Your 2022 - 2023 Asheville Elopement Guide - Elopement Locations, Packages, Officiants and More!
Welcome to your 2022 - 2023 Asheville Elopement Guide!
I’m so glad you’re here, get ready for lots of helpful information! In this article, you’ll find everything to do with Asheville Elopement Locations, Elopement Packages, Elopement Photographers, Elopement Videographers, Elopement Officiants, and even some Elopement Tips and Tricks, all pertaining to eloping in Asheville, NC. If you’ve been asking yourself questions like “How do you elope in the Blue Ridge Mountains” or “How do you even start planning an elopement?” then you’ve come to the right spot. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s jump right in!
Before we get too much farther, I do want to talk a little bit about the meaning (in my eyes) behind eloping vs having a traditional wedding. The biggest reason is really authenticity - having a day that represents you as a couple and your priorities. There are no wrong answers when planning your elopement - do your vows privately, adventure in nature, have a big ceremony with friends and family and then a potluck together with your favorite home-cooked meals. This is just one example of how to make your day authentic. If you’re not feeling actual excitement to do something you’re planning for your elopement day, then you need to think “is this something I actually care about doing?” or “how can I make ____ more unique and representative of us?” You’re really just planning the perfect day, or days, or week, and you just so happen to be getting married too, and celebrating your love and the joining of two people, or two families, or two cultures. Include who you want: those that aren’t a part of the day are still a part of your story, your life, and your love.
Now let’s begin!
Asheville NC Elopement Locations
When planning your elopement day, the best place to start is to decide on your Asheville elopement locations. Asheville, NC is surrounded by lots of incredible nature with the Blue Ridge Parkway running right through town, Pisgah National Forest to the East, and both Nantahala National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the West. If nature isn’t your thing, there are plenty of urban options, like the River Arts District, local Breweries, and some really unique spots like Fleetwood’s, The Biltmore Estate, and Castle Ladyhawke.
Eloping in Asheville can look like whatever you want, and should be as unique and authentic as your relationship is.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Many people ask me “Can you have a wedding on Blue Ridge Parkway?” to which I answer “Of course!” Running 469 miles, from Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park to Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a perfect choice for your Asheville elopement. An Asheville elopement mountain view awaits you, as you say your vows above the clouds, in front of a huge waterfall, or on a hiking trail surrounded by mother nature.
Pisgah National Forest
Can you get married in Pisgah National Forest? You absolutely can! Pisgah National Forest is Asheville’s closest National Forest. Home to countless trails, mountaintops, and waterfalls, some of my favorite North Carolina elopement locations are short drives from Asheville.
Nantahala National Forest
To the West, Nantahala National Forest, mainly known for Whiteside Mountain, Glen Falls, Dry Falls, and much more, is another great area to have your mountaintop elopement in NC.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Technically located in both North Carolina and Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is actually the most visited National Park in the United States, and for good reason! It’s gorgeous, accessible, and offers a great immersion into nature.
River Arts District
The River Arts District of Asheville (also known as RAD) is a unique and very Asheville location. With old industrial buildings, lots of graffiti art, and wall murals, there is no shortage of unique and colorful backgrounds. Also home to the RAD Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays if you want to incorporate that into your elopement day.
Brewery Elopements
Asheville has no shortage of breweries, with “17 breweries per every 50,000 people” according to the Citizen Times. Some of our favorites include Highland Brewing (and here’s an example gallery of that from us), Archetype Brewing, and Hi-Wire Brewing, but there are plenty more to pick from.
Fleetwood’s
If you’re looking for something truly unique, look no further than Fleetwood’s Chapel, which is like no chapel you’ve ever seen before. But, like most chapels, they do offer weddings and elopements! After, there are tons of amazing food options in West Asheville, so this is a perfect option for those looking for easy peasy and good dining.
The Biltmore Estate
Another totally different option is the gorgeous and one-of-a-kind Biltmore Estate. If you’re looking for fancy, high-end, timeless, and surrounded by nature, a Biltmore Elopement is for you. This certainly falls under the category of Asheville Luxury Elopements, which is a vibe I associate with The Foundry Hotel, the Grand Bohemian Hotel, and the Grove Park Inn as well. But, a Biltmore Elopement is like no other, and there are quite a few options of location on the estate property to choose from.
Castle Ladyhawke
If you’re looking for a castle in the mountain feel for your elopement, check out Castle Ladyhawke. The incredible staff, luxury feel, and gorgeous mountain views really make this a dream-come-true venue space. And if you’re looking for a castle more north-east of Asheville, Smithmore Castle is a great alternative.
The 1900 Inn on Montford
If you’re looking for an elopement Asheville, NC bed and breakfast, look no further than The 1900 Inn on Montford. Willy and Shawnie are the most incredible innkeepers, and they aim for simple, casual, and no-stress elopements at the inn. If you’re there on a Saturday as well, they have live music and wine (lots of wine) on the porch too.
Asheville Elopement Packages
For the couple that wants something easy and predictable with guaranteed success, an Asheville elopement package might be the most attractive route. With an Asheville elopement photographer, officiant, and any add-ons they want (flowers, picnics, private chefs, excursions, accommodations, etc.), you can show up on your wedding day knowing everything is ready and perfect.
I offer a special elopement package through Nick Levine Photography that ensures an authentic experience. An Asheville, NC Elopement with me starts with a conversation about your goals for the day - ideal location, what experiences you want to have, and who you’re inviting all help to determine what your elopement day will look like. From there, we talk about any other vendors that need to be hired from videographers and officiants to food services (restaurants, catering, private chefs, picnics, cake, etc.), transportation, accommodations, and excursions (hot air balloon rides, pottery making, comedy tour, wine tasting, canoeing, yoga, tubing, skiing, axe throwing — the list is endless!).
