FAQs
It’s your wedding day, and we are certain you have many questions! We have walked thousands of couples through the process of eloping, and so we have the experience necessary to make this an easy, stress-free process for you. Below are our most Frequently Asked Questions so that you can better understand the whole process of getting married with Elope Asheville.
Marriage License/Legal
You may obtain your marriage license at any courthouse in North Carolina. The Buncombe County Clerk’s office is conveniently located in the middle of downtown Asheville (205 College Street, 828-250-4300). For your convenience, you can apply online for your marriage license at the Buncombe County Register of Deeds. Most of the state’s County Clerk’s offices are open from Monday through Friday from 8:00 until 5:00. However, we recommend you contact the office you plan to use and confirm their hours and location.
You can simplify the process by applying online here within 60 days of your wedding day. When you arrive in Asheville, you will need to go to the Buncombe County Register of Deeds, located at 205 College Street in Asheville. You will both need to provide valid photo identification and Social Security Cards.
The marriage license fee is $60.00 payable by cash, check, Visa or MasterCard. Official copies are $10 per copy. We highly recommend pre-paying for official copies when applying for your marriage license.
You will receive your license immediately, and you can marry immediately after receiving your license.
You will both need to provide valid photo identification and Social Security Cards.
Your license will expire 60 days from the date it is issued. In other words, your ceremony must take place within 60 days of obtaining the license.
You do not have to be a previous or current resident of North Carolina to obtain a marriage license that is valid statewide.
No blood test or physical exam is required.
You must be 18 years old or older to marry without parental consent. A birth certificate may be necessary to show proof of age.
If previously married, the date of divorce or date of spouse’s death must be provided. If the divorce or spouse’s death had taken place within the last 60 days, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate. A copy of your divorce records or spouse’s death certificate can be ordered online.
Absolutely! Just let us know ahead of time, and we will provide witnesses for you at no additional cost.
We will ensure it is filled out correctly and will file it within 10 days of the wedding date, according to North Carolina state law. However, we try to file it within 1-2 business days of your wedding day so that you can have your official marriage certificate as quickly as possible.
Logistics
You must bring your marriage license. As well as your soon-to-be spouse!
Claxton Farms and the Vineyard both have indoor space in case of rain. The Botanical Gardens has a gazebo, as well as a small cabin with a porch as rain options. All of our mountain venues are without shelter. If it is looking like rain please reach out to us to discuss a possible venue change – we have a few unlisted indoor or covered sites we can often offer for an additional fee. We must pay for rain options to reserve them so please wait until you are ready to cement this change to pursue this option. Costs range from $350-$500+
We are also not opposed to getting a little wet. We think it will add a touch of excitement and romance to a wedding story!
Due to agreements with our venue owners, we ask that couples, family, and friends arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before the agreed-upon start time. Arriving earlier may cause additional charges to be incurred against Elope Asheville that would unfortunately have to be passed along to you. We will be waiting for you at each venue’s parking area. If you run into any issues finding us, you can always give us a call or send a text message to 828-301-2959.
All of our wedding events are an hour in length unless otherwise specified. This amount of time covers the wedding ceremony, photo session, and lots of celebratory hugs and kisses by the two of you and your guests (if attending).
For most of our weddings, seating is not necessary. Some of our venues have limited seating available on-site, so please ask about your venue of choice when booking if seating is needed. If additional seating is necessary, you can rent seats from us for $6 per chair, which includes delivery, set-up, and break-down. It will be on-site waiting for you when you arrive!
Venues
- Asheville Area Gardens
We typically use the Asheville Botanical Gardens because of their great location and beautiful landscaping, let us know if you have another garden in mind!
Yes; you will need to contact volunteer reservations coordinator, Kaita Collier, to obtain permission to hold your ceremony at the Botanical Gardens. The Gardens require contact directly from the couple, not Elope Asheville, to obtain permission. The Gardens charge their own fee depending on the size of your wedding party. This fee is not included in the package pricing with Elope Asheville. We simply need you to let us know once you’ve obtained permission from Kaita and are ready to move forward with booking the Botanical Gardens as your venue. You can contact Kaita at 828.252.5190 or office@ashevillebotanicalgardens.org.
8 guests (10 total, including the couple) are included in any of our package prices. Up to 20 additional guests are allowed at $15/person.
The gardens have public restrooms that are available only during times the guest shop is open. We do not recommend counting on using these spaces to get ready.
If you would like to have a picnic before or after your ceremony, you are welcome to do so independently of Elope Asheville. The area is beautiful and would be a lovely picnic option.
Modest decorations may be allowable on a case-by-case basis. Decorations are not provided by Elope Asheville; you must bring your own. If you purchase the Gardens Romantic Package or Gardens Special Package, which include photography, you are welcome to bring props for your wedding photos.
Outdoor seating is not included in any of our packages. If you would like to provide seating to your guests, chairs may be rented for $6 per seat including setup and delivery at the Botanical Gardens.
Your ceremony can take place any day of the week. The latest possible start time for your event is an hour before sunset, which varies seasonally.
Yes. We just ask that you keep in mind that there may be other guests or passersby as these are public gardens.
We can always keep an eye on the weather and make last-minute adjustments as available. For example, we might suggest an earlier or later ceremony time depending on our availability and the weather forecast. There is also a small gazebo available in case of a light drizzle!
Absolutely. The Botanical Gardens is open to the public, so you are welcome to visit them on your own to be sure they are the right spot for your elopement.
- Mountains
For Craggy Gardens, 8 guests (10 total, including the couple) are included in any of our package prices. Additional guests are $15/person. From our experience, Craggy Gardens works best with a very small group.
A couple of locations may have public restrooms that are available seasonally. We do not recommend counting on using these spaces to get ready.
If you would like to have a picnic before or after your ceremony, you are welcome to do so independently of Elope Asheville.
Modest decorations may be allowable on a case-by-case basis. Decorations are not provided by Elope Asheville; you must bring your own. If you purchase the Core or Summit Package, which include photography, you are welcome to bring props for your wedding photos.
Outdoor seating is not included at this venue.
Your ceremony can take place any day of the week. The latest possible start time for your event is an hour before sunset, which varies seasonally.
We can always keep an eye on the weather and make last-minute adjustments as available. For example, we might suggest an earlier or later ceremony time depending on our availability and the weather forecast.
Absolutely! You are welcome to visit on your own to be sure it’s the right spot for your elopement.
- (Not a) Courthouse Wedding
We have select spots available for (Not A) Courthouse weddings depending on our availability and other locations on your chosen day. We will make sure to find somewhere lovely to meet you!
Two guests are included in the package (not including the couple). We allow up to four more guests for $15/guest.
You will need a valid NC marriage license. For details on how to do this, look at the above section in the FAQ list.
You must arrive ready for your ceremony, as our locations do not have facilities available.