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Asheville’s #1 Elopement & Micro Wedding Photographer reveals Asheville, North Carolina’s Best Mountain Wedding Venues
As a WNC native and Asheville local with more than fifteen years’ industry experience working as a professional Wedding Photographer in Asheville, North Carolina, it would make sense for me to share helpful, insider information about some of Asheville’s Best Mountain Wedding Venues for your Elopement or Micro-Wedding in Asheville!
I spent about fourteen years shooting large, grand 150+ guest Weddings in Asheville and it’s surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains (and around the world actually)! After COVID and when my son started kindergarten, I could feel my priorities begin to shift. I wanted to focus more on my Family Photography business (Asheville Portrait Company) and to significantly reduce the number of large weddings that I would take on each year and I wanted to specialize in Micro Weddings and Elopements in Asheville!
All those years of experience allowed me to work at some of the most beautiful wedding venues that Western North Carolina has to offer! Writing about Asheville’s Best Mountain Wedding Venues seemed like a logical first blog post for this new Micro-Weddings & Elopement focused website!
What is an Elopement?
Recently, the way people use the words elope and elopement seems to have shifted. Eloping no longer means “running away from furious and disapproving parents in the dead of night in order to get hitched,” and instead just means “a small wedding” with guests lists typically including up to 10 guests — often just immediate family or your closest friends. I wanted to share a few of my favorite Asheville Mountain Wedding Venues to Elope!
Best Mountain View Elopement Locations (in the City of Asheville):
UNCA Botanical Gardens & Obsrvatory – Just about 5 minutes north of downtown Asheville, on the edge of UNCA Asheville’s campus, you’ll find the UNCA Botanical Gardens which in the summer, if filled with beautiful, native flowers and plants. There’s a creek that runs through the property with giant river rocks and pretty bridges! It’s quiet, secluded and a great place, right in the heart of the city for a quick elopement ceremony! A short drive away from the gardens, is the observatory which offers BIG, long range ridge line views without much of a ‘hike’ — more like a ten minute uphill walk! The view is westward and is a beautiful sunset location! You can learn more on their website, located here: UNCA Botanical Gardens
NC Arboretum – Located about 15 minutes south of downtown Asheville, it doesn’t get much better than this! With gorgeous gardens, forrest, fields, fences, pathways and blue ridge mountain views, there’s no shortage of beautiful backdrops for an elopement ceremony + portraits! And, it’s situated on the edge of the Blue Ridge Parkway! It’s the perfect location for an elopement for folks who want a low key, natural, floral, mountain elopement, not too far outside the city! Learn more about the Arboretum here: NC Arboretum
Haiku I Do – Haiku could really be listed in the Elopement, Micro-Wedding and Traditional Wedding Category because Haiku can do all the things! AND, they have a mountain top sister venue called Sky Mountain with beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain + Downtown Asheville Views! Haiku is located minutes from Downtown Asheville in beautiful Biltmore Village. Enter through the circle gate and leave the city behind! The whimsical Zen Garden, stunning chapel, and ample indoor/outdoor spaces create the perfect setting for your wedding or special event.
If you’re already thinking to yourself: “man, these photos are gorgeous, I want my Wedding Photos to be this beautiful!” I’ve got some good news for you! You can have even more beautiful weddings photos! All you have to do is reach out! We can totally make it happen!
Brittany’s Portfolio & Pricing
Best Mountain Wedding Venues (Outside the City):
Something Blue Mountain Venue – This one is in my hometown, a little small, mountain town, about 30 minutes east of Asheville proper and it has absolutely stunning, panoramic Blue Ridge Mountain views! I am dy-ing to get out there, so if you’re booking there, please, for the love of all things holy, holla at’cha girl! You can learn more about the venue here: Something Blue Mountain Venue
The Ridge – The Ridge can really be included for each category as they offer Elopement, Micro-Wedding and Traditional Wedding packages! Whether you are chasing mountains from out of town, or you live 20 minutes away, Elopements & Micro Weddings at The Ridge are perfect for the couples who want to keep their wedding day intimate and simple (and also beautiful)! What better way to say “I Do” than being surrounded by the serenity of the mountains? Elopements & Micro Weddings are available year round at The Ridge, Monday-Thursday! The folks at The Ridge are the best of the best and they know that all of their couples have a different visions for their Elopement or Micro-Wedding and of course, they offer different Elopement & Micro Wedding packages to make each dream come true! Each package includes 5 hours of ceremony and reception time, unlimited alcohol, food, staff, equipment and décor! Learn more about booking your Micro Wedding or Elopement at The Ridge on their website, located here: The Ridge
For the Adventurous Couples — Out IN the Blue Ridge:
Some of the most popular Elopement Locations out IN the Blue Ridge Mountains are stunning, quintessential Asheville Elopement locations, however, one important consideration is that — all of them require a moderate hike to reach the view points! This does not mean that it can’t be done! Most couples wear comfortable shoes up to the top!
