North Carolina Summer Elopement Guide
Lush greenery, fern-covered trails, rhododendron season, and the vibrant colors make summer a perfect season to get married in Western North Carolina. As an Asheville-based elopement photographer who’s guided countless couples through choosing a season for their elopement, I keep coming back to summer. If you’re considering a summer elopement in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this guide will walk you through why this season is a great choice and how to begin planning your day.
Why Choose Summer for Your North Carolina Elopement?
1. More Daylight
Summer gifts us with long days & later sunsets, giving you more daylight to work with for your elopement day. When sunset stretches past dinner time, you could have beautiful golden hour dinner or a sunset hike in the mountains. Madison & Brent had a micro-wedding in August, and ended their day with dinner at the Crestwood Lodge. As the night came to close, we stepped outside for portraits in the dream golden light.
2. Vibrant Colors
While fall gets most of the attention for its warm colors, summer’s color palette in the Blue Ridge Mountains is equally as breathtaking. Imagine the deep blue mountain layers, lush greenery, pink & purple rhododendrons, yellow wildflowers, and vibrant sunsets. Summer in North Carolina originally inspired my true-to-color editing style to highlight the naturally occurring colors in the mountains.
3. Wildflowers
Wildflowers bloom all throughout Western North Carolina during the summer months. You’ll find pink & purple rhododendrons in June & July and yellow wildflowers later in the season.
4. Access to Remote Locations
Many of the most spectacular mountain locations remain inaccessible during colder months. Summer is the most dependable season for accessibility to high-elevation spots with panoramic views.
5. Comfortable Evening Celebrations
Unlike the quick temperature drops of fall evenings, summer allows for comfortable outdoor celebrations later into the night. Imagine a sunset ceremony, outdoor reception, or candlelit dinner with loved ones. Sally & Jimmy had a candlelit dinner with their family & we ran around in the fields during sunset for beautiful portraits.
10 Summer Elopement Ideas:
Asheville truly comes to life in the summer. Your elopement can feature seasonal flowers, farm-to-table picnics, locally crafted beers, and the best of what Western North Carolina has to offer.
- Golden Hour Ceremony
- Farm-to-Table Dinner
- Picnic on the Parkway
- Sunrise Hike
- Hike to a Waterfall
- Take a Dip in a Swimming Hole
- Incorporate something more adventurous like kayaking, canoeing, or zip lining
- Visit a brewery or cocktail bar and walk downtown
- Incorporate wildflowers in your location or bouquet
- Plan an outfit change to keep cool and add variety to your photos
Real Summer Elopement Days in North Carolina
Below, I’ve included 4 real elopement examples from the summer months.
Sarah & Anthony’s May Elopement
Sarah & Anthony got married at Roan Mountain in May, just when everything starts to bloom again after the winter! You can read more about their elopement here.
Sasha & Cameron’s August Micro-Wedding
Sasha & Cameron got married on a foggy day in August on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Many couples assume that August is too warm, but in the mountains, it’s perfectly comfortable with light wedding attire. You can see their full elopement day here.
Madison & Brent’s Summer Inn Wedding
Madison & Brent got married on a sunny day in August at Grandfather Mountain. Their day was a quintessential summer day here in the Blue Ridge Mountains with bright blues and greens and a golden sunset. You can see their full elopement day here.
Erin & Kyle’s Botanical Garden Elopement
Erin & Kyle’s summer elopement included a vibrant wildflower bouquet and a walk through the beautiful Highlands Botanical Garden. The fern-covered trails and golden sunlight added so much beauty to their day.
Ready to Plan Your 2025 Summer Elopement?
If you’re dreaming of a small summer wedding in the Blue Ridge Mountains, you really only need about 3-6 months to plan your day! I’ll be here to guide you through the entire process of finding locations, applying for permits, planning your post-ceremony dinner or celebration, creating your timeline, and everything in between! I currently have 2 spots remaining for summer elopements in 2025. Reach out at the link below to inquire about eloping this summer!
