How to Choose an Asheville Elopement Company: What to Look For & Questions to Ask

How to Choose an Asheville Elopement Company | Elope Outdoors

Choosing an Asheville elopement company can feel a little overwhelming at first. There are elopement photographers who also help with planning, officiant and photography teams, traditional wedding planners who offer elopement services, full service elopement companies, and even concierge style planners. If you’re dreaming of eloping in Asheville or the mountains of Western North Carolina, here’s how to figure out which kind of experience is right for you.

So how do you know what you actually need and which kind of company is right for you?

At Elope Outdoors, we’ve been planning and photographing intimate weddings and elopements throughout Asheville, Western North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains since 2013. We’ve helped hundreds of couples get married in these mountains and have received more than 250 five star Google reviews along the way.

We’ve learned a lot over the years about what makes an elopement feel easy, personal and actually enjoyable. We’ve also learned that there isn’t one right way to elope.

The goal is to understand what you’re getting, decide how much support you want and find a team whose approach feels like you.

First, What Is an All Inclusive Elopement Company?

“All inclusive” can mean different things in the elopement world.

Some companies provide the essentials, such as an officiant and photographer. Others bring together most of the elopement experience, including planning, location guidance, photography, ceremony, florals, cake, videography and support on the day itself.

There are also concierge style destination planners who go beyond the wedding and may coordinate accommodations, transportation, restaurant reservations and multi day itineraries.

At Elope Outdoors, our focus is the elopement experience itself.

Our all inclusive Asheville elopement packages bring together the people, planning and details that make your actual wedding day happen. Depending on your collection, that can include:

• Elopement planning and guidance
• Personalized location recommendations
• Photography
• A licensed officiant and customized ceremony
• Custom florals
• Cake
• Videography
• Timeline planning
• Permit guidance
• A dedicated elopement day assistant
• Witnesses when needed
• Weather monitoring and backup planning
• Coordination on the day of your elopement

North Carolina requires two witnesses to legally sign your marriage license, and your officiant cannot serve as one of them. If you’re truly eloping with just the two of you, we’ll make sure you’ve got that covered too.

For many couples, this is the appeal of choosing an elopement company rather than piecing together individual vendors. You still get to make the fun decisions and personalize your day, but you don’t have to build the entire thing from scratch.

Not All “All Inclusive” Elopement Packages Are the Same

This is probably the biggest thing we’d tell any couple comparing Asheville elopement companies.

The words all inclusive can mean very different things.

One package may include an officiant and a short photography session. Another may include months of planning support, personalized location guidance, photography, a customized ceremony, florals you actually get to choose, cake selections, an assistant and other thoughtful details.

Neither approach is necessarily wrong. They’re simply different experiences.

That’s also why comparing elopement companies based on price alone can be misleading.

Look at what you’re actually receiving, how customizable the experience is, how much support you’ll have and how many things you’ll still need to arrange yourself.

Value isn’t just about how many things appear on an inclusion list. It’s also about how much thought, experience and care goes into each one.

1. How Much Planning Help Do You Actually Get?

Some couples come to us knowing exactly where they want to get married. Others know the feeling they’re after. Maybe it’s mountains and privacy, wildflowers, a waterfall or an incredible view, but they have no idea where that place is yet.

Both are great starting points.

A good Western North Carolina elopement planner should be able to meet you wherever you are in the process and help with the pieces you haven’t figured out yet.

That may mean helping you think through accessibility, privacy, guest count, drive times, hiking distance, lighting, seasonal conditions, permits and how busy a location is likely to be.

After years of working throughout the mountains of Western North Carolina, we know that the prettiest location on Instagram isn’t necessarily the best location for your elopement.

Sometimes the magic is knowing the right mountain.

Sometimes it’s knowing which side of that mountain to be on at 7:30 PM.

Not every couple wants to get married on public land, either. We also help couples choose private venue options when privacy, accessibility, amenities or a built in weather backup are priorities.

“It made planning everything so easy! We felt like we had hardly anything to do because they work like a well-oiled machine!”
Jennifer & Austin

“The planning and organizing was so easy, left me, as a bride, stress free.”
Samanth

2. Does the Company Actually Know Western North Carolina?

Local experience matters tremendously when you’re getting married outdoors.

The Blue Ridge Mountains are beautiful, but they also come with unpredictable weather, seasonal road closures, changing permit requirements, crowded overlooks, limited parking and locations that can feel completely different depending on the time of day or year.

We’ve been planning and photographing elopements here since 2013.

We live here. We work here. We’ve watched storms roll across these mountains, adjusted timelines when weather changed, worked around road closures and helped couples pivot when Plan A wasn’t going to give them the experience they wanted.

That kind of experience may not be the glamorous part of planning a mountain elopement, but on your wedding day it can be invaluable.

You can explore some of our favorite Western North Carolina elopement locations and our Asheville Elopement Guide to start getting a feel for what’s possible.

“She provided detailed pros and cons for each date, location, and time of day. She is truly an expert in this field, and does her work humbly but brilliantly.”
Caitlin

3. Is the Photography Style Consistent?

For many couples, photography is one of the most important parts of choosing an elopement company.

