Asheville + Blue Ridge Mountains
Adventure Elopement Photographer
Plan a wedding day that feels more like the two of you—hiking at sunrise, exchanging vows on a ridgeline, or celebrating with your favorite people before heading into the mountains. The adventure is not a side trip. It is part of the wedding.
More Than a Ceremony Location
What Makes an Adventure Elopement Different?
An adventure elopement is not about making your wedding harder or turning it into an endurance test. It is about building a day around the places, people, and experiences that actually feel like you.
That could mean getting ready slowly at a cabin, stopping somewhere for coffee or a drink, hiking to a quiet overlook, or sharing vows beside a waterfall. There is room to explore, change plans, take a break, and enjoy where you are instead of rushing from one scheduled moment to the next.
Some couples want a full day outside. Others want a simple ceremony with a short mountain adventure afterward. Both count. The point is not to follow a specific formula. It is to create a wedding day that feels comfortable, personal, and worth remembering while you are actually living it.
You do not need to be an experienced hiker or have every detail figured out. Part of my job is helping you choose locations, timing, and a pace that genuinely fit the two of you.
From Planning to Gallery
Built Around the Experience, Not Just the Photos
A lot happens before I ever pick up a camera. My job is to help make the day easier to plan, comfortable while you are living it, and thoroughly documented without turning the whole thing into a photo shoot.
Before the Wedding
We will narrow down locations, build a realistic timeline, talk through permits and what to bring, and make backup plans for the things mountain weather likes to throw at us. I also scout when it makes sense so we are not relying on what a trail looked like six months ago.
Your Adventure Day
The best days feel less like a photo shoot and more like a really good day outside. We hike, stop when we want to, make photographs along the way, and leave enough room for the parts that cannot be scheduled—the nerves, laughs, weather shifts, snacks and quiet moments in between.
Digital + Film
I photograph throughout the day digitally and also bring medium format film when it fits. Digital lets me move quickly and document what is happening. Film slows things down for a minute and gives part of your gallery a different texture and character.
Afterward
You will get a preview within about 48 hours, followed by your full gallery in roughly 10 weeks. Your final gallery includes the finished digital photographs along with film scans from the day, all together in one place.
The Practical Stuff
What I Handle So You Don’t Have To
Adventure elopements come with a few more moving parts than meeting at a venue. You do not need to figure all of those out on your own. I’ll help sort through the practical stuff so the day itself can still feel easy.
Route Planning
We’ll choose a hike and location that fit what you want to see, how much effort sounds fun, who is coming with you, and how the rest of the day needs to flow.
Timing
I account for sunrise and sunset, driving, hiking pace, rest stops, photo stops, and enough breathing room that you are not racing the clock all day.
Weather + Backups
Mountain weather changes. We’ll watch conditions and have other timing or location options ready so a shift in the forecast does not automatically wreck the plan.
Permits
If your ceremony location requires permission or a permit, I’ll help you understand what is needed, where to find it, and when it needs to be handled.
Safety + Preparation
I’ll help you think through footwear, layers, water, food, trail conditions, communication, and what you and your guests should actually bring into the mountains.
Want the practical packing list? See what to bring for your Asheville elopement.
Elopement Pricing
How Much Time Do You Want?
You do not need to know exactly which option fits before reaching out. Think about how much of the day you want to experience, and I can help you figure out the rest.
Multi-Day
12 hours · up to 2 days
Best for several locations, activities, or splitting your celebration into two relaxed parts.
From $6,200
Full Day
8 hours · up to 3 locations
Plenty of room for getting ready, ceremony, exploring, food, and time in the mountains.
From $4,800
Half Day
6 hours · 1–2 locations
A nice middle ground for a ceremony plus another stop or activity before or afterward.
From $4,000
Essentials
4 hours · 1 location
A simple mountain elopement with enough time for your ceremony, portraits, and some exploring.
$3,400
Client Testimonials
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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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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.
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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 had the pleasure of working with Andy for both our ceremony and an adventure photoshoot, and I cannot say enough good things about him and his work.
Andy is a professional when it comes to planning. He follows up without being prompted, gives excellent advice, and really puts care into his interactions with you. With Andy, you feel like you're his only client. We worked with Andy for over 2 years, as our plans kept changing and evolving; Andy was incredibly open and willing to work around his busy schedule to give us the best experience possible. Also, on the day of our adventure shoot, we had unsafe wind conditions for our predetermined location. However, Andy researched wind maps and found a brand-new location safe from the winds 1) that was just as stunning as our first location and 2) that was within the same drive time. This level of insight and ability to plan under a time crunch was already a 5-star expereince.
