Adventurous 2-Day Mountain Elopement in Asheville, NC
Nina and Josh celebrated their love with not one, but two days of festivities around the Asheville area—and my goodness was it an incredible weekend filled with so much love, laughter, and intention. From the golden hour sunset photos we captured in the mountains to their intimate Airbnb ceremony the next day, these two created an elopement that just screamed them. That’s truly all I can ask for as an Asheville elopement and wedding photographer; people like these two make my job barely feel like work at all. Enjoy scrolling through their adventurous, 2-day mountain elopement in Asheville!
Nina & Josh’s Mountain Elopement in Asheville, NC
An unforgettable 2-day celebration
This was originally supposed to be a 1-day wedding, but I am so glad that Nina and Josh chose to spread it out over 2, instead. Nina was envisioning an evening out in the mountains, taking epic portraits of her and Josh, but didn’t want to rush the day itself, and really wanted to be able to have a slow, laid-back wedding day. So we ended up working together to create a 2-day Asheville elopement timeline that fit their vision better, and it was without a doubt the right decision!
I’m a big proponent of planning a timeline that allows you to not just go through the motions, but to really slow down, be present, and be able to take in every moment as it comes. Your elopement should not revolve around following a schedule in order to please your guests, or to “make sure you don’t fall behind schedule;” it should revolve around you two and what you want to do. Whether you do want to stick to the schedule or you want to throw it out the window and choose a totally different hike, location, restaurant, etc. on the day of, having the freedom and flexibility to do so will make sure your day flows exactly how you want it to! I can’t recommend having a multi-day elopement enough, if it fits within your budget and aligns with your vision; your celebration deserves to not be rushed!
Dreamy sunset wedding portraits in the mountains
I met up with Nina, Josh, and their dog the night before their “official” elopement day for a sunset portrait session, in the mountains around Asheville. They adore mountain views and wanted to make sure that the mountains played a big part in their day—and let me tell you, the mountains showed UP and showed off for these two. The way the early autumn golden light hit the North Carolina mountains was an absolute dream, and we truly got the dreamiest evening we could’ve asked for. Seeing Nina and Josh stroll through the hills as the setting sun rays flooded the skies and sparkled over the tall grasses was pure magic; my heart couldn’t handle it.
As the sun started to set for the evening, Nina and Josh had a sweet first look together, seeing each other in their elopement attire for the first time. The emotions were flowing as the two took each other in, and eventually turned around to look out at the mountain views around them; the grass blowing gently in the breeze, and a few gray clouds rolling through the skies. Nina looked absolutely breathtaking in her strapless, form-fitting gown, with delicate lace detailing covering the entire dress and a pair of loose, off-the-shoulder sleeves delivering a bit of a free-spirited, boho vibe. Josh matched the champagne undertones of Nina’s dress with his light beige suit, and the two together looked like a pair of models taken straight out of a bohemian wedding magazine feature—especially with the simple bouquet of grasses & tiny blossoms that Nina carried around with her. What a pair of stunners!
We were gifted with every type of lighting imaginable during our time in the mountains, starting with soft overcast skies, with clouds that parted just in time for golden hour. The way these two glowed in front of the setting sun was a dream come true, and then they snuggled up close to keep warm as both the air & sky cooled for a romantic blue hour in the mountains. This really was the most incredible way to start off their elopement weekend!
An intimate Asheville Airbnb wedding
The next day, Nina and Josh got married at an Airbnb just outside of Asheville, with just their immediate family and dog in attendance. Intimate ceremonies like this have such a special place in my heart, as it’s so special to see couples celebrate with only the people closest to them; the people who they know wholeheartedly are there to support them, love them, and cherish them. Their officiant performed the ceremony in English, and Josh’s sister did a part of the ceremony in Spanish for his family, since they mostly speak Spanish—I loved this added touch, and the way Nina and Josh made sure everyone felt included in their big moment! This was just one of the many tender, intimate moments present throughout the whole weekend, where the love in the air was just palpable, and so incredibly easy to capture
After the ceremony, Nina and Josh popped a few bottles of champagne with their family before sharing a delicious cake, and dancing in the living room to Latin music. This was such a fun way to celebrate with their loved ones who had traveled to be by their side—and who says you can’t dance at your elopement if you don’t have a full dance floor?! This is your day to do what you want, so hey, have that first dance in the living room of your Airbnb, or at the mountain top you just hiked up to. There are no rules here!
A delicious wedding dinner in downtown Asheville
Finally, we ended the day by heading into downtown Asheville to take a few photos & eat dinner at Cúrate, an incredible Cuban tapas restaurant. Josh’s family is Cuban, so this was very special to them, and everyone got to enjoy the yummiest dishes after a long (but amazing) day! It was such a joy getting to spend this time with Nina, Josh, and their families, and to document the immense amount of love that was so, so present throughout the entire weekend. Cheers to the newlyweds!
Asheville Elopement & Wedding Photographer
As an Asheville elopement and wedding photographer, I had an absolute blast photographing Nina and Josh’s day, especially our sunset adventure out in the mountains. I’ll never get over all the natural beauty we have access to here in North Carolina, and this area specifically makes for such a spectacular elopement locations.
If you’re planning an Asheville elopement or wedding, I would love to be there to tell the story of your day. Learn more about my Asheville elopement and wedding packages here, and then contact me here if you feel like we may be a match—I can’t wait to hear about the one-of-a-kind day you’re dreaming up!
North Carolina Elopement & Wedding Resources
Need help planning your special day? I’ve got a collection of elopement & wedding resources up on the blog that you can browse through—or take a look at a few of my recent posts below:
How To Elope in North Carolina
5 Questions to Ask Your North Carolina Elopement Photographer