Elope in North Carolina

From Asheville to Charlotte!

Don't know why, but North Carolina is filled with great venues which actually offer elopement packages! That's good news for all you couples who want to skip a fancy wedding with all the planning headaches and opt instead to elope to North Carolina.

We've culled through many different North Carolina venues from all over North Carolina, and narrowed it down to some elopement spots we think deserve your attention.

Elope in the Asheville Area

Asheville is a city that has really taken off as one of THE places to visit in North Carolina. Wonderfully situated between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains, Asheville provides a fabulous outdoor playground for outdoor-lovers and honeymooners alike! And, there are numerous venues in the Asheville area that provide elopement packages, including these two standouts:

The Cottages at Spring House Farm
219 Haynes Road
Marion, NC
springhousefarm.com

Located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains on 92 acres of woodlands and nature preserve, the Cottages at Spring House Farm offers secluded log cabins complete with handcrafted log beds, and hot tubs on the outside decks. The Cottages' location near Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, may be one reason why it was named as one of the "Top 10 Best Hideaways" by Outside Magazine online.

Specializing in wedding ceremonies for 2 to 10 persons, The Cottages allows couples to choose one of three different over-pond gazebos for their "I dos." Or, couples may also choose to have their ceremony on the front porch of the Historic Albertus Ledbetter House. Their elopement package covers all the basics, including photos taken with your digital camera; witnesses; and a toast with sparkling cider or sparkling wine. Goodies, such as a couples' massage or catered dinner for two in your cabin, are extra.

B & B Inn at Ponder Cove
1067 Ponder Creek Road
Mars Hill, NC

Want your dog to be a guest at your wedding? Then you may want to elope at Ponder Cove, a pet-friendly mountain B&B located on 92-acres in Mars Hill near Asheville. They offer two elopement packages: the "Runaway Bride" and the "Out on the Town" packages. The "Runaway Bride" package includes some really nice touches:

• Wedding cake
• Bouquet of flowers
• Bottle of champagne
• 3 8 x 10 photographs and CD of all photographs taken
• 2 nights at Ponder Cove

The "Out on the Town" package includes all of the above, plus you receive a chauffeur-driven limo-ride into Asheville, with dinner at one of Asheville’s finest restaurants.

Elope Near Winston-Salem

Known as North Carolina’s "City of the Arts," Winston-Salem is blessed with galleries, spectacular gardens, and the nearby wine trails of the Yadkin Valley.  And, just 37 miles west of Winston-Salem, in a place called Harmony, you'll find the 1812 Hitching Post Farm, the only authentic antebellum plantation in the foothills of North Carolina dedicated exclusively to weddings and receptions.

The 1812 Hitching Post boasts an 18-room main house on 26 acres of grounds, with plenty of sites to say your "I do's." You can have your wedding anywhere on the property you'd like, including indoors in the Entry Hall or their Wisteria Room, or outdoors in such locations as one of their two arbors, lakeside, or under their 275-year-old oak tree. 

The Farm can accommodate weddings and receptions of up to 250 people, but you'll appreciate that they also offer two elopement packages; one a basic package for the two of you,  and one with up to 8 guests, which also includes a wedding cake and beverages.  You can get more info by going to their website at 1812hitchingpost.com.

Elope in Charlotte, North Carolina

Did you know that nearly 60 percent of the country's population lives within a two hour flight to Charlotte, North Carolina? That makes it a very accessible city for the eloping couple, and any guests you may decide you want to share in your special day. Charlotte and the surrounding area is certainly an interesting mix of cultures. The area is home to numerous top museums and galleries, the Mint Museums and Bechtler Museum of Modern Art among them; as well serving as the headquarters to 80 percent of all NASCAR Sprint Cup teams.

For those wishing to elope in Charlotte, you may want to consider the Alexander Homestead Inn and Dairy Barn, which has the distinction of being Charlotte's only all-inclusive Queen Anne Victorian historic wedding venue. The Homestead itself is a restored 1903 estate, and the Dairy Barn has facilities and grounds for both indoor and outdoor garden weddings for up to 225 guests. But, don't let that scare you. The Alexander Homestead Inn and Dairy Barn also offers an Elopement Wedding Package, which is a wedding/honeymoon package of 1 night and 2 days, and includes:

• Wedding ceremony in their Victorian Parlor (for up to 10 guests)
• Classical music
• Small wedding cake
• Colonial bouquet for bride and boutonniere for groom
• Champagne for the couple & guests
• Romantic dinner for two
• Lodging in the Estate House for the Bride & Groom
• Gourmet breakfast in the Inn on the honeymoon morning

For couples who are into outdoor adventure, the Alexander Homestead Inn is conveniently located near the US National Whitewater Center, the Latta Plantation Equestrian Center, and Lake Norman and Lake Wylie. Nearby golf courses include the Sunset Hills Golf Course, Highland Creek Golf Club, Quail Hollow Golf Club, and Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation. For more details on weddings at the Inn, go to their website at alexanderhomesteadweddings.com.

Marriage Requirements in North Carolina

Before deciding on that perfect eloping venue in North Carolina, it's helpful to know some facts about obtaining a marriage license in North Carolina:

• You do not have to be a resident of North Carolina to apply for a marriage license
• Age requirement is 18
• If you're under 18 you'll need parental consent
• You need a birth certificate if you're under 21
• No waiting period
• No blood test
• License is $50
• License is valid for 60 days
• Both parties must apply in person at the same time at the Register of Deeds in any County in North Carolina. Both parties must bring a photo ID and a Social Security card. (or some form that includes SS# such as tax return, pay stub, etc.)
  

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