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Asheville is a hopping mountain town situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and it’s no surprise why this spot is a top destination for eloping on the east coast: Art, breweries and a breathtaking backdrop of mountains make this darling town a mecca for anyone looking for an epic day to remember. Situated between several national parks and surrounded by lush nature in all directions, there are endless outdoor spots to hold your special elopement. Read on for our top tips on how to make the most of your Asheville elopement!
Check out what happens after you book your elopement with us
A vibrant mountain town in the Blue Ridge Mountains, it’s no surprise couples have embraced it as a top spot for eloping!
Art, breweries, and breathtaking mountain scenery make this darling town perfect for creating memories on an epic day.
Asheville has no shortage of natural elopement locations with national parks and lush nature in all directions.
Your own dream venue
We can come to you. Do you have a great venue or even an awesome backyard? We can help you find vendors for nearly anywhere in the country
Read More Chat with an expertOur Asheville elopement packages are designed to helping you find the perfect spot to say I do in the most
personalized way! Ready to elope in Asheville? We’d love to help you!
Looking for something a little more exotic? Check out our adventure elopement package!
Our Wildflower Experience tailors an outdoor elopement to your sense of adventure and exploration! This package is customized to your fit your style and includes hiking to an amazing location, an intimate ceremony with officiation and couples portraits. This Experience also includes:
Our team is Leave No Trace aware, and trained in wilderness first aid.
Package Price $4,000
You can optionally add the following to your package:
Backed by the Blue Ridge Mountains and at the heart of several national parks, eloping in Asheville, North Carolina is nothing short of spectacular. From the city center to the surrounding mountains, there are plenty of places to get married with a stunning backdrop. Within city limits, there is a bustling art and music scene and historic architecture that make for perfect photo opportunities. Just beyond the city are two stunning waterfalls, a sprawling high-elevation garden, a deep valley, and a quirky, rustic organic farm. Our Asheville elopement photographers are area experts and know all the best locations to capture your soon-to-be favorite wedding photo. All of these images are of past Simply Eloped couples so, yes…this could be you!
The overall experience was perfect. I have my dream wedding. I wouldn’t change anything. Thank you so much for making my dream a reality.
Everything was beyond perfect and I am grateful to everyone who helped and the great amount of care and effort that was put into our amazing wedding.
The service you and your vendors provided to us was outstanding.Your flexibility during this pandemic time was unmatched. Thank you!
Laura and Megan were also great to work with. They were easy to communicate with and answered any questions that I had quickly. They made the planning process so easy.
Thumbs up all the way around!! Simply Eloped made the process a breeze. We are very pleased with everyone that made our day a special one.
Everyone we communicated with was very helpful, friendly, and informative. I would highly recommend this company if someone was eloping.
Once we made the decision to move forward with Simply Eloped, everything fell into place nicely. We were exceptionally happy to have Amanda and Cappy as our vendors. They seemed to fit nicely with our vision for our elopement.
Simply Eloped was perfect for us and for the price you can’t beat it.
We had a great time and were amazed at how stress-free the experience was. Thank you!
Cappy, Photographer
Asheville has the magic of mountains and waterfalls for an epic Lord of the Rings feel, AND the beauty of a city that feels like a small town.
I think that storytelling, and the desire to tell stories, is imprinted in our DNA from a time when oral history was all we had to uncover the mysteries of the past. I love that photography offers me the opportunity to tell parts of people’s stories.
I hiked ~900 miles of the Appalachian Trail one summer.
Megan, Officiant
We have so many stunning landscapes to choose from in the Asheville area. With the Blue Ridge Parkway and Pisgah National Forest so readily available, we have a copious amount of adventures to explore.
Something Blue Mountain Venue checks most of the boxes for ease and beauty in a venue. You can drive right up to the venue and are immediately greeted with mountain views from all angles.
If I could invite anyone to a dinner party it would be Carl Sagan. I would serve my favorite meal of chicken and waffles.
Read the stories of real couples that eloped in Asheville!
For Mandi and Thomas, love came naturally. After meeting through mutual friends in college, these two just knew they were in it for long haul together, but also knew that a big, traditional wedding just didn’t feel like “them.” Instead, the pair chose to elope in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park (a bucket-list location) on June 24, 2020, and celebrated by exploring the beautiful Smoky mountains and relaxing cabin-side! Just by looking at the photos from their day, you’ll quickly realize how gorgeous a Great Smoky Mountain elopement truly is! Scroll through Mandi and Thomas’ photos – and their love story – below!
We met through mutual friends in college. We initially bonded over our mutual love for baseball! Thomas drove four hours (each way) to attend a baseball game with me and my friends, that’s when I realized he might be interested in me as more than a friend!
From the beginning of our relationship it was clear to both of us that we would be together for a long time because we get along so easily. Since we started dating so young (19 and 20) we took a long time to grow into who we would be as individuals, and luckily we grew together instead of apart. Now that we are older and becoming more proper adults it has been a natural decision to finally get married.
Thomas inherited a family heirloom diamond from his grandmother. He is the fourth man in his family to give the diamond to his bride. When we received his grandmother’s ring her setting was very damaged, so we took it to a local jeweler and redesigned it to my taste, but keeping some aspects of it the same as how his grandma had it. Thomas proposed on December 23rd, which is actually the anniversary of my grandparents (he did not know this beforehand!). We always open gifts together at home before going to family celebrations, so the ring was wrapped under the tree as a gift!