When you’re looking at a company with a photography team, don’t just ask whether photography is included. Look at the work as a whole.

Does the portfolio feel cohesive?

Does the editing look consistent from one elopement to another?

Do the images feel natural and connected?

Can the team photograph bright mountain sun, deep forests, fog, waterfalls, blue hour and constantly changing mountain light while still producing work that feels like it belongs together?

At Elope Outdoors, we’ve intentionally developed what we think of as the EO aesthetic.

Our photographers share a similar shooting style and approach, and every gallery is brought together through one consistent editing style by the same editor. That gives our couples the benefit of a talented photography team while maintaining the recognizable look, feeling and finish that drew them to Elope Outdoors in the first place.

Different photographer. Different couple. Different mountain.

Still unmistakably EO.

We want your photographs to be beautiful, but we also want creating them to feel fun, relaxed and connected. Your elopement should never feel like you’re spending your wedding day at a photoshoot.

You can get a feel for our style throughout our elopement galleries and real elopement stories.

“The photography from our day exceeded all expectations. The photos are stunning and capture our personalities to a tee.”
Caitlin

4. How Personal Is the Ceremony?

This is one of those details couples don’t always realize varies dramatically between elopement companies.

Ask whether the ceremony is personalized, whether you’ll communicate with your officiant beforehand and how much freedom you have to make it your own.

At Elope Outdoors, couples can choose from our team of five officiants, each with their own personality and approach. Your ceremony is customized to you rather than pulled from a one size fits all script.

Maybe you want something short, lighthearted and sweet.

Maybe you want to write and read your own vows.

Maybe you’d like to include a handfasting or sand pouring ritual.

Maybe your children are joining you and you want the ceremony to recognize that this isn’t just a marriage between two people, but the joining of a family.

Those details matter.

Your ceremony is the reason we’re all standing on that mountain in the first place. It should feel like yours.

Learn more about the Elope Outdoors experience and our ceremony planning process.

“Our families are still raving about how special her words were.”
Kari

5. How Much Can You Make the Day Your Own?

An elopement package should make planning easier without making your wedding feel like it came off an assembly line.

Ask what you actually get to choose.

Can you select your floral colors and style?

Are there different cake flavors and designs?

Can the ceremony be personalized?

Can children or loved ones participate?

Can you add meaningful rituals?

Can you choose between different kinds of scenery and locations?

Those choices are a huge part of what makes every Elope Outdoors wedding different.

One couple may exchange vows beside a waterfall in spring with colorful florals and cake afterward. Another might hike onto a mountaintop at sunset in October. Another brings their kids and dog, chooses wildflowers, has a handfasting ceremony and celebrates with a picnic overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The framework makes planning easy.

The details make it yours.

“They take the time to really get to know you and your partner to make your experience completely you.”
Hannah & Ben

6. What Kind of Support Will You Have on the Actual Day?

Planning support is important, but so is having someone there when the day actually arrives.

Every Elope Outdoors elopement includes an assistant as part of your team.

Our assistants help everything flow behind the scenes. They help with details, keep the timeline moving, assist the photography team, coordinate people and become that extra set of hands that inevitably comes in handy during an outdoor wedding.

It also means our photographer can focus on photographing you instead of simultaneously trying to manage every moving piece of the day.

It’s one of those things that may not sound exciting on a package list, but it’s a big part of why the experience itself feels easy.

“Everyone involved in the planning and execution seemed so excited and made us feel so special. When we were on our way back from the elopement we kept saying it felt like the entire event was done with good friends.”
Steven

7. What Happens If It Rains?

If you’re planning an outdoor elopement in Western North Carolina, this isn’t really an “if” question. It’s a “what’s the plan if” question.

Mountain weather changes quickly.

Ask potential elopement companies how they handle rain, storms, fog, high winds, road closures and other unexpected conditions.

Do they help adjust the timeline?

Can they recommend another location?

Will they coordinate changes with the rest of the team?

Do they have enough local experience to know when the forecast looks scary but probably isn’t, and when it’s actually time to change the plan?

Some of our favorite elopement days have included fog, rain and weather that wasn’t remotely what the forecast promised.

Flexibility, communication and local experience can make the difference between weather becoming a source of stress and simply becoming part of the adventure.

“When weather issues came up, they were there with plenty of back-up options and made sure to get us in a new (and even better!) location.”
Cassie

8. How Many Elopements Does the Company Take in a Day?

This is something couples may not think to ask.

At Elope Outdoors, we book one elopement per day.

We intentionally keep it that way because mountain elopements require flexibility. Weather changes. Traffic happens. A couple may need a few extra minutes.

We never want your wedding day to feel like you’re being rushed because another couple is waiting behind you.

We offer elopements Sunday through Friday and do not book elopements on Saturdays. For elopements in public outdoor locations, Monday through Thursday often provides a quieter, more intimate experience with fewer visitors.

“They gave me a feeling that our wedding would be unique and special to them and not just another wedding on the list.”
Jennifer

9. Understand the Price and the Value

Price matters. But when you’re comparing elopement packages, make sure you’re comparing similar experiences.

