardens and some relaxed, light and airy images along the trails.

Congratulations on your engagement, Jessie and Evan. I know your wedding day will be all that you’ve imagined and more! Here’s to many fun adventures together!