Mandi: Thomas is very easy going and supportive of any goals I set for myself (I like to throw myself into hobbies and interests. I have lived abroad in France two times during our relationship, a Master’s degree, a yoga certification and a master gardener certification, I’ve also filled our house with about 100 plants! I have many interests and he always goes along with my crazy ideas.) He is calm in situations where I may tend to over react which is usually helpful.
Thomas: Mandi is a motivating force for me when I want to try new things. She knows how to get things done and encourages me in creative projects.
We have always had a strong friendship from the beginning of our relationship. This has allowed us to grow together over the last 10 years, while still growing as individuals and pursuing our individual dreams. We both realized that when we are happy and fulfilled individually, we are able to nurture our relationship. We have great respect for one another and value each others opinions and ideas.
I became aware of elopement companies through social media and did a lot of research Googling them and reading reviews.
We thought their elopement packages included a lot of important things we wanted to included in our ceremony at a fair price. We thought the quality of the photographers and videographers that work with Simply Eloped was superior to that of other companies I was looking at. We also loved the wide range of location options!
We have always wanted to elope in a national park, because our bucket list dream is to visit all of the national parks in the U.S. So we looked at locations that specifically offer ceremonies in national parks! Neither of us had ever been to North Carolina before and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park offered a lot of different and beautiful settings for our photos! We were able to have the gorgeous mountains as a backdrop for our ceremony, and also explored the nearby forests with our photographer and videographer!
We rented a beautiful cabin outside of the national park for the entire week of our wedding, and just spent the week hiking and exploring the park! The day of our wedding was very relaxed and peaceful! We spent our day getting ready together and enjoying the day!
Planning with Simply Eloped was extremely easy and stress-free! I found the [staff] coordinators to be very helpful and thorough; they took all the time needed to answer our questions and concerns and I felt that they really cared about making us comfortable with our experience. Our officiant took the time to get to know us before the ceremony, giving us a questionnaire and talking to us on the phone during the weeks leading up to our ceremony. She really made the ceremony personal to us, which was impressive and so appreciated! On the day of our wedding we spent a lot of time exploring the venue with our photographer and videographer and it was genuinely so much fun spending that time with them and taking our fantastic photos!
We enjoyed dinner and drinks together at our cabin and then spent the rest of the week exploring the beautiful Smoky mountains! We plan on celebrating with our friends and family as soon as it is safe and responsible to do so!
I absolutely recommend doing what feels right for YOU for your wedding. You don’t have to have a huge, fancy wedding just because that is the “norm”. If a private elopement, or smaller wedding with just a few family and friends feels right over a big ceremony and party, then I can’t recommend it enough! We had exactly the wedding we had been dreaming of, and everyone deserves the same!
We are both shy/introverted people and have never loved the idea of being the center of a bunch of people’s attention on our wedding day. We are each other’s best friend and love to celebrate special moments together. It felt more “us” to keep this day to focus on just each other and enjoy each other, instead of also worrying about other people and throwing a huge party. It was perfect to spend that day just the two of us and it was so low stress. We plan on having a reception to celebrate with our family and friends when it is safe to do so!
Planning: Simply Eloped
Photographer: Cappy Phalen
Officiant: Amanda Jones
Videographer: Madison Kay
Heather & Ricky are a testament to dating apps as they met, and instantly fell in love, through a connection. They knew they were soulmates! They also knew that when they married, that they did not want a large wedding. So they were thrilled to find Simply Eloped online. Their wedding was held in Cataloochee Valley, Asheville in the woods. Heather was the very picture of loveliness in her lace gown. Friends and family looked on as the couple exchanged vows filled with laughter and love. Read on to find out more about these two, what makes them strong as a couple and how Simply Eloped made their dream elopement come true….
Heather: Tinder! We knew it was love after the 2nd date!
Heather: We just knew we were soulmates from the beginning.
Heather: In the kitchen of our new house – just the two of us were eating breakfast when he proposed!
Heather: We keep each other grounded as the saying goes. We are complete opposites when it comes to some things.
Heather: Communication.
Heather: Neither of us have ever dreamed of having a big wedding. So we decided to elope because it was very intimate and a ‘happy place’ for us.
Heather: Online!
Heather: The cost was great and every interaction we had with the company was great.
Heather: The woods…
Heather: We rented a big house in Tennessee for our family and friends. It felt great to be surrounded by our loved ones.
Heather: It was great!
Heather: We went to Cancun, Mexico!
Heather: Do what your gut says! It’s your day so do what makes you happy.
Officiation by: Gina Angel
Photography by: Daniela Guerrero
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Cataloochee Valley, Asheville, North Carolina
Cassidy & Brian’s love story is also a military story! They were both serving their country when they met in Japan. They fell in love, and living in different countries only strengthened their relationship. However, when it came to planning a wedding, they knew it would be tricky. Simply Eloped pulled all the pieces together for them as they chose to marry at a naturally beautiful Airbnb in Asheville, North Carolina. The mountain views and cottage deck were the perfect backdrop for their ceremony. Cassidy & Brian eloped in style in more ways than one. Brian’s grey waistcoat, blue suit, and tie are style perfect, and Cassidy rocked her gorgeous lace gown and hair jewelry. Find out why these two were so happy with the intimacy of their Simply Eloped wedding…
Brian: We met through a mutual friend while I was stationed in the Marines in Okinawa, Japan. My first impression of Cassidy was how pretty she was inside and out. I was impressed with her commitment to friendship in coming all the way out to Japan. It gave me a hint that she also loved to travel. She seemed willing to try new experiences, and I found that very intriguing and attractive.
