What is an elopement wedding? To “elope” used to mean to run away or to run away and secretly get married, or even more scandalously, it was the action of a married woman escaping with a new lover. (Apparently, men never did such a thing!)

Thankfully, these days the term “elopement” means to have an intimate wedding. The purist version of an elopement includes just the couple, the wedding officiant, and usually a photographer. However, the term also refers to micro-weddings – or weddings with a maximum of 25 guests – and keeping the details simple. 

Couples choose to elope to focus on their commitment and hope for their future instead of stressing over all the details involved in planning and executing a big wedding. However, elopement ceremonies can still include some of the most meaningful symbols of weddings: a wedding dress, a cake, bubbly drinks, flowers, personal vows, a ritual that’s true to you, and lots of emotional moments. 

Elopements are also budget-friendly and allow you to have the wedding and the honeymoon simultaneously! Another plan many couples implement now is to elope by themselves first in an intimate setting and party later with friends and family by hosting a more informal celebration (versus a traditional wedding party).

With that said, the option for places to elope in Asheville are endless: your favorite mountaintop, a waterfall, a barn on a tiny farm, a brewery, a historic bed and breakfast, a bar by the French Broad River, a national park – the options are endless. 

In addition, there are fantastic places to celebrate after your ceremony. We have rooftop bars, breweries, and romantic restaurants for every taste and budget. Or you can celebrate by spending the day at a spa and ordering sushi or pizza afterward! 

If you plan a destination elopement, Asheville has many beautiful accommodations, from world-class boutique hotels and lovely bed and breakfasts to rustic cabins, budget hotels, and glamping sites.

A quick Google search will take you to the best local companies specializing in Asheville elopement packages so you can delegate the planning and customize every detail of your experience. They offer photography services, a wedding cake, a toast, location advice, and they guarantee perfect images of your big day!

I’ve compiled a list of some of the best places for an Asheville elopement. But there are so many more. Elopements are about freedom, so if you have a special place in mind to elope in Asheville, call (or have your elopement planner call), and ask if you can use it.

I have left out two of Asheville’s best hotels – the Omni Grove Park Inn and the Biltmore Estate – because they don’t include information about elopement packages on their websites. But please call if you’re interested because they accommodate elopements, especially if you two are staying at one of their properties.

Please remember that you’ll need a marriage license for eloping in North Carolina. Happy life together! 

Don’t forget to check out our web story: Where to Elope in Asheville: 14 Intimate Venues

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).

Where to Elope in Asheville

1. Say “I Do” at Your Favorite Spot Along the Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway makes choosing an elopement location in North Carolina very difficult – there are so many beautiful spots! From lookouts steps away from the road to lush forests and 360-degree fall vistas as a backdrop, there are endless possibilities for places to have your special ceremony.

Some gorgeous Blue Ridge Parkway elopement spots with amazing views are Tanbark Ridge Overlook, Craggy Flats Bald (weddings are prohibited at Craggy Gardens Pinnacle Trail, Pinnacle Scenic View, and the Craggy Dome Parking Area), and Grandfather Mountain (max 10 guests).

You need a Special Use Permit to elope on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The maximum number of people allowed is 25, including the couple, the officiant, and the photographer. Also, the areas won’t close off to the public during your elopement, and there are no rainchecks, so bring umbrellas!

Unfortunately, some of the most popular easy-access spots with beautiful vistas in Asheville are unavailable for weddings, like Rough Ridge Overlook, Graveyard Fields, Devil’s Courthouse, and Waterrock Knob. But no worries – there are plenty of other stunning outdoor locations perfect for an Asheville elopement. 

2. Be Spontaneous and Elope in the Pisgah National Forest Anytime Without a Permit

Some of the three most popular places for eloping in North Carolina are in the Pisgah National Forest. The best news? You don’t need a permit to wed if your group involves less than 75 people, if you are arranging this on your own, and if no planning services are involved.

Max Patch is one of the best places to elope in Asheville because it offers 360-grade sunset views, and the hike to access the “bald,” treeless hilltop is easy. The loop trail is just 1.5 miles. 

