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An Intimate Mountaintop Wedding in Cashiers, NC

Nashvillians Dara Russell and Mike Bussard planned an intimate mountaintop wedding in Cashiers, North Carolina. Join us back on The Chattooga Club lawns to see the day's fabulous florals, delicious cuisine, and thoughtful touches.

Β· By Zoe Yarborough
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A mature couple, the bride in a white dress and the groom in a suit, hold hands at their wedding ceremony in Cashiers, flanked by floral arrangements with a scenic mountain backdrop.Pin
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Date: July 31, 2023. Guests: fewer than 50. Elevation: 3,484 feet. Dara Russell and Mike Bussard had an intimate summer ceremony on the highest plateau in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We’re thrilled to revisit this dreamy mountaintop wedding in Cashiers, North Carolina.

Bride and groom embracing outdoors, flanked by two large floral arrangements, with a mountainous backdrop.Pin
Dara and Mike planned a tasteful and touching wedding in the North Carolina mountains. Image: Terri Clark

β€œMike and I were introduced by mutual friends in June of 2021,” Dara says. β€œOur first trip together was later that fall to the beautiful mountains of Cashiers, North Carolina, where we explored all the natural wonder of the area.”

Fast forward to a little more than a year later, and Mike was down on one knee proposing to Dara with the magnificent North Carolina mountains as the backdrop. When it came time to select a wedding venue, it was an easy decision. β€œWe knew we had to get married in the place that had become so special to us,” Dana says.

Elegant wedding table setting with a tall vase centerpiece filled with blue and white flowers, surrounded by fine dining ware and glasses.Pin
Blue, green, and white florals and details popped against the venue’s rustic wood. Image: Terri Clark

Jessica Clark of Ink Nashville designed the most spectacular rehearsal dinner and wedding invitations, which provided a first glimpse of Dara’s overall design. The Chattooga Club offered the perfect setting, with its lush green croquet court set against the majestic mountains.

A joyful bride and groom smiling at each other, standing in a garden surrounded by lush flowers, the bride holding a bouquet.Pin
Mike is originally from Tarkio, Missouri (though he’s lived in Nashville for over 25 years), and Dara is a native Nashvillian. Image: Terri Clark

β€œWe had both the ceremony and reception here,” Dara says. They also planned a welcome cocktail party to kick off the weekend festivities. β€œIt was supposed to be a lovely poolside evening event at The Chattooga Club. The funny thing is that the pool had a serious leak β€” which no one knew about until the day of our event when the staff showed up to find it completely drained,” Dara says with a laugh. β€œWe still had our poolside cocktail party with an empty pool.”

A family dressed in formal attire posing for a photo at a wedding in Cashiers, with three women in pale blue dresses and a man and woman in suits, standing in front of a cabin.Pin
Celebrating their love with their four grown children was a blessing that Dara and Mike will cherish forever. Image: Terri Clark

Despite Sunday’s slight snafu, Monday β€” the day of the wedding β€” flowed beautifully. Inspired by Western North Carolina’s lush landscapes, Meghan Lock worked her floral magic with light blue, white, and green hydrangeas, white and green roses, white lisianthus, and native greenery.

Elegant wedding reception in a rustic barn, with guests seated at tables adorned with large floral centerpieces and chandeliers overhead.Pin
The Chattooga Club set the most elegant mountain stage for the oversized floral centerpieces and striking mantel arrangement. Image: Terri Clark
A bride and her bridesmaids smiling and preparing in a warmly lit room with elegant decor before a wedding ceremony in Cashiers.Pin
The peaceful color scheme shone through in these light blue Jenny Yoo bridesmaid dresses. Image: Terri Clark
A bride and groom holding hands and smiling at each other in a garden in Cashiers, with the bride in a white gown and veil and the groom in a navy suit.Pin
β€œI opted for a simple off-the-shoulder Romona Keveza gown from The Bride Room in Nashville,” Dara says. We love the metallic waistline stripe and dramatic back buttons. Image: Terri Clark

β€œThis was a second wedding for us, so we opted to keep it small β€” fewer than 50 total β€” with just family and a few close friends,” Dara says. β€œThe highlight of the ceremony was having our four adult children stand up for us.”