Cassidy: Brian and I met while visiting a good friend in the Navy who was stationed in Japan. I was stationed in the Air Force in Virginia and knew I wanted to visit Japan as soon as possible. My first impression of Brian was how he treated others around him. He was always a helping hand to others and very easygoing. He was a genuine and joyful person to be around.
Brian: I proposed during sunrise at a lookout spot in the Asheville, North Carolina mountains.
Cassidy: I knew he wanted to propose several times before and could tell the proposal was coming. It was so sweet, and the setting was gorgeous. Because of Covid and other extenuating circumstances, we still weren’t living in the same city due to us both being in the military. He ended up proposing the day before we eloped!
Cassidy: We chose to elope In Asheville, NC., where we had our first vacation together. During that vacation, we decided we would attempt a long-distance relationship while we were both still on active duty serving in separate countries. We both fell in love with Asheville because it has access to the mountains while also being close to a larger city. The city is artsy and has a great feel about it.
Cassidy: We actually ended up eloping at an Airbnb location. We asked permission from the owner and were able to elope on the deck of a cabin with a view of the mountains. We enjoyed the view and intimacy. We both like being in nature, and the mountains near Asheville were the perfect spot.
Cassidy: It was intimate, quiet, and full of nature which made it the perfect setting. There is the availability to go on hiking trails in the mountains and access to a city where you can enjoy the downtown area.
Cassidy: The wedding day was very low-key. Brian was able to run small errands like getting my flowers from a local florist and getting food from our favorite local vegan spot, who went all out for our day! We both had separate areas to get ready in the cabin. Our officiant, Amanda, actually helped me with the finishing touches with my dress. The time before our elopement was very relaxing and lighthearted, although filled with a few nerves!
Cassidy: Simply Eloped was wonderful in coordinating our special day. We had started planning while I was stationed In Turkey, and Brian was stationed in Southern California, so having Simply Eloped to help us through all the details was a blessing.
Cassidy: We spent the following week exploring Asheville, NC. We hiked several local trails, including Mt. Mitchell and a few waterfall hikes. We also had the chance to explore downtown Asheville, eat all the local food, and stop by some of our favorite spots from our first trip to Asheville in 2018.
Cassidy: If you are looking for an intimate experience that can cater to exactly what you want, eloping is for you. You’ll get to enjoy every small detail of your special day, and it will allow so much flexibility in your day. We never felt rushed or stressed. It was the perfect day in every way.
Officiation by: Amanda Jones
Photography by: Cappy Phalen
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Lower Paw Paw Rd, 1, South Marshall, Asheville, North Carolina
Emilie & Stephen met on the job, but it wasn’t work when they were together! They quickly began spending all their time together adventuring. A wonderful proposal on a boat led to the two of them working with Simply Eloped to plan their elopement at Roan Mountain Gardens in North Carolina. The two of them loved the idea of exchanging vows in a mossy forest with spectacular views behind them. Emile & Stephen planned a first look, and the photos are so fun! Emilie brought sophistication to this ceremony in her gorgeous gown with Watteau train (we had to look this up…it’s a combination of a train and veil falling from the shoulders). After the ceremony, the newlyweds sipped champagne with their families. Take a look at these photos, and you can see why these two were so happy with their elopement with Simply Eloped.
Emile: We met at our first nursing job together. I thought that he was cute, but I was recently single and figured we would become close friends.
Stephen: She said that we were going to be “great friends”- with her crazy laugh and charming personality I knew I wanted something more.
Emile & Stephen: We feel like it was mutual. We both fell pretty quickly. We found that we started to spend all of our time together, making dinners, going to concerts, and hiking. We had the same interests and were busy bodies with a lust for adventure.
Emilie: I’ll never forget the first time he told me loved me. He left me a little scavenger hunt after work one evening. It led me to a nearby park, where he had made a sunset picnic dinner. We chatted about all of our plans over a bottle of wine. It was the perfect way to openly admit that our feelings for one another had really taken root.
Emile & Stephen: We spontaneously booked a trip to Maine, where our friend sails a boat. We stayed at the sweetest bed and breakfast. Stephen had arranged for our friend to pick up the ring and hide it on the boat. We sat up front by the wheel, and then Emilie got put in charge of steering. Stephen got the ring from its hiding place and proposed in front of the boat load of people. After we docked, we hung out with the crowd, sipped Champagne, and ate Chinese takeout on the boat. It was the best engagement ever.
Emilie: I love that he can make friends with anyone. He is caring and romantic, and is ok with all of the crazy adventurous ideas that pop into my head.
Stephen: I love how she is always uniquely herself, her laugh, and nurturing personality.
Emile & Stephen: Our friendship has always been the basis of our relationship.
Emile & Stephen: It was important that our day was just for us. We wanted to share that time with only each other, embrace and soak up every second.
Emile & Stephen: Our friends used Simply Eloped in Colorado. When we saw all of the possibilities of locations that we could create our own adventure we were very excited. Having a mossy forest wedding was forever on my mind from that point on.
Emile & Stephen: We wanted our ceremony to be just for us, not based around certain expected traditions or what other people thought we should do. We had the ability to pick a beautiful location, and modify our wedding to suit us as couple.
Emile & Stephen: The forest feels! We were in love with the moss and the ferns. At the top of Roan Mountain, you can see for miles and miles. You are right on the boarder of North Carolina and Tennessee, if being in two places at one time needs to be checked off your bucket list!
