Asheville Elopement Ceremony Ideas
Put a modern twist on tradition
If you’re planning a small, non-traditional wedding or adventure elopement around Asheville, your ceremony can be as personal as the view.
Below are a few crowd-favorite rituals I’ve been fortunate to document—with a tiny bit of history and fresh, Asheville-friendly spins—to help you build a meaningful, non-religious wedding ceremony that photographs beautifully and feels true to you.
Ring Warming
There’s something magnetic about letting your rings gather a little love before they reach your fingers.
A ring warming keeps things simple and quiet—perfect for an intimate mountain wedding in Asheville where every gesture feels intentional. Guests (or witnesses) hold the bands for a few breaths, layering in hopes and good energy without stopping the flow. It’s low-gear, high-meaning, and photographs beautifully in those calm minutes before the ceremony begins.
Pass the rings to a few loved ones (or witnesses) for a silent wish before the ceremony
Secure with a linen ribbon or tiny carabiner (wind-friendly on overlooks)
Works beautifully for “just us” elopements—or have your officiant hold/warm the rings
Handfasting
Handfasting is a consistent tradition I’ve seen performed over the last few years. It’s non-religious way to mark the moment without making things too formal.
How’s it work? Your hands are wrapped with a cord or ribbon while you speak promises, and the “knot” is tied at the end (or you slip your hands out and tie it afterward as a keepsake). It works anywhere—overlook, forest, cabin lawn—and it’s easy to customize.
Materials: 1–3 cords/ribbons, each ~6–9 feet. Options: plant-dyed ribbon, heirloom fabric strips, a short piece of climbing rope, or lace from a relative’s dress.
Hand position: Stand facing each other. Hold left to left (traditional) or right to right—either is fine. Keep hands at waist height so it’s comfortable and visible.
Who wraps: Officiant does it (most common), or invite a parent/friend to place the cord(s) as you make vows.
One loop per vow: As you say a promise, the cord loops once around your joined hands (usually 2–4 loops total).
Anniversary Wine Box
If you love the idea of romance that keeps unfolding, this one’s for you. Including an anniversary wine box for your Asheville wedding is a romantic idea that yields something special you can share years later. The idea, like a time capsule, is that you write letters now and seal them with a special bottle of wine to open and enjoy later on an anniversary or other special date.
The gesture is both celebratory and grounding: a promise to keep choosing each other. For an Asheville elopement or wedding memory, you could box up a Biltmore wine or something nice from Burial’s Visuals wine brand.
Choose a wine that will age well to your chosen date.
Slip in a Polaroid or some other snippets of your day
Pick an “open date” (1, 3, or 5 years) and lock it up with a small padlock or some other locking mechanism. Or not, it’s up to you!
Wedding Whiskey—Enjoy a Trail-Ready Toast
If you’re interested in doing a mountain elopement ‘toast’, this is an unfussy, trail-friendly one that warms you from the inside out.
Blend a splash from bottles you love into one shared flask and you’ve got a ritual that’s equal parts celebratory and sentimental. It complements mountain air, wool blankets, and golden-hour light beautifully. Keep it small, keep it meaningful, and save the rest for a first-year hike back to the ridge.
Create a tiny blend in an engraved pocket flask
One sip after the pronouncement; tuck the rest away for your anniversary hike
Works indoors or out; plays nicely with letters or a handfasting
Unity Glass
If you’re drawn to artistic wedding or elopement keepsakes, unity glass is a pretty sweet option. It turns your “us” into art that can be a wall piece, a tabletop sculpture, or something else.
How it works: Couple’s pour colored glass crystals together during the ceremony, then after your day, drop off the crystals to a local artist who kiln-fuses them into a bowl or something else.
The tradition can be colorful and modern and is packable for an overlook. The color palette can echo your favorite colors or take inspiration from the place you’re in: the Blue Ridge Mountains, rhododendron bloom pinks, moss greens, etc.
Choose a palette inspired by the Blue Ridge (moss, sky, rhodo bloom) - or whatever your chosen colors will be
Consider carrying a small, fully sealable, unbreakable travel jar for the crystals; Source your artist locally in Asheville or ship to your favorite craftsperson later on.
Unity Sand Ceremony
Unity sand is also a simple, visual, and trail-friendly option for an elopement ceremony ritual.
It’s perfect when you want a “we’re blending our lives” moment without carrying all that much in your packs.
How does it work? Like the unity glass mentioned above, you’ll each pour colored sand into a shared vessel, creating layers that look lovely. It works beautifully for non-religious or religious ceremonies and is easy to adapt for families (kids can pour a layer too).
The keepsake travels home safely and lands on a shelf where you’ll see it every day.
Choose 2–4 sand colors that echo your day - which is open to interpretation.
Use a lidded travel jar for the pour; transfer to a display vessel at home or bring that vessel out for the ceremony. Your best bet is something durable for the hike in and out. If you’re at venue or cabin - even easier.
Invite kids or parents to add a thin layer for a blended-family touch
Plays nicely at overlooks, forests, and cozy cabin lawns—no flames, no mess.
Wooden Puzzle Unity
I recently photographed a ceremony that had this. If you like the idea of something tactile and custom, a wooden unity puzzle is ridiculously fun and meaningful. You design (or commission) a small puzzle—your initials, a mountain silhouette, even your pup’s outline—and during the ceremony you place the final pieces together. It’s interactive for tiny guest lists (they can sign the back) and becomes art you’ll hang at home. Bonus: wood grains and mountain shapes feel perfectly Asheville.
