Because of the current ban on large gatherings, many couples are considering eloping to the mountains in one of our many forests and parks, with a few family members and friends. Here's the 411 on that. The mountains are not as wild and free as you might suppose. Most of these places do require a permit. (A lot of people try to sneak in and do a quick wedding without a permit, but park rangers are actively patrolling to disburse groups, and there are fines for having events without permits.) Federal parks are stricter than the state parks, especially where alcohol is concerned. Local elopement companies may be able to help you find the perfect spot, but there are also restrictions on elopement companies and professional photographers doing business on public lands. Even with a permit, you do not have exclusive use of the area, so motorcyclists, tourists and other groups will be around. Some popular locations, such as Max Patch, Black Balsam, Craggy Gardens, and Looking Glass Falls, are prohibiting groups due to overuse. And the Covid-19 pandemic has brought a slew of restrictions and closings. Check before you go to assure that your chosen location is not closed due to local or state restrictions, snow/storm damage, or maintenance. Group limits and social distancing rules still apply, even in nature. 

A few tips for planning your outdoor, mountain wedding in 2020 Pick 2-3 places, and be ready to move to one of your backups if your first choice is overcrowded, or if it starts to rain. Be warned that motorcycle and vehicle noise are particularly troublesome at overlooks and spots close to the road. Sites further away are quieter, though they may require a hike. Check the internet for information about the trail and its difficulty (one we like is https://www.alltrails.com.) Email everyone involved beforehand with the timeline, directions, the back up plans, and the post-ceremony meetup location. Instruct guests to print these out since cell phone service is spotty at best. Tell them to proceed to the trail and start hiking as soon as they get there, so there is no gathering in the parking area, and to leave for the rendezvous point as soon as photos are done. You may find restrooms are closed, so go before you go. Needless to say, hiking boots are recommended over heels. (You can put those on once you get there.) And watch out for bugs and bears! (Read more about that and other unique aspects of getting married in W.N.C. here. ) 

Here is a list of the best places for eloping in the Western North Carolina mountains.

National Parks (National Park Service)

Appalachian Trail 
Appalachian National Scenic Trail (U.S. National Park Service)

Blue Ridge Parkway 
You can read information about the process of getting a permit to have a wedding on Parkway lands here: Wedding Permits - Blue Ridge Parkway (U.S. National Park Service). 

Carl Sandburg Home
Permits & Reservations - Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (National Park Service)
Cades Cove Chapels, Cataloochee Chapel, Clingman's Dome, Newfound Gap
Please call (828) 497-1930 for permit information

National Forests (US Forest Service)
Appalachian Mountains
Bridal Veil Falls, Dry Falls
Flat Top Mountain
Hot Springs, Lovers Leap
Pisgah National Forest, Big Ivy
Nantahala National Forest
Roan Mountain (Currently closed)
Shining Rock Wilderness
Whiteside Mountain
National Forests in North Carolina - Event/Commercial Permits

State Forests and Parks (State Forest Service and NC Division of Parks and Recreation)

Chimney Rock, Rumbling Bald, Eagle Rock (Chimney Rock, Lake Lure)
Gorges State Park (Brevard/Sapphire)
Mount Mitchell
https://files.nc.gov/ncparks/north-carolina-state-parks-special-activity-permit.pdf

Dupont National Forest-Currently closed to groups
https://www.dupontstaterecreationalforest.com/Pages/FacilitiesAndPermits.aspx

Grandfather Mountain (a privately-owned attraction near Linville)
Weddings | GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN : Wonders Never Cease

​​Yay, you’re engaged! What an amazing and exciting time for you. But first, you have to plan everything and prepare for this magical day. First things first, HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER!!! Yes, finding a dress and a venue are important, but having a planner is absolutely vital. The planner stays on you and makes sure you’re meeting deadlines and staying on track of the timeline of things to get done before your big day. Planners can also help direct you to the best vendors based on your style and budget. Planners are the ones who makes sure everything is in place and take an enormous amount of stress away during the planning and during the actual event. It’s always better to hire a professional planner who knows the business instead of getting a friend or family member to do it, when they should be enjoying your celebration with you.

My second tip to you new brides is something you need to remember throughout the whole planning process: IT IS YOUR DAY!!! It is about what YOU and YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER want, not about anyone else at all!! I’ve seen a few brides who say “I don’t want this but my mom does” or “I really don’t want to have green as my color but my sister says it’ll look best.” Don’t ever get in this situation because it’s your day, it’s your memories you’re creating and will have to look back on. In addition to that, don’t let anyone knock your dream or vision. If you have ideas, be outspoken about them. If you and your honey love an idea and your soon-to-be mother-in-law frowns upon it, or thinks it won’t turn out nice, thank her kindkly for her input, then forge ahead, because she doesn’t know (unless she is a wedding planner) and no one can know until you try it. Get ideas and suggestions, but let it be known that ultimately it’s not about the wants of anyone but the bride and groom. Just confirming this alone can take off a lot of stress you may have had about trying to please everyone.