Emile & Stephen: We woke up early and got ready, and drove to the location in separate cars. We were both a little anxious, I don’t think any amount of preparing can keep those feelings from coming. Once we did our first look, we busted in laughter just because you spend so much time working up to that moment, and boom it was there. We were doing the dang thing!
Emile & Stephen: Simply Eloped was fantastic; they arranged everything, and all the information was accessible at anytime you needed to triple check your location. The show’s real stars are the people they select to help run your ceremony- the photographer, videographer, and officiant. We had the ultimate girl squad that truly kept everything special from beginning to end.
Emile & Stephen: After the ceremony we sipped some Champagne, listened to the post-wedding playlist we made and drove back to our Air BNB to change. We went out for brunch and ran off to a little mini-moon in the mountains.
Emile & Stephen: Your ceremony should be just for you two! Slow down and take in all of the intimate moments that eloping can offer you. This is an opportunity to make your day completely your own, without the pressure and stress of numerous outside sources weighing on you.
Officiation by: Amanda Jones
Photography by: Cappy Phalen
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Roan Mountain Gardens, Asheville, North Carolina
Love brought Lauren & Kevin together in a powerful way with both of them realizing they had found the perfect partner. They were inspired to recreate that epic feeling when they eloped at Wiseman’s View in Asheville, North Carolina. The spectacular panoramic view of Linville Gorge was an amazing backdrop to this classic elopement. And how incredible does Lauren look in her swept up hair style and gorgeous wedding gown, proving that an elopement does not mean you can’t be glamorous! Keep reading to find out how Lauren & Kevin fell in love and how Simply Eloped created their dream elopement.
Lauren: The first thing I noticed about Kevin was his personality. He is warm, funny and kind.
Kevin: Lauren had me from day one. Her personality lit up the room. She is the only person that has ever made me nervous to talk, but also made me, at the same time, feel like I had known her forever. Her laugh, smile and beauty had me awestruck and melted me instantly. She was breathtaking, to say the least.
Lauren: After we started dating, we played golf together on weekends. I realized how much fun we had together, even during key low moments in life, and how I couldn’t imagine life without him.
Kevin: I realized I truly loved Lauren when we went a few days without talking to each other. I felt lost and empty. The moment I hear her voice my world gets instantly better. I knew it was love when I could not live one day without her by my side.
Kevin: I took Lauren to one of our favorite restaurants and then walked her up to the rooftop terrace. We were all alone under the moon and stars. I got down on one knee and asked her to be my wife. Simple but amazing! She looked so beautiful and happy.
Lauren: I love how attentive Kevin is to me and how much effort he puts into making me happy. He is also amazing as a stepdad to my two boys.
Kevin: Lauren is an inspiring woman, a great mother, and my best friend. She would do anything in this world for me and shows me love and support no matter what the day holds. She has amazing strength, determination and is the smartest person I have ever met. Lauren is the most beautiful person, inside and out, and I am so proud to call her my wife.
Kevin: We are open and honest about anything and everything. We love each other with clear intentions. We always put each other as a priority.
Lauren: Our commitment is unbreakable and constant. We make each other laugh and want to make each other happy every day. When that is a priority, then nothing can break us.
Lauren: It is our second marriage and we wanted the moment to only be about the love that we share. That was more than enough for us!
Lauren: We googled ‘elopement’ online.
Lauren: Simply Eloped made it so very easy! They handled everything for us and did the planning and the day, effortless and stress-free.
What attracted you to the venue you eloped you chose for your elopement?
Lauren: We were interested in a beautiful mountain view where we could feel God’s presence right there with us. And that is exactly what we got at Wiseman’s View!
Lauren: We visited the Biltmore Estate the day before. On the day of the wedding, we had a relaxing morning at our hotel before hair and makeup came to help me get ready.
Lauren: We booked with Simply Eloped only one week in advance! They were communicative and wonderful in helping us throw it together so quickly.
Lauren: We went home to our two boys to share pictures and stories with them!
Lauren: This is a wonderful way to make getting married super easy and stress-free!
Officiation by: Amanda Jones
Photography by: Cappy Phalen
Hair & Makeup by: Emily Van Scoy
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Wiseman’s View, Asheville, North Carolina
Samantha & Cole share a love of God, mountains, and dogs. And all of these were part of their relationship story! They spent their first date attending church online, and Cole’s proposal involved a puppy collar. They chose to have the epic Blue Ridge mountain range all around them as they exchanged their vows in front of family and friends. Adorable flower girls, wearing pretty burgundy dresses, stood by holding the bride’s bouquet as Samantha & Cole had their first kiss as husband and wife. Read on to find out why this couple chose Simply Eloped to arrange their stunning sunset elopement at Something Blue Mountain Venue in Asheville, North Carolina.
Samantha: We met on Hinge! We were 0.3 miles away from each other, and both of our profiles mentioned dogs and Jesus. We talked for a while on the phone and decided we would meet in person by watching online Sunday service from our churches (Covid) while each was eating Mexican food. We also ended up playing board games, and Cole loves to tell people that he won all of them!
Samantha: Cole came back from the army, and we went to visit my parents in Nashville, TN. We had recently acquired a puppy, and we took him to the dog park with my mother for the first time. We went down a secluded path, and Cole said, “What is on Rory’s collar?”. I looked down at the dog tag that said ‘My Daddy Loves You’ on one side, and on the other, ‘Will You Marry Me?”. I screamed and said, “yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,…”. The puppy and my mother’s dog were extremely confused, but my Mom was so excited!!