This wonderful spot on the Appalachian Trail has been closed in the past due to littering and damage. Someone even left a stage from a wedding. So nowadays, only groups of up to 10 people are allowed. 

Black Balsam Knob is Ashevillians’ most beloved trail and an amazing place to elope. Say your vows intimately in the middle of the woods, and then keep hiking to the bald top to have your ceremony with breathtaking views as a backdrop. The hike is 2 miles round trip.

Looking Glass Falls is one of the most accessible outdoor places to elope in Asheville because you can see the stunning waterfalls from your car, access them after a short walk, and say “I do” with them as a backdrop.

3. Celebrate Your Love with a Glamping Wedding on a Tiny Farm 

Hidden Flower Tiny Farm’s offer is simple: “Our main goal is to keep things small, simple, sweet, stress-free, and sustainable.” 

The combo couldn’t be more perfect: a 5-acre working farm with a cozy barn for the reception, white picnic tables, tiny homes and yurts for you and your closest friends, herb and flower gardens, and stunning spots with mountain views for your ceremony.

They work with the local wedding-planning company Elopement Asheville, which will help your dream of eloping in Asheville come true, including a fantastic picnic pop-up by Asheville Luxury Picnics.

Their wedding officiant, Emily Morel, performs religious and secular ceremonies, specializing in the Celtic handfasting ritual, where couples stand face-to-face exchanging vows while their hands are (gently) tied together to symbolize the union of their lives. She also offers couples a small tattoo after the ceremony!

4. Tie the Knot Close to the Clouds at Pretty Place Chapel

Pretty Place Chapel (Fred W. Symmes Chapel) is the spiritual center of the YMCA Camp in Greenville County (South Carolina) and is about an hour from Downtown Asheville. The views of the South Carolina Upstate are so incredible!

Besides the vistas, this fantastic place for eloping features a gigantic cross perfect for religious ceremonies, but that can be removed if you wish. This is a ceremony-only venue, and you must bring your wedding officiant and photographer. 

There are dressing rooms, but there is no space for a reception. However, they offer a list of recommended local vendors on their website so you can plan a celebration after your elopement.

This is an excellent place to elope with astonishing vistas in the backdrop, but that offers some coverage from the elements (it can get windy, though!). Plus, it’s completely private, unlike other outdoor spots on public land. You’ll need a South Carolina marriage license.

5. Have an Authentic Asheville-Style Elopement by the French Broad River

French Broad Outfitters has offered water experiences for over a decade. Think about exploring Asheville by tubing, kayaking, and canoeing the French Broad River, one of the oldest rivers in the world. In addition, they now offer e-bike tours.

The Hominy Creek Outpost offers a super fun venue to elope in Asheville, surrounded by friends and family and wearing a bikini, a sun hat, and no shoes. The space is on the confluence of the French Broad River and Hominy Creek, north of the Biltmore Estate and just a few minutes from downtown. 

Imagine a full-day celebration outdoors, playing in the water, exploring Asheville’s greenways by bike, eating fantastic food, and relaxing by a fire pit under the moonlight. Of course, the venue is kid and dog-friendly.

You’ll love the hammocks, the picnic tables, the entire bar offering the best local beer and cider, and the food truck of your choice. They’ll also find a band for you if you want a bigger and louder celebration! 

French Broad Outfitters offers many river tubing and kayaking adventures. The six-mile Biltmore kayaking trip will take you to the back of the chateau – you’ll be floating past the winery, stables, inn, and grounds.

6. Unite Your Lives in the Smoky Mountains

Smoky Mountains National Park is another favorite destination for eloping in North Carolina. The spots range from high mountain tops, peaceful valleys, riversides, waterfalls, and historic cabins and churches. Since the park also belongs to Tennessee, make sure you have the right marriage license.

You need a special permit to wed in the national park, and there is a list of 50 locations to choose from. You can also request a spot that’s not part of the list, but it might take longer to process, and there is a higher fee. Most sites allow a maximum of 20 people and six cars. 

The national park also has spaces to rent for a bigger ceremony or reception. The rustic and historic Appalachian Club House and the Spence Cabin are available for private events, as well as the picnic pavilions. Note that you’ll need to reserve these venues separately.

