How to Elope in Asheville, NC | Best Elopement Locations
Table of Contents:
Where is Asheville?
Why Elope in Asheville?
5 Most Beautiful Places to Elope in Asheville
Best Time of Year to Elope in Asheville
Legalities of Eloping in Asheville
10 Fun Asheville Elopement Ideas + Activities
Full North Carolina Elopement Guide
If your perfect elopement entails a once-in-a-lifetime experience amidst epic mountain landscapes, participating in exhilarating adventures such as whitewater rafting or mountain biking, sipping on delicious local beers in a quirky pub, and admiring endless miles of scenic beauty around you, then you’ve come to the right place—welcome to my Asheville elopement guide!
As an elopement and wedding photographer based in North Carolina, the mountains of Asheville have my absolute heart, and are a dream come true for outdoor enthusiasts looking for an adventurous elopement experience. I’ve compiled all of my best recommendations, tips, and advice to help you plan an unforgettable elopement in Asheville, whether you’re craving a trek deep into the forested mountains or a romantic ceremony along the shores of an alpine lake. Magical waterfalls, spectacular mountain views, scenic drives. . . what more could you ask for from an elopement destination?
Where is Asheville?
Asheville is a city located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, about a 2.5-hour drive from Charlotte. To get to Asheville by plane, you can fly into Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), which is just 15 minutes from downtown Asheville. Fortunately this airport has grown a lot in popularity in recent years, so it’s served by most of the major US airlines! If you’re coming from out of state to explore for a few days, I recommend renting a car at the airport so that you have the freedom to get around on your own time, without having to rely on public transportation—plus you’ll need a car if you want to head into the mountains.
Why Elope in Asheville?
In 2023, nearly 14 million people visited Asheville thanks to all the incredible opportunities the vibrant city has to offer—the tourism industry has been growing more and more every year, and I love to see it as somebody who has been in love with the area for a while now! Because of how close Asheville is to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Pisgah National Forest, there are endless opportunities for unparalleled adventure when you visit Asheville, from hiking to biking, paddle boarding to white water rafting, rock climbing to backpacking. . . I could go on and on.
It’s the perfect place to find connection on your elopement day, both to each other and to the beautiful nature around you—because what better way to kick off your journey as a married couple than in the midst of some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the country?
Aside from the playground Asheville offers for outdoor enthusiasts, it’s also a fabulous city to explore on its own, even without the easy access to many jaw-dropping destinations. With a variety of historic attractions (such as the enchanting Biltmore Estate), a vibrant food scene, and numerous cozy places to stay, Asheville is an ideal destination for couples looking to escape into the mountains and plan an elopement that’s about so much more than just the vow exchange, or the wedding rings; an elopement that revolves around them and whatever their perfect vacation together looks like!
Still deciding on an elopement or a traditional wedding? Here are 6 Signs That You Should Consider Eloping.
5 Most Beautiful Places to Elope in Asheville
Let’s just dive straight into the pretty places I know you want to see, shall we? It was incredibly hard to narrow this list down to only a few places, but I didn’t want to overwhelm you with too much right off the bat—so know that if we end up working together, I’ll be right by your side to provide you with additional location recommendations that I think would fit your day best. For now, here are 5 of the best, most beautiful Asheville elopement locations, ranging from cascading waterfalls to scenic overlooks in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
1. Roan Mountain
We’ll start off strong with Roan Mountain, which is actually located just across the border on the edge of Tennessee, but I figured I’d still include it since it’s only about an hour and a half drive from Asheville. And it’s one of my absolute favorite elopement locations in the Asheville area! Roan Mountain State Park spans over 2,000 scenic acres filled with vibrant wildflowers, lush green foliage, wildlife, and jaw-dropping views of the Roan foothills as far as the eye can see. With 12 miles of hiking trails and just over 2 miles of biking trails, this is a great place to explore if you and your partner are looking for a day of adventure, picturesque views, and to embrace the tranquil forested atmosphere. Roan Mountain is a fabulous elopement location if you’re inviting any guests along, as there are trails available for all levels of hikers.