A wedding ceremony in Cashiers outdoors with a couple at the altar, guests seated, and a mountain backdrop.Pin
Going the micro wedding route allowed Dara and Mike to focus on what truly mattered: a stunning setting, meaningful music, and a dinner-party-style meal with their best friends and family. Image: Terri Clark

While Dara and Mike did exchange fairly traditional vows, they opted to skip some of the β€œextras” of most wedding days, like the first look, the first dance, and even the traditional wedding cake.

Woman in a blue dress, playing guitar and singingPin
It’s always a special touch when a guest graces the party with musical talent β€” especially when she’s a Nashville recording artist! Family friend Amy Stroup opened the ceremony. Image: Terri Clark

Longtime family friend and Nashville singer/songwriter Amy Stroup opened the ceremony with a heartfelt rendition of her original song β€œHold on to Hope Love” accompanied by strings. Dara and Mike exchanged β€œI do”s, surrounded by their dearest friends and the perfect mountain scenery.

A bride and groom walk hand in hand down the aisle, smiling broadly, with guests standing and watching in an outdoor setting.Pin
Time to eat, drink, and continue the merriment. Image: Terri Clark
A person serves canapΓ©s topped with caviar and cream on a wooden tray at a wedding in Cashiers.Pin
A lovely cocktail hour kicked off the reception with passed smoked trout canapΓ©s and wild mushroom goat cheese tartlets. Image: Terri Clark

Cashiers is consistently lauded as a remarkable rural dining destination, and this wedding meal was no different. Guests were wowed by a three-course seated dinner by Chef Jason Whitaker. β€œHe completely outdid himself,” Dara says.

Elegant table setting with blue wedding menu cards, glassware, silver cutlery, and woven chargers on a light blue tablecloth.Pin
We’re smitten with the paper designs by Ink Nashville. Image: Terri Clark

β€œWe had purΓ©ed asparagus bisque to start, followed by sautΓ©ed North Carolina mountain trout with a succotash of local lady peas and sweet white corn with a dark cove goat cheese finish,” Dara says. β€œAnd the final course was a slow-braised beef short rib with whipped golden potatoes and jumbo-grilled asparagus and tomato confit.”

Guests at a wedding reception in Cashiers seated at a table decorated with blue flowers, smiling and engaging in conversation.Pin
From the furniture to the tablescape, every detail aligned with the delicate blue-green aesthetic. Image: Terri Clark
A plated dish featuring a fish fillet on a bed of mixed vegetables, topped with crispy fried onion rings, served on a white plate.Pin
This local trout with fresh succotash showed off some delicious seasonal flavors and plating wizardry. Image: Terri Clark
A variety of desserts on a white plate including a biscuit, a pudding in a glass, a tart, and two chocolate bars.Pin
Guests got their sweet fix on assorted dessert plates of peach shortbread, banana pudding verrines, peanut butter brownies, and key lime tarts. Image: Terri Clark

At the end of the night, Dara and Mike chose to dance and mingle with guests for as long as possible, foregoing the traditional departure. They plan on honeymooning in Italy this fall.

Thank you for bringing us back to your beautiful wedding day, Dara!

RESOURCES

Venue: The Chattooga Club
Florist: Meghan Lock
Photographer: Terri Clark
Rentals: Professional Party Rentals
Music: Carolina Music Planner and Preston Prince
Makeup: Pop of Color
Officiant: Love and Wisdom
Invitations: Ink Nashville
Calligraphy: Kristen Carpenter
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Bella Bridesmaids
Wedding dress: The Bride Room

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For more dreamy wedding inspo, head to our wedding archivesΒ HERE!

Zoe Yarborough

Zoe Yarborough

Zoe is a StyleBlueprint staff writer, Charlotte native, Washington & Lee graduate, and Nashville transplant of eleven years. She teaches Pilates, helps manage recording artists, and likes to "research" Germantown's food scene.

See all articles by Zoe Yarborough
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