Craggy Pinnacle Elopements
Craggy Gardens / Pinnacle is going to be the closest Adventure Elopement Location to the city! It’s about a 45min – 1hr drive outside of Asheville + a 25 minute or so moderate hike to the top (depending on how fast you hike)! The best time of year for a Craggy Pinnacle Elopement is going to be late April – late September as the leaves will be gone from that elevation by early – mid October and it gets very cold and often windy up there. It’s entirely unpredictable at that elevation — I’ve been up there in mid October and it’s been snowing! You can learn more about Craggy Gardens / Pinnacle on the Blue Ridge Parkway website, located here: Craggy Pinnacle
Max Patch Elopements
Situated on the North Carolina / Tennessee border along the Appalachian Trail (about an hour and fifteen minutes west of downtown Asheville + a 25ish minute walk to the top / an easy’ish, gradual incline), Max Patch is a stunning bald mountain (with tall prairy grasses) renowned for it’s 360 degree panoramic Blue Ridge Mountain Views! Max Patch is a popular choice for Elopements in WNC because well, it looks like a post card! Learn more about Max Patch here: Max Patch.org
Black Balsam Knob Elopements
Black Balsam is one of the most popular Elopement locations on the Blue Ridge Parkway and it’s no wonder why! The diversity of landscape at Black Balsam Knob is just stunning! Thing: Evergreen / Pine wood forrest that opens up to rocky cliffs, followed by grassy balds with 360 degree Blue Ridge Mountain views + wildflowers in the summer! It’s definitely of my favorites! Situated along the Blue Ridge Parkway, you can get to the trailhead in about an hour and fifteen minutes driving south on the BRPW from Asheville + a 25ish minute gradual / moderate hike to the top! You can learn more about Black Balsam on the Asheville Trails Website, located here: Black Balsam Knob
Wiseman’s View Elopements
Wiseman’s View is located about an hour and a half north east of Asheville in the Linville Gorge Wilderness. This is a fantastic option for your Elopement if you want BIG views without any hiking! The only major consideration is that you’ll need an SUV or definitely a 4 wheel drive vehicle to reach Wiseman’s View as it’s on 105 — which is a gravel / dirt access road that is not regularly or well maintained. It can be steep and rutted out in some places due to erosion, rain and traffic. You can learn more about planning a Wiseman’s View Elopement here: Wiseman’s View
Blue Ridge Parkway Overlooks
Another great option if you want big, pretty mountain views without any hiking is to choose a Blue Ridge Parkway overlook for your Elopement or Micro-Wedding Ceremony. You’ll want to choose an overlook that’s way out there / not heavily trafficked. The only thing about this option is that there will likely be vehicle traffic and there may be some motorists pulling into the overlook to take in the view while your ceremony is going on. This could be distracting. But, if you’re thoughtful about time of year, day of the week, time of day, etc…. I once photographed a micro-wedding ceremony on the BRPW, on a weekday in November, right at sunset and no one was there, it was gorgeous (and chilly – but if you plan accordingly, it’s not that big of a deal!)
What is a Micro Wedding?
Micro-Weddings exploded onto the scene in 2021 after COVID! A Micro-Wedding, as it’s name suggests, is just a smaller version of a traditional wedding with guest lists typically including up to 50 guests—often immediate family and super-close friends only. I wanted to share a few of Asheville’s Best Mountain Wedding Venues to host your Micro-Wedding in Asheville!
