If the question is a Max Patch elopement, my answer is ALWAYS gonna be HELL YEAH!! 

As an Asheville wedding photographer, Max Patch elopements are some of my fave days EVER. If you’re a couple who’s already considering eloping on Max Patch, or you’re just browsing some North Carolina elopement spots with epic AF mountain views that fit your adventurous vibe… Keep reading to see everything you ACTUALLY need to know about planning your Max Patch elopement in Hot Springs, North Carolina!! 

Why Max Patch Elopements Are the BEST

Max Patch elopements have my whole damn heart!! I’m an Asheville elopement photographer who’s OBSESSED with mountain views, wide-open spaces, pretty sunlight, and a ‘lil bit of adventure, and that’s what Max Patch brings EVERY TIME. 

You get the whole mountaintop to yourself if you plan it right (which we’ll get into), which means that elopements here get to be COMPLETELY your own. My main goal is that your wedding feels totally like you, and it’s so easy to make your Max Patch elopement look and feel however you want it to!! Super small, romantic, and sweet?? Yup. A larger group, epic vibes, and fun, nontraditional colors?? You got it, babes!! 

If you wanna see some other mountain weddings I’ve captured to get a feel for what this could look like, check out this Great Smoky Mountains microwedding!! 

Should You Elope at Max Patch? 

Okay, if you’re going back and forth on a wedding like this… This is your sign to DO ITTT.

Seriously though, Max Patch elopements work HELLLAAAA well for couples who: 

• LOVE adventure
• Want something small and personal
• Love versatility
• Feel more like themselves out in nature 
• Probs go hiking for fun on the weekends

So, if that sounds like you, you’re in the right place!! Also, we’re gonna get along SO well. Trust. 

What to Know About a Max Patch Elopement BEFORE You Start Planning

I’ll be the first to say it: eloping on Max Patch DOES come with challenges. Know that I gotchu, though!! That’s why I’m writing this wholeeee blog. 

And if you’re already thinking, okay yeah, I need someone who knows how the hell to plan and photograph this, you can peek at what it’s like to elope with me here.

Before you keep reading, though, know that you have to hike about half a mile to get to the summit for that insaneeee backdrop. So, if that doesn’t sound like something you or your guests could do, Max Patch might not be your perfect fit!! 

How to Plan a Max Patch Elopement Ceremony

Let’s get into the logistics of planning your Max Patch elopement, because even though I’m a FUN AFFF Asheville elopement photographer, I know we’ve gotta get into the logistics, too!! 

What are the Permit Requirements for a Small Ceremony at Max Patch?

At the time I’m writing this, small elopements at Max Patch generally don’t require a special-use permit under the current rules, but PLEASE check the current regulations before your date because these things can change.

If there’s any sort of special date or special use, you may end up needing one, but that’s something I’ll always help you navigate, so don’t fret. 

How Many Guests Can Come to a Max Patch Elopement?

Max Patch allows groups of up to 10, including you two, your photographer (heyyy babes), and your officiant. Know that you will be required to have two witnesses for your marriage license!! 

Unique Lodging Options Close to Max Patch for an Elopement

Max Patch is in Hot Springs, North Carolina, so you’re close to a whole lotