Looking for beautiful, natural waterfall wedding venues in NC? Check out these natural, outdoor waterfall settings in the Western NC area.
Natural Waterfall Wedding Venues in NC – What you need to know
When it comes to finding natural waterfall wedding venues in NC, the search can be quite complex. While there are a plethora of waterfalls in Western North Carolina to choose from for a fun couples hike together, it can be quite difficult to find just the right one for all the aspects needed for an adventure elopement or wedding. What are our top criteria for choosing your right location?
Those are just a few things that we look for in a waterfall wedding spot for you. We’re here to help you with our expertise of the mountains to find the right place for you!
Not sure where to begin?
A simple planning guide to help you understand what goes into an elopement day, including typical investment ranges, so you can think things through at your own pace.
Beautiful Waterfalls for Weddings in NC – Out in the wild
If you are thinking of keeping your wedding small and intimate, many of the options below will work up to about 10 guests. Or our recommendation – choose a waterfall for just the two of you and combine it with a mountain overlook or traditional wedding venue to accommodate your guests.
Waterfalls near Brevard, NC
Set apart from National Forest or other public lands, it seems like there is a waterfall everywhere you turn near this town. Some are on private property of an AirBNB or VRBO – so you can book your place to stay and have an epic waterfall nearby!
This is also one of our favorite mountain towns in NC. There are plenty of great places to stay here … and our favorite place for an elopement celebration (whether dinner or lunch) is the Square Root Restaurant. Love the euro feel of this unique place!
Related post:
North Carolina Elopement | Ultimate Planning Guide
Check out our post here for even more locations in NC to elope, planning tips and more!
Pisgah National Forest
This part of Pisgah in gorgeous Western NC is one that many call the “land of waterfalls.” There are plenty to visit for a casual hike, but as a wedding venue there are only a few that are a good match. The ones we show below are near Brevard and Asheville.
This National Forest also gets a lot of tourist traffic no matter the season, so we recommend early morning on the weekends! We also know a few more that are truly hidden gems — reach out to us to learn more!
These falls can work great for just two, or with about 4 guests looking on from the observation platform near the road:
Another favorite is below, which is not for the faint of heart to reach — it’s a rock scramble down from the road and a little bit of route-finding too through the woods, but it’s a gorgeous setting with a pool below. Great spot for a summer elopement!
These lovely falls below are accessed by a fairly short hike from a gravel parking lot. It is a very small parking area (about ten cars max) so we only recommend this for early morning or weekdays. There is a large rock in the water which is just large enough for the two of you and an officiant, and the water cascading down the rocks is beautiful!
This option below works better for a group, as the falls are so big that they create a natural amphitheater below! Check out the second photo to see the scale of this place!
The parking lot to get here is small also, probably only about 15 cars max. It is also a moderate 2 mile out and back hike. If your group is up for an early morning hike, this is a great spot!
Nantahala National Forest
Nantahala National Forest covers a significant part of Western NC and is home to lots of falling water. While many are a long hike or not the best for photography, this one is a short drive off of the Blue Ridge Parkway and only about a mile hike (and mostly flat too!). It’s at the end of a curvy paved, then gravel road that doesn’t get many visitors. Great spot to escape the heat of the summer!
These falls below are on a 3 mile out and back hike that includes a great spot for sunset too! It’s one of the more secluded parts of Nantahala that we love!
Related post:
Elope in Asheville | Definitive Guide to Crafting Your Dream Elopement
Best places, best seasons, planning tips and more! Check out our post here:
Mary & Brian’s day is a great example of how we help couples shape a meaningful experience around a specific place.
You don’t have to carry all of this alone
Mark & Carolyn here! We design thoughtfully planned elopement experiences so couples can stay present, supported, and deeply connected… not stuck managing details.
Rent an Airbnb for your waterfall wedding in NC
There are so many waterfalls across the Carolina Mountains – there are actually a few within private communities, and some Airbnbs with their own waterfall in the backyard! What makes this a great option is that you can get an awesome 2 for 1 – rent a house to use as a reception venue for your family and a place to stay – and have access to a waterfall that is private to the general public.
Here’s just a few of our favorites near Asheville, Brevard, and across Western NC. We’d love to show you where these are!
Airbnb Wedding & Elopement Venues NC | Learn More here
Check out our complete guide to finding the right Airbnb in North Carolina for your elopement!
South Carolina Waterfalls for Weddings
Did you know that South Carolina also has mountains and waterfalls? Sometimes it seems like a best kept secret – and that fact means there are many spots out there which don’t get the same kind of tourist traffic like western NC. We’re including some options here because they are so close to the NC border, and you might find you like them better!
What that means for you – in a busy season where everyone seems to be covering up waterfalls around Asheville, you can usually find someplace much more private in South Carolina.
Here are some examples of the places we know!
Sumter National Forest
Close to the NC border, these falls below are one of our favorites to get away from it all. It’s only a short walk off of the main road, and it still escapes us how many people drive by this beautiful place. But that’s their loss! These falls are very photogenic, especially with you in front of them enjoying the moment!
Another beautiful option below, these are actually 3 waterfalls in close vicinity. One of our favorites for all the variety and seclusion!
South Carolina State Parks
Wow – would you believe these beautiful falls are just a short walk in from the main parking lot? With a deck alongside you can bring guests or just have the place all to yourselves. Even get in the water!
This spot is right off of a popular hiking trail, so early morning or weekdays is the best!
Historic Bridge for your Wedding Venue
Not exactly a waterfall – more like a water feature – but this bridge is so unique we just had to mention it! Located about halfway between Flat Rock, NC and Greenville, SC. This is a beautiful spot that is mostly known among the locals. Convenient from the road makes it ideal for an intimate wedding with family members if they aren’t up for a big hike. Small parking lot so as we’ve mentioned before – weekend early mornings or weekdays are the best!
Traditional Waterfall Wedding Venues in NC
Looking for a larger venue space to accommodate your guests? Here are more options to consider, that are more traditional!
Secret Waters – Highlands, NC
Secret Waters is tucked away near the beautiful mountain town of Highlands, NC. Gorgeous spot for a private ceremony without having to worry about tourists coming by. They also have indoor space available too!
Willow Falls Weddings – Hendersonville, NC
Willow Falls is a super unique wedding venue that will work for up to 75 guests, and is open from May through October. Not only is it a beautiful waterfall wedding venue in NC, it doubles as accommodations for up to 20 overnight guests! They feature two homes with 5 bedrooms. Between the Main House (which is like a French countryside villa) and the fairytale Bungalow this is a beautiful property!
Get Started Planning Your North Carolina Waterfall Elopement
This is just an overview of waterfalls we know about in North Carolina for your wedding. We have many more spots we’d love to share with you, including all our “secret” locations you won’t find through researching online or on Instagram.
We’re ready to help you bring your vision to life. Reach out to us to start planning the North Carolina elopement of your dreams!
