Asheville + Blue Ridge Mountains
Asheville Elopement Photography
For couples who want a beautiful place outside, a wedding day that feels like them, and enough freedom to actually enjoy the experience.
Features and Awards:
A Different Kind of Wedding Day
Less Structure. More Time Outside Together.
A lot of couples are trading ballrooms and traditional venues for forests, overlooks, and mountain spaces that feel more like them—and only bringing their closest peeps.
I photograph adventurous Asheville elopements for couples who’d rather trade stress and structure for fresh air, freedom, and a day that actually feels like them.
My work is about capturing the day as it actually felt—not dragging you through an all-day photo shoot. I keep things natural, stay out of the way when it matters, and avoid forcing moments that don’t need help. If the experience is fun, relaxed, and real, the photos will be too.
Built Around the Place
Outdoor Celebrations in the Blue Ridge Mountains
An intimate wedding gives you a little more freedom to decide where the day happens, who comes along, and how much time you actually want to spend outside enjoying it.
Around Asheville, that might mean a cabin with your family, a ceremony in the forest, vows at an overlook, or a mountain adventure that happens before or after the celebration.
I help think through the practical parts—light, travel time, access, privacy, weather, and how the locations fit together—without turning the day into a rigid schedule. If you are still figuring out where you might want to go, my Asheville + Western North Carolina location guide is a good place to start.
Why Asheville Works
Mountains Close By, With Plenty to Build a Trip Around
Asheville sits right in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains, so you can spend part of the day in town and still get to forests, waterfalls, trails, and mountain views without turning everything into a huge production.
That flexibility is a big part of why couples choose this area. You can stay somewhere comfortable, eat somewhere great, bring a few people along if you want, and still carve out time for something that feels genuinely outdoorsy.
Mountain views and high-elevation trails
Waterfalls and quieter forest settings
Cabins and rentals close to outdoor areas
Easy ways to combine city time with mountain time
If you are still figuring out whether Asheville fits what you are imagining, my Asheville Elopement Guide walks through seasons, locations, permits, lodging, and the practical pieces of planning here.
No Set Formula
What an Outdoor Elopement Celebration Can Include
No two elopement days are exactly alike, but a lot of them follow a loose, natural flow that gives the day some shape without making it feel overplanned.
Getting Ready + First Look
Start somewhere comfortable, get ready together or separately, and build in a first look if that feels right for you.
Vows + Ceremony
Exchange private vows before the ceremony or save them for the ceremony itself. Bring guests, keep it just the two of you, or land somewhere in between.
Your People + Celebration
Family photos, cake, dinner, champagne, a picnic, or whatever else makes the day feel complete can all be part of the experience.
Time for Adventure
The common thread in the elopements I photograph is leaving some room to get outside together—whether that means a mountain overlook, waterfall, trail, or another place you actually want to experience.
One day or two can both work.
Sometimes the adventure happens on the same day as the ceremony. Other times it makes more sense to celebrate with family first and save a separate mountain day for just the two of you. Splitting the experience can give you more time with your people without asking everyone to follow you into the mountains.
Just know this: you do not need to follow any set formula. If there are moments or experiences you already know you want included, tell me about them and we can build from there.
The Parts You Want to Remember
Your Elopement Can Still Feel Like a Wedding Day
Eloping does not mean skipping the meaningful parts. Keep the moments that matter to you, leave out the ones that do not, and give the day enough room to unfold naturally.
Getting Ready
Quiet time at a cabin or rental with the people closest to you.
First Look
A private moment together—or with someone else important to you.
Ceremony
Exchange vows privately or invite a handful of people to be there.
Time Together
Portraits can feel more like exploring together than stopping for a photo shoot.
Your People
Family photos and time together can still be an important part of the day.
Celebrate
Dinner, drinks, cake, toasts—or whatever sounds like a good ending.
Client Testimonials
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Hands down the best experience working with Andy. From the planning and timeline of the day, to the creativity with photos, lighting and location. His flexibility, passion, and energy throughout the entire day and evening was absolutely phenomenal. He helped capture our energy and day in ways we will never be able to truly explain as anything but breath-taking!
– Tara M.
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This is your sign to stop looking around for a wedding photographer , Andy from MountainWed photography is the best ! after the wedding we went to a nearby hiking trail and had an a great photo session. Andy is truly a great person and I hope you chose him for your special day too.
–Michel C.
