An Arkansas couple married atop one of the most scenic spots in the state at the end of July, but saying their vows wasn’t enough. They took things to the next level with some of the most extreme wedding photos we may ever see.
Ryan and Skye Myers from Mountain Home, Arkansas, a Ozark mountain town in the north-central part of the state, decided to celebrate their special day by saying “I do” atop Whitaker Point, also called Hawksbill Crag due to its unique “hawks bill” shape. The iconic lookout is located at the end of a trail near Pettigrew, Arkansas and was featured in Disney’s “Tuck Everlasting” and has been named one of the best places in the state to get kissed. With a photographer, a preacher and a few friends in tow, the couple hiked the nearly one-and-a-half-mile trail, but they had plans for more than just getting hitched.
With the help of a small crew familiar with the area and with rappelling gear, Skye was strapped in to a harness and bravely backed out onto the edge of the nearly 200-foot-tall bluff that overlooks the Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area of the Ozark Mountain National Forest. Her new groom stands a few feet away, looking as if he is reaching to catch her. Thanks to some fancy photo editing, the bride’s rappelling gear was edited out of the photos, resulting in a series of jaw-dropping (and breath-catching) shots.
Photographer Mason Gardner had the honor of capturing the stunning photos and told local media that he shoots photos at Whitaker Point often, but this was a first.
“We discussed if it would be possible for the bride to rappel in her dress and if we could create something magical for the newlyweds,” Gardner told THV11.
With the help of Chris Royer, an avid climber who coordinated the rappel, Gardner and the newlyweds were able to capture extreme wedding photos that are sure to have many brides and grooms upping their own wedding day photo game.
“I would love to do it again,” Gardner said of the shoot that took about three hours to complete. “I hope this shoot gets enough attention where other couples in the future would want to try something similar, even if it’s not as extreme.”
Check out all of the photos from Ryan and Skye’s wedding shoot here. And check out more of Mason Gardner’s work here.