When my husband and I eloped in the mountains of our home state of North Carolina, we knew we wanted to kick off our adventure together with, well, an actual adventure. So we packed up the car, grabbed some snacks, and headed into Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a mission: to see elk. Real, live, giant, majestic elk.

We’d heard there was a herd that liked to hang out in a certain area, and we were determined to find them. What we didn’t expect was to be completely awestruck. There they were — a group of females grazing on one side, a few bulls lounging in the shade, and then a couple casually sauntering across the road right in front of our car (honestly, I held my breath hoping they wouldn't scratch the paint). And then came the sound: those low, echoing calls. Haunting, beautiful, unforgettable. I was obsessed.

I knew I wanted something to remember that moment… but here’s the kicker: I couldn’t find anything. No stickers, no prints, no cute mugs, no t-shirts. Not even a sad little elk-shaped silhouette. Nada.

That’s when the light bulb went off.