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

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Planning Your Blue Ridge Mountain Elopement - The Ultimate Guide

Erika Packett

So you want to elope in the Blue Ridge Mountains…

I may be a little biased, but I think that the Blue Ridge Mountains are one of the most romantic places to say “I do.” with A LOT of options. Imagine an early morning hike with no one else on the trail, you find the perfect spot on a rock outcrop with 360 degrees of mountain views. There is a slight breeze as the sun rises peacefully and you exchange vows. Then you get to enjoy the hot coffee you packed in your thermos before some more exploring. Or you and a handful of your closest friends and family gather under tall pine trees for an intimate ceremony. You pop champagne after to celebrate and then send your family off while you hike to a beautiful spot for sunset and your first dance on a mountain top. Later you meet them at your Airbnb nestled in the mountains and have an amazing dinner catered with dessert by the bonfire.

Not being confined to a venue, there are a hundred ways to have your elopement or intimate wedding in the Blue Ridge Mountains. You could even turn it into a full day adventure and spend the whole day making epic memories, like taking a hot air balloon ride for the first time or taking a canoe out during sunset. Now with so many options, I understand it can be a little overwhelming especially if you aren’t too familiar with the area. That’s why I created this ultimate guide; walking you through places to stay, eat, hike and so much more.

One of my favorite things to do is help couples plan a unique adventure filled wedding day in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina.

Perks of the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains:

This portion of the Appalachian Trail passes through North Carolina is known for its scenery and shades of blue, of course. However, there are so many perks to choosing a Blue Ridge Mountain elopement. It’s the prime location for an intimate wedding or elopement because there are very accessible spots with immediately stunning views so your family can attend, or long rewarding trails for avid hikers that offer a lot of privacy. There is also an array of diverse locations, fern, and moss-covered forests, wide-open mountain balds, dense pine tree forests, rock outcrops, and waterfalls. You can’t go wrong no matter what you choose when adventuring in the Blue Ridge Mountains for your wedding.

I could write a book on all of the benefits (which I’m sure you are dying to read). But just to save time, I’m going to highlight a few of my favorite perks:

  • Your first dance on a freaking MOUNTAIN? Yes, please. 

  • You get to bring your dog!

  • The ceremony spot you choose will be all your own and somewhere special you can come back to and visit.

  • Among the mountains, there are two very close cities, Asheville and Boone, that offer great lodging, food, and additional activities.

  • You can explore a new trail or experience a new activity together for the first time.

  • Privacy.

  • The serenity of being surrounded by nature.

  • The views. I mean, come on… does this one need a further explanation?

A few things to note

Before we dive into the fun details of planning your Blue Ridge Mountain elopement, there are a few things we need to note. These are all things we will discuss again and more specifically depending on the time of year and the location you choose for your wedding day.

  • The Blue Ridge Parkway is a popular highway that runs across the Blue Ridge Mountains from Virginia to North Carolina. The popular locations and trails accessed directly on the parkway require a wedding permit. However, there are plenty of beautiful spots off of the parkway where you can have your wedding. Also, keep in mind wedding permits for the parkway are not issued during the month of October due to the high volume of tourists.

  • You are not permitted to have flowers on the official parkway. This includes cut flowers for bouquets and potted plants. Live plants may contain insects or unwanted pests that could be introduced into the park. There are many other options for flowers and I’ll be sharing a journal post about that soon!

  • Winter can be tricky as the parkway frequently closes for the winter months, however, if you are dreaming of a winter wedding there are options!

  • You’ll need appropriate shoes for hiking. You can always switch once we’ve reached a location but to be safe and comfortable you’ll want hiking boots or tennis shoes.

  • Layer up! The weather is always changing. Come prepared and leave no room for surprises here.

  • Allow about an hour for each hiking mile.

  • Bring snacks and water. (To accompany your champagne and donuts!)

  • Be aware of the Leave No Trace policy. In order for couples to have their wedding in the mountains, we must take care of them. My business adheres to the LNT policy and I do my best to respect nature and not take it for granted. I don’t expect my couples to have the policy memorized or anything but awareness and education are so important so we can continue to enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountains.

  • Sunrise is always the least busy time to go; as are weekdays.

  • Don’t worry, we won’t be taking pictures the WHOLE time. One of the benefits of an adventurous wedding is the time you get to spend exploring, hiking, and taking in the views.