Fun fact: Roan Mountain State Park actually has 30 cabins available to stay in if you’d like to book accommodations directly in the park! How fun would it be to spend part of your elopement day strolling through the park, maybe taking a hike to a popular viewpoint, and then spending the night on the Doe River in one of the cabins at the base of Roan Mountain? There are plenty of campsites available, as well, if you’re more of a cozy-up-in-a-tent, sleep-under-the-stars type of couple.
2. Linville Falls
If you’d rather spend your elopement day chasing waterfalls, you have to check out the most famous waterfall in the Blue Ridge Mountains: Linville Falls! Situated at milepost 316 on the Blue RIdge Parkway, this waterfall is incredibly beautiful, set against a gorge that’s come to be known as the “Grand Canyon of the Southern Appalachians.” I love this area because it offers multiple different trails that you can choose from, depending on what kind of landscapes you’d like to see and what level of difficulty you’re looking for. You can check out the lower falls and the upper falls, the campground, the picnic area, and make a stop at the visitor center to grab a map of the area. On Emily and David’s elopement day, we chose to follow the Plunge Basin Trail so we could see the lush plants and wildlife, and we lucked out with a little bit of sunshine just as we approached the falls. See their full Asheville elopement here!
3. Wiseman’s View
For views of the Linville Gorge from above rather than at the base of a waterfall, head past the falls parking area to Wiseman’s View, an overlook offering unparalleled panoramic views of the Gorge. From the parking lot, it’s a super short walk to the viewing platform (just 0.2 miles), and there’s even an accessible paved path for wheelchair users! You can check out the different platforms available (most of which are only accessible by stairs), such as the east-facing platform that gets you views of Hawksbill Mountain and Table Rock Mountain, or the south-facing platform for different views of the Gorge.
Wiseman’s View is a perfect addition to your elopement timeline if you also want to check out Linville Falls—this is exactly what I did with Emily and David, who wanted to visit a viewpoint with mountain views that wouldn’t be too overcrowded, and wouldn’t require a huge hike. Wiseman’s View was just what they were looking for, and dang did the photos turn out incredible.
4. Craggy Pinnacle
The Craggy Pinnacle Trail is a gorgeous out-and-back route that begins at the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center, home to vibrant and colorful rhododendron, views of the Blue Ridge mountain peaks, a picnic area, and multiple hiking trails. This is an amazing place to watch the sunrise or sunset thanks to the 360-degree mountain views! But if you want even better views, walk 20 minutes up to the summit of Craggy Pinnacle, where you’ll find multiple scenic overlooks and a couple of different lookouts. The landscapes of the Blue Ridge Mountains from up here are unreal, and the fact that they require so little effort to get to is magical + just perfect for a laid-back, yet still outdoorsy elopement day!
5. Chestoa View Overlook
Chestoa View overlook is another stunner located along the Blue Ridge Parkway, just 4 miles south of Linville Falls. With how easy it is to get to this overlook via a quick, paved path and a few rock stairs, I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t stop here on their elopement day if they’re already driving along the Parkway anyway! I can just picture a bride standing in the center of the curved rock wall, with her veil draping down behind her as she looks out over the mountains—talk about majestic.
BONUS: At an Airbnb
I also wanted to throw in the option to elope at an Asheville Airbnb! Not every Airbnb allows weddings or elopements on their property, but certain ones may give you permission to have your ceremony or a very intimate reception. Nina and Josh, for example, spent the first day of their elopement wandering through the mountains around Asheville, getting some gorgeous golden hour portraits of just the two of them—then the next day, they hosted a ceremony at an Airbnb just outside of Asheville with only their immediate family in attendance. Take a peek at their gallery here for all the Asheville Airbnb elopement inspiration.
Pro Tip: Hire a private chef to cater your post-elopement dinner back at your Airbnb, OR head into Asheville to grab a bite to eat from a local brewery or food truck to take back to your place.