Elope Outdoors collections currently begin at $2,650, and our starting prices and package inclusions are published on our elopement collections and pricing page.

From there, the final investment depends on the collection you choose and the details of your particular elopement.

Rather than comparing two numbers at the bottom of two websites, look at the whole experience behind them.

How much photography is included?

Is your ceremony customized?

Do you have choices for florals and cake?

Is someone helping you plan?

Is there support on the actual day?

Are you getting location expertise?

Will the company help when weather changes?

How many vendors will you still need to find and coordinate yourself?

Sometimes the least expensive package is exactly what a couple needs.

Sometimes a larger investment means having considerably more included, more personalization and far less to manage yourself.

The best value is the experience that gives you the things you actually care about.

“Elope Outdoors made planning an elopement a stress-free, quality experience that is offered at such an unbeatable value.”
Rachel

“The prices are an amazing value for the services we received and we have so much to show for it.”
Ainsley

10. What Do Real Couples Say?

Reviews matter, especially with an elopement company where you’re trusting one team with several pieces of your wedding day.

But don’t only look at the star rating.

Read what people actually say.

Look for patterns around communication, organization, photography, how comfortable couples felt, how unexpected changes were handled and whether the experience matched what was promised.

We’re incredibly grateful to have received more than 250 five star Google reviews from Elope Outdoors couples.

The number means a lot to us, but the stories behind those reviews mean even more. Couples talk about feeling taken care of, having fun, loving their photographs and being able to enjoy their wedding instead of worrying about all the moving pieces.

“We had been following Elope Outdoors for about a year before we even got engaged because we just loved their style of photography and their ability to capture really beautiful moments between a couple.”
Lucy & Chrissy

“She put us at ease and captured breathtakingly beautiful photos we will treasure for a lifetime.”
Becky

“When weather issues came up, they were there with plenty of backup options and made sure to get us in a new and even better location.”
Cassie

Read more Elope Outdoors reviews from real couples.

11. Does Their Style Actually Feel Like You?

This may be the most important question of all.

Spend some time on the company’s website, galleries and social media.

Do you connect with the photographs?

Do you connect with the way they talk about eloping?

Does the experience they’re showing look like one you would actually want to have?

At Elope Outdoors, we talk about the EO aesthetic, but it goes beyond editing.

There’s a visual feeling that runs through our elopements. The photography, florals, mountains, picnics, cakes and little details all come together. But there is also a feeling to the experience.

Warmth. Friendliness. Connection. A team that genuinely works together. Enough structure that you never feel lost, with enough room for the day to still feel spontaneous and real.

And within that aesthetic, no two elopements are the same.

Your dress or suit. Your flowers. Your cake. Your ceremony. Your location. Your people. Your dog. Sunrise or sunset. Spring wildflowers or October color. A waterfall or an open mountaintop.

We create the framework and bring the EO experience.

You are what makes it yours.

“Ethereal, raw, authentic, honest, glowing, natural… just a few ways to describe our photographs from our wedding day. Both my husband and I feel the photos capture our nature: easygoing, carefree, light and simple.”
Ashley

Why Couples Choose Elope Outdoors

Elope Outdoors is an Asheville based elopement planning and photography company specializing in intimate weddings throughout Western North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains, from outdoor mountain and waterfall locations to beautiful private venues.

We’ve been planning and photographing elopements here since 2013, have helped hundreds of couples get married in the mountains and have received more than 250 five star Google reviews.

Our all inclusive elopement collections are designed for couples who want something intimate and beautiful without having to coordinate every piece themselves.

Depending on your collection, your experience can bring together planning and location guidance, consistent professional photography, your choice of officiant and a personalized ceremony, custom florals, cake, videography, an elopement day assistant and the little details that make the day feel special.

We know the locations.

We know the light.

We know mountain weather doesn’t care what your weather app says.

And after more than a decade of doing this, we know how to bring all those pieces together while still leaving room for your elopement to feel like you.

Questions to Ask Before Booking an Asheville Elopement Company

Before you choose your team, consider asking:

• What exactly is included in the package?
• How much planning and location guidance will we receive?
• Is the photography style and editing consistent across the company’s portfolio?
• How is our ceremony personalized?
• Can we choose our officiant or ceremony style?
• What choices do we have for florals, cake and other details?
• Do you help with permits and location restrictions?
• What happens if the weather or location needs to change?
• Will someone be there to assist and coordinate on the wedding day?
• How many elopements do you book per day?
• How long have you been planning elopements in Western North Carolina?
• What do recent couples consistently say about their experience?

The answers should leave you feeling more excited and less overwhelmed.

Ready to Start Dreaming Up Your Western NC Elopement?

If you’re imagining an intimate ceremony surrounded by mountains, waterfalls, forests or wildflowers, we’d love to hear what you’re dreaming about.

You don’t need to have a location picked out or every detail figured out before you contact us. And if you already know exactly what you want, we love that too.

Explore our all inclusive Asheville elopement packages and pricing, browse some of our favorite Western North Carolina elopement locations, or get in touch with Elope Outdoors and tell us what you’re envisioning.

We’ll help you bring it together.