On top of his professionalism, Andy's work is some of the best I've ever seen. I'm from out of state and researched photographers from all over the U.S. and landed on Andy due to his portfolio and pricing. When working with Andy, he handles 2-3 cameras and is bouncing around getting the best shot possible. He is a visionary, and can see photographic potential in places and lighting I would never imagine. It was incredible watching him work AND with such a positive attitude. The results speak for themselves, and we were in awe with the final results we received. We have no regrets, and would choose Andy again and again. I 100% recommend and would love to work with him again someday. -
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 booked Andy for our destination micro wedding in Asheville NC in September of 2025! He did not disappoint in any way! From our first time talking with him over video call we knew he was going to do an amazing job, with the way he responded to our questions and took care of everything. He was in contact with us the months leading up to the wedding, coming up with ideas for our hike into the mountains for pictures and everything else. The day of the wedding he showed up and got to work! It was easy to see he was going to do a great job the moment he entered the venue. He has so much energy and passion for what he does! When we were hiking into the mountains in our full wedding attire he kept the energy up and kept us motivated to get to the destination and it was much needed. He had already scoped out the place we were going to get pictures and had ideas of what would make for a great photo. Even after a long hike with all his gear and cameras he was hustling to get every photo and angle to make them amazing. When we got our photos back we were amazed at how they came out and how many moments he captured that we didn't even realize he was was taking. We both agree that Andy took our ideas and ran with it and made it better than we could have imagined! We HIGHLY recommend him for a wedding photographer and also any other adventure photos you may need. He is highly skilled and has the passion and energy to make your experience amazing! We can not thank him enough for the memories he created and the photos we will have to look at our whole lives!
– Tyler S.
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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.
Asheville + Western North Carolina
Where Adventure Elopements Happen
You do not need to choose a location before reaching out. The right place depends on the season, how much hiking sounds fun, who is coming with you, and whether you want big views, waterfalls, forest, or a little more privacy.
Craggy Gardens
High-elevation ridgelines, rhododendron tunnels, and wide Blue Ridge views close to Asheville.
Black Balsam Knob
Open grassy ridgelines, long mountain views, summer wildflowers, and a landscape that feels much more expansive once you are up there.
Linville Gorge
Wilder terrain, rocky overlooks, waterfalls, and some of the most dramatic scenery in Western North Carolina.
Max Patch
A broad grassy mountaintop along the Appalachian Trail with rolling terrain and long views in nearly every direction.
Hidden Waterfalls
Quieter waterfalls and forest locations can be a better fit when privacy matters more than choosing one of the best-known overlooks.
Adventure Elopement FAQ
A Few Things Couples Usually Ask
You do not need to have this all figured out before reaching out. These are just a few of the questions that tend to come up while couples are deciding what their day could look like.
Can we still include traditional wedding elements?
Absolutely. You can still walk down an aisle, exchange vows, include a ceremony ritual, invite family, have dinner afterward, or keep any other traditions that matter to you. Eloping does not mean throwing out the parts of a wedding you actually like.
What happens if the weather changes?
Mountain weather changes quickly, so it is part of the planning from the beginning. I watch conditions, stay in touch as the day gets closer, and help adjust timing or locations when needed. Good preparation matters too, which is why I put together a mountain elopement packing guide .
How much photography coverage do we need?
It depends on how much you want the day to hold. One location and a simple ceremony may only need four hours. Add getting ready, another stop, hiking, family time, dinner, or sunset portraits and six to eight hours usually makes more sense. I can help you choose without adding coverage you do not actually need.
Do you help us choose locations?
Yes. That is a big part of working together. We will consider scenery, privacy, hiking difficulty, accessibility, driving time, light, season, and who is joining you so the location makes sense for the actual experience—not just for a photograph.
Can we do private vows separately?
Definitely. Plenty of couples share private vows somewhere quiet and then have a ceremony with family later. Those moments can even happen on different days. There is no rule saying every meaningful part of your wedding has to happen in one place or one exact order.
Do you travel outside Asheville?
Yes. Asheville and Western North Carolina are home base, but I am happy to travel. I genuinely enjoy the scouting and planning side of destination work, so if you have somewhere else in mind, send it my way.
Planning something bigger than an elopement, but smaller than a traditional wedding? Let’s discuss it.