How Long Does it Take to Plan an Elopement in North Carolina?

Many couples choose to elope so that they can ditch the stress and time-consuming tasks of planning a big traditional wedding. Traditional weddings can take a year to plan as venues are usually booked out far in advance, and you may also have things like dress production windows, weekend vendor availability, budget, and guest availability to consider. When you choose to elope, you can focus on the aspects of your day that matter the most to you instead of spreading yourself thin with a million tasks. But how long does it actually take to plan an elopement in North Carolina? Here are all of the things you’ll need to consider before setting your date.

How Far In Advance Should We Plan Our Elopement in North Carolina?

As an elopement planning expert and photographer with 4 years of experience in North Carolina, I have helped couples plan their elopement days anywhere from a few weeks out, to a year in advance. In my experience, the ideal planning window is around 6 months for vendor availability, location scouting, and booking travel accommodations. But, not everyone has 6 months to plan, and it is possible to plan your elopement in North Carolina within a few weeks.

How far in advance should we book our elopement vendors?

Many vendors get booked for popular weekend dates up to a year in advance. If you choose a weekend day only a few months out, it’s likely that you’ll have a hard time finding vendors that are available. Instead, choose a weekday and reach out to your top vendors as soon as possible. As an elopement photographer, I have booked weekday elopements only a few weeks in advance without a problem!

How long does it take to get our marriage license in North Carolina?

You can obtain your marriage license at any Register of Deeds Office in North Carolina. There is no waiting period, and you will walk out with your marriage license on the same day. It will be valid for 60 days, so make sure you don’t get your marriage license too early. Some Register of Deeds Offices in North Carolina require that you set up an appointment, while others regularly take walk-ins. The Buncombe County Register of Deeds in Asheville issues marriage licenses from 8:00am-4:30pm Monday-Friday, an appointment is not required. This step in the process is actually fairly easy, and because there is not waiting period after your appointment, it is possible to get your marriage license the day before or morning of your elopement. I would recommend filling out the online application beforehand, and going at least a few days in advance just to be safe.

How long does it take to get a permit in North Carolina?

Permit wait times for locations vary throughout North Carolina. The Blue Ridge Parkway recommends applying for a ceremony permit at least 30 days in advance. If you don’t have 30 days to wait, you could get married within the Pisgah National Forest where no permit is required for weddings with less than 75 guests. Beaches and State Parks usually have their own rules, which you can usually find on their website. You could also get married at a small venue, and if you’re short on time, choosing a weekday increases the chance that venues will have availability for your date.

How far in advance do I need to purchase my wedding attire?

If you’re dreaming of a designer suit or dress, most are made-to-order based on your measurements and can take up to a year to arrive after your appointment. If you don’t want to wait that long, there are a few options for last-minute wedding dress shopping!

1. Go to a Sample Sale: Sample dresses are wedding dresses that have been kept in the bridal shop for brides to try on before ordering their own dress based on their measurements. Once these dresses are discontinued, the samples are sold off the rack for a discounted price.
2. Go to an “Off-the-Rack” Bridal Shop: An “Off-the-Rack” dress is one that is available to be purchased and taken home on the same day. These dresses are not customized to your measurements, but could be altered if needed.
3. Purchase a Wedding Dress Online: If you know your sizing, you can order a dress from an online shop like Lulus or Anthropologie. You could also consider a wedding jumpsuit!

How to Plan Your Elopement Quickly

One of the beautiful things about eloping in North Carolina, is that you can plan your day very quickly if needed! With no waiting period for your marriage license, and plenty of locations that don’t require permits, it is totally possible to plan your elopement only a few weeks out. Here’s an outline of steps to follow to plan your elopement fast!

1. Choose a Location: Start researching and brainstorming location ideas! If you’re eloping on the Blue Ridge Parkway, make sure to apply for your permit at least 30 days in advance. If you’re planning your elopement less than 30 days in advance, choose an elopement location that does not require a permit.
2. Plan to Obtain your Marriage License: Fill out the online marriage license application for your nearest Register of Deeds office as soon as possible, and plan a day where both you and your spouse can go to the office to obtain your marriage license. Click here for a guide to the legalities of marriage in North Carolina.
3. Choose an Officiant and Witnesses: You will need an ordained officiant and two witnesses present to sign your marriage license. You can either hire a local officiant or consider asking an ordained friend or family member to officiate. I always recommend reaching out to officiants before you choose your date when you’re short on time, you can’t get married without one!
4. Set a Date: Select a date for your elopement. Consider vendor availability, any time-sensitive factors, and the logistics of your chosen location. Many couples will reach out to me with just a rough idea of when they’d like to get married, and they will base their date around my availability, which is a great way to ensure that you get your dream vendors! If you have to pick a date before reaching out to vendors, choose a weekday.
5. Make Travel Arrangements: If needed, book travel accommodations like flights, hotel, Airbnb, etc. once you have your date set.
6. Book Additional Vendors: Book any additional vendors, and start shopping for wedding attire as soon as possible. If you’re about 6 months out, you may be able to get a designer dress by paying an extra fee to rush your order. If you’re planning with less than 6 months, you can visit an off-the-rack shop, sample sale, or shop online.
7. Plan Your Day: Decide on the specifics of your ceremony, such as vows, speeches, blessings, and any traditions you want to include. Once you have an idea of what your ceremony will look like, start thinking about other activities that you could include in your day to make it extra special and personalized to you.
8. Prepare for the Day: Prepare any items you’ll need for the elopement, such as rings, attire, bouquets, and adventure gear if needed! Pack a small bag with essentials for the day, including your marriage license, identification, and any legal documents. Click here for an elopement packing list!

Danni & Brett’s Elopement | Planned in 6 Weeks

“I reached out to Erin when I arrived in the US, giving us only 6 weeks until our ideal wedding date, and she made the whole process so simple that I felt zero stress throughout the planning. I had no idea what we needed to do to make sure our marriage was legal, I didn’t know my way around North Carolina, and I wouldn’t have been able to find the “dream” locations without her guidance. Erin helped us timeline the whole day to make sure we had our ceremony at a time that we could have all of my friends and family from Australia on a livestream, have some downtime with those in attendance at a picnic and still have our own private time to hike and get some amazing portraits.”

– Danni & Brett | Blue Ridge Parkway Elopement

Hey there! I’m Erin, an elopement planning expert and photographer based in North Carolina. I have been photographing elopements in the Blue Ridge Mountains for 4+ years, and have helped numerous couples plan their days quickly without any of the stress or rush.