Cole: We chose to elope in Asheville, NC, because we LOVE the mountains. Also, we traveled the Blue Ridge for Samantha’s birthday with her family. We see the mountains as a wonderful creation of God and wanted that represented at our wedding. It was also halfway between where the parents were and where we lived.
Samantha: The view at Something Blue Mountain Venue attracted us, and we didn’t need to know more! It was absolutely stunning, and they communicated so quickly with us. Our favorite parts were the bridal suite and the owner, who was so involved in making sure everything was perfect. We also loved the amazing views, the amazing setup, and the fact they worked so hard to marry us at sunset. They also have so many amazing locations on the property for photos.
Samantha: I would describe it as a hidden and secret spot to view the Blue Ridge. It also has a wonderful brick setup, as you see in castle courtyards.
Samantha: We rented a house on Lake Lure before the wedding. We celebrated New Year’s there with family! We also took advantage of the amazing views, hiking, kayaking, boat rides, and lots and lots of food! We practiced with the flower girls, stayed in contact with our wedding coordinator, and wrote our vows. Simply Eloped did everything else, so not that much preparation, which is the point! We felt very excited, prepared, and anxious to see the site in person after only viewing pictures online.
Samantha: I recommend Simply Eloped to every person I know who is getting engaged. I would never ever do it differently. As a bride, stress is something that usually comes with a wedding. However, I view my marriage as stress-free and focused on our love for God and each other, which is precisely, what we wanted.
Samantha: We went back to the rental house and had a fajita bar, cake cutting, and drinks! Then we said our ‘goodbyes’ and went to Chimney Rock.
Samantha: I say, ‘do it! You can have people there as well, as we had our family and closest friends. We also had our Pastor come up for the wedding. Eloping does not have to mean just the two of you. Also, eloping is the best stress-free way to celebrate your love. You can party later!
Photography by: Cappy Phalen
Hair & Makeup by: Emily Van Scoy
Flowers by: Merrimon Florist
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Something Blue Mountain Venue, Asheville, North Carolina
Leanna & Josh may have met on Bumble, but it only took them days to realize they had found their forever person. They began to plan a traditional wedding, but it just wasn’t right. They found the perfect fit with Simply Eloped and chose to take family and friends to Craggy Gardens in North Carolina. Since Josh had proposed on a mountain, they were thrilled to elope on a mountain too! The spectacular view was worth the hike up, and they exchanged vows in a meadow that overlooked the Appalachian Mountains. It didn’t end there. They celebrated with a Southern honeymoon through South Carolina and Georgia. Read on to find out why Leanna & Josh were so thrilled with Simply Eloped and why they would do it all again.
Leanna: We met on Bumble, not looking for anything in particular when we had matched. We instantly started talking, and we kept the conversation going for a few days until we finally decided to take the chance and meet. When I met him for the first time, it was like we were old friends catching up. The conversation was easy, and the attraction was very present. He was very kind and funny. I knew I wanted him to be in my life from the first time meeting.
Josh: I never knew that a person could exude such compassion and joy for life like the way I first saw her. During our first date, I had the feeling in the back of my head that was saying, “ I feel like I’m talking to my best friend.” She was witty, charismatic, and kind. To this day, it holds true.
Leanna: We knew very quickly that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. Josh took me to meet his family in Missoula, Montana. While we were there, he took me on his favorite hike in a town called The M Trail. He took me up, it seemed like forever, to get down on one knee and propose. I said, “Abso-freaking-lutely!”
Josh: I took her on my favorite hike in Missoula to propose to her. I wanted to take her higher where fewer people were so it would be more intimate. Once we got to the highest point, I proposed, and surprisingly she said she would. We were both smiling like idiots on the way down, and we told everyone we passed that we were getting married.
Leanna & Josh: After we got engaged and started planning our wedding, we quickly knew that a traditional wedding wasn’t right for us. Even though we booked a venue, we were still not satisfied with it. Then we found Simply Eloped, and it was like a missing puzzle piece. So we canceled with the venue. After looking at the different locations, we chose Craggy Gardens in Asheville, North Carolina. Since we got engaged on a mountain, it only made sense to get married on one too. We both love the beauty of North Carolina, and it was close enough for us (from Indianapolis) to drive down.
Leanna: The view! Oh my gosh! It was stunning! It was my dream! Also, our photographs were so well done. We wanted the pictures we cherished forever to be just as stunning as the ones on the website, which is what we got. My favorite part about our elopement is our connection because we didn’t have to worry about all the details of a traditional wedding.
Josh: The Appalachian Mountains provided a warm, welcoming feeling, and we had always wanted to visit. My favorite part of eloping was the intimate, small ceremony.
Leanna: It was on a small meadow in the Appalachian Mountains. The view was looking over the mountain range.
Josh: Magical. It was a hike to get to the location, but it was well worth it once we got there.
Leanna: I had my hair and makeup done by a stylist that works with Simply Eloped. She did an amazing job! I was nervous because I was afraid about hiking in my dress, but it wasn’t a problem at all.
Josh: I spent time with my groomsmen and got ready at the hotel before heading over to the venue. I was feeling joyous that we were finally getting married in such a stunning place.
Leanna & Josh: It was amazing. We keep recommending them to our friends because we loved ours so much. We couldn’t have asked for a better elopement, ceremony, and pictures.