June Bug Retro RV Resort – June Bug should really make the list for Elopement, Micro-Wedding AND Traditional Wedding Locations as it can do all the things! As an added bonus, it’s got that quirky, eclectic WNC mountain vibe that drew you here and Charlene (the owner) is the absolute best there ever was of a human! Trust. You can learn more here: June Bug Retro RV Resort
Claxton Farm – Claxton could also make the list for a Micro or a traditional Wedding! Located just about 25 minutes north of downtown Asheville, in Weaverville, this lovely venue is the most gorgeous, low key, mountain venue! Think: stunning, in your face mountain views, rolling hills with tall grass, open fields, pretty pathways, a pond with weeping willows and mountain views and they even have farm animals and I’m obsessed! You can learn more about Claxton here: Claxton Farm
Castle Ladyhawke – One thing that I hear a lot of my couples say that they’re looking for in a Micro-Wedding venue is on-site or nearby accommodations for their guests! If you and your loved ones want to feel like true royalty, look no further than Castle Ladyhawke in the Western North Carolina mountains (located just about an hour west of Asheville, near Sylva / Wester Carolina University)! The Mountain View Lawn offers an incredibly picturesque location to say “I do”, positioned perfectly in front of the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, while The Great Hall’s outstanding acoustics make it perfect for live music and dancing! Toss in the amenity-filled accommodations at nearby Bear Lake Reserve and all that the charming mountain town of Sylva has to offer and Castle Ladyhawke becomes a true destination wedding for couples who love the mountains of WNC! Learn more about hosting your Micro-Wedding at Castle Ladyhawke on their websitem located here: Castle Ladyhawke
Best Mountain Wedding Venues (for Traditional Weddings):
The Farm, A Gathering Place- I’ve had a long term love affair with The Farm! I can’t even count the number of beautiful mountain weddings that I’ve shot there over the years and each time, I just love the whole vibe so much! There is no such thing as a “standard wedding” at The Farm! Each couple has their own unique personality and their wedding at The Farm will reflect that perfectly. They have a terrific team of licensed Wedding Coordinators and a stable of trusted local vendors that will help you bring any vision to life! The facilities are versatile and accommodating, designed to encompass the change of seasons and ensuring stunning weddings that embrace the picturesque Blue Ridge mountains. The beautifully manicured property offers an Indoor/Outdoor Event Center, Pavilion, multiple romantic ceremony sites and unique Chef’s Table perfect for rehearsal dinners and wedding brunches (bonus: there’s plenty of lodging on site!) Learn more about all that The Farm has to offer on their website, located here: The Farm
Chestnut Ridge Events – First, most all of the images used in this blog post were shot at a Chestnut Ridge Events Wedding last summer! What a stunning, mountain wedding venue — am I right!? Chestnut Ridge is located just about 30 minutes west of downtown Asheville in a little mountain town called Canton! This venue is way more than just these incredible mountain views, the best things about this lovely venue (in my opinion) are the facilities and the staff! Seriously, second to none! Check out this gorgeous reception space:
If you’d like to learn more about Chestnut Ridge Events for your Wedding, you can do so on their website, located here: Chestnut Ridge
Oh You Fancy, Huh!? Best Mountain Wedding Venues (Luxury Edition):
Although, I’m not taking on too many traditional, large, grand weddings these days, I will come out of retirement for the right weddings!! (read: at these Luxurious Mountain Wedding Venues!)
Grove Park Inn – If you’re looking for a truly beautiful, “quintessential Asheville experience” for your guests, look no further than Grove Park Inn for your luxury Asheville Wedding Venue! Grove Park Inns’ wedding venues cater to both large or small events with over 86,000 square feet of event space, including the Grand and Heritage ballrooms. The outdoor Vanderbilt Terrace is the perfect location for saying “I do” amid stunning, long range, ridge line views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and downtown Asheville! A range of indoor and outdoor venues can be arranged specifically for your plans, and they offer comprehensive menus, programs and activities for guests before and after your big celebration! You can learn more about planning a Grove Park Inn Wedding on their website, located here: Grove Park Inn Weddings
The Cliffs – I am all in, literally any day for a Cliffs Wedding! Perched on the edge of Glassy Mountain, The Cliffs at Glassy Chapel has long been celebrated as one of the country’s most breathtaking ceremony spaces. Awe-inspiring views — as far as 75-miles on a clear day — set the stage for a truly stunning celebration. The glass-enclosed chapel allows guests to bask in the splendor of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains while you exchange your vows in a rustic, intimate and simply spectacular setting! Learn more about the Cliffs Weddings on their website, located here: Cliffs at Glassy Chapel
Biltmore Estate – Quite literally: Where Wedding Dreams Come True! Biltmore Estate offers timeless elegance, romance, and breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountain beauty like no other venue in WNC can! Biltmore Estate is the perfect, fairy tale place to say “I do.” Well versed in the Vanderbilt tradition of gracious hospitality, their expert staff is uniquely positioned to bring your vision, no matter how grand, to life designing unforgettable wedding ceremony, reception, and wedding party events that will transcend all of your expectations! Learn more about Biltmore Estate Weddings on their website, located here: Biltmore Weddings
