Black Balsam Elopement Guide
Black Balsam Knob is one of the most beautiful elopement locations near Asheville, North Carolina. Located off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, this trail takes you to high elevations with minimal hiking and provides a variety of scenery for your first look, elopement ceremony, portraits or private vows.
Throughout my 5+ years photographing elopements, Black Balsam has remained one of my absolute favorites. With it’s growing popularity, there’s a few key things to consider when planning your elopement at Black Balsam. This guide walks through everything you’ll need to know about eloping at Black Balsam – the best season for your elopement, how to get there from Asheville, hiking distance, spots for your ceremony, and more.
When to Elope at Black Balsam
The best seasons to elope at Black Balsam are summer and fall. Due to winter weather conditions, the road access to Black Balsam is generally closed from December-March, so you’ll want to plan to elope in April-November. When I work with couples that want to elope at Black Balsam, I always take their specific wants and needs into consideration to suggest the season that is the best fit for them. Due to the growing popularity of Black Balsam, I always suggest choosing a weekday date to avoid crowds, especially during the summer and fall. October is always the busiest month on the parkway, so if you’re dreaming of those fall foliage colors, I would suggest choosing a date in late September or early November. I’ve included examples of different months at Black Balsam below!
Black Balsam Knob Wedding Permit
Although the trailhead is located off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Black Balsam Knob is located within Pisgah National Forest land, so a permit is not required for an elopement! Due to the fragile nature of the trail and the space available for guests to gather for your ceremony, I would suggest keeping your group under 20 guests.
What Your Elopement Could Look Like at Black Balsam
There are so many ways to make your elopement experience at Black Balsam special, here are a few of my favorites!
First Look Under the Trees
This is one of my favorite hidden-gem spots near Black Balsam. You won’t find it on the main trail, but it’s a hidden gem that I love to share with my couples. It’s perfect for a first look before the hike, or a small ceremony with family.
Ceremony and Private Vows
Most of my couples choose Black Balsam for their private vows. There’s a variety of different spots to choose from along the trail or once you reach the summit. We’ll find a private spot with beautiful views where you can share your hand-written vows. You can bring officiant & at least 2 witnesses along to make this your official legal ceremony, or, you can share your vows privately and read the traditional vows with an officiant and guests at another location later in the day. This is exactly what Elizabeth & Jose did on their elopement day, you can read their full elopement story here.
Adventure Elopement Portraits
If you’re dreaming of those epic wide shots in front of the mountains, you can’t beat Black Balsam. As your photographer, the trail’s rocky incline allows me to climb high and far to create wide shots like the ones you see below! I’m also able to capture more intimate moments from afar so that you can relax together and enjoy the view while we take photos.
Black Balsam Elopement Packages
If you’re loving what you see, this could be you! I’m Erin, an Asheville-based elopement photographer & location expert. I know this trail like the back of my hand, so I’ll provide you with everything you need to know about eloping at Black Balsam – including…
- Personalized guidance on choosing a season & date to elope
- Timeline planning for the dreamiest lighting
- Guest preparation resources
- Reliable directions to the trailhead
- Making sure everyone is prepared for the hike
- And documentary-style photos that will allow you to re-live this incredible experience for the rest of your lives
Ready to begin planning your Black Balsam elopement with a local expert by your side? Reach out at the link below to get started!
