Updated for 2027!

Ready to elope in Asheville? This guide is for you!

Planning an elopement is more than just choosing a beautiful location—it’s about finding a place that lets you slow down, be fully present, and celebrate your relationship in a way that feels true to you. And, that’s exactly why Asheville, NC has become the best place to elope on the East Coast!

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville offers a rare combination of beautiful scenery, creative culture, and endless adventure.

Read on for everything you need to know to elope in Asheville!

Quick tips:

• Apply for a marriage license. The Register of Deeds office in Asheville is open 8am to 5pm Monday-Friday. Arrive in person along with a valid photo ID AND your social security cards. Make sure you arrive before 4:30pm. The marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date issued (meaning you have 60 days to have an ordained, legal officiant to perform your ceremony and sign your license) and is valid for anywhere within the state of North Carolina.
• To avoid crowds, elope during the week. Elope at sunrise for even more privacy!
• Book a photographer that is familiar with the area. Contact me 🙂 I will also assist with suggesting vendors and helping with any permits you may need.
• Book an officiant! Your marriage will not be valid without an ordained minister or officiant in NC. The state of North Carolina requires an officiant and two witnesses to solemnize the marriage. See my suggested officiants in this post! If you want information as to why you should hire a professional officiant, click here for more info!
• Pick a location based on your comfort level for hiking and weather, etc. There is something for all comfort levels! I help with this step as well!

Read on for more helpful elopement tips!

Why Asheville is the Ultimate East Coast Elopement Destination

1. The Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains

One of the biggest reasons folks are eloping in Asheville, NC is the scenery. Asheville is surrounded by some of the oldest and most bio-diverse mountains in the world! The Blue Ridge Mountains create a dramatic, layered backdrop that feels wild yet accessible. From sweeping overlooks along the Blue Ridge Parkway to quiet forest trails leading to hidden waterfalls, Asheville offers endless ceremony locations that are intimate and unforgettable.

Whether you’re looking for a short, easy walk to a scenic overlook or prefer a more adventurous hike to exchange vows, Asheville offers a wide range of options for every comfort level—all without sacrificing the breathtaking mountain views.

2. Relaxed and Authentic Vibes With Incredible Food

One of the best parts of eloping in Asheville? The celebration doesn’t stop after the ceremony.

Asheville is a foodie haven, with award-winning restaurants and bakeries – perfect for a post-ceremony dinner, complete with a cake. On top of it being a foodie haven, it’s also known as “Beer City USA,” so you can toast with some of the best beer in the country! (My personal favorite is Burial!)

Additionally, Asheville, NC is a vibrant, eclectic city with a bustling arts and music scene! Downtown is walkable with tons of locally owned shops and places to explore.

At the edge of downtown, you’ll find the River Arts District (aka RAD) – a vibrant community of more than 700 artists. There you’ll find artist studios, shops, and local restaurants.

Check out 50 things to do https://www.exploreasheville.com/article/50-things-to-do-asheville-nc

3. Experience All Four Seasons—Each With Its Own Magic

There is no bad season to elope in Asheville!

• Spring brings wildflowers, rushing waterfalls, and fresh mountain air.
• Summer offers lush greenery, long golden evenings, and cooler temperatures than much of the Southeast. Experience the native Rhododendron and Flame Azalea blooms in June!
• Fall is legendary, with vibrant foliage painting the mountains in fiery reds and golds.
• Winter creates an intimate, moody atmosphere with misty peaks and quiet trails—perfect for couples who want to avoid the fall crowds.

No matter what season you want to elope in Asheville, NC, this area delivers an experience that feels intentional and unforgettable.

4. Endless Ways to Make the Day Yours

Eloping in Asheville doesn’t have to mean a quick ceremony and that’s it. You can:

• Hike to beautiful overlook to watch the sunrise (or sunset!)
• Exchange vows by a waterfall
• Picnic on the Blue Ridge Parkway
• Explore downtown Asheville
• Choose an activity that’s completely unique to you!

Afterwards, you can enjoy a campfire at your cabin under the stars.

Asheville gives you the freedom to create a wedding day that feels like you, while avoiding some cookie-cutter wedding day suck-fest!

