Looking for Forest Wedding Venues in NC that are Small and Intimate or Adventurous ? Something apart from the ordinary? Check out our directory list!
When being outside is your happy place, it only makes sense to get married there! Forest wedding venues in NC are ideal for adventurous elopements (you never know where you might end up!) and intimate weddings. If the thought of getting married in a big, formal ceremony isn’t the right fit for you, eloping removes all the limitations so you can have the celebration you envision. You have come to the right place when you want an out-of-the-ordinary wedding.
At StoryBright, we focus on planning and delivering your perfect day. From the first time we talk with you until we say goodbye, we handle each detail, take every photo, and anticipate everything in between to accomplish your epic forest elopement.
Keep reading to see how we provide the most personalized service to ensure your day is next-level perfect. This comprehensive guide will help you find the forest wedding elopement spot or intimate wedding venue that suits your preferences and personalities. Our goal at StoryBright is to handle all the unexpected headaches and accompanying stress, so all you do is experience the anticipation and excitement of your wedding day.
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Best Forest Wedding Venues in NC for Adventurous Elopements and Small & Intimate Weddings
Many couples love the idea of getting married in a majestic North Carolina forest but don’t know how to accomplish this task. With the rugged mountains, bold colors, and matchless weather, it is easy to see the appeal of a forest wedding venue in NC for adventurous elopements. We know many venues that would be a flawless backdrop to your wedding elopement day.
North Carolina Arboretum
The North Carolina Arboretum delivers a picturesque forest wedding venue in NC with environmentally thoughtful planning. Because the Arboretum focuses on sustainable plants and practices, they have over sixty-five acres of cultivated gardens as the backdrop for your special day. Their Green Weddings Program offers an amazing package for an intimate wedding or adventurous elopement.
The Blue Ridge Parkway
Spanning the southern and central Appalachian Mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a favorite of ours! Because you don’t want to get married at just any overlook, we will ensure you have a ceremony in a location with a truly worthy backdrop. There are many spots along the parkway to elope or invite a small group to celebrate with you. The Blue Ridge Parkway requires a wedding permit, and we help you through the process of applying for it. Since we have scouted out the best locations, as a client you would have access to our comprehensive guide for ideal locations along the Parkway.
Public Lands and Forests in Brevard, North Carolina
If a waterfall backdrop is perfect for your forest wedding venue in NC, Brevard is the place for you! After your small ceremony or elopement, you can hike, bike, wander around the charming downtown, and fly fishing–you name it! Depending on the time of year, you can enjoy a local festival or visit the “slick rocks.” We know the best places to stay nearby as you anticipate getting married on your big day.
Free Download: Elopement Budget Spreadsheet
The Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Cades Cove
The Great Smokey Mountains National Park sits on the Tennessee/NC border. Within the park, you will find preserved cabins, historical artifacts, and other remnants of the Southern Appalachian culture there. While you will need to secure a permit to get married in the park, and they require a park-approved photographer for your wedding, the array of dazzling spots within the Great Smokey Mountains makes this location perfect for a forest wedding venue and adventurous elopement.
Cades Cove
One of our favorite spots within the Great Smokey Mountains National Park is Cades Cove. This gorgeous valley boasts multiple forest wedding venues with majestic mountains, serene sunsets, and abundant wildlife. Cades Cove is the most-visited area of the park, so you should consider that when planning an elopement there.
Mount Mitchell State Park
Mount Mitchell State Park is the highest point east of the Mississippi. As you drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway to access Mount Mitchell, you will see a small glimpse of what is to come once you reach the mountain. One advantage of choosing this forest wedding venue in NC is that while you can hike to the mountain peak, they have a handicap-accessible observation platform. This allows family members and others to join your ceremony comfortably as they can drive to the platform.
Nantahala National Forest
With some of the most awe-inspiring waterfalls, Nantahala National Forest defines a perfect location for an adventurous elopement, nestled in a forest wedding venue in NC! The number of lakes, streams, and rivers surrounded by the most extensive natural forest in the state means you will have your pick of perfect locations. While the gorges and valleys only stand fully in the sunlight in the middle of the day, the mountain balds offer views throughout the day. There are so many ideal spots in Nantahala National Forest that you should contact us for more information if this location appeals to you!
