a mountaintop elopement
zoie and jack reached out to me in august with a request to capture their love story while they were on their honeymoon in beautiful western north carolina, i was immediately thrilled! the incredible couple eloped on september 13th, 2023 in their home state of florida.
since they had a small courthouse elopement, they came to our photo session in early december with their wedding dress/tux on and looked STUNNING!
enough of me yapping, here are some of my favorite photos from the day <3
a guide to planning a wedding/elopement in western north carolina
wedding planning is hard work, let me help you out.
wedding planning can be SO overwhelming (speaking from experience), let me help you out with that! western north carolina is such a gem, with beautiful scenery, incredible vendors, as well as tons of lodging options. all of this combined make this area a very popular destination wedding location! i have created this quick list of awesome wedding vendors to help you with a bit of the planning logistics and help make your planning as stress free as possible.
please feel free to share this with any recently engaged couple :)
Venues
this is one of the hardest, but most important parts! whether you are eloping, or having a big wedding, the first thing you need to think of is the location!
option 1 - eloping
eloping has become SO popular in the recent years for a great reason, small intimate gatherings are less stressful! pick a stunning location and invite your closest family and friends. here are a few incredible elopement locations near the area.
Max Patch, NC
this is a beautiful location along the Appalachian Trail, right on the border of NC and TN. with a fairly short hike and slight elevation gain, this stunning bald is an incredible spot to elope! however, leave no trace is extremely important in this area as the bald has faced extreme damage due to overcamping and overcrowding. please keep your group as small as possible and be prepared for minimal parking. as Max Patch sits along the Appalachian Trail, no drone photography is allowed, so please keep that in mind!
Black Balsam Knob, NC
this incredible location is just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Pisgah National Forest. No permit is required to elope here, and the views are insane! parking here is limited as well, so keep that in mind as you are planning your invitations.
option two - a wedding venue
there are incredible options near by for a stunning wedding ceremony followed by a reception. here are a couple venue options!
Overlook Barn - Banner Elk, NC
i may be a bit biased (i had my own wedding here!), but Overlook Barn is INCREDIBLE! the staff are so kind and extremely helpful when making sure your day is perfect. this location has multiple ceremony locations and reception options as well, plus stunning bride and groom suites!
The Parker Mill - Whittier, NC
this is another stunning wedding venue option boasting incredible views and stunning ceremony, reception, and cocktail hour locations. they also have stunning getting ready locations, and are pet friendly!
officiants
this person is SUCH an important part of your day, this is who makes the magic happen!
Happily Ever Asheville
created by Amanda, she has put together a wonderful team of officiants that are willing to go the extra mile to make your day incredible! Amanda was my officiant at my wedding and made sure our day was perfect, and was super willing to fully customize our entire ceremony. plus they’re LGBTQ+ friendly!
All the Things Ceremonies
Gina is the owner and Reverend of All the Things Ceremonies. she ensures every couple is heard and is LGBTQ+ friendly! with many raving reviews, Gina is sure to be a perfect officiant for your big day!
Bar and Florals
these will help your whole day come together! food, beer, and flowers help to make every event perfect.
Bar - Jack’s 47 Mobile Bar
Bryce is a great bartender and Jack’s 47 is one of the most unique options around! boasting an awesome fleet of vintage trucks and bar carts, your guests are sure to be impressed by the bar service at your wedding.
Florals - Snake Song
Snake Song prides themselves in growing much of their own florals! the bouquets and arrangements are stunning and the owners are so kind. they are extremely willing to make your dreams happen.
*all photos are obtained from the businesses themselves - not my own :)