Create a puzzle from reclaimed or locally milled wood; engrave your date on the back
Choose a design with 2–6 pieces so the moment stays quick and photogenic
Invite a few guests to sign the back pre-ceremony; assemble the last piece together
Display as wall art or on a shelf
Tie The Knot (literally)
As an alternative to handfasting, you can tie a sailor's knot or other strong knot in a piece of rope. A fisherman's knot is particularly symbolic, as it gets stronger under pressure, representing a durable relationship - like yours!
Tree Planting
Some couples want a symbol that keeps growing with them, so they choose a tree planting together.
Tree planting is a tactile, earth-friendly, and easy to stage beside a cozy Asheville cabin or venue lawn.
How to do it? Mix soil from meaningful places, add the water together, and then re-plant at home as a living reminder. It’s simple, photogenic, and feels perfect for outdoorsy, non-traditional and eco-friendly weddings.
Pot a native sapling (serviceberry, dogwood) in a keepsake planter
Blend a scoop of soil from each of your hometowns
Quick pour of water after vows; low-mess and photo-friendly
Time Capsules
These are a fun way to preserve moments and literally bury them (or just put them on a shelf) for a decided upon length of time.
There are no rules for what goes inside the time capsule, but consider adding little artifacts from the day—vow drafts, a pressed flower, sentimental photo - like a polaroid—then promise to open them later. If family or friends are present, they can share letters, cards, drawings - you name it.
Label an “open on” date; ask witnesses to sign the lid underside
Great add-on for “just us” ceremonies at sunrise or sunset
Can you hike with it? Time capsules can be any size you like, which makes them fairly portable, but this is probably most ideal for ceremonies held at cabins or venues - where size isn’t a limiting factor. With that added size, you have more flexibility on what get’s placed inside.
If it’s just the two of you at an overlook, you very likely could find something petite enough for a backpack. Like this one I found online.
Oathing Stone Blessing
In researching this post, the oathing stone tradition came up in a few places. Though I’ve never documented one, it sounds really sweet!
What I found was that oathing stone blessings began in ‘old Scottish tradition, where couples would lay a hand on a stone while speaking vows—“swearing on stone” was a way to make promises feel unbreakable and witnessed by the land itself'.’
Fast-forward to now: an oathing stone is a simple, non-religious tradition that adds grounding and meaning without commercial props or pomp.
So if you want guests involved somehow in your ceremony (without adding speeches) a stone blessing is quietly powerful.
How’s it work? Each person holds a smooth river stone, offers a word or intention, and places it in a bowl you’ll take home. It’s short, tactile, and surprisingly emotional—especially in a wild mountain setting.
If you don’t want to deal with traveling with lots of stones, consider small stones, or finding a single stone that get’s passed from guest to guest. Just know that the latter might add time to accomplish if there are more than a few guests.
Grounding Ceremony
Sometimes the simplest ritual is the one you feel the deepest. A guided, 30-45 minute grounding ceremony might just be what you’re after.
Typically separate from the actual ceremony - and often done before getting ready, grounding ceremonies are a wonderfully meditative, quiet way to cut out the noise and really notice your partner, your surroundings, and more.
What is it? From Gina at All The Things Ceremonies:
Close your eyes and ‘allow the hum of crystal sound bowls, tuned in to your heart and head chakras, to wash over you. Feel negativity leave your mind and body as you are cleansed by purifying smoke. Experience the emotional release of energy moving under the hands of an experienced Reiki practitioner. In this sacred space, set your intentions for your marriage, your future, and for your best life!
It’s a dedicated moment without phones and distractions and it’s your chance to let go of things that no longer serve you and visualize your marriage and future together.
If you’re interested in bringing your guests into this moment of grounding, consider working with an Asheville-based officiant like Gina Angel who is willing to customize that experience for you and your group.
Ribbon Circle
For tiny guest lists, the ribbon circle makes community visible in a second. A single ribbon links your circle while your officiant welcomes everyone, then slips away before portraits. It’s inclusive, easy to set up, and looks incredible at golden hour. Think symbolism without props overload.
Place the ribbon around your small guest circle before the welcome
Quick, accessible, and easy to remove before portraits
Add a line about “the people who hold us” to the script
Other ideas and personal gestures to consider for your ceremony
Share gifts: Exchange small, meaningful gifts during the ceremony, such as a special book or talisman.
Read letters from loved ones: If family and friends are not present, ask them to write letters of well-wishes for you to read to each other during the ceremony.
Have a "first look" with a twist: Before seeing each other, stand back-to-back and hold hands while exchanging private vows, letters, or gifts. This builds anticipation before you turn to face each other.
Involve pets: Incorporate your furry friend by having them act as a ring bearer or simply be present during the ceremony.
Create a secret handshake: End the ceremony by sealing your vows with a secret handshake that is unique to you as a couple.
Take a moment of silence: Pause to honor loved ones who have passed away, reflect on the journey that led you to this moment, or simply soak in the gravity of the occasion.
How to Choose
Your ceremony doesn’t need five rituals to feel big—but consider including one or two that sound like you or will enhance the experience with your partner and anyone there to support you.
If you’re interested in any of these for your day, I’d love to hear which you’re leaning towards and why. I love when couples include these types of meaningful gestures or traditions into their celebration experience. It’s not only a wonderful thing to document, but it enhances the whole experience and gives a weight to the ceremony that sometimes words alone aren’t enough.
With years of experience documenting couples in the mountains, consider me your passionate Asheville friend who’s there to help you plan your big day and then document it in a way that captures the emotion and details of it all.