How did you choose to celebrate your elopement?
Leanna & Josh: We decided to go on a honeymoon. We left Asheville the day after our elopement and drive to Charleston, South Carolina, and then Savannah, Georgia. It was a great time to spend together traveling through the south.
Leanna & Josh: Do it! You’re going to save so much money if you decide to elope. Your experience will be so much more enjoyable because you won’t have to worry about flowers, guests, cake, caterers, etc. It was the best decision we made
Photography by: Cappy Phalen
Hair & Makeup by: Emily Van Scoy
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Craggy Gardens, Asheville
Alyssa & JJ are the real deal! They have been dating since eighth grade. JJ proposed in a field of sunflowers, and Alyssa was excited to say yes. The two wanted to get married in the mountains and chose to elope at Craggy Gardens in North Carolina. Family and friends hiked up the mountain while Alyssa & JJ had their first look. They exchanged vows in a misty, magical setting looking out over a stunning vista. We love Alyssa’s bouquet (the best sunflower bouquet we have ever seen!) and all the epic photos. Find out how these two loved Simply Eloped stress-free planning and how they would do it all again if they could!
Alyssa: We met in 7th grade, when I joined our middle schools honors classes. Most of our classes during the day were together, and we organically became friends until we started dating in 8th grade!
Alyssa: I wanted to go to a sunflower field that is near where we live, because we had never gone before. I knew something was up because when we got there, JJ told me he had to go back to the car because he forgot his phone, but he wouldn’t let me go with him. I assumed he left the ring and was going to propose that day. I texted all of my friends and told them I thought we were getting engaged that day, and we did!
JJ: We we’re heading to the sunflower field, and I had had a ring for a while and was trying to figure out the best way to propose. I thought the sunflower field would be a good location because it was the first time either of us had been there. When we got there, I managed to drop the ring out of my pocket without noticing. Probably five minutes later, I noticed that the ring was gone, so I freaked out a little and told Alyssa I had to go back to the car to get my phone, but she couldn’t go with me. I actually just was searching the dirt for the lost ring. Thankfully, I found it and it was fine. While we were picking flowers, I asked a random stranger to take a few pictures of us, and while we were taking pictures, I decided to propose.
Alyssa: We had never been to Craggy Gardens before, but we looked at a lot of pictures online and really fell in love with the area. I was looking forward to a beautiful sunset from the pictures I saw. Even though we didn’t get to see the sunset (it rained on our wedding day and was very foggy) it was still a beautiful location and the pictures and video turned out amazing. It almost felt ethereal – I felt like I was a fairy!
JJ: I liked that there was a covered pavilion area at Craggy Gardens, which let our guests (and us!) catch a breath after hiking up to the location. There was a very nice view, and the big tree that we did our ceremony in front of was awesome.
Alyssa: We chose to elope in Asheville, NC because I think the mountains are beautiful. We live near the beach in SC, and I wanted a change of location. After looking through the locations offered on Simply Eloped, we decided to go with Craggy Gardens even though we had never been there before! The pictures we saw online were amazing.
JJ: We chose the location because it was beautiful, and it was still close to home because we could drive. We also had our first big vacation in Asheville two years before our elopement, and it just felt like a great spot.
Alyssa: There are bathrooms and a large parking lot before the trail when you get to the location. The hike up isn’t too bad; it’s not steep, but it is a consistent incline, and it is rocky. It gets a bit muddy when it rains! If you’re not a frequent hiker, you might want small breaks on the way up. Once you get to the top, there is a cute covered pavilion, and to the right, there is a flat area that overlooks the mountains and has a nice view. There are a lot of locations to take pictures or do your ceremony.
JJ: After a really scenic drive, you get to a parking lot where there are bathrooms. The hike isn’t bad, but it is constantly uphill because you are going to the top of the mountain. There’s a covered pavilion at the top where you can sit and catch a breath if you need to. We held our ceremony to the right of the pavilion, a flat grassy area with nice views and a few wildflowers.
Alyssa: We actually did our elopement and honeymoon all at the same time. So we had an Airbnb booked right outside of Asheville. On the wedding day, we got breakfast downtown together and then hung out at the Airbnb until two of our friends came in. We ordered Poké Bowls for lunch, and then we separated and JJ went to our friends’ Airbnb to get ready while I stayed at our Airbnb with a few friends and my parents. We blasted some music, and they helped me do my hair and get dressed – I did my makeup. Then I rode to the location with my parents and a friend. It was very relaxed and low-key, and I didn’t feel stressed throughout the entire process. I did feel pretty nervous on the ride to the venue, though.
JJ: Before the wedding, we had lunch with some of our friends, and then we went separate ways to get ready. Alyssa and her family got there before us to hike up, so we could do first looks. I met up with the vendors at the trailhead, and we hiked up together. I was feeling very nervous on the hike up.
Alyssa: We enjoyed our experience! It was simple, and we don’t have any complaints. All of our vendors were wonderful, and they made the day go by stress-free.
JJ: We had a great experience. Everything went well, and we’re glad we went with Simply Eloped.
Alyssa: After our elopement, two of our friends hosted everyone at their Airbnb and made us dinner. It was wonderful, and it was a great way to finish out the day.
JJ: We stayed in Asheville for the rest of the week for our honeymoon. We went hiking, went to waterfalls (Graveyard Falls are awesome), went tubing, and had a lot of great food.
Alyssa: Do it! It’s so fun and is such a stress-free way to get the wedding day that you want. If you’re worried about upsetting family or friends, just remember that this day is about YOU.