Pisgah National Forest
Getting married in Pisgah National Forest is the epitome of an adventurous elopement! At the base of a breathtaking waterfall or atop a mile-high peak, the Pisgah National Forest has dense, green tree canopies and colorful sunsets that provide the ideal backdrop for your adventure elopement. Sunrise or sunset, Pisgah encompasses over 500,000 acres of pristine spaces for your wedding. Pisgah & Nantahala two are our favorite public lands for elopements in NC!
Waterfalls in Pisgah National Forest
Pisgah National Forest earned the nickname “Land of the Waterfalls” for a good reason! With over 250 waterfalls, there are multiple places for a picturesque adventurous elopement. Surrounded by thick forests, any of the main waterfalls can be a short hike for a one-of-a-kind ceremony. Be very careful in selecting the right one however – not all will work for a wedding for various reasons. Reach out to us to learn more about what to look for!
Black Balsam Mountains
Take a trail through wildflower fields in the Black Balsam Mountains, where you can get married anywhere along the way. In the magical fields or on top of Black Balsam Knob, your forest wedding venue will be kissed by nature with stunning 360-degree views. Whether you want to have an adventurous elopement atop the 6,000-foot peak or along one of the flower-dappled trails, Black Balsam Mountains is a dream spot for your forest wedding venue in NC!
Best Forest Wedding Venues in NC for Small & Intimate Weddings
Small, intimate weddings are a favorite of many couples. Combining a unique geographic place with the people they love most creates a simple day focused entirely on their union. You will love these forest wedding venues in NC for a small and intimate wedding moment!
Free Download: Elopement Budget Spreadsheet
Something Blue Mountain Venue | One of Our Favorites for an Intimate Forest Wedding Venue in NC
While Something Blue sits conveniently near Charlotte, Asheville, and other nearby cities, making it easily accessible for a small wedding, what we love about the location is the one-of-a-kind setting. Entering the property along the winding gravel road, you get a small taste of this private, wooded venue. We are betting you will love this memorable location as much as we do!
Bent Creek Lodge
When you have your ceremony at Bent Creek Lodge, there are accommodations for your entire group to stay on the grounds. After everyone gathers for your intimate wedding in the ultimate wooded setting, you and your guests can indulge in a three-course meal on the grounds, or choose a location in Asheville, only fifteen minutes away.
Willow Falls, Hendersonville
Willow Falls has several outdoor forest settings to cater to your special day. There, you can invite up to seventy-five guests to join your small, intimate wedding. The epic waterfall, hiking trails, and thriving natural surroundings means that Willow Falls books up quickly, so plan to reserve your spot well before the big day.
The Barn at Honeysuckle Hill
Nestled right in Asheville sits The Barn at Honeysuckle Hill. An equestrian estate, The Barn at Honeysuckle Hill represents everything you want in an intimate southern wedding. With a charming chapel, a classic red barn, and gorgeous forest views, Honeysuckle Hill is available for small weddings Monday-Thursday each week.
Olivette Riverside Farm
If the idea of getting married on a small island or alongside a rushing river feels right to you, Olivette Riverside Farm is the place! They specialize in delivering an entirely stress-free small wedding where you don’t have to worry about a thing!
River North
Only twenty minutes from Asheville, River North is a family-owned farm that caters to small, intimate weddings in a curated forest venue in NC. They have three cabins to accommodate your group, along with walking trails, a glorious pond, and a private forest for your ceremony of up to thirty-five guests.
Secret Waters, Highlands
Hide away for your small and intimate forest wedding at Secret Waters Highlands. Surrounding their private waterfall is a lush woodland perfect for your day. Afterward, take photos on a rope bridge and in the open doors that create the illusion of a wooded portal.
