Planning an NC Mountain Elopement? Whether it’s the Blue Ridge Parkway, Smoky Mountains or National Forest spots nearby, here’s a few of our top tips to prepare for your best day ever!
Our tips for your best NC Mountain Elopement Experience
Looking for an in-depth guide to eloping in the NC mountains? Check out our complete Mountain Elopement Guide below!
Be Weather Wise
Traveling from a valley floor to the top of a mountain, we’ve seen the weather change from sunny & warm to cold, windy & wet. We consult multiple weather apps and use our local knowledge of the area to prepare for a day in the North Carolina Mountains.
Preparing for both ideal weather and not-so-ideal keeps everything go as smoothly as possible! If the clouds hide the sun, we’ll use the soft light to our advantage. If the wind kicks up and brings a chill to the air, we’ll be ready with blankets for you to get cozy together. Stuck with showers on a cool day? We’ll hand you wedding umbrellas to stay dry & enjoy the muted sound of raindrops on the forest floor.
Follow the sun
Combining the best views with optimal sunlight – which changes depending on the time of year – is one secret to great lighting for your photos. We plan your timeline in conjunction with your location(s) to coincide with the best of what the sun gives us on your day.
Views that are excellent for a mid-summer shoot may not have the best sun angle in winter – or vice versa. We use a combination of apps and our experience to make sure we time the sun just right.
Elope like a local
Instagram has been a double edged sword when it comes to planning adventures. While the platform is useful to show us exciting new places to go, the over-popularization of many locations has been detrimental. It has not only made use of some of the more popular spots unsustainable, but also can make them a bit cliché.
Our advice? Don’t be too attached to what everyone else is doing. Some “trending” spots may still be perfectly feasible for your day, but we would keep an open mind to the lesser known (and less crowded) locations. Just ask us where the locals go – to find that perfect combination of great views and few crowds!
Consider your color palette
While we are big fans of the glorious color show that autumn blesses us with each year, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend planning your wedding during peak foliage. Apart from the many crowds in the area (another reason to choose a different season) – why would we say this?
It truly depends. If you are in love with the fall colors and they blend with your style – then by all means! On the other hand, we’d consider what a multi-color background of deep reds, oranges and yellows would look like as your background.
Spring through summer offer a lush green for your backdrop, while winter can bring almost a monochromatic gray and white. The latter makes your colors especially pop against the background!
Live Adventurously!
A day in the mountains can be so dynamic. Admittedly, some of our shoots haven’t gone exactly “according to plan.” This is why we have backup plans!
Thunderstorms, clouds, windy days can happen. Embrace the day and what it gives you. We promise to make it epic, adventurous & your most treasured memory, no matter what!