5. A Laid-Back, Creative, “Be Yourself” Vibe

Asheville is known for its inclusive, come-as-you-are vibes. You can elope barefoot, wear non-traditional wedding attire, or craft a day that completely breaks the rules! Asheville’s progressive attitude makes it a welcoming city for any LGBTQ+ traveler! Plus, it’s home to one of the oldest gay bars in North Carolina: O’Henry’s!

This energy allows you to relax and be fully present. There’s no pressure to perform or impress. Your elopement can be exactly what you want it to be.

Why Eloping in Asheville, NC Just Feels Right

At its core, eloping in Asheville, NC is about connection—to nature, to each other, and to the future you’re stepping into together. With its stunning landscapes, creative spirit, and welcoming energy, Asheville isn’t just a place to get married—it’s a place to begin your marriage with presence and purpose. And, better yet, it’s a place that you can come back to over and over again!

If you’re wanting an elopement that feels less like a performance and more like an experience, Asheville may be exactly what you’re looking for.

First thing’s first:

Pick Your Elopement Date or Season

There is no wrong season to elope in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Obviously winter can come with its challenges – in part because most of the Blue Ridge Parkway closes which can prevent easy access to some great views. However, there are still plenty of options! With that said, Spring, Summer, and Fall gives you the greatest return for excellent locations. Deciding on the time of year you want elope in North Carolina gives you a great starting point.

Also, once you figure out which season you want to elope, you can better choose your wedding attire! I have a whole post on tips on how to choose your wedding attire. Check it out!

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect for each season:

Fall

The autumn color in the Blue Ridge Mountains is beyond anything! However, the majority of humans also feel this way. Autumn is an extremely busy time in Asheville as tourism really ramps up that time of year. I highly recommend eloping at sunrise on a weekday in the fall if you’re wanting privacy. Additionally, you’ll have a better chance of booking wedding vendors during the week as well as most Saturdays will get booked for larger weddings. I recommend you start booking your vendors and accommodations early as calendars fill up quickly (sometimes even two years out)!

Summer

Let me just say one thing about summer in the Blue Ridge Mountains – THE WILDFLOWERS! These mountains start POPPIN’ in June with wild rhododendrons. Many locations even have tunnels of them you can walk through or get married between! Who needs an extravagant floral arrangement when you can get married amongst wildflowers?! The lush, green scenery is magical too!

Additionally, Summer in Western North Carolina offers much cooler temps than the rest of the southeast as well. This makes for a very pleasant, less sweaty ceremony or hike to the ceremony location! The higher elevations can sometimes be 10 degrees cooler than the valleys!

Spring

Who doesn’t love Spring?! Spring is the rebirth where everything goes from brown to green, wildflowers start to bloom, the waterfalls start really flowing, and the mountains begin to come alive. The spring season can be rainy here in Asheville but isn’t rain on your wedding day good luck?! Even if it rains, I’m here for it. Don’t let the weather stop you from saying “I do”.

Spring offers fewer visitors so you can enjoy many of the more popular elopement locations in North Carolina without the crowds!

Winter

Don’t count out a winter elopement in North Carolina! Even though it can be quite chilly, it can be a blasy if you are prepared! WNC is less crowded in the winter time which leaves you with amazing locations all to yourself! Plus, you can always cozy up around a campfire if you get cold (just remember to extinguish your fire!).

Choose Your Vendors

Here are some of my favorite wedding vendors in North Carolina! I think it’s important to choose vendors that you’re aligned with – especially when it comes to an officiant. An officiant is just as important as choosing the right elopement photographer for you. You’ll be spending a lot of time with this person so make sure it’s someone you actually like! Here are some of my suggestions below!

