How To: Elope at Craggy Gardens
Why you should consider it for your wedding, proposal, or engagement location.
Craggy Gardens
The main reason a couple might consider this popular spot for their elopement or wedding ceremony are the views. They are spectacular! It’s views are breathtaking and quintessentially western North Carolina. With the mountain laurel, rhododendron tunnels, and gnarled sweet birch trees, Craggy Gardens is a fantastic spot to marry your partner or propose.
The approach is modest in length (8/10 of a mile) and is less strenuous overall for elopement guests who have health concerns. Another reason Craggy Gardens could be a good option for couples looking for a romantic mountain wedding is it’s proximity to Asheville. Compared with other mountain venues, Craggy Gardens is only a 40 minute drive from downtown Asheville’s restaurants, breweries, Airbnbs, and entertainment.
While there are a few restrictions to plan around, it’s still a good option - especially if you have a few guests you simply must have present on your wedding day.
Craggy Gardens FAQs
How far away is Craggy Gardens from Asheville?
Craggy Gardens is about 20 miles (40 minutes) north of Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The drive is spectacularly beautiful and one that I recommend taking whenever you get the chance.
What is the hike/approach like?
For all permitted weddings and elopements at Craggy Gardens, you must park at the Picnic Area and hike up the mountain from that location. This is about 8/10 of a mile - so expect to hike about 45 minutes or so. It’s not especially difficult, but I recommend that couple’s and any guests wear proper footwear and prepare for rain by bringing umbrellas and/or rain jackets as a precaution.
Which vendors do we need to hire first?
First, make sure you have an experienced adventure elopement photographer like me! Fill out my inquiry form and let’s set up a time to talk!
Second, find your officiant. My vendor page has a few I have worked with and recommend, but the Register of Deeds accepts online ordination, too. Grab your best friend and have them become ordained to marry you if that’s more in line with your vision.
A note on professional officiants: It’s been my experience that a hired officiant adds a level of professionalism and weight to the moment that is hard to beat. They are friendly, warm, down-to-earth folks who make your ceremony beautiful and memorable. Pro-tip: Book them early! Officiants book up fast.
Do we need a permit to get married there?
Yes. This scenic and popular spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a gem. To protect and maintain this area for everyone, however, you must apply for a wedding permit for Craggy Gardens.
If your application is approved, your permit will authorize up to 25 total participants, including: wedding party, photographer, and officiant. As the NPS website states, “Special Use Permits are considered on an as-received, case-by-case basis and can be affected by group size, road closures, construction, other permitted events in the area, and global pandemics.
It’s highly recommended that the couple apply as soon as they can, but no more earlier than a calendar year prior to their wedding date.
Are there restrictions?
There are some restrictions to note: wedding permits are not issued for any federal holiday, federal holiday weekend, or during the entire month of October. The maximum allowed (including the couple, guests, officiant, photographer, etc.) is 25. If you can, though, I recommend inviting less than 10 guests.
How much is a wedding permit?
There is a non-refundable application fee of $60 due at the time of application. If your application is approved, you’ll then pay a $40, non-refundable administrative fee when the permit is issued.
For more on info on wedding permits, visit their site here and scroll down to the “Instructions for Applying” section. Most of the info you might need or want can be found on this page.
What is the best time of year to get married at Craggy Gardens?
I recommend April-September The rhododendrons bloom around late May through mid June.
Rainfall: late spring and summer means more rainfall - so arrive prepared by packing a rain jacket and some clear umbrellas just in case.
Ice and Snow: winter months are not recommended (late November - February/March) as the Blue Ridge Parkway is frequently closed due to icy road conditions. These unexpected winter weather closures can lead to planning headaches, so I don’t recommend this location for that reason during the colder months.
What’s the elevation there?
Craggy Gardens sits at about 5,500’, which makes it a beautiful option for adventurous wedding couples looking for spectacular views but want to be closer to Asheville.
How should we dress?
Typically, the temperature at higher elevation spots like Craggy Gardens can be a few degrees cooler than downtown Asheville and surrounding areas. Mountain weather can be fickle, so I recommend planning for unexpected weather changes. Bring layers just in case it’s chilly, but also be prepared to shed layers if those mountain winds cease and things get warm during the warmer months.
What days of the week are best for getting married here?
If you can make it work, I recommend considering a mid-week ceremony. There are *typically* fewer visitors mid-week, which makes the experience feel a little more private on these public lands. Additionally, Friday/Saturday/Sunday are more sought after days which may make competition greater for the day/time you want to apply for.
Marriage Licenses & Craggy Gardens Permitting Basics
-
Marriage licenses are issued from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm at the Buncombe County Register of Deeds Office at 205 College Street, Asheville, NC.
-
To obtain a license, both parties must be present with valid photo identification and social security cards.
-
Buncombe County Marriage License Application
-
The license is valid for sixty (60) days from the date issued and can be used anywhere within the state of North Carolina.
-
The National Park Service requests a minimum of 30 days to review special use applications. If you can give them more time, that’s even better.
-
The cost of the application is $60. You can pay online at www.pay.gov. Cash is not accepted. Checks are not accepted.
Craggy Gardens Picnic Parking Area
3676 Blue Ridge Pkwy
Barnardsville, NC 28709
Craggy Gardens Wedding Inspiration
Client Testimonials
“Andy captured every beautiful moment of our Asheville elopement and then some. His personality made us feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera. It felt like one of our most professional friends were behind the camera. He went above and beyond to help pull this off within a matter of 24 hours after first speaking to him on the phone. We cried when we saw the beauty he captured on our summer sunset elopement at Craggy Gardens. Truly couldn’t recommend someone better than MountainWed!”
— Chloe W.
“We had a fantastic time with Andy taking our engagement photos. He was so patient, kind and thoughtful. He made us feel so comfortable and at-ease, gave us directives when we needed it, and captured some really amazing moments. We could not have asked for a better experience or a more talented photographer and would recommend Andy in a heart beat. Thank you so much!”
— Nicole D.
“Andy is truly a magnificent artist! We never imagined we'd see such incredible photos of ourselves for our Engagement Shoot. His knowledge of local photogenic spots and natural lighting, combined with his agility to climb anywhere for the right angle, makes him a fantastic choice for a mountain shoot! Fun fact: we had so much fun just hanging out with him during our shoot at the Chimneys that we'd consider any good photos to just be a bonus to that amazing time we had......but of course, we were completely blown away when he finished our gallery!
Of note: We are two women and felt completely comfortable, celebrated, understood and respected the entire time we were with Andy. In a vulnerable situation like this, it was very important to us.”
— Sara C.
“Andy was INCREDIBLE! He always responded promptly and he was super professional, both in the months leading up to our wedding and after our wedding. On the day of our wedding he was on time and his vibe created such a calm and fun environment for us! Not to mention, our pictures are DIVINE!!! Jaw dropping. And we got back so many. He did such an outstanding job. His attention to detail and efforts to get the shot no matter what it took were everything! He also got us sneak peaks back the next morning and continued to send us some in the meantime and communicate to us until the rest came. We truly had so much fun with Andy and that meant a lot, considering weddings are usually stressful, but not for us! He’s the best of the best!”