If you’re stuck trying to think of some things to do in Asheville, check out this blog post for a few ideas. When planning your elopement day, I love returning to the question “What does the perfect day look like?”
After all of that has been figured out, we plan how photography fits into the day. See it not as an “all-day photoshoot” and more as documenting your elopement day from start to finish so you can relive it for years to come. Nothing different should happen just because I’m present and with a camera. It’s like you’re going through the day with a good friend by your side, who is taking some photos to capture the day.
Looking back at your elopement photos, you will realize that hiring a photographer for the whole day was the best decision you made.
One more note: Keep in mind that North Carolina Elopement Packages can be anywhere in the state, not just Asheville. Wilmington, NC has some wonderful beaches and nature for your elopement. If you want to have an elopement Raleigh, NC, then the city will be your main backdrop with lots of urban architecture and great food. A Charlotte Elopement will give you the best of both worlds with options for a city background or surrounding lakes and forests.
Let’s start planning your perfect elopement today! Send me a message and let the fun begin.
Asheville Elopement Photographers
While there are plenty of Asheville Elopement Photographers to pick from, here a few of my personal favorites of the best photographers in Asheville North Carolina for elopements:
Nick Levine Photography - Nick (me)
Asheville Elopement Videographers
Same with elopement photographers, there are quite a few Asheville Elopement Videographers to choose from, so here’s another short list to save you time and energy. All of these folks I have personally worked with and would trust 100% to document your elopement:
Peak of the Mountain Productions - Joey + Betsabe
Asheville Elopement Officiant
In the state of North Carolina, there are some very specific rules when it comes to who officiates your elopement and how to make it 100% legal. There are two avenues here: Get legally married at the courthouse back home, or hire a professional in Asheville. If you’re voting for the latter, here’s a list of my favorite Asheville Elopement Officiants:
Elopement Tips, Tricks, and Permits
You hire professionals for their experience, and with that experience comes some tips and tricks learned along the way. So here are just a few from the years I’ve spent as an Elopement Photographer:
Permits are crucial! Your elopement photographer or elopement planner should be knowledgeable about permits needed to have weddings in certain places. If they’re not, you need to hire someone who is. And if they are, they should communicate such with you (“We don’t need a permit here” or “We do need a permit here”). To make things a little easier for everyone, here are a few places for information about wedding permits in some of the more popular places to elope
The Blue Ridge Parkway Permits: How do you elope on the Blue Ridge Parkway? First you get permits. The NPS requires at least 30-day notice for all wedding/elopement/vow exchange permit applications. $100 total per permit, non-refundable, only groups of 25 or less. No permits are given on any federal holiday, federal holiday weekend, or during the entire month of October (that last one is a big one - aim for early November for a fall elopement, or pick a spot that doesn’t require a permit). Some popular hiking spots where permits are not given are Rough Ridge, Beacon Heights, Linville Falls, Crabtree Falls, Craggy Gardens Pinnacle Trail, Graveyard Fields, Devil’s Courthouse, and Waterrock Knob. Chestoa View only allows 12 people total. A few spots outside the boundary of the NPS, on the Parkway, that do not require a permit are as follows:
Wiseman’s View (Contact US Forest Service Pisgah National Forest)
Black Balsam Knob (Contact US Forest Service Pisgah National Forest)
Sam’s Knob (Contact US Forest Service Pisgah National Forest)
Grandfather Mountain (Contact Grandfather Mountain State Park)
Mount Mitchell (Contact Mount Mitchell State Park)
Jump Off Rock (Contact the Town of Laurel Park NC)
Lastly, live or dried natural plant/flower material is prohibited (this includes cut flowers for bouquets) as well as candles, arbors/arches, amplified instruments (non-amplified is fair game) and alcoholic beverages.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park Permits: Commercial Use Authorizations (CUA), as well as a separate Wedding Permit (2 permits total), are required. CUA document, as well as proof of liability (up to $500,000) and vehicle insurance, is required. $250 application fee. Pre-permitted locations include Cades Cove wildlife overlook and LeQuire Cemetary overlook, Cataloochee Overlook, Cataract Falls, Clingmans Dome parking area (not the trail or tower), and Newfound Gap parking area (and the “immediate vicinity”). Full list can be found on page 11 of the CUA. If you want to get married somewhere else, the parks needs to review and approve (or deny) your request. The Wedding Permit must be received by the park no less than 14 days prior to the start of the event and costs $50. The Park actually has a wonderful Map of Great Smoky Mountain Wedding Locations, as well as a video by the park to walk you through things. There are restrictions for all designated locations within the park too, which can be found at this link. Flowers can be brought in as long as they are brought out as well. Each wedding can only be 90 minutes (presumably time for a ceremony and photos afterward). No birdseed, bubbles, balloons, butterflies, sparklers, etc. can be used. The Appalachian Clubhouse and Spence Cabin can be rented (and food can be brought in) for groups larger than 20 that are looking for an indoor space. The picnic pavilions can also serve this purpose and can be rented ahead of time as well.
Elopement Dresses: Some of my favorite options for great dresses that are quality, affordable, and are perfect for getting a little bit muddy in are Lulus, Azazie, and ASOS. Also consider the option of a cheaper dress off Amazon or even Facebook Marketplace, and having it tailored.