7 Gorgeous Elopement Locations Near Asheville, NC

Asheville is one of my absolute FAVORITE cities to visit, and every time I’m in the area I’m always so in love with how beautiful it is! Growing up with family in North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Mountains have always held a special place in my heart. Even when I was younger and just starting out with photography (with my premium 90’s pink Barbie Polaroid camera, of course) it was an area I always loved photographing. And now that I work with couples on helping them plan and photographing their elopements, I’m so ready to circle back and talk about some gorgeous elopement locations near Asheville!

Asheville is surrounded by gorgeous scenery – mountains, waterfalls, forests, you name it!! There is so much variety and adventure to be found in the area, which makes it an amazing place to elope. I’m so excited to get into 7 of the most gorgeous elopement locations near Asheville!

What to Know About Eloping in Asheville

Asheville is one of the most beautiful, funky little towns tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains. The town is known for its colorful community, blossoming art scene, and a thriving food and craft beer scene.

One of the best parts about Asheville is that it blends the access to a city with all of the incredible nature that area has to offer. This combination makes it an absolutely incredible place to elope or plan your micro wedding!

If you are looking to plan your own Asheville elopement, here are some good things to get started with!

How to Get Married in North Carolina

Every state has their own rules and regulations for what is required to get married there. For North Carolina, you are required to have a licensed officiant as well as two witnesses. To get a marriage license, both you and your partner have to visit the Register of Deeds office in person. You will also have to provide your social security number, and bring your birth certificates or ID!

Think About What Kind of Ceremony You Want

Asheville truly has something to offer for every kind of person. In this area alone you could plan a waterfall elopement, mountain elopement, city elopement, or even elope at a gorgeous venue! There are so many beautiful places to explore, spend some time considering what kind of elopement would mean the most to you!

Find Out if You Need a Permit

Many of the areas around Asheville in the mountains require a permit. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park requires a special use permit, that costs $50 and has a list of locations to choose from with a 25 person limit. The Blue Ridge Parkway also has a list of acceptable locations, costs $150, and are also limited to 25 people (including you and any vendors)!

When to Elope in Asheville

Asheville has something to offer you in every season, depending on what your vision is! In the winter, a lot of the mountains experience snow and cold weather – so if that’s your kind of adventure, that’s perfect! Spring and early summer are BEAUTIFUL, with flowers blooming and beautiful greenery depending on when you are looking. Summer is when Asheville is at its busiest with tourists, but the weather is warm and gorgeous. Fall is also one of the best times to experience the Asheville, with the fall colors cascading over the mountains!

Asheville Elopement AirBnBs

There’s no feeling like waking up on your wedding day in a beautiful home. Especially if you are eloping with loved ones. Then you will have a beautiful space as a home base or to celebrate a little reception! I found three gorgeous event-friendly AirbnBs in the Asheville area that would be amazing for an elopement or Micro Wedding.

Haw Creek Hideaway

This gorgeous home is only 5 miles from downtown Asheville and the Biltmore Estate. It gets rave reviews for its beautiful decor, comfortable beds, great amenities, and an amazing view!

Appalachian Rainforest Oasis

If you love decks overlooking mountains, cozy cabin vibes, and mountains with a view – this one’s for you! This gorgeous cabin has everything you’d need for a beautiful stay in the mountains. Can you imagine a dinner on that deck with a mountain view?!

Leicester Valley Cabin

Deep in the mountains around Asheville, this absolutely stunning cabin is tucked away overlooking a valley. The inside is absolutely GORGEOUS, with a beautiful, cozy, updated cabin feel. The house has a ton of amenities and a beautiful deck overlooking the valley as well!

7 Gorgeous Elopement Locations Near Asheville, NC

Alright, now that we’ve gone over some things to know about eloping in Asheville, let’s get into some locations! These are some of the best in the area, with gorgeous scenery and places to explore. I hope you find one you love!

Moore Cove Falls

Moore Cove Falls is a gorgeous, 50 foot waterfall located in the Pisgah National Forest. The hike follows an easy path through the woods for under a mile, and winds past rhododendrons and wildflowers which is SO PRETTY! This is an amazing spot to elope if you’re looking for a waterfall that’s a little more underrated, as this one isn’t as busy as some others in the area. You can walk up to the falls, through the cave around them, and even into them if you are feeling brave!

Black Balsam Knob

Black Balsam Knob is accessed via a gorgeous 1.4 mile hike along the Art Loeb trail. You’ll walk through a beautiful woodland area, and over the rolling mountains on your way to the bald. There are view of the mountains around you from every angle, and on a clear day you can even see the Smoky Mountains! This location can get busy because of its accessibility, so choosing to get married there on a weekday or a sunrise/sunset is a good call!

Shortoff Mountain

If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, this is an amazing location. This mountain peak is accessed via a 5-mile out and back trail, and has a 1200ft elevation gain – so definitely a little more challenging! However, the reward at the top is worth it. There are breathtaking views of the gorge below, and depending on the time of year you may see blooming wildflowers!

Blue Ridge Parkway

Arguably one of the most iconic roads in North Carolina, this area is also known for being a beautiful area to get married. It’s a winding road that takes you through 450+ miles of untouched nature. There is truly SO MUCH beauty here and so many areas to explore for every kind of couple that one paragraph will absolutely not cover it! You can see the NPS website on where you can get married within the park and additional permit information here. If this area interests you, don’t worry – I’ll be happy to help you narrow down on what locations will be the best for you and the vision for your day!! 🙂

Grassy Ridge Bald

Another beautiful place to explore for those who love a slightly longer hike! You can access this location via Carver’s Gap, and is roughly 5 miles out and back within the Roan Highlands along the Appalachian Trail. The stretch is a vast stretch of grassy overlooks with amazing views of the surrounding mountains! You’ll wind through patches of rhododendron thickets, and even maybe see a rare gray lily – a flower that is indigenous to the area!

Hawksbill Mountain

The mountain is a prominent peak within the Linville Gorge Wilderness of the Pisgah National Forest. The hike to access the peak is only 2.2 miles, and you’ll get sweeping views of the beautiful nearby peaks! The summit of the mountain has gorgeous, unique rock formations which are absolute amazing for some adventurous elopement photos. It’s famous for being a beautiful location to experience sunrise as well!

Linville Falls

These falls are a 3-tiered, 90 ft waterfall along the Blue Ridge Parkway at the start of the Linville Gorge! There are multiple trails to access these falls, that take you past beautiful cascades and overlooks of the water. People refer to the area as the Grand Canyon of the Southern Appalachians because of how beautiful it is! It’s an amazing area for an adventurous elopement!

Asheville Elopement Photographer

Asheville is such an incredible place to get married. There are so many incredible places to explore for your elopement or intimate wedding! Whether you are envisioning being on a mountain, in front of a waterfall, or tucked into the woods – there are so many places for you here!

If you’re starting to plan your dream Asheville elopement, you’re in the right place! As an elopement and micro wedding photographer, I have years of experience helping couples plan their day from the ground up.We can dream up unique ways to make your celebration just right (and of course have everything photographed beautifully)!!