JJ: Do it. It was the absolute best way to get married. Compared to what we’ve heard from our other friends that have done traditional weddings recently, ours was the most stress-free wedding (and we had the coolest venue).
Officiation by: Amanda Jones
Photography by: Cappy Phalen
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Craggy Gardens, Asheville, North Carolina
Flirting at work is a time-honored tradition, and a cute meet all rolled in one! Jennifer & Morgan began their life as a couple at a beach trip and never looked back. After a ‘non-proposal,’ this couple was very sure what they wanted. An intimate wedding just for the two of them. They did not want to have to worry about anything or anyone else! So they chose the stunning Craggy Gardens in North Carolina to exchange their vows. Though it rained, Jennifer & Morgan swear it was the wonderful elopement they had envisioned. We love Jennifer’s bohemian lace gown, and be sure to check out their wedding shoes! Keep reading to find out how Simply Eloped was ‘simply wonderful’ according to these two (awww…we are blushing!!).
Jennifer: We met while working at a restaurant called Oscar’s Ale House in Eldersburg, Maryland. I was a waitress, and he was a cook. Morgan’s first impression of me was that I was gorgeous, and he absolutely needed to get to know me. I first remember noticing Morgan when I heard him listening to music at work. He was listening to my favorite band, Slightly Stoopid. I was a little apprehensive because he was 19, and I was 21 at the time, but we were definitely flirty at work. Six months after I started working at Oscar’s, we went on a beach trip with a group of friends, and we have been inseparable ever since. The first time we were alone, we went on a hike and talked at the top until the sun went down, and I knew he was special. People would ask how long we had been dating, and we never had an anniversary date. We always just said one day we started hanging out and never stopped.
Jennifer: Funny you ask, technically, we were never engaged!. We talked about getting married and decided we wanted it to be just the two of us. After choosing a date for our wedding through Simply Eloped one day out of the blue, I told Morgan I didn’t want to get engaged. I didn’t want to get engaged for a show, we already have a wedding date, and everything was planned. If we got engaged, I felt the family would ask questions, and I would have to lie to them about wedding plans, which I didn’t want to do. Morgan’s response was, “well, I already have a ring.” And I was utterly shocked. He dug it out of the hidden corner of a closet, and it was EXACTLY what I wanted. I was so happy but still didn’t want anyone to know. So between that day and our wedding, I would try it on for fun.
Jennifer: After seven years of dating, Morgan and I decided we wanted to elope. We didn’t elope because we have disapproving families or families that don’t get along, and no, I’m not pregnant. I don’t even really consider it an elopement. I consider it a private intimate wedding. To me, an elopement seems spur of the moment and unplanned, and this was very planned. We eloped simply because we wanted it to be our day and a special moment just for us. We’re private people and felt this was a moment meant just for us. I feel weddings these days are more about pleasing your families and guests and making sure people have a good time at your wedding. The only people I wanted to worry about having a good time were ourselves. And we did! We chose to be outdoors because we love nature, and it provided the perfect backdrop, even if it did rain!
Jennifer: I thought of a couple of different venues within the Asheville area but landed on Craggy Gardens simply because it looked gorgeous in pictures. We moved to North Carolina 2 years ago and still had never been to Asheville, so we based the decision on pictures. It had everything we wanted, mountains, flowers, and stunning views. Although I was bummed it was raining, I think that added to the beauty of our pictures and part of the reason the day was so special. There were only two other people at Craggy Gardens that day (thank goodness!) because of the rain, who ended up being out witnesses. It’s hard to explain, but I really just felt like Morgan and I were the only people there during our ceremony, which is what we wanted.
Jennifer: Number one, absolutely beautiful. Even the drive to Craggy Gardens through the blue ridge parkway is incredible. I would say Craggy Gardens is versatile. There are beautiful blooming months, wonderful fall colors, mountain views, and green forestry. You really can create any type of background you want. It’s hard to see all that in our photos since it rained, but if Craggy Gardens can still be that beautiful on a rainy day, it says a lot about the location.
Jennifer: The night before, we made our wedding cake from a box. That morning I went out and got us some incredible doughnuts from a place called Hole Doughnuts. After breakfast, we decorated the cake and ironed Morgan’s clothes. Morgan was finishing up a semester of school, so that morning was a little hectic. I had my make-up and hair done professionally, and we were on our way. We jammed out to all of our favorite songs through the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Jennifer: Absolutely wonderful!! I had no idea how to even go about eloping, and this made it so easy. They guided us on how to get our marriage license and permit for the Blue Ridge Parkway. I even had to change my date and time like four times because of COVID, and they were ALWAYS accommodating and understanding. Megan was helpful in letting us edit our ceremony to make it more personal and gave us advice/guidelines on how to write our vows because we had no idea where to start! Cappy, our photographer, was awesome! We gave her ideas of what kind of photos we wanted to get, and she remembered them all, even the ones I forgot about! She was even willing to drive to multiple overpass areas to get the mountain views we wanted since there was a lot of fog at Craggy Gardens. I wish Morgan and I could repeat that moment in time all over again. SO HAPPY with our experience with Simply Eloped
Jennifer: We met in an Alehouse, and we love beer and food! So Asheville provided a plethora of options. We went to Wicked Weed’s Funkatorium Brewery and had some great beer and food! We had so much fun. We went straight there from the ceremony, so we still had on our wedding attire. No one really said anything at first, but then a table bought us a round of tequila shots which happens to be our favorite! A restaurant full of strangers cheered and clapped for us as we took our shots. Our waiter brought us complimentary glasses of wine and dessert on the house. From there we went home and ate our cake and drank more tequila and watched Game of Thrones. It was such a good day.
