Mark Maya Films + Photography Helped This Couple Dream Up Their Perfect Mountain Microwedding in Asheville
Amelia Schuch and Sean O’Reilly’s wedding was a relaxed, hot dog and hamburger on the grill kind of event.
The two are among the many modern couples embracing small-scale events. This trend grew from necessity during COVID-19 and now continues to remain a popular style of gathering for various reasons. For this particular pair, the decision to slice their guest list came down to their shared perspective on marriage.
“Personally, we felt that getting married shouldn’t be about anyone else but the two people exchanging vows,” Amelia says. “Why waste such an important day worrying about seating arrangements, random guests’ picky requests or spending your whole night making small talk instead of spending it with the person you just married?”
Deciding what you want to get out of your wedding is arguably the most critical step of the planning process, and for this couple, photographer and videographer Mark Maya made that simple. He was the first vendor Amelia and Sean booked after getting engaged.
Durham-based Photographer and Videographer Mark Maya’s One-of-a-Kind Style
“When we saw his work, we knew he was the one we wanted to capture our special day,” Amelia says. “His work speaks for itself. It is so unique from every other photographer. He stays away from awkward cookie-cutter poses and [on our day] made us feel so comfortable and relaxed, even while trying out new and different ideas.”
After booking Mark, other pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Mark offered Amelia and Sean insight based on his wealth of experience photographing intimate elopements and destination events. “He helped us decide on a date and general location,” Amelia says. Keeping the wedding small meant that the pair could plan without added stress and make intentional decisions without feeling rushed.
When your guest list only includes parents and siblings, it’s essential that your vendors are the right fit. Unlike larger weddings, where the hustle and bustle can overshadow the subtle moments, every interaction and service vendors provide is magnified throughout a small gathering.
“[Mark] is so easy to get along with and fit right in to our intimate group,” Amelia says. Mark was attentive to Sean and Amelia’s wishes and customized their photo gallery and video accordingly. “Everyone who has watched our video has cried,” Amelia says. “It’s beyond beautiful. The drone Mark uses adds such a unique perspective. We’re able to watch it and relive the best day of our lives over and over again. I can’t thank him enough.”
Sean and Amelia hosted their nuptials at an Asheville Airbnb. “It felt like every part of our wedding was personal because it was so unique,” Amelia says. “I was able to take my time making decisions and choosing exactly what I wanted.”
The couple incorporated references to their love story and customized details in every aspect of the day, from Amelia’s custom leather jacket to their vegan hummingbird cake from Short Street Cakes.
Sean’s father, Bill O’Reilly, officiated the ceremony and personalized his script for the couple.
“Eloping with your closest people – in our case, parents and siblings only – really allows you to focus on the main goal – committing yourself to the love of your life and integrating your core family,” Amelia says. The couple later hosted a party to celebrate with friends in their hometown of Chicago.
