Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQ

  • I live in Asheville, NC, and typically photograph couples within a 2 hour radius of the city, but… have camera, will travel. If you need a photographer outside of the immediate western North Carolina area, just ask!

  • No problem. I’ve worked with many couples just like you who are already married by the time we meet in person. That’s no problem!

  • Yes! I would love to document your wedding or elopement adventure beyond North Carolina. Simply reach out to discuss!

  • Absolutely. I’m picky about where I shoot, and that is a good thing. I want you to have your ceremony in the coolest, most bad ass location I can find. I also want you to have privacy from other people so you can enjoy your day without interruption if possible. I will work tirelessly to find just the right spot that meets your wishes and requirements and is sure to make for the most stunning photos possible.

  • To reserve me for your special day, I just ask for a 50% non-refundable deposit and a signed contract.

    This deposit reserves your date on my calendar and covers the work in planning and research ahead of the big day.

    Once you’ve completed this step, I’ll follow up over email with additional questions and information as we focus in on location(s), create a timeline, and more.

  • Yes. Most couples I work with hire a local officiant (I can recommend some). If you have a family member or friend who wants to marry you - awesome! This is a fantastic and beautiful way to start your life together! Anyone can be ordained online at sites like the Universal Life Church and Church of the Latter-Day Dude. There are probably many sites out there like the aforementioned - these are just some examples.

  • I’m Andy Wickstrom, MountainWed’s lead photographer and I shoot every elopement. If your event requires additional like a second photographer, I have a network of extremely talented photographers that I can reach out to.

  • It depends on the location. Once you have a guest count in mind, I'll use that to help narrow down locations that make sense for your group.

    Personally, I love when it's just the couple and an officiant, but I've photographed mountain elopements with up to 15 guests. As guest counts grow, so do the logistics: parking, trail access, physical abilities, privacy, and the amount of space available at the location.

    For larger groups, one of my favorite approaches is splitting the day into two parts: an adventure session with just the couple in the mountains, followed by a ceremony or celebration with family and friends at an Airbnb or small venue nearby. It often creates a better experience for everyone while keeping the outdoor portion simple and meaningful.

  • Absolutely. You can add additional photographic coverage at any time - just let me know and I can amend the contract or payment schedule.

  • Most couples book anywhere from a few months to a year in advance, though shorter timelines are sometimes possible depending on availability.

    I generally recommend giving yourself a few months if you can. It makes things less rushed and gives you time to coordinate lodging, permits, vendors, and any guests you plan to include.

    Once you're booked, I'll help with location recommendations and planning based on your preferences, whether that's a mountaintop, waterfall, cliffside view, or something a little more off the beaten path. The sooner we start, the more options we'll have available.

A Few Other Questions

What’s an ‘Adventure’ Elopement?

Adventure elopements typically have few in attendance, often the only other people present are the officiant, the photographer.

To legally marry in North Carolina, you need two witnesses, and I can serve as one of them. The other witness could be a random hiker, or could be a special friend you include on your day.

The best part about having an adventure elopement is that you are the architect of your own day.

Maybe you want to hike out to a beautiful overlook to exchange vows. Maybe you want to climb a multi-pitch route and document your union on the summit. No matter what you envision, I will do my best to make it happen.

These small, joyous celebrations nix the stresses of reserving an overpriced venue, the catering to feed an army (ah-hem your family), and finding a band that fits your tastes (and by tastes, I really mean budget).

With an adventure elopement, Mother Nature provides the venue and ambience (but you’ll still have to pack your own snacks).

A bride and groom wearing headlamps stand on a snow-covered road, surrounded by pine trees.
A group of seven people standing outdoors, holding umbrellas, smiling and dressed in formal attire, with trees in the background.
A bride and groom standing on a rocky outcrop overlooking a lush green forest under a cloudy sky.

Can we still party with family?

Of course! What’s a wedding without a party?

Start the day with a sunrise hike and “I do,” then party down with friends and family in the afternoon. Or grab a beer in your dress and suit, then hike out to an overlook for sunset vows. The beauty of an adventure elopement is that you doyour day in your own way.

How do we decide the location?

With miles of trails right out our backdoor, Asheville is the ideal spot for an adventure elopement. This region has everything from remote mountain vistas to riverside breweries, within an hour and a half. Not familiar with the area? No worries! I will be happy to help you decide where to spend your special day.

But as much as I adore my home here in Western North Carolina, but if there’s somewhere else you love: Utah, Colorado, the Canadian Rockies, or someplace else, I’ll come to you.

In general, the southeast is beautiful no matter the season. Put bluntly, shooting outside is my jam. Forget the stuffy venue and let’s find an outdoor location perfect for you and your partner.

How many photos can we expect?

The total number of edited shots depends on length of coverage. I make sure to fully document every moment of your special day, whether we’re shooting for a half day or a full day. You will have plenty of shots to choose from for prints, social media posts, and anything else you have in mind. Think: LOTS! For an 8-hour session, you can likely expect 300+ edited images.

How long does it take to see the edited photos?

In order to give your images the proper attention they deserve, I guarantee images to you in 10 weeks. Mostly this has to do with October and all the photography that get’s done that time of year. Because of that busy season, my normal time to edit and deliver the gallery needs to be extended to accommodate just how many photos get made that month.

To help with that wait time, I deliver teasers 24 hours after your wedding day. I also try to deliver enough photos to give a good sense of the day - which is usually 10 or more images.

Andy pictured in a winter cap and smiling between a bride and groom at sunset.

Let’s Begin!

I want to get to know you, and these are a just a few basic questions to help me with that. Next, we’ll set up a time to talk. During this complimentary consult, we will introduce ourselves and discuss what your vision is!

After our call, if I’m a fit for you and I have your date available, we’ll lock in your date with a signed contract and a 50% deposit for your session.

Your wedding day should be about celebrating your love in a way that fits YOU and your partner. I love going to big weddings, but I much prefer keeping things small and less complicated, which is why MountainWed Photography is mostly catered to elopements and small weddings.

Keeping the celebration smaller is a great way to keep the focus on the things that matter most to you.

Based in Asheville, but ready to travel.