Some of the most popular places to exchange your vows are the Greenbrier Riverside, the Smoky Mountain Waterfall, and the Smoky Mountain Overlook, which offers the best views in the park. 

You can also get married at one of the charming historic churches set along the 11-mile loop of Cades Cove! 

7. Exchange Your Vows at an Asheville Brewery

Did you know that Asheville has more breweries per capita than any other city in the United States? We’re talking about an average of 28.1 breweries per 100,000 residents. So, if you plan to elope in Beer City, USA, you at least need to consider doing it in a brewery.

High-Wire Brewing is a cool brewery in downtown’s South Slope neighborhood, an area full of exciting restaurants, breweries, and art galleries. Their Bier Garden is a semi-private covered patio with a bohemian-industrial vibe. 

You’ll love the rusty metal accents, the plants, the pub-style tables and benches, the wooden barrels, and the string lights. It works great for small gatherings of up to 56 seated people. The rental includes a private bar with four tap Hi-Wire drafts, as well as wine, cider, and seltzer options. 

The mural on the front of the building is one of the most colorful pieces of Asheville’s street art, and it’ll make a unique background for your memorable Asheville elopement.

8. Celebrate Your Whimsical Love in a Fairy-Like Treehouse

JuneBug is a fun Asheville wedding venue, and they also have what might be one of the most original places to elope not only in Asheville but in the world! As stated on their website: “The Treehouse at JuneBug is currently the only place in the world where you can have your wedding ceremony and reception (up to 20 guests) high up in the treetops!”

You’ll love having your ceremony atop the two-story treehouse supported by two old red oak trees with beautiful views of the Pisgah Mountains and the tree canopy. After exchanging your votes, you can host a reception in the ground-level cocktail area around a fire pit. 

This is one of the most unique Asheville elopement packages and it includes catering (do you fancy a Low Country boil, a BBQ meal, or a taco bar?) and a canopy in inclement weather.

Your out-of-town guests can stay at one of the 10 vintage campers that accommodate between two and six guests each. Then, the day after the elopement, you all can have brunch on-site and explore the 50 acres of trails and organic farming land by the river.

9. Have a Wonderful Elopement Weekend at a Historic Inn in Montford, Within Walking Distance of Downtown

The 1900 Inn on Montford is a multi-awarded Arts and Crafts-style bed and breakfast in the historic district of Montford, less than a mile walk to downtown and a wonderful place for an Asheville elopement.

The inn’s Elopement Package includes two nights at one of the best hotels in Asheville, featuring a three-course daily gourmet breakfast and many personal details. Plus, you’ll find several lovely outdoor and indoor spots for your ceremony and photos.

The package includes a service for up to 15 guests, with the option of adding 10 more people for the reception. Of course, this is also a great place to spend a couple of nights celebrating your union after you elope somewhere in the mountains. Let them know you just married so they can surprise you with special touches!

The 1900 Inn on Montford has one main house with five rooms and suites and a new carriage house with three more suites. Some rooms offer a gas fireplace, jacuzzi tub, and steam showers. The Thomas Wolfe room features an incredible Roman bath!

You’ll love the location. Montford is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Asheville, within walking distance of downtown, and full of exciting things to see and lovely restaurants, cafés, and parks. 

10. Elope at the Asheville Botanical Gardens and Celebrate Your Marriage Downtown

The Botanical Gardens at Asheville is one of the most popular places to elope in Asheville. I live very close, and I see a wedding group every weekend day during the fall. The reasons? The beautiful urban garden offers many outdoor locations for ceremonies, the prices are great, and it’s a few minutes from downtown.  

Some favorite wedding settings are a lovely gazebo surrounded by ancient trees, a meadow with a historic cabin and many wildflowers in the warmer months, a creek, and two photogenic bridges. 

Even though indoor space is available for private events, wedding ceremonies are only allowed outdoors. The maximum amount of guests is 30, including the officiant and the photographer. There won’t be chairs or tents for rent, and you can access the restroom during visitor center hours.