Officiants

Vanessa Allen LaRotonda – Adventure Officiant www.adventureofficiant.com

Katherine Dupree – https://www.katherinedupree.com/

Amanda Jones – Happily Ever Asheville www.happilyeverasheville.com

Julia Albertson – Heartfelt Elopements www.heartfeltelopements.com

Florists

Carolina Flowers – https://carolinaflowers.com/

Bask Floral Studio – https://www.baskfloralstudio.com/

Videographers

Angelica Therese Films https://www.angelicatheresefilms.com/

Heartstrings Creative – https://heartstringscc.com/

Wedding Attire

Juniper James Bridal – www.juniperjamesbridal.com

Birchwood Bridal – https://birchwoodbridal.com/

Wildflower Bridal – https://www.wildflowerbridal.com/

Hair/Makeup

AnaRie – www.anarie.com

Bella Bridal Artistry – https://www.bellabridalartistry.com/

Private Chefs and Pop-up Picnics

Asheville Luxury Picnics https://www.ashevilleluxurypicnics.com/

Braised & Confit – https://www.braisedandconfit.com/

Chef Andreas – https://www.chefandreasavl.com/

Choose Your Location

Wondering where to elope near Asheville, NC? One of the best parts of my job is helping couples find the perfect location to say “I do”. So, here’s a quick little list to help you narrow down areas to hold your mountain adventure elopement! Here are the best places to elope near Asheville, NC!

There are many things to consider when choosing a location such as hiking ability (for you and/or your guests if you’ll have any), time of year, and time of day. Luckily, these locations have options for almost every situation!

1. Pisgah National Forest

360 degree mountain views, waterfalls, lush forests! Pisgah National Forest has it ALL! It’s more than 500,000 acres of beauty! No permit is required for any wedding or elopement ceremony under 75 guests. That being said, I wouldn’t recommend taking more than 20 guests for any ceremony held on public lands.

Whether you want an overlook with a short walk, or spend the day hiking to your ceremony location, Pisgah National Forest is a great place to elope near Asheville, NC!

One of the most popular locations within Pisgah is Black Balsam. There are views for days up there!

Fun fact: Pisgah National Forest was established in 1915 after the Vanderbilt family sold the federal government 86,700 acres of their land. Today, Pisgah National Forest encompasses 500,000 acres and 15 counties. George Vanderbilt was also the first American landowner to implement scientific forestry on a large scale. Pisgah National Forest was the birthplace of forestry management!

2. Linville Gorge Wilderness

Linville Gorge is part of The Pisgah National Forest but this location needed its own section. It’s about 1.5 hours from Asheville but it is worth the haul, I promise you! The views are incredible and there is something for just about everyone here. There are even locations that are handicapped/ADA accessible. This makes it a solid choice for anyone who wants to keep it simple or go on a raging adventure!

You can read my guide for eloping in this area here!

3. Roan Highlands

Roan Highlands is a series of balds along the NC/TN border. Balds are unique to the Appalachian Mountains and are quite incredible. While this place is magical in any season, the Rhododendrons and the Flame Azaleas are breathtaking when they bloom in June! You’ll feel like you’re Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music twirling on these mountaintops!

The Appalachian Trail goes right through this area making it perfect for any adventurous couple! But, this place is ideal for folks who want a great location without a big hike because the first bald is less than a mile from the parking area!

4. Nantahala National Forest

Located in the western most part of the state, Nantahala is the largest of the national forests in North Carolina. It has a whopping 531,148 acres with elevations ranging from 5,800 feet at Lone Bald in Jackson County to 1,200 feet in Cherokee County along Hiwassee River. “Nantahala” is a Cherokee word meaning “land of the noon day sun,” a fitting name for the Nantahala Gorge, where the sun only reaches to the valley floor at midday. It has some of the wettest lands in the country behind the Pacific Northwest.

Additionally, this area also offers tons of waterfalls!

Check out this backpacking elopement I did here back in 2020!

5. The Blue Ridge Parkway

Want epic mountain views without the hike? The Blue Ridge Parkway is perfect for that!

A $150 Special Use Permit is needed in order to hold your ceremony here. (Don’t stress – I can help with this!) Most locations/permits are limited to 10-25 people total (this includes the couple, guests, and vendors). Be aware that permits are not issued on federal holidays and federal holiday weekends, and take about 30 days to process.

You can learn more about the rules and regulations by visiting https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/wedding-permits.htm

Would you prefer a venue or an Airbnb to say “I Do” at? You’re in the luck! We have great options for those as well. Check out my other posts for those below!

10 Airbnbs Near Asheville For Your Small Wedding or Elopement

Best Small Wedding Venues with Mountain Views

Let’s get out there and elope!

I hope this helps you get started on dreaming up your perfect elopement in the Blue Ridge Mountains! Asheville, NC is a one of a kind place on the east coast and makes for an incredible place to say “I do!”.

I’d love to help you plan the most epic elopement or small wedding!

PS – If you’re considering other areas and want general info for eloping in North Carolina, you can find more info here.