Chestoa View Overlook & Chimneys Elopement
June 09, 2022
Kaitlyn and Evan chose to start their wedding day at a quiet, little-known spot near Linville Falls called Chestoa View Overlook which they said “checked all the boxes” for their ceremony location.
Because they had close friends along - as well as their puppy, Doug, they wanted a ceremony location that was accessible and beautiful. The plan after the ceremony was to spend the rest of the day romping around Linville Gorge - hitting a waterfall before driving around the gorge for a sunset session.
The Chestoa View Overlook is sort of a quiet, less popular spot than some of the other locations in the area, and it boasts pretty similar views to another location nearby called Wiseman’s View.
Like Wiseman’s View, getting to this location is easy and the walk to the overlook is extremely short. The large parking area has enough spots to accommodate a small group, and there are picnic tables in case you want to have some bubbly like K + E did.
Getting to the overlook
The approach is very easy. After a short walk down a paved path, to descend some rock stairs which leads to the actual overlook (and some pretty amazing views of Linville Gorge). Because of it’s relatively small size - it works well as an elopement ceremony spot for groups with less than 10 guests. The combination of intimate surroundings, beautiful views, easy access, and less name recognition makes this a pretty good option for couples.
Note: Because of the stairs down to the overlook area, it may require assistance to access if anyone is disabled or has trouble with stairs.
K + E had just 2 close friends in attendance (one of whom was also the officiant) - and their new (and absolutely adorable) puppy along for the ceremony. After the ceremony, the friends graciously took their pup so we could continue with the day by hitting Linville Falls and then the Chimneys for sunset. Because their original wedding day weather forecast called for rain, we opted to push it back a day. Everyone, including me, was SO glad we did. The weather was absolutely perfect! They had comfortable temps and the most lovely sunset to cap it all off.
Pro-Tip: Visit Your Location Ahead of Time
I love when couples are able to scout the locations prior to the wedding day. It’s a wonderful way to build a bit of excitement surrounding your wedding day.
The experience of seeing things in person will help in planning what to bring, things to remember - like proper footwear, layers, or other items which will make your day go a bit more smoother or will help you stay comfortable all day long.
When your planning what to pack (or explaining it to family or friends who may want to join you) it’s very helpful to have actually been to the location yourself rather than relying on internet articles, etc.
Having a real connection with the location also lowers stress on the wedding day because you’ll know what to expect.
Here are a few images from their day that help tell the story…
–A