The best part? The Botanical Gardens are in North Asheville, and downtown and Montford are just a few minutes away and have amazing spots for your celebration. Go to Nine Mile in Montford for excellent Caribbean-inspired cuisine, head to Archetype Brewery for a pint, Little Jumbo for tapas and cocktails (both are in North Asheville), or choose from our list of the most romantic restaurants in Asheville!

11. Share a Small Yet Astonishing Ceremony with a Vineyard and Mountains as the Backdrop

Longleaf Vineyard is another trendy place to elope in Asheville. It’s located in Marshall (20 minutes from Downtown Asheville), and the ceremony setting is just a few steps from the vineyard with the mountains in the back. So, the views couldn’t be better! 

They offer two elopement packages from Monday to Thursday. (How cool is getting married on a Monday?) One is for a maximum of 12 guests, and the other accommodates up to 25.

This is an excellent option for a more formal elopement or micro-wedding with the presence of some of your loved ones. The packages include space for a post-ceremony reception, plus all the things traditional weddings will have, like white chairs, flowers, a cake, and a white wine toast. 

Longleaf Vineyard has a wedding officiant. Their services include customizing and planning the ceremony and filing the documents for a stress-free elopement experience.

12. Discover Why the Arboretum is One of the Best Places to Elope in North Carolina

Imagine beautiful gardens (including the Bonsai Garden and the unique Quilt Garden!), 10 miles of forested hiking trails, and magnificent views. Also, this venue features the Green Wedding Program emphasizing a celebration that protects the environment. 

Since the North Carolina Arboretum is a nonprofit, all the proceeds from the wedding and elopement rentals go to youth education and sustaining the garden – a win-win situation in which you have the elopement ceremony of your dreams while supporting educational programs in the community.

They offer two elopement packages that can accommodate up to 25 people. All the elopement ceremonies occur in the beautiful heritage garden with wooded pavilions surrounded by medicinal plants. In the case of rain, there are some sheltered areas. 

Another good choice for a small wedding, a little more formal than an elopement, is the Brunch Wedding Package for up to 50 guests, including more options for the ceremony setting and brunch reception.

13. Exchange Your Vows in a Lush Garden Right Outside Your Room

Bent Creek Lodge is a beautiful place to stay year-round and a perfect option for an Asheville elopement. It’s in Arden near the Blue Ridge Parkway and 15 minutes from downtown. 

You’ll love the personalized attention, the open design of the common floor, the fireplace, the roomy decks and porches, the private entrances to the rooms, the gardens full of whimsical corners, the baked goods in the afternoon, and the two-course hot breakfast (a different option every day!).

They have three all-inclusive elopement packages designed for a completely stress-free experience. You can choose between eloping by yourselves, having a few loved ones with you (up to four people), or hosting a small wedding reception (up to 18 guests with exclusive use of the property). 

The lodge has 10 rooms, and the Luhn House can host 10 people. You can also invite guests who won’t stay overnight for a fee. All the packages include thoughtful touches, and they are affordable!

14. Have an Intimate Ceremony in a Queen Anne Victorian B&B with Mountain Views 

The Biltmore Village Inn is a lovely bed and breakfast in the historic neighborhood of Biltmore Village, perched atop a hill overlooking Asheville, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Swannanoa River Valley. It was built in 1892 by Samuel Reed, George Vanderbilt’s private attorney.

They offer elopement and wedding packages for up to 34 people, including the couple. This is another perfect place to escape for the weekend and elope in Asheville. They have an on-site wedding planner that will take care of every detail. 

The elopement packages include two nights in two of the most romantic rooms. The Honeymoon Cottage has a lovely heart-shaped tub and a private porch from where you can enjoy mountain views from your rocking chair. The Reed Room is the only room with direct access to the beautiful wraparound patio, offering gorgeous views.

You’ll love the location near the Biltmore Estate, the chef-prepared two-course breakfast with amazing seasonal gourmet food, and all the personal touches only a bed and breakfast can offer.

We hope you have the most perfect elopement in Asheville! 

There you have it! 14 intimate venues perfect for an Asheville elopement. Did we miss any unique Asheville elopement packages? Let us know so we can add them to the list!

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