  • The cities of Asheville and Boone are nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains and are great reference points or areas to stay/explore so you will see a lot of references to both throughout this post! Yep, I included options for BOTH!

Ok! Now that that’s settled, let’s get started...

Choosing a Location

This is just a sneak peek into the popular and stunning locations Blue Ridge Parkway has to offer to give you an idea of the diverse landscape. I will help you with location scouting once we get to chat about what you want and what is important to you! We can discuss longer or shorter trails, easier or harder trails, less 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!

Some of my favorite locations:

  • Chimneys Hike, Linville Gorge

    This one starts in the woods and opens up to a ridgeline hike with 360-degree views, south of Boone, North Carolina. Read more about this dreamy elopement location in this blog.

  • 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.

  • Hawksbill Mountain

    This is a fun hike and gorgeous rock outcrop south of Boone with views of the Linville Gorge. Check out this elopement at Hawksbill.

  • Devil’s Courthouse

    A very steep but very short climb to an overlook with epic views that can be used for portraits. This wedding started at Devil’s Courthouse, check out the blog to get an idea of the views it offer.

  • Roan Mountain State Park

    Roan mountain offers a ridge-top hike across grassy balds, these are wide open mountain tops without any trees or coverage so you are surrounded by views and less people. It also has a stunning display of rhododendrons flowers in June. It is right over the Tennessee border but well worth the drive. Check out this engagement session at Roan Mountain.

Where to Stay

One of the most important parts of your elopement is where you are going to stay! With Asheville and Boone nearby, you have plenty of options that will add to your wedding experience. Also…have you considered getting married at an Airbnb? It’s a great option if you want to invite guests. There are the added perks of a getting ready space before and a place to relax after. You can easily have an amazing meal catered there. And you can enjoy the benefits of a hot tub, a deck, or a fire pit, all with stunning mountain views. Plus you can always head to the trail for a hike or epic views after your ceremony. Pro tip - during the fall peak season it is tough to find lodging so think ahead! Here are a few on my list for noteworthy lodging:

Asheville:

The Windsor Hotel - A boutique and uniquely decorated hotel

“The Nest” Treehouse - Yes, a treehouse!

This 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 Omni Grove Park Inn - You must check out the grotto inspired subterranean spa!

Modern AirBnb in the Trees - Modern meets nature, can’t go wrong.

The Cutest Cottage - The decor is everything here.

This A-Frame - Plus it has a hot tub!

A Converted Shipping Container - Another glamping option with privacy and an amazing outdoor fireplace.

This Airbnb - With the best deck.

Boone:

The Horton Hotel - Downtown Boone with a rooftop bar

 Luxury Yurt  - How many people can say they’ve stayed in a Yurt?

This Airbnb - Has the most amazing view and a deck swing to enjoy them.

A-Frame - I’m obsessed with this one tucked in the woods but minutes from downtown Boone! The interior decor is perfection.

Norwegian Inspired A-frame - Take a peek at the styled shoot we did here! 

Things to Do

If you’re traveling to the Blue Ridge Mountains, chances are, you’re planning to make a weekend trip out of it. There is so much to do, trust me, you’ll want to stay a few extra days. Plus one of the benefits of choosing to elope or have a smaller wedding, your budget gets to be spent on YOU, not feeding 200+ guests, or renting chairs for everyone, or having table cloths for 20 tables.

Celebrate your love and new life together in the best way possible, adventuring, and creating memories you’ll never forget.

  •  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?

  • White water rafting in Boone at High Mountain Expeditions. If you’ve never been white water rafting, this is something I highly recommend. It is such a blast and makes the perfect addition to your summer weekend adventure! 

  • Ziplining - Are you a thrill-seeker? Look no further than the Hawksnest Zipline Tour in Boone.

Food Options

Asheville has a strong restaurant scene with more options but cozy downtown Boone has some great finds as well. You can book a private room at a restaurant, have a meal catered to your Airbnb, or organize a great picnic (p.s. there are vendors that can do this for you!)

And these offer great catering options:

Now, get married!!!

Whether you’ve just started toying with the idea of eloping in the Blue Ridge Mountains or know exactly what you want, I’m here to help! You’re not alone! But first and foremost remember, you don’t have to settle and your wedding day is not less than because you’re not having a traditional wedding. This day is all about you and your love and now you have the opportunity to design a day to celebrate exactly how you want.

Are you ready to start planning your Blue Ridge Mountain Elopement?