My third piece of advice is to continually communicate with your vendors. Also, make sure you try to meet them in person and have several conversations with them before booking them as your vendor to ensure they fit your event and that they will be a quality vendor. Not having a quality vendor, whether it be in their attitude or the delivery o their services, can greatly impact the flow of your event. Make sure the vendors know what you want and how you want things to look. Don’t just tell the florist your colors and leave it at that -- tell him or her about the flowers you like, and be as specific as possible. Don’t just tell the DJ you want your first dance to be Stand by Me by Ben E. King, tell them the version you like best, how long you want to dance to it, and where you want the song to end. Try your best not to leave anything up to interpretation or to be assumed. You want to make sure your day is how you want it and you can’t be mad at a vendor when something doesn’t go how you thought it would because you didn’t tell them. Having a planner will help with this because if your planner is a good one, he/she will lead you to ask the right questions, and will follow up with the vendors themselves. In addition, make sure that you communicate ANY changes, big or small, to your planner. This way you  will be on the same page and he/she can notify the other vendors of the changes.

Number four, make sure you read over the timelines given to you by your planner. The timeline is like your wedding day bible. You need to know it like the back of your hand so that you know what’s going on and how long it should be going on for. The timeline helps you to understand the flow of your event. It is something your planner puts together and sends over to you for approval. If you don’t even take a look at it or think it’s too much to read, you won't know what to expect on your wedding day. On the other hand, make sure not to fret about time too much because the timeline is just an idea of how long you should take on certain task, but it is okay if you get a little off track. If your planner put it together correctly, he/she will build in extra time for things like bathroom breaks, traffic, and other potential delays.

Finally, my last piece of advice to all the soon-to-be wives is that this is one of the greatest days of your life. You can either look back on this day and say it was nice but I was so mad the napkins weren’t folded nicely, or you can look back and say everything was so beautiful and know you truly enjoyed your love day. My point in saying this is that during the planning process you focus on the details and every aspect of your event you can. However, the day of your wedding is about looking at the big picture and not focusing on little things or worrying over things you can’t control. The day of your event you are supposed to enjoy every moment of it and take in all the love, laughs, and good vibes of the day because it is just one day and it is going to come and go. Not only do you want to be relaxed and enjoy your event, but you want to ensure that you actually get to spend time with your friends, family, and guests, and most especially, your new husband. Plan a "sneak-away" time for a private moment where you and your new hubby can just talk, laugh, and share the bliss of your love day. A lot of time weddings can be so eventful, that you barely get time to soak it all in. Plan some time to "breathe."  This day will be the day you feel the most love, so take all of that in, forget all your worries, and just enjoy.

All in all, my advice from seeing over a dozen weddings take place, is to have fun and enjoy every moment of the celebration. Pay attention to details during the planning and make sure you’re reaching the vision of your event. But once the planning is done, step back. This is a big moment in your life and an even bigger one for you and your love as you begin your life. Love those around you, laugh as much as you can, and create memories that are worth remembering.

It just happens that one of our coordinators was a wedding planning advice columnist in Alaska in a past life. Really! She was kind enough to share some of her past columns with our readers. Please feel free to comment or tweet your questions so Miss Ellie and Miss Sam can help you, too!​

DEAR SAMANTHA,
Do we really need to feed our photographer and DJ at the reception?

Although they may not be guests, the people you have contracted to work at your wedding are performing a job during a time they would normally eat. You certainly don’t have to, but it’s a nice gesture, and would almost certainly promote better service from them. However read the fine print, as many wedding professionals have the provision that they must be fed written into their contract, so be prepared. If you still can’t stomach the idea of offering a $50+ plate of food to your DJ, coordinate a less expensive meal for them with your caterer. But under no circumstances are you obliged to offer them free alcoholic drinks. After all they’re on the clock, working for you. And nobody likes a drunken DJ, anyway.

DEAR SAMANTHA,
How do I graciously decline the “donated” help of extended family members? I have one family member who likes to do amateur flower arranging as a hobby and wants to do my wedding flowers. I don’t want amateur flowers but I don’t want to hurt her feelings either.

It’s always difficult to tactfully turn down help, especially when you don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. My suggestion is to thank them profusely, but say you and your fiancé have already contracted with a similar vendor based on your needs and budget. Ask if you can count on them to help you select the flowers at your local professional florist. This will make them feel appreciated without ever knowing your true feelings.

DEAR SAMANTHA,
We plan to have an open bar at our wedding reception. Can we be held responsible if someone drives home drunk and has an accident?

You are off the hook. In Alaska, the person who is serving the drinks is liable for any situation that results in a drunk driving accident. Keep in mind that this scenario is rare because all servers and bartenders are required to pass an exam that teaches them the signs of inebriation and have been instructed on what to do if someone is getting intoxicated. Worth mentioning is the fact that some facilities offer free cab rides home in severe circumstances because it’s in their best interest to make sure that nothing happens to you or your guests. If these thoughts still keep you up at night, another alternative would be to provide your guests with a few bottles of wine on the table. It’s enough to celebrate the moment, but not enough for things to go south.

