thinking of eloping in asheville and not sure where to start? This guide will help you plan a Beautiful Elopement that puts the focus on an amazing experience for you and your partner
The Ultimate Guide for
Asheville Elopements
Maybe you're a couple looking for something non-traditional. Maybe you and your partner reject the commercial wedding industry and want a day that's uniquely tailored and personal to you. Eloping is an intentional choice and we believe your elopement photography and videography deserves the same amount of care and attention as any large, traditional wedding.
The good news is that making the decision to elope or have an intimate wedding with your most-loved people is the first and most crucial step! Now the fun can really begin! Marigold Film Co. can help you plan and capture your ideal day that's aligned with your uniqueness and the unique beauty of Western North Carolina and the Asheville area. From a sweet courthouse ceremony, a mountaintop adventure, or the coolest boutique hotel -- we can craft a day (or days) that you'll remember forever!
The first step is to find a helpful elopement photographer (or videographer) who is ready to guide you along the way. You've never done this before and we get that!
You haven't done this before, that's why I'm here to help
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I'm your guide and prioritize your experience. A hot air balloon ride? Quiet time making coffee in your cabin? Renting a vintage car and driving the parkway? Picnic at sunset? Let me help you architect your dream elopement experience.
Explore activities to build the perfect day (or days!)
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Whether your perfect elopement is a sunrise hike and hot air balloon ride, or a sweet courthouse ceremony followed by a romp around downtown or a trip to the parkway, together we can craft your perfect day.
Nail down locations + Accomodations
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In Asheville, each season can bring its own benefit and beauty. If you're wanting your ceremony or photos on a stunning mountain location, off season can provide you more privacy at popular destinations. Fall is the most popular time of year for elopements here for obvious reasons, so if that's your dream - be sure to start talking with a photographer as soon as you make that decision. Decide a season and your photo/video team can help you find a date they're available and save it for you. We can provide photography and videography coverage - no extra people necessary. Once we get a date locked in, you can find your officiant, hair and make up artist, and florist.
pick a date and book your photographer / videographer
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You don't need a venue, or even a specific location to start with your dream photographer. As a photographer and videographer who specializes in elopements in Asheville, we can help! From suggestions of where to have your ceremony, where to stay, and how to make things so special -- we can serve as your Asheville elopement guide!
Find an Asheville photographer who helps with planning
How do you start planning the perfect Asheville elopement experience?
What could our elopement day look like?
6-hour SUNSET HIKING Elopement Experience
02:00 PM - 03:30 PM - I'll meet you and capture you getting ready at your cabin together no rushing necessary.
03:30 PM - 04:30 PM - Drive to Black Balsam Knob and meet Officiant
04:30 PM - 05:15 PM - Take our time to hike and stop to take photos along the way to the summit
05:15 PM - 05:30 PM - Ceremony
05:30 PM - 6:00 PM - You two enjoy an intimate picnic together. I'll document but mostly get lost so you can revel in the post-ceremony bliss.
06:00 PM - 06:30 PM - Sunset photos with a champagne toast and exchanging private vows.
06:30 PM - 07:00 PM - Hike Back Down
07:00 PM - 08:00 PM - Drive to a Nearby Overlook for Some Epic Blue-Hour Portraits
DAY 2
07:00 PM - 07:30 PM - I'll meet you and your closest loved ones at your rental as you're all making dinner together.
07:30 PM - 8:30 PM - You all play a rousing game of Cards Against Humanity, or any other favorite game.
8:30 PM - 9:00 PM - Before the night is over, anyone up for it will hit up a vibe-y roof top bar downtown and I'll share a drink with you and take some super cute flash portraits. Then I'll leave you all to your fun and festivities.
10-hours over TWO DAYs Intimate Wedding Experience
SAMPLE TIMELINE
SAMPLE TIMELINE
9:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Sit around the bonfire, telling stories about how the two of you met and enjoying the gorgeous North Carolina evening. Then everyone ends up in the hot tub.
DAY 1
08:00 PM - We part ways and you two celebrate with drinks at a fancy cocktail bar!!!
02:00 PM - 3:30 PM - I'll meet you all back at your cabin while you and your partner get ready together. Maybe you make some coffee or a cup of tea to decompress a bit and enjoy a little alone time. You could use this time to finish up your vows or exchange letters.
03:30 PM - 4:30 PM - We can drive together to your ceremony site off the Blue Ridge where your family is waiting for you.
04:30 PM - 5:00 PM - You exchange vows with epic mountain views and your closest, most precious loved ones around you.
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM - Your people head back to the restaurant and bar for your reception dinner while we hang back to catch sunset while you both have your first dance.
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM - We'll drive back to your mini reception in Downtown Asheville.
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM - You two will enjoy a delectable meal with the people you love and cut cake, maybe dance with your parents. Toasts will definitely be given.
Planning your perfect Asheville elopement can feel overwhelming. When you get to do whatever the heck you want on your wedding day, knowing where to even start is intimidating. Here are some sample timelines to help get your creative process flowing.
Below are two samples of a half day, 6-hour timeline and a 10-hour timeline split between two days:
SAMPLE TIMELINE
SAMPLE TIMELINE
Common Questions About
Planning an Elopement in Asheville
Hold up, wait a minute!
If it's not an immediate "Yes" to eloping, you and your partner should take your time to think about what kind of experience you truly want. If you elope solely because you want to save money, you may not be happy with your choice. Eloping is for those who want to buck tradition and have a unique experience all their own. If you think getting married with just your partner, or a few family members sounds sweet and romantic, eloping is for you.
How Do we decide if Eloping is right for us?
Photographers and videographers get booked out months to years ahead of time. I never book further out than 18 months, but most of my couples will book 9-12 months in advance, That means if you have a date in mind (specifically in the heigh of the Western North Carolina elopement season of Fall, you want to book as soon as possible.
How soon Should we book our photographer?
I know it can be hard to narrow locations down because there are so many beautiful spots in Asheville and the surrounding mountains of Western North Carolina. I will work with you to help you make the best decisions based on my local knowledge, your unique personalities, and most importantly, your big vision. This is the benefit of working with a local photographer and videographer in Asheville who knows the area and what's realistic.
How do we pick a spot to have our ceremony or take photos?
Hi there! I am here to support my couples to make them feel seen. Before I switched to doing only elopements and intimate weddings, I saw couples stressed and making choices that deprioritized what they wanted and distractions that took them out of the day. Love deserves to be celebrated, yes - but not at the expense of your own experience. So photos, although beautiful, feel manufactured and somehow insincere. For most people, this is a day you don't get back and you deserve to look back at it in wonder and awe knowing you felt every bit as much joy and passion as it looks like. I am here to do everything I can to make that possible.
Your asheville, NC
photographer &
videographer
Meet Lindsey!
