Erika El Photography - Wedding and Elopement Photographer based in the North Carolina Mountains

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Beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain Venues in North Carolina That Survived Hurricane Helene

North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains have long been known as a breathtaking wedding backdrop, with nearby venues serving as a great option for couples seeking to include close friends and family and have easy access to beautiful views without having to do too much extra work. After the devastation of Hurricane Helene, people are understandably unsure whether this region is open and in shape for events--and while parts of Western North Carolina were unfortunately devastated, the good news is that there are still many options in this area that would love to welcome you. Several stunning Blue Ridge Mountain venues have weathered the storm, and are ready to host 2025 weddings with all their scenic charm intact.

Beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain Venues in North Carolina That Survived Hurricane Helene

As a photographer specializing in Blue Ridge Mountain weddings, I’m an expert in the area and have personally verified each of these venues, confirming they’re open for inquiries and bookings! Whether you're planning a small elopement for just you and your partner or an intimate wedding with intentional details and a captivating atmosphere, these Blue Ridge Mountain venues are excited and prepared to host you and yours. 

#1. The Sky Retreat

𖡡 Wilkes County, North Carolina

This 30 acre wedding venue is home to a 6,500 square foot event hall featuring crystal chandeliers, high ceilings, a covered veranda and fireplace, and a wall of windows to highlight the striking Blue Ridge Mountain views. If you’re looking to make a weekend out of your wedding, The Sky Retreat also offers overnight stays in their 14 log cabins--so you can enjoy their on-site activities with your friends and family before and after your big day! This North Carolina wedding venue can accommodate both intimate and large groups of people indoors, with both indoor and outdoor spaces available to use for your ceremony and reception. The Sky Retreat allows couples to bring their own caterers with no “outside vendor” fees, and also offers additional rentals such as golf cart shuttles and wedding arbors at an extra cost. You can reach out to The Sky Retreat here: https://theskyretreat.com/contact_us

#2. Junebug Retro Resort

𖡡 Weaverville, North Carolina

JuneBug Retro Resort is tucked away in a private valley about 12 minutes north of Asheville, North Carolina. The 50 acre event venue is home to 10 campers that can be used by you and yours for overnight accommodations, and there are two wedding location options on-site: the Walnut Cove Ceremony Area, accommodating up to 150 guests alongside Flat Creek, or the Treehouse, where you’ll have the opportunity to host up to 20 guests in the romantic tree canopy. Use of the Walnut Cove Venue includes tons of amenities to simplify your big day: from tents and lighting, to tables and chairs, to fire pits and a dry bar, everything you need for your Blue Ridge Mountain wedding will already be waiting for you when you arrive. For more intimate celebrations, the treehouse boasts beautiful views of the Pigsah Mountains and the surrounding tree canopy; packages for this spot are inclusive of catering, cake, florals, and more, so you’ll get to show up and enjoy with your favorite people. You can reach out to JuneBug Retro Resort here: https://www.junebugretroresort.com/contact-us

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#3. Engadine Inn and Cabins

𖡡 Candler, North Carolina

Note: Engadine is not currently open, but their website states they plan to reopen in March!

15 minutes from Asheville, North Carolina, this 12 acre venue is surrounded by views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and hosts events with up to 100 guests, accommodating up to 35 overnight between their bed & breakfast and mountain cabins. Honey Hill, the largest space provided by the venue, features striking sunset views and an oak tree adorned in hanging lanterns. Vineyard Overlook is perfect for hosting your reception or dinner after your Honey Hill ceremony, offering a framed tent outfitted with parquet flooring, string lighting, and chandeliers. For Blue Ridge Mountain elopements or more intimate events (up to 25 guests), the Victorian Inn is available as an indoor venue with historic architecture and charm. You can contact Engadine Inn and Cabins here: https://www.engadineinnandcabins.com/event-inquiries