Jennifer: Do it!!!! You won’t regret it. I think people are nervous about what their friends and families will think, but to me, that’s the problem! Remember, it’s not about what your families want. It’s about what you guys want as a couple. Not one person was mad at us when we told them about our marriage. It was just pure joy. Everyone was just happy we got to have the wedding of our dreams. Telling everyone was kind of part of the fun of eloping, too. It’s like we got to share that excitement and celebrate over and over again. My advice would be to do what will make you happy and remember this day is about you two!
Officiation by: Megan Roberts
Photography by: Cappy Phalen
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Craggy, Asheville, North Carolina
Anna & Derek hit it off at a high school grad party and have been going strong ever since! They knew what they wanted when it came to their elopement. Asheville and mountains! Something Blue Mountain Venue ticked off every box on their wish list. The best part was that Gracie, their forever woofer, was with them as they tied the knot with family and friends. Anna & Derek had it all – eloping in North Carolina’s gorgeous mountains and celebrating with pizza and beer in the city! Be sure to check out how in love these two are with their Simply Eloped vendors. (And don’t miss Anna’s colorful wildflower bouquet!)
Anna: We met at a mutual friend’s graduation party the summer before our senior year of high school. We instantly hit it off and quickly became friends. My first impression of Derek was that he was very tall and handsome. He was also incredibly easy to talk to and we just kind of “clicked.”
Derek: My first impression of Anna was that she seemed cool and she was pretty. We seemed to get along well from the get-go, and ended up hanging out more and more over the summer.
Derek: I proposed at Upheaval Dome in Canyonlands National Park. I was intending to propose at Arches National Park, but it was too crowded. At Canyonlands, we were able to walk off trail a bit and I asked our friend to take our picture. When they started to take our picture, I popped the question!
Derek and Anna: Asheville is one of our favorite cities, so eloping there was a no brainer! We knew that Asheville had everything we wanted for our big day – craft beer, dogs, and mountains! Asheville is also a short drive for us and our parents, which was an added bonus.
Derek and Anna: We knew that we wanted to elope in the mountains, but we are also very private people. Eloping at Something Blue Mountain Venue allowed us to have total privacy and gorgeous mountain views. Something Blue was also dog friendly which was extremely important to us. Our 12 year old dog, Gracie, has been with us from the beginning of our relationship, so of course she had to be there for our big day! Overall, our favorite parts about eloping at Something Blue Mountain Venue were the beautiful views, total privacy, inclement weather ceremony space (especially when the forecast called for rain!), and dog friendlyness.
Derek and Anna: Something Blue Mountain Venue is like a hidden gem. When you drive to it, you do not feel like you are going up a mountain. When you get to the venue, you are instantly greeted with 360 degrees of mountain views. The walk to the ceremony site is paved and incredibly easy. The landscaping is beautiful, and you really feel like you have the whole place to yourself.
Derek and Anna: Something Blue Mountain Venue is like a hidden gem. When you drive to it, you do not feel like you are going up a mountain. When you get to the venue, you are instantly greeted with 360 degrees of mountain views. The walk to the ceremony site is paved and incredibly easy. The landscaping is beautiful, and you really feel like you have the whole place to yourself.
Anna: Derek cooked us breakfast at the cabin, and we hung out for a bit. Even though our elopement was low-key, I was still feeling a bit anxious. To calm my nerves, I did some yoga and we threw a frisbee around. I got my hair and makeup done, while Derek picked up the flowers. Derek and I got dressed up together, and we did a grand reveal for our families. On the drive to the venue, I felt so excited and ready to marry my soulmate! It was raining on the drive there, and we saw a beautiful rainbow…I took that as a good sign.
Derek: I filled my time before the wedding by doing things around the cabin and facilitating stuff. I had not felt nervous in the days leading up to the wedding but the day of, it started to creep in. Staying busy helped the time pass and before too long, it was time to get ready. We got ready together and once we were dressed, it felt much more calm.
Derek and Anna: Our experience with Simply Eloped was so stress-free and easy! Simply Eloped was quick to answer any questions I had, and connected us with the best vendors! Our officiant, Amanda, crafted a beautiful and personal ceremony. She made it seem like she had known us for years. Maddie took phenomenal pictures (I mean…just look at them!) and made us feel instantly comfortable. I’m convinced she’s the best hype woman around. I’m so glad that we used Simply Eloped because our wedding day was perfect!
Derek and Anna: Our elopement was at sunset, so my dad picked up some pizza while taking couples’ portraits. We all met back at the cabin and had a champagne toast. After the toast, we all changed into comfy clothes, ate pizza, and drank our favorite local beers. We had a fire, played cornhole, and pool.
Anna: I highly recommend it! I have no regrets. Eloping really allows you to focus on what is important: You and your partner.
Derek: If you are interested in eloping, I suggest looking into it. It is obviously not for everyone, but if you are not looking for a big wedding, it is a great option.
Officiation by: Amanda Jones
Photography by: Maddie Kay
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Something Blue Mountain Venue, Asheville, North Carolina
Updated: September 18th, 2023
Enough about us, now it’s all about you. We can’t wait to plan your perfect day together. We’re happy to answer any question you may have.
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