Best Time of Year to Elope in Asheville
The next most important thing to think about for your Asheville elopement (besides your location) is what time of year you want to elope. The thing about eloping in the mountains is that the weather is never predictable, so you really have to be ready to be flexible, adaptable, and down to go with the flow. You never know what might happen, even if you’re eloping in the middle of summer and expect a warm, sunny day—it could start downpouring in the middle of the day and you’d need to be able to adjust your plans accordingly. While you can’t plan for exactly what will happen, there are a few things to remember when choosing what time of year you want to elope in Asheville:
Temperatures
Obviously, you’ll want to pick a time of year with temperatures that you’re comfortable with, and that work well for an elopement in the mountains. The subtropical climate of Asheville means that it gets very humid and winters are pretty mild, and we don’t usually get much snow. Make sure to choose a date with average temperatures that you’ll be comfortable in—nothing too hot that’ll leave you sweating on your hike, and nothing too cold that’ll have you freezing in your wedding attire.
Precipitation
Asheville doesn’t get a lot of snow, but it can get rainy at certain times of year, so make sure to have a backup plan in place in case of rain (or just be ready to embrace it and throw on an extra jacket!). During the colder months, you are most likely to find snow at high elevations in the mountains, so you’ll want to avoid trying to hike too high in the winter.
Hurricanes
Hurricane season is from mid-June to November, with most hurricanes occurring between mid-August and mid-October, so keep that in mind when picking a date for your elopement.
Activities
Lastly, be sure to consider what types of activities you’d like to incorporate into your Asheville elopement. If your dream is to elope in the middle of an epic ski trip with your friends, then you’ll want to elope in the height of the winter; whereas if you’d like to do a high-elevation hike, you’ll want to opt for spring, summer, or fall, when the mountains don’t have as much snow.
Overall, the best time to elope in Asheville is in the fall, when the foliage boasts amazing colors and the temperatures are mild, comfortable, and perfect for outdoor adventures.
Legalities of Eloping in Asheville
I know this part isn’t as fun as the rest, but the legal stuff is just as important as picking out your location + date when it comes to planning your Asheville elopement. Let’s talk about what you need to do in order to tie the knot in Asheville!
Getting your North Carolina marriage license
First, you’ll need to get a marriage license from the Register of Deeds in any county in North Carolina, with your social security number and a government-issued ID in hand (you can find a map of the Register of Deeds offices here). Because there is no waiting period in North Carolina, you’re able to get your marriage license the morning of your elopement if you want to (as long as the office you’re planning to go to will be open at that time). Your license will expire after 60 days, so make sure not to get it too far in advance! The state of North Carolina requires you to have two witnesses who are at least 18 years old present at your ceremony to sign your license, and anyone who is ordained can officiate your wedding.
Asheville Elopement Permits
Additionally, you’ll need to research your elopement location to check whether or not you’ll need a permit—but in general, almost all of the popular locations in Asheville will require a permit. These permits are in place to ensure that these gorgeous places are protected, and will be preserved for everyone who visits in the future! Most permits are fairly easy to obtain; for example, to get a wedding permit for the Blue Ridge Parkway, all you need to do is apply for a Special Use Permit at least 30 days in advance of your date, pay a non-refundable $150 fee, and email it to blri_permits@nps.gov, then await further instructions. As your Asheville elopement photographer, I’ll be more than happy to point you in the right direction and help you with the permit process, so don’t worry if you’re feeling a little confused about it all.is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
10 Fun Asheville Elopement Ideas + Activities
One of the things I love most about Asheville is just how many incredible opportunities there are to create a beautiful, memorable elopement—from the mountains to the city, there is so much to explore. Below, I’ve put together a list of 10 fun Asheville elopement ideas to help you take advantage of the many outdoor activities, historic attractions, and vibrant food scene that Asheville has to offer!
1. Grab a bite to eat at Cúrate
2. Step back in time and visit the historic Grovewood Village
3. Walk around one of Asheville’s many farmer’s markets
4. Tour local breweries and sip on craft beer
5. Explore the wonders of the Biltmore Estate
6. Enjoy the mountain views from above on a zipline tour
7. Shop at a local music store
8. Dine at a scenic rooftop bar
9. Get a gourmet grilled cheese at Melt Your Heart
10. Find the Tin Can Pizzeria
Asheville Elopement Photographer
Ready to get started planning your one-of-a-kind Asheville elopement? I’d be honored to come along for the ride and help you create the adventure of a lifetime. Contact me here and I’ll be in touch as soon as possible!
If you loved this Asheville elopement guide, be sure to read through my Full North Carolina Elopement Guide for more of my best recommendations and additional inspiration.