#4. Biltmore Estate

𖡡 Asheville, North Carolina

Biltmore Estate, featuring a 250-room castle known as America’s Largest Home, is surrounded by Blue Ridge Mountain views, historic gardens, and eight space options for your event, accommodating between 20 and 600 guests. The Biltmore Estate is an Asheville, North Carolina wedding venue, and was ranked #6 in BRIDES magazine’s 16 Best Destination Wedding Venues in the United States. Cozy up for an intimate Blue Ridge Mountain wedding at the Antler Hill Barn, designed in 1900 and overlooking the French Broad River; or invite everyone you know to the Biltmore House and Gardens, with ceremony location options including the Italian Garden, Tennis Lawn, or Front Lawn of the Biltmore House. For couples seeking out a luxurious North Carolina wedding experience over the weekend, The Biltmore Estate also offers overnight accommodation options at The Village Hotel, The Inn, and at their cottages. You can get in touch with Biltmore here: https://www.biltmore.com/weddings/contact-us/

Looking for a north carolina Photographer to capture your intimate wedding or elopement at one of these venues?

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#5. Castle Ladyhawke

𖡡 Tuckasegee, North Carolina

A unique and picturesque spot to exchange vows, Castle Ladyhawke is a private event venue in front of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering multiple venue spaces and overnight accommodation options. The Mountain View lawn boasts stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with a capacity of up to 125. The multi-level Outdoor Terrace offers the same capacity and similar views, used often for ceremonies and cocktail hours. The Great Hall, an indoor space with stained-glass windows and excellent acoustics, can seat up to 60 for a dinner reception, with the Carriage House acting as a larger, outdoor reception space. Castle Ladyhawke is an elegant location for a Blue Ridge Mountain intimate wedding, while also an option for couples looking to host a larger celebration in North Carolina. You can reach out to Castle Ladyhawke here: https://castleladyhawke.com/contact-us/

#6. Laurel Falls

𖡡 Asheville, North Carolina; see photos from a real wedding (my sister’s!) at Laurel Falls here: https://erikaelphotography.com/journal2/fall-elopement-at-laurel-falls-cabins

20 minutes from downtown Asheville, Laurel Falls boasts panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, making this beautiful North Carolina scenery the background of your wedding. The venue offers 4 cabins for overnight lodging, a hot tub, and serene natural elements to turn your intimate Blue Ridge Mountain wedding into a relaxing weekend. Laurel Falls offers six event spaces, including the Lodge Porch, Italian Grotto, Little Pigsah Event Site, Ceremony Rock & Pavilion, the Rustic Barn, and an outdoor Waterfall + Mountain Views site; the venue is ideal for celebrations with up to 75 guests. You’ll have access to every spot across this 18-acre wedding venue for the duration of your stay, giving you plenty of options to keep the celebration going beyond just the day-of with welcome dinners and send-off brunches. Overnight accommodations are included in the venue’s wedding experience, with the Waterfall Cabin--featuring a private hot tub overlooking a waterfall--remaining a popular choice for the newlyweds. To learn more about Laurel Falls, reach out to them here: https://laurelfallslife.com/contact-us/

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#7. Nanthala Weddings & Events

𖡡 Topton, North Carolina

In the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Nantahala--also called the “Chapel in the Sky”--features stunning panoramic views across the 6.5-acre estate. The venue boasts no noise restrictions, no curfews, and even welcomes pets both throughout the venue and within their lodging facilities! On-site accommodations are available for up to 18 people, so your intimate North Carolina wedding celebration can continue on the next day. The ceremony space sits at 3,500 feet elevation, with lake and mountain views surrounding, and sits just a short walk from the reception venue, a covered outdoor space in a lush private garden. For more information on this romantic and picturesque North Carolina wedding venue, reach out to their team here: https://nantahalaweddings.com/contact-us/

#8. Rockwood Lodge

𖡡 Highland, North Carolina

Rockwood Lodge is a secluded North Carolina estate overlooking the Nantahala National Forest, boasting unobstructed 360-degree views throughout the property. Weddings at Rockwood include the use of the entire lodge for ample privacy. Overnight accommodation is available in 8 bedrooms throughout the estate, with mountain views from each room. There is plenty of space and flexibility to host both an intimate North Carolina wedding or a larger gathering at Rockwood Lodge, and options for both indoor and outdoor venue spaces. For more information, contact Rockwood Lodge here: https://rockwoodlodge.com/contact/

