Engagement Session at Bear’s Den Overlook | J + D

When D wrote me wanting an engagement session at Bear’s Den Overlook in Bluemont, Virginia, I was game, but I was also nervous because I knew that I would never be able to get out there to scope out the location. Luckily, the DC photography world is amazingly nice, and a colleague had just done an engagement session at Bear’s Den Overlook the week before and shared tips with me so I can pass them along to D and J! And here it is about two months since our session and just FOUR MONTHS till their wedding day, and I’m finally getting their session blogged!

It rained the week before the session, so we lost most of the leaves, but the view on top of this hill was still breath-taking! It’s right off the Appalachian Trail, and since I wasn’t sure where I was going, I begged my husband to come along, and we hired a baby sitter. We headed out early, checked out the site to make sure I knew where to park and how to get there, grabbed a quick lunch of pizza and beer near the overlook, and went on our hiking adventure for a few hours while we waited for J+D. Fun fact we learned: double blazes on the Appalachian trail mean the trails reverse. It would have been good to know at the start of our hike.

We made it back to the crest in plenty of time to meet J and D. It was surprisingly crowded, but people were nice enough to let them have some space for photos, and I can now add rock climbing while taking photos to my list of skills!

This location was perfect for the couple who loves to travel but couldn’t because of the pandemic! J + D are both engineers. In my getting to know you survey, D wrote, “I talk a lot; he listens a lot. He hates being the center of attention…it isn’t my favorite but I like it more than him.” I warned them that they will both have to deal with being the center of attention on their wedding day!

D and J met in grad school at Virginia Tech, and their first date was a hike, so an engagement session at Bear’s Den Overlook really could not have been more perfect. I loved learning about all of the places they have traveled to— Iceland, Colorado, California (national parks), Peru (Inca Trail!!) and they have Ireland, New Zealand, and Antarctica on the books…if we ever get back to normal travel! I cannot wait for their May wedding four months from TODAY!

I still have openings for just TWO more weddings if they are at the right time! If you are interested in learning more about my wedding packages, e-mail me at teresa@tcjdesign.com or check out my wedding page! I would love to have you join J and D as a TCJ Design couple!