Asheville Elopement Guide: Best Locations, Vendors, Lodging, and Tips
thinking about eloping in Asheville, north carolina?
Asheville is a small town nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and makes for the perfect North Carolina elopement spot; with breathtaking views and so much opportunity for outdoor activities, this is one of my favorite places–as a Blue Ridge Mountains elopement photographer–to take couples who are looking for adventure! Read on for lots of helpful information to support your Asheville elopement planning. While this blog will focus only on the Asheville area, be sure to check out my Ultimate Guide to a Blue Ridge Mountain Elopement HERE for even more information on eloping in the Blue Ridge Mountains across North Carolina!
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS
This is just a sneak peek into a few popular Asheville elopement locations. I will help you with more specific location scouting once we have a chance to chat about what you want and what is important to you! We can discuss longer or shorter trails, easier or harder trails, lesser-known trails with more privacy, ones with specific features, ones better suited for a specific season, or how to do multiple locations for your day!
BUCK SPRING GAP OVERLOOK
This spot is tucked away on a side road to the Mount Pigsah parking area, boasting breathtaking views of the valley. Please keep in mind that accessibility to this location is currently uncertain due to hurricane impacts, as of March 2025.
Jump Off Rock
This no-hike location is perfect to ensure grandma and grandpa can attend your ceremony, without sacrificing the scenery. This one is close to Asheville, as well—check this post to see a wedding at this location.
Sam’s Knob
This one is in the Pisgah National Forest southwest of Asheville, North Carolina. It has multiple trail options and a diverse landscape, plus it is close to Asheville. This wedding day started at Sam’s Knob.
ASHEVILLE ELOPEMENT LODGING OPTIONS
There are plenty of places to stay in Asheville for your Blue Ridge Mountain elopement, and I’ll list a few noteworthy spots below! Have you considered getting married at an Airbnb or VRBO? It’s a great option if you want to invite guests and have an intimate Blue Ridge Mountain wedding, while staying in one central location for both your wedding and your trip. We can always head to a nearby trail for epic views after your ceremony! Pro tip - fall is peak season around the Blue Ridge Mountains, so lodging can be tough to find–be sure to think ahead!
Zelda Dearest - Rooms with incredible decor right in town.
Auto Camp - Retro RV’s, need we say more?
Asheville River Cabins - Dog friendly cabins right on the river!
Glamping Dome - Yes there is a slide in there! Asheville Glamping has a ton of unique options so check them all, but they book up to a year in advance! (Glamping - glam + camping - a luxury camping experience.)
The Radical - Artsy and edgy, modern hotel in town.
The Blind Tiger - Expertly decorated and can easily be rented out to accommodate all of your guests under one roof!
BEST VENDORS FOR YOUR ASHEVILLE ELOPEMENT
As with all weddings of any size, I highly recommend hiring a planner or designer to make it all come together. Even with smaller Blue Ridge Mountain elopements, I think hiring a planner or designer is the right move–they can help bring your vision to life and keep track of all the details so you can be fully immersed in enjoying your day. Here are some planners and other vendors that I love:
Hair & Makeup
Florals
Planners
PRIVATE CHEFS
Catering
Dessert
Florist
Musicians
Videographers
Officiants
BEST ASHEVILLE ELOPEMENT ACTIVITIES
There are so many fun things to do before and after your elopement in the Blue Ridge Mountains, so I hope you’ll plan to make a weekend getaway of it! One of the benefits of choosing to elope or have a smaller wedding is that you now get to spend your budget on yourselves and the things you want to do–not worrying about feeding 200 guests or renting a ton of tablecloths!
Celebrate your love and new life together in the best way possible, adventuring, and creating memories you’ll never forget.
Rent a canoe! You can do so at Lake Junaluska.
Anyone else have hot air ballooning on their bucket list?!
Experience the trails on horseback on a guided ride. Check out Pisgah Stables or Sandy Botton Trails on a secluded family ranch.
Are you a die-hard foodie? Take a food foraging tour. Wander through field and forest with expert guides, foraging mushrooms, wild fruits, and more. There are cooking demos, tastings, and, after the tour, you get a free appetizer featuring your finds at one of Asheville’s top restaurants. Sign me up!
Experience the Underground Grotto at the Omni Grove Spa - This Asheville hotel is considered one of the best in the world and has the views to match.
Get a couples massage in a salt cave - need I say more?
Go tubing on the French Broad River in Asheville.
Wanna have someone else do the driving to epic locations? Go for a jeep tour in Asheville!
Or include your guest list and plan a camp-themed wedding continuing the fun all weekend long!
Best Food in Asheville for Your North Carolina Elopement Weekend
Asheville has a strong restaurant scene with lots of options. You can book a private room at a restaurant, have a meal catered to your Airbnb, or organize a luxury picnic–there are vendors who can set that up for you!
And these offer great catering options:
Brunch by Button & Co in Asheville
Luella's BBQ In Asheville
Strada Italian in Asheville
Or work with your planner to create a luxury picnic for just the two surrounded by nature.
asheville intimate wedding venues
If you’d rather have an intimate wedding with a handful of loved ones instead of your standard elopement, Asheville has a few options for beautiful venues that host smaller weddings and elopements; a venue can be the perfect landing spot for getting ready, the ceremony, and the reception with your guests, and we can always head to one of the outdoor locations later for private vows and more portraits! Here are a few of my favorite spots (and be sure to check out THIS blog post for even more details!):
Now, get married!!!
Ready to start planning your beautiful elopement in Asheville? Whether you’ve just started talking about the idea of eloping in the Blue Ridge Mountains or you know exactly what you want, I’m here to help! Reach out below and we’ll bring your vision to life together.