How to Elope in Asheville North Carolina
*Updated in March 2024 with the most relevant information
The Asheville area is filled with some of the most gorgeous landscapes, mountain views, and small venues, making it the perfect area for an elopement. Here is everything you need to know about how to elope in Asheville!!
Step 1: Choosing a Location & Applying for Permits
Make sure to do research on hiking distances and conditions before you choose a location to make sure it’s the best fit for your elopement, here are some additional things to consider as well:
- Accessibility: How many guests do you want to be there? How accessible is the location? Will your family be able to get there comfortably?
- Weather: What will the weather be like? How will you have to prepare for the weather?
- Privacy: How busy or secluded is the location? Consider the time of year! October is always a busy month due to the increase in tourists for foliage.
1. The Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway runs through Western North Carolina and consists of many easily-accessible overlooks and hiking trails that make perfect elopement locations. A permit is required to have your elopement ceremony on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and it is recommended to apply at least 30 days before your wedding date. You are allowed up to 25 guests at most locations. You can apply for a permit here.
Click Here to Learn More About Eloping on the Blue Ridge Parkway
2. The Pisgah National Forest
The Pisgah National Forest is in the Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina. Unlike locations along the Parkway, any land within the Pisgah National Forest does not require a permit for weddings with less than 75 guests. You can read the rules here.
3. Jump Off Rock
This is one of my absolute favorite elopement ceremony locations! It’s located in Hendersonville, about 30 minutes from Asheville and one of the only spots where chairs are allowed for guests.
Click here to see a full elopement at Jump Off Rock
4. Wedding or Elopement Venues
There are quite a few venues tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains that allow you to elope in Asheville, while also having a more accessible and private ceremony. A few of my favorites:
- Something Blue Mountain Venue: This elopement venue is located in Marion, 28 miles from Asheville. They can accommodate up to 24 guests for a small ceremony and reception with mountain views.
- Laurel Falls: This Asheville wedding venue is located about 20 minutes from downtown and includes 4 separate 1920s-style homes for up to 19 guests to stay overnight. The venue itself can accommodate up to 75 guests, making this a great option for couples who want a bigger wedding as well as mountain views.
- Reverie: Located in downtown Asheville, this small outdoor venue provides a beautiful courtyard setting for your evening elopement celebration.
- Airbnb Elopements: You could also book an Airbnb tucked away in the mountains for an even more private ceremony and/or dinner space.
5. Buncombe County Courthouse Wedding
To keep things simple, you can also get married legally at the Buncombe County Courthouse in Asheville. They’ll provide the magistrate to perform your ceremony, and you will just have to bring 2 witnesses. The architecture in downtown Asheville makes for some really beautiful photos, and you can also visit a second location nearby on the Blue Ridge Parkway if you’d like to spend part of your day in the mountains!
Step 2: Choosing the Best Season to Elope in Asheville
- Spring: The parkway will begin to open again in late March or the beginning of April. This is a great time to elope in Asheville because the trails won’t be too busy until summer.
- Summer: The summer months will most likely be the prettiest as everything starts to grow and bloom again, but of course that does attract more hikers and tourists. I would suggest eloping on a weekday in the summer to avoid the weekend crowds.
- Fall: Fall in the mountains is gorgeous as the leaves start to change. The trails will become even busier, and the parkway does not issue permits for entire the month of October, so I suggest getting married on a weekday or at a more private venue during the fall.
- Winter: Winter is a beautiful time to get married if you’re envisioning a snowy elopement. The trails will be pretty empty so you won’t have to worry about it being crowded. Parts of the parkway will be closed November-March due to snow and ice, so I suggest choosing a dependable location like a venue or Airbnb, or having a solid backup plan if you’re getting married on public lands.
Click here for more information on choosing the best season for your Asheville elopement
Step 3: Booking Your Asheville Elopement Vendors
Choosing the right vendors is essential to having a stress-free elopement day! Fortunately, Asheville has a variety of immensely talented local wedding vendors. My biggest piece of advice is to hire vendors that specialize in elopements and smaller weddings. Most vendors have a lot of traditional wedding experience, and because elopements are so different, you’re going to want to hire someone who is more familiar with the planning process and flow of an elopement.
The Best Asheville Elopement Vendors:
- Hair & Makeup: Powder Me Pretty, AnaRie, Asheville Makeup Company
- Florists: Flora, Springvine
- Elopement Officiant: Adventure Officiant, Happily Ever Asheville
Step 4: Start Brainstorming
Once you have your date and locations nailed down, the next step is to start planning out your day!! I suggest scheduling a date night with your partner to start brainstorming what you want to do on your elopement day. Try not to get too caught up in the little details or timeline, just focus on dreaming up what the perfect day would look like.
My Favorite Asheville Elopement Activities:
- Sunrise or sunset hike
- Catered elopement picnic
- Visit one of your favorite places in Asheville (walk downtown, coffee shop, cocktail bar, restaurant, brewery, etc.)
- Stay at a unique Airbnb
- Drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway
- Have a first look
- Relax in a hammock
- Go stargazing
- Book a private dinner or reception for guests to enjoy after your ceremony
Step 5: Build Your Elopement Day Timeline
The next step is to take your list and make a timeline for your day. When eloping with family, you’ll want to make sure that you set aside time for your guests and time for just you and your partner. Some couples will plan a 2 day elopement to have one day all to themselves, and another day where they can be fully present with their families. But, I’ve also seen it done really well in one day. Here is a real timeline example from an Asheville elopement:
- 10:00am: Getting Ready
- 11:00pm: Head to Ceremony Location
- 11:30pm: Arrive at the Ceremony Location
- 12:00pm: First Look & Private Vows
- 12:30pm: Ceremony
- 1:00pm: Family Portraits
- 1:30pm: Head to the next location for a hike while family prepares for dinner
- 2:30pm: Arrive at the Trailhead
- 3:00pm: Hiking and Portraits
- 4:00pm: Head to the Airbnb for Dinner
- 5:00pm: Celebratory Dinner with Guests
- 6:00pm: End of the Day
I work alongside all of my couples to help them make a personalized elopement day timeline. This one was made for Joni & Derek’s elopement day, which you can read more about here.
Step 6: Get Your Marriage License & Prepare for the Day
- Schedule a time to get your marriage license with any Register of Deeds Office in North Carolina. Your license is valid for 60 days, and you will need 2 witnesses and an officiant to sign.
- Finalize last minute details with vendors like where and when to meet, when to pick up your bouquet, etc. Schedule phone calls with your vendors a few weeks beforehand to make sure everyone is on the same page and ready for the big day.
- Make a packing list. Click here for the Ultimate Elopement Packing List.
- Keep an eye on the weather the week before, and prepare for the worst. Rain won’t ruin your wedding day if you’re prepared for it, I promise!
Enjoy your Elopement Day!!
Thank you so much for reading! If this is your first time here, I’m Erin! I help couples plan beautiful intimate wedding days in Asheville and the North Carolina Mountains. If you’re tired of searching on google for all of the answers, click here to learn more about how I can help you create a stress-free, unforgettable elopement in Asheville, North Carolina.