Laughing Waters
Nestled in Hickory Nut Gorge, Laughing Waters is the essence of a forest wedding venue, ideal for an intimate ceremony. With multiple dazzling waterfalls and views for miles, Laughing Waters is only a short drive to Chimney Rock State Park, where you can find quaint shops and charming restaurants. After your ceremony, there are extensive hiking trails for you to explore. Verdant forests and several locations for a small wedding make Laughing Waters one-of-a-kind.
Junebug Retro Resort
Have you ever thought about getting married in a tree house, enveloped by a tree canopy? Or, perhaps the forest floor that sits in dappled light is where you want to have your ceremony? At Junebug Retro Resort, you can do either! With a fleet of ten vintage campers, your guests can stay on the grounds and share in the day leading up to your wedding. This space is designed for the ultimate distinctive micro-wedding experience.
Sawyer Family Farmstead
Have you thought of getting married surrounded by Christmas trees? You can at Sawyer Family Farmstead, a real working Christmas tree farm with a venue for forest weddings in NC. Stay at the farmhouse overlooking the tree farm and lake. It sleeps up to twenty people, and the main venue has several spots for a ceremony and a cocktail area. You can take a virtual tour on their website.
Top tips & What you need to know
Not all Forest Wedding Venues are the same
Remember that each forest wedding venue has its own personality and offerings. You most likely have a forest setting in mind when you choose this ceremony type, so be sure to focus on that when investigating the features of each space. You might want something deep in the forest with a hideaway feel, or you could envision a ceremony by the babbling creek with a backdrop of trees. It’s important to think about the aspects and aesthetic you are looking for when looking at a venue.
Be mindful of some key takeaways:
- Will you want to have the venue longer for just a ceremony? For example, a cocktail hour after the ceremony? Or a reception too?
- Does the forest wedding venue have space for a sit-down dinner? Or would you plan on that elsewhere?
- Will you and your guests want to stay on the property?
- How far are you willing to travel?
- How far will your guests travel?
- Do you want an adventurous feel to your day, or do you want something that is more like a traditional wedding venue?
Because we have been part of so many unmatched adventurous elopements and small weddings, we will share our expertise by helping you finetune the details that matter most to you. We love to help you hone in on the essentials for an unforgettable day!
Free Download: Elopement Budget Spreadsheet
Be Careful with All-inclusive Packages at Forest Wedding Venues in NC
When you see an all-inclusive forest wedding venue in NC, be cautious with what you might assume it means. What you interpret as stress-free and simple can sometimes be a circumstance where you lose the say in what happens during your day.
Think carefully about the elements of your day that matter the most and how much oversight you want to have in what your day looks like. Getting married is exciting, but it can also be taxing, so working through your expectations well-beforehand can remove the uncertainty.
Our years of experience with elopements and small weddings is here to guide you through all the parts of your wedding to deliver an ideal series of moments. Consider some thoughts about all-inclusive:
- You could be giving up a say in details that matter to you, i.e., the flower types and arrangements. Often these are “pre-selected” for you.
- Choosing vendors to suit your style may be limited to who the venue already has on their list.
- You may not get to choose your photographer. Some venues work with contract photographers on staff, who are usually on rotation. Often you don’t get to meet them until the day of your wedding. All this means you might not get the breathtaking pictures you want. When you remember that the photos of your one-of-a-kind moment are what you will have forever, the photographer should be a top priority for stellar images.
- The “venue coordinator” works for the venue, not the bride. You need a coordinator focused exclusively on you and your dreams for a wedding day.
At StoryBright, our team works exclusively for you, aiming to remove as much stress of the day as possible. Starting with our initial conversations, to travel planning, to being your day-of coordinator, to handling the unexpected, we are there to ensure your preferences, so you can just focus on having a great day together!
Need help choosing from the many Forest Wedding Venues in NC? We’re here to help!
Having gotten this far – you may be thinking this is a lot to think about! The fact is that there are many details to consider when choosing the wedding venue for you. The good news is you don’t have to go at it alone. We have years of experience with adventure elopements and small intimate weddings in the NC mountains – why not reach out to us? We would love to help you craft the perfect day!