DEAR SAMANTHA,
My bridesmaids are all different sizes and have very different opinions about dress styles. Do you have any suggestions on how I can make everyone happy?

So many brides think they have to dress their maids in the same dress, and with everyone having different body types, you will inevitably have one or two crying in their pillow at night or cursing you under their breath. One option is to take all your maids shopping at the same time and hope they all agree on the same style. If that doesn’t work, another solution is to go to a fabric store and select material that you absolutely love. Then send each maid five yards and instruct them to find a dress pattern they like that is appropriate for your ceremony (casual, formal or somewhere in-between). Once found, have them take it to a reputable seamstress. In the end the cost should be around the same as if you bought it off the rack (or possibly even less) and your girls will feel beautiful in a dress that’s flattering to them. It’s a win – win.

DEAR SAMANTHA,
Do I really need a wedding planner? My mother says yes, but I have friends who say they can help. Who do I listen to?

Listen to your mother, especially if she’s offering to pay for one. Wedding planers are worth their weight in gold, whether you hire one from the very beginning or just for the day of your wedding. They can alleviate many decorating and logistic issues that need handling, take all the calls the day of the wedding and think of things you haven’t. If you choose a friend to help you with the details, they may not be able to enjoy the wedding due to all the responsibilities heaped upon them or, worse, may not live up to your expectations.

DEAR SAMANTHA,
My fiancé wants to have an open bar at our reception and I think it’s too expensive. Is there a way to estimate how much it will cost?

Industry standard dictates that on average, guests will drink two drinks the first hour and one drink every hour after. So if you invited 100 guests and 80 percent drank, you would spend around $2,000 in alcohol alone. Also don’t forget: With hosted bars, there is usually an automatic 20-percent service charge with every drink poured. If a hosted bar is too scary of an idea, another option would be to purchase a set amount of beer or wine, and when it runs out, guests would start paying for their own drinks. Having a semi-hosted bar would ensure there wouldn’t be any bar tab surprises.

DEAR SAMANTHA,
My fiancé and I come from two different spiritual belief systems. What kind of service should we have?

It’s always difficult to blend two cultures together and keep two families happy. Especially if they are polar opposites. The best plan is to sit down with your partner and talk about what is most important to each of you. Then try to combine what’s important in the ceremony. Another option is two ceremonies. This is often done to satisfy the families more than the couple but can help to keep the peace.

1.  Turkeys. Yes, we have turkeys, deer, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels,  foxes, ducks, geese, and an occasional coyote! Wildlife noises and messes are something we mountaineers are familiar with, but they can mess with your perfect outdoor party setting. Allow a little extra time in the morning for cleanup just in case. Also, any of these creatures can hold up your wedding party as they take their time crossing the road (well, not the coyotes and foxes – they’re pretty fast!) So allow a little extra travel time, especially in the more remote areas. 

2.  Motorcycles. Our mountain curves are popular with motorcycle riders, so be aware that an unmuffled parade could pass your outdoor location just as you say, “I Do.” Some locations also experience loud noise from helicopters (hospital airlifts are more common here), planes, and weekend hunters. Think about having the ceremony indoors where you can control the noise level.

 3.  GPS Errors. Here GPS stands for “General Path Suggestion.” It just does not work very well in some of our mountain communities. Also, you might find that cell phone coverage is non-existent in some areas, so don’t count on finding your way using only your phone. Before you head out, I would check your destination's website directions page for advice. Print it. Or bring a map. And a compass.

 4.  Traffic. It’s not the city traffic that you might be used to, but, unfortunately, our founding pioneers never anticipated the popularity of the mountains when they planned the roads around here. Around five o’clock, some of the main roads can get really congested, and there are few alternate routes. Also, there are train tracks that run right through the center of some
of our towns, and the trains run on unpredictable schedules. Again, allow some extra travel time, particularly during the fall, when slow-driving sightseers (we call them “leaf-lookers”) really slow things down.

5.  Weather. Weather changes quickly here in the mountains. In the summer we can have hot, sunny days, but we can also have a thunderstorm from 2 to 4 in the afternoon. In the spring, rain can change to hail or snow in a matter of minutes. March, April and November are particularly tricky in this respect. Have a backup plan. Most rental companies will allow you to put tents, heaters, and  fans on standby for a small fee. See more advice about this on my Weather Page.

6.  Southern Ways. We may be in the mountains, but we are still in the South.  There’s just a slower pace of life here. Even our internet runs slower. Don’t be surprised if it takes your vendors a few days to respond to your calls or emails. Try to be patient with us. If you have not heard back after three or four days, then I would try again. We were probably just out shooing some geese off the lawn,  repairing damage from a hail storm, or stuck in traffic (see above).