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#9. Paint Rock Farm

𖡡 Hot Springs, North Carolina

Paint Rock Farm prides itself in easy and wedding days, focused on the natural canvas of the Blue Ridge Mountains instead of the fuss of an ultra-formal gathering. The 162-acre property offers two formal ceremony sites and a 3200 square foot barn that accommodates up to 200 guests, making this Blue Ridge Mountain wedding venue a flexible option for both intimate and large weddings. Paint Rock Farm is home to ten glamping cabins, so couples and their close friends and family can celebrate on-site in the days leading up to the celebration. This North Carolina mountain wedding venue also offers elopement packages, perfect for more intimate Blue Ridge weddings or just the two of you. Inquire with Paint Rock Farm here: https://www.paintrockfarm.com/contact/

#10. The Farm

𖡡 Asheville, North Carolina

Just 10 miles outside of Asheville, this North Carolina wedding venue embraces the beauty of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains and offers an indoor/outdoor event center, Pavilion, and multiple ceremony sites. The Farm is all-inclusive, providing farm-to-table catering and on-site lodging for a unique, elegant, and relaxing wedding weekend. This elegant Blue Ridge Mountain wedding venue also offers an extensive decor inventory with everything you need: from tables and chairs to centerpieces and outdoor furniture. The Farm’s website is full of helpful planning information including pricing, catering menus, decor inventory lists, and more; to inquire further, you can reach out to them directly through this link! https://thefarmevents.com/contact/ 

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#11. High Hampton

𖡡 Cashiers, North Carolina

High Hampton is a 1400-acre North Carolina wedding venue offering packages inclusive of tables, chairs, tableware, catering, meals for the duration of your stay, valet parking, welcome amenities, activities, and more. This luxurious option for your Blue Ridge Mountain intimate wedding also offers special room blocks for you and yours. While information on their website is limited, you can request a proposal using this link: https://www.highhampton.com/groups/request-for-proposal

#12. The Crest Center

𖡡 Asheville, North Carolina; see a real wedding at The Crest Center here!

This Asheville, North Carolina wedding venue features stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains at both the glass-enclosed Pavilion--adorned in a canopy of twinkle lights--as well as through 86 feet of west-facing windows at the Crest Center. The Crest Center is capable of seating up to 200 guests at a formal dinner with a dance floor, and if that still isn’t enough space for your Blue Ridge Mountain wedding, the Mezzanine offers 1700 square feet of additional overflow space. Alternatively, the Crest Pavilion can seat up to 600 guests reception-style, and features a terrace with an outdoor fireplace, a built-in stage for live performances, and heaters for events taking place during the colder months. Find contact information for The Crest Center here: https://www.crestweddingsnc.com/contact/

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#13. Twickenham House

𖡡 Jefferson, North Carolina

Set on 400 acres of park-like grounds, Twickenham boasts stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, on-site accommodations, and multiple ceremony and reception locations across the property to choose from, including the indoor Twickenham Hall. Located in Jefferson, North Carolina, this Blue Ridge Mountain wedding venue offers both traditional weddings and microweddings—and a Twickenham House wedding planner will be there to support you every step of the way. You can connect with Twickenham House staff here: https://www.twickenhamhouse.com/check-your-date

#14. Douglas Ellington House

𖡡 Asheville, North Carolina

Nestled in a valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this historical North Carolina wedding venue is made available on a limited basis for intimate weddings. Less than 10 minutes from Asheville, the Douglas Ellington House prides itself on “turnkey event planning services” and also offers on-site accommodations to the couple in a one-bedroom cottage. For more information on booking the Douglas Ellington House for your intimate Blue Ridge Mountain wedding, you can reach out to the venue here: https://douglasellingtonhouse.com/request/index.html

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Found the perfect venue and now you need a photographer? Let’s chat!

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