Brook & Eric's May Hocking Hills Elopement
When your career takes you all over the country, finding love requires a bit of fate. For Eric and Brook, that moment happened on a job site in Las Vegas. Eric, a former Detroit cop turned new product security specialist for Ford Motor Company, crossed paths with Brook, a director at a market research company. Sparks flew immediately, but with their intense travel schedules, a long-distance relationship seemed inevitable.
Then, serendipity stepped in: they discovered they lived just an hour apart.
They Chose Quiet, Epic Beauty
Dating led to a proposal, and when it came time to plan their wedding, they knew they wanted something a world away from job sites and airport terminals. They chose the quiet, epic beauty of the Hocking Hills for an intimate nature elopement.
The Power of Professional Flexibility
Planning an elopement while constantly traveling for work isn't easy. Eric and Brook were often out of communication for stretches of time. In fact, our usual one-month-out check-in call didn't happen until just a week before the wedding due to their schedules.
But that single phone call changed everything. As we talked through the timeline, we realized a morning ceremony just didn't fit their vibe—an evening elopement felt much more like them.
This is exactly why hiring a team of experienced, local professionals matters. We shifted gears instantly. They contacted the Hocking Hills State Park office and moved their permit time without a hitch. Their officiant, the wonderful Amy F. Aurore (whom I was thrilled to recommend), was equally flexible, adjusting her schedule to accommodate the new evening timeline. When you work with people who know what they are doing, pivots are seamless.
Meeting a Follower at Ash Cave
We met in the Ash Cave parking lot just as the evening began to settle in. The daytime crowds had vanished, replaced by the quiet, moody energy of fading twilight.
As we paused at the crosswalk leading from the parking lot to the trail, waiting for a few cars to pass, I noticed the park wasn't entirely empty—the evening content creators were out. A woman carrying a backpack and a tripod stepped up right next to me.
I said a quick hello, and she looked at me and asked, "Are you the photographer Elizabeth Nihiser?"
When I told her yes, she smiled and introduced herself as Stacy from Scenic Media Co.
I laughed and said, "Oh, I think you follow me!"
A Ominous Warning (And Flashbacks to Cedar Falls)
As we officially hit the trail, a group of about ten younger creatives loaded down with video gear exited the gorge. They politely complimented the couple's wedding attire and wished us luck, adding a slightly ominous warning: "There's a guy in the cave blasting a sound system."
Oh, jeez, I thought. My mind instantly flashed back to a session last year at Cedar Falls when a large group of semi-nude Bohemians with spirit sticks and a booming speaker completely hijacked a waterfall portrait session.
Bad Vibes at the Waterfall
We only made it a few hundred feet on the trail before the blaring noise hit us. I will never understand people who blast music in nature. It is 100% selfish noise pollution. People visit these parks to immerse themselves in the natural environment, and twilight at Ash Cave has its own unique, peaceful sounds that were completely drowned out by the racket.
Rounding the corner, the cave opened up, revealing a man who had essentially moved into the space beneath the waterfall. He had camp chairs, drums, a wagon, an inflatable mattress, and his sound system. He also had a super sweet dog wandering around, unleashed, wearing a "service dog in training" vest.
As a reminder for anyone planning a park wedding, a special access permit enables a temporary change in the flow of visitor traffic. However, it’s still a shared space. Even with a permit, you aren't allowed to bring in obstructing gear such as chairs, unleashed dogs, or sound systems.
I told my couple that I would handle the situation. Eric looked at me and asked, "Do you want backup? I'm a former cop; this is in my skill set."
Since confrontation is definitely not in my skill set, I gladly accepted.
Eric went to speak with him. The man didn't respond immediately, and while he did eventually begin packing up his sprawling camp, he did so incredibly slowly. Once moved, he chose to stand on the hill overlooking the waterfall, lingering and glaring down at us.
(As a wild post-script to this story: when I got home and recounted the entire ordeal to my husband, he immediately went into internet-sleuth mode. He managed to track the guy down online! With his identity confirmed, I was able to file a formal complaint with ODNR law enforcement regarding his behavior.)
Back in the cave, the energy was entirely ruined. I could see the physical tension in Eric’s shoulders. His neck had some raised veins, and he was flushed.
I looked at them and said, "You don't do this every day, so you don't know what it's supposed to feel like. But I do do this every day, and I can tell you that the vibes are off. This isn't magical. This is your wedding day, and it should be magical. Let's move locations."
Stepping Out of the Shadow and Into the Glow
Despite being way behind schedule, everyone unhesitatingly agreed to pivot to Upper Falls. The moment we hit the trail, the tension melted away, their eyes sparkled, and both Eric and Brook immediately agreed how much better it felt as they stepped out of the shadow of Ash Cave and into the light of their wedding day. We ended up having Upper Falls completely to ourselves for an incredibly sweet ceremony beautifully tailored by Amy. As the last bits of daylight slipped into twilight, Brook, Eric, and I explored the deep blues and greens of the fading gorge light. After we walked up the stairs to the visitor's center, I asked if they wanted me to walk them to their car. They said, "No, thanks. We're going to sit here and bask in the glow for a while."
