Steps for Planning an Asheville Cabin Elopement

Planning an intimate Asheville elopement with a few family members? Whether you call it an elopement or an intimate wedding – having a small, intimate affair offers a lot of freedom to craft the kind of day that you really want and if you love the mountains, Asheville is the perfect place for it.

Sean and Paige originally planned to get married in the St. Pete area where they are from, but soon reached out to me to say they had something different in mind. They wanted to elope in the mountains of North Carolina in an intimate cabin surrounded by their closest friends and family.

Here are some of my top tips as an Asheville Elopement photographer and videographer for planning a gorgeous cabin elopement like the one Sean and Paige had:

1. Search for Event-Friendly Rentals for Your Asheville Cabin Elopement

A lot of couples don’t realize in the early stages of planning that not all rentals allow weddings or events. In fact, Airbnb officially banned events and parties for properties booked through their site. It is possible that the host takes bookings outside of the Airbnb platform or also has their property listed through an event-friendly platform like VRBO – so if you find a property you like, it’s possible you may still be able to book it.

More than anything, it’s so important that you’re communicating with the potential host about your plans. You do not want to get slapped with additional fees or have your plans interrupted because you were trying to circumvent the proper channels. It’s just not worth the stress, headache, or extra cost.

If you decide to have your ceremony and reception off-site, but find a cabin that you want to stay at and get ready for your elopement in, just be sure that the host is okay with the photographer/videographer coming and documenting that part of your day. Some have strict rules against this and as I said before, it’s best to be transparent.

2. Decide What Other Asheville Locations You’d Like to Include on Your Elopement Day

In the case of Sean and Paige’s Asheville elopement, they decided to stay in a different cabin to get ready and also be able to have some privacy, which is always a great idea. They also opted to book a private room at Posana in Downtown Asheville. Some couples decide to keep it low-key and enjoy a meal with family at the same location as their ceremony, or even hire a private chef. The restaurant option worked out well because the couple and some of their guests went out downtown to keep the party going after their dinner celebration.

You may want to think taking advantage of the many awesome scenic locations and opt to spend time doing photos and video during your elopement day and then meet up with your guests for dinner later. The beauty is that you get to design your Asheville elopement day. If the place you’re doing your ceremony at isn’t as scenic as you’d like, I definitely recommend checking out some nearby spots and building that into your timeline as well. Working with a photographer or videographer that knows the area and can share ideas is really important (I’d be happy to assist! Reach out so we can plan your Asheville elopement together!)

3. Find a Photographer and Videographer Early in the Planning Process

If you didn’t start the wedding or elopement planning process with photo or video vendors in mind, once you decide on even a general locale – get to work searching for a photographer whose work speaks to you.

Sean and Paige had been planning to hire my for their St. Pete nuptials, so they simply just asked if I was able to shift plans. Asheville was not yet my home base, but I was already planning the move at that time! Regardless of where you’re going, most photographers or videographers would be willing to travel for your wedding day, so if you find someone whose work you love, just ask!

North Carolina and Asheville, specifically, is a huge elopement destination – so you’re going to want to find and lock down your photographer and videographer ASAP. They will help you plan and make recommendations about what makes sense to make the most of your location and the time you have them booked.

4. Consider a Hybrid Photo/Video Creative for Your Asheville Cabin Elopement

If you decided to elope to keep things simpler, working with a hybrid shooter (someone who does both photo and video) can be a way to do that. Sean and Paige opted for hybrid coverage, which meant that I shot video and photo throughout their day and then delivered a highlight film. This can be helpful in terms of minimizing the number of people, as well as ensuring the style of your photos and video are consistent. It’s not a common offering for a photographer to also be able to shoot video simultaneously so many couples are just not aware that it’s an option. You can learn more about my hybrid elopement packages here.

I hope these tips help! I know it can be so overwhelming to start the planning process, but the best part about planning an Asheville elopement is that there are so many beautiful possibilities.

Let me know if there is any way I can help! Inquire here.

Enjoy some of my favorite shots and the full film from Sean and Paige’s day!