Boone Elopement & Micro-Wedding Guide
If you’re looking to avoid the busyness and popularity of Asheville for your wedding, Boone is the perfect place to be. Boone is located in the mountains of Western North Carolina, about 2 hours north of Asheville. Just outside of Boone, Blowing Rock is a charming small town that is the perfect getaway for an elopement or micro-wedding in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This guide walks through how to elope in Boone, my favorite Boone and Blowing Rock elopement locations, small wedding venues near Boone, and the best places to stay while you’re in town!
Boone & Blowing Rock Elopement Locations
1. Blue Ridge Parkway
Just outside of downtown Block Rock is an entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway, where you’ll find a variety of trails just a short drive away. You can get married on the Blue Ridge Parkway with up to 25 guests. A permit is required to have your ceremony on the parkway, but it’s an easy process and a great way to support our public parks!
2. Moses Cone Manor
Only 15 minutes from downtown Blowing Rock is the iconic Moses Cone Manor on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This historic mansion is very private and tucked away, and the stunning architecture is the perfect contrast in combination with the mountains.
3. Grandfather Mountain State Park
Only 30 minutes from Boone, Grandfather Mountain State Park is one of the largest parks in the state with a variety of overlooks, trails, and their famous mile-high swinging bridge. The overlooks make a perfect ceremony location for couples including guests – no hiking, plenty of space for guests to gather comfortably on the flat ground, and it’s easy to get to!
4. Wildcat Lake in Banner Elk
Wildcat Lake is located near Banner Elk, about 30 minutes from Blowing Rock and Boone, and conveniently located about 10 minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway and Grandfather Mountain. This spot is the perfect place for a picnic & some portraits by the water!
5. Broyhill Park in Blowing Rock
If you’re looking for the perfect picnic-spot, or covered option for a small ceremony, Broyhill Park is the perfect spot! The park is conveniently located walking distance from downtown Blowing Rock, with a beautiful gazebo and walking trail around the lake.
Best Time to Elope in Boone
The best time of year to elope in Boone or Blowing Rock is the spring & summer! Winter can be pretty cold & usually brings lots of snow. Fall is beautiful, but brings lots of tourists to the area making it more difficult to have a private elopement on public lands. Spring and summer are both beautiful times of the year to travel to Western North Carolina – stunning sunsets, comfortable outdoor dinners, bright blues and greens on the trails, it doesn’t get any better! Although summer is my favorite, I have photographed elopements during all 4 seasons in Blowing Rock, and can attest to the fact that any season can work beautifully with the right planning. Take a look at the differences between seasons below!
Winter Elopement in Blowing Rock
Spring Elopement in Blowing Rock
Summer Elopement in Blowing Rock
Fall Elopement in Blowing Rock
Places to Stay for your Wedding in Boone
1. Inn at Crestwood in Boone
The Inn at Crestwood is the perfect secluded mountain getaway, with a spacious suite available for weddings! They also have a restaurant with a beautiful outdoor patio and a private dining space for events, perfect for a post-elopement dinner with loved ones. Click here to book your stay!
2. Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock
Chetola Resort is not only a great place to stay for your wedding in Blowing Rock, but they also have ceremony and reception location options for larger celebrations! If you’re looking for a wedding venue in Boone with lodging, Chetola Resort is the perfect place. Maybe you want to keep your ceremony close by to avoid the hassle of transportation, or you have elderly guests that require easily-accessible locations… there are lots of great reasons to book a place that has it all! Click here to read more about Chetola Resort’s wedding packages.
3. The Inn at Ragged Gardens & The Best Cellar
The Inn at Ragged Gardens is located right in downtown Blowing Rock, for couples that prefer to be less tucked away, and more within walking distance of restaurants and shopping. They also have a private dining space for events – pictured below – that could be booked for an intimate post-elopement celebration. Click here to book your stay!
Ready to Elope in Boone or Blowing Rock?
Hey, I’m Erin! An elopement photographer & location expert in Western North Carolina. Blowing Rock holds a special place in my heart as one of my favorite places for elopements, and I love nothing more than helping couples plan a memorable wedding experience with their loved ones in this charming little mountain town. If Blowing Rock is calling your name, I’d love to share my local expertise with you to plan the perfect mountain getaway. Click here to reach out!