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If you're looking for a photographer who is down with whatever crazy outdoorsy wedding you are dreaming up, Andy is your guy. We pretty much put him in charge of the entire day - he selected a picturesque brewery to start, then followed with an awesome hike up Shortoff Mountain, where we met up with our officiant for a sunset ceremony. Andy never stopped suggesting ideas and we were pretty much down for anything: we made perfect little guinea pigs. He captured so many beautiful, fun, and heartfelt moments. And while he kept things light, loose, and fun, he's nothing short of professional. This is probably the millionth time we're thanking him for creating and capturing a truly memorable day but THANKS AGAIN, DUDE! You rock.
–Chris B.
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Andy was a pleasure to work with throughout the process. He knows how to balance explaining everything through his professional experience as well as answering questions in an easily digestible format based on who he is talking to.
When it came to the wedding itself and the adventure shoot that we did with him, he was quick, efficient, and just a great person to be with. My family had nothing but positive things to say about him after he left and they love the photos he took.
For the adventure shoot itself, he was great at pacing the hike and photos with us so that we wouldn't miss a single moment of the sunset. I would definitely do the adventure shoot with him again 10 out of 10 times. Yes it was a little difficult but we got some amazing pictures that I just don't see myself ever getting again in my life.
The photo variety and how Andy handles himself is enough for me to recommend him to anyone on the fence. Couldn't imagine our wedding day and adventure shoot without him there.–Jason K.
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We loved everything about our experience with Andy! Hurricane Helene had other plans for our wedding pictures last year so we decided to postpone until this year so we could get the fall colors in the mountains. Andy was accommodating to our request and we anxiously waited. Finally the time came and we had such a great time during our photo shoot! We are not posers and Andy was great in directing us all while making it fun. The pictures turned out amazing! My only complaint is choosing just one or two pictures to hang on the wall. We definitely recommend Andy for his knowledge of the area, the quality of his work, and his wonderful personality. Thanks Andy for capturing our special day!
–Jessica D.
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We recently had our pre-wedding pictures done with Andy, and the experience was absolutely amazing. From the moment we met him, he made us feel comfortable, relaxed, and confident in front of the camera.
Andy has a real talent for capturing natural moments and genuine emotions. Every pose felt effortless, and he guided us the whole time without ever making it feel forced. The photos came out beautiful, crisp, and full of life—exactly what we hoped for and more.
We couldn’t have asked for a better photographer for such a special moment in our lives. If you’re looking for someone who’s professional, creative, and easy to work with, Andy is the one. We’re so grateful and excited for him to capture the wedding day too! 💍📸–Joseph M.
Asheville Elopement FAQ
A Few Things Couples Usually Ask
You do not need to have the location, timeline, or entire experience figured out before reaching out. These are some of the questions that usually come up while couples are getting started.
Do you help us choose an elopement location?
Yes. I’ll help narrow things down based on the season, how much hiking sounds fun, privacy, accessibility, the kind of scenery you want, and who is coming with you. My Asheville Elopement Guide is also a good place to start getting a feel for the area.
Do we have to hike a long way?
Not at all. Some beautiful locations require a longer hike, while others are a short walk from the car. The right place is the one that fits how you actually want to spend the day—not whichever trail sounds the most impressive.
Can we bring family or a few friends?
Absolutely. Plenty of the elopements I photograph include parents, kids, siblings, or a small group of close friends. We can plan the day so you have meaningful time with them and still carve out some time outside for just the two of you.
What happens if the mountain weather changes?
We plan with flexibility from the beginning. That can mean adjusting timing, changing the order of the day, or using a backup location when conditions call for it. I also have a mountain wedding packing guide with practical ideas for staying comfortable outside.
Can our ceremony and adventure happen on different days?
Yes, and sometimes that is the easier option. You can spend your ceremony day with family and friends, then plan a separate mountain day where you have more freedom to hike, explore, change plans, or stay out through sunset without asking everyone else to come along.
Do you help with permits, timing, and the practical stuff?
Yes. I help think through permits, travel time, light, weather, parking, trail access, privacy, and how the different pieces of the day fit together. You still get to make the decisions—I just help make sure the plan works once we are actually out there.
Ready When You Are
Planning an Asheville Elopement?
You do not need the location, timeline, or whole experience figured out before you reach out. I can help with the practical pieces—locations, timing, weather, permits, and how the day fits together—and when we are actually out there, I’ll keep the photography relaxed so you can spend more time experiencing the day than posing for it.