Frequently Asked Questions

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 out west. Let’s discuss your ideas on our Kick-Off call. If you’re cooking up something out west, or someplace else, let me know what your dream is and we can make it work!

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.

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

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.

For most elopements, I prefer when it’s just the couple and an officiant - though I have shot elopements with up to 15 guests in the mountains. For larger groups, one great option is to separate the day into two portions - one part adventure session with just the couple, and the other part is the ceremony with family and friends at a small venue or at their Airbnb a short distance from the ceremony spot. Bringing lots of people out into the mountains tends to add a lot of additional considerations regarding physical abilities getting to the location for some, parking space, as well as the physical size of the area needed to accommodate people on the mountain top, etc.

Absolutely. You can add additional photographic coverage at any time - just let me know and we can settle up after the wedding. I charge an hourly rate of $375.

Typically, couples book me several months out - up to a year, even, in some cases. However, I've also worked with couples in as little as 7-days start to finish. That happened recently. But, in my experience, allowing a few months to pull everything together is probably what most couples end up doing - especially if they’re hiring other vendors like officiants, hair and makeup, etc., and searching for accommodations for family or friends. Also, as an Asheville local, finding new locations or recommending secret spots at popular areas is pretty easy. I’ll be sure to share my location recommendations which is a short list of spots I think are the most epic. Once we get started working together, we’ll have a conversation about your preferences on length of hike, ideal backdrop (cliff, mountaintop, waterfall, etc), and other basic details. If you ever have questions - I’m available to help!