How To Elope at Black Balsam Knob

If you’ve been researching locations for your elopement in the mountains of North Carolina, chances are you’ve come across Black Balsam Knob during your searches. This is a highly requested location so I created a guide for planning the most perfect Black Balsam elopement!

This spot is a one-stop-shop whether you’re eloping or having a small wedding with your favorite people! The views here are like no other and there’s a little something for everyone! 360 degree mountain views, forests, fields, nearby waterfalls, and more, all just about an hour from downtown Asheville, NC! There’s a reason this is one of the most popular places to elope in North Carolina! Plus, if you have less than 75 guests (which I really wouldn’t recommend bringing that many to a national forest anyway), no permit is required!

In this guide, I’m going to show you real life Black Balsam elopements and give you lots of tips from a local expert (Hi! That’s me!). Let’s dive in!

Quick Tips For Your Black Balsam Elopement:

• For the most privacy, elope on a weekday at sunrise
• Parking is very limited – carpool if you’re including guests
• No permit is required for elopements or smaller ceremonies
• Apply for a marriage license at any North Carolina county Register of Deeds office. The license is valid for 60 days and can be used anywhere in NC
• Weather can change quickly so bring layers – a raincoat never hurts either! Here are tips for what to wear for your mountain elopement.
• REMEMBER TO LEAVE NO TRACE AND PACK OUT WHAT YOU PACK IN!

Best Seasons to Elope at Black Balsam

The easiest way to access Black Balsam is via The Blue Ridge Parkway. However, the parkway closes for the winter so Black Balsam is really only accessible April – November unless you want to do a pretty lengthy hike.

Let’s break it down by season so you know what to expect!

Spring (April – May)

Spring in the Blue Ridge Mountains is when everything starts to come to life! In early spring, you can see the green leaves beginning to work their way up the mountains. You see, Black Balsam Knob has much shorter seasons due to its elevation of 6,214′. So, while you can expect the trees to begin budding in Asheville (2,134′) in mid-March, places higher in elevation like Black Balsam won’t see green trees until late April or early May. But, don’t worry! The beauty is beyond compare even when the trees are leafless! That being said, I do recommend a May elopement date for warmer temps and spring blooms. With the elevation being so high, the temps can be about 10 degrees cooler than Asheville.

Here are the pros and cons of eloping in the spring:

Pros:

• Less crowds which equals more privacy!

Cons:

• Colder temps
• Risks of road closures, especially in early April. I’ve seen it snow up there in April!

Summer (June – August)

Ahhh summer in the Blue Ridge Mountains! Remember how I mentioned the cooler temps in the higher elevations? Well those come in really handy when it’s hot af outside!

The wildflowers really start to pop in the summer months as well! You can expect to see rhododendrons, flame azaleas, and more!

With the milder temps and wildflowers also comes the summer crowds. Black Balsam is a very popular place to hike and camp so parking can become an issue too. I highly recommend a weekday, sunrise elopement for more privacy and more parking!

Pros:

• Cooler temps than other south east areas in the summer
• Wildflowers, green trees and fields,

Cons:

• More crowds
• Limited parking

Fall (September – November)

Autumn in the Blue Ridge Mountains is by far the most popular season! And for good reason! If you’ve never experienced fall here, it’s truly magical. There’s just something about these mountains saturated in golds and reds that can make your jaw drop!

The fall color hits Black Balsam earlier than the lower elevations and peaks around mid-October typically. By the last week of October the leaves have fallen from the trees in the higher elevations.

This beautiful time of year also brings very large crowds and increased traffic on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Traveling to different locations takes extra time so plan accordingly!

Pros:

• Holy beautiful, Batman!
• Did I mention the colors and the views?

Cons:

• Very busy, large crowds
• Parking is challenging
• Heavy traffic, increased travel times

Black Balsam Weather

As an elopement photographer that spends quite a bit of time in these mountains, I’ve seen just about every weather scenario Mother Nature can throw at you! So, trust me when I say that Black Balsam is a whole mood! The weather there changes quickly due to its elevation. This type of environment brings more wind and clouds than other areas around Western North Carolina. In the summer months (ok, other months too), there can be fast-moving storms that appear. But, if you’re lucky enough to have them miss you, it’s an awesome experience to watch them roll through in the distance!

All of that being said, if you see rain in the forecast for your elopement at Black Balsam, never fear! I’ve photographed elopements there that had 100% rain in the forecast and we only saw it blow on by us. Conversely, I’ve seen the opposite scenario too!

If you’re not scared of a little weather, you can be greatly rewarded by the moodiest, most ethereal photographs ever!

Tips For Including Guests

In Pisgah National Forest where Black Balsam is located, no special use/wedding permits are required if you’re including less than 75 guests. However, I strongly urge folks to not take more than 15-25 guests to most national forest areas for elopements. Including too many guests increases safety risks for not only your guests, but for the environment too. There are rare plant species that cover Black Balsam and it’s important to preserve these areas.

One bonus to Black Balsam that makes it fairly conducive for including guests is the pine forest. It’s great for guests with limited mobility or health concerns since it’s right off the road at the parking area. There are many flat areas, just beware of all the roots!

If you have guests who can hike a bit, it’s only about a quarter of a mile climb to the first little overlook.

When including guests, keep in mind that everyone should carpool, bring layers, and comfortable shoes. High heels or wedges are not recommended! Rain jackets encouraged because you just never know!

Final Thoughts

All in all, Black Balsam is a great location for your mountain elopement! The accessibility and views alone make it a top spot in Western North Carolina.

I hope these tips help!

If you’re looking for more information on how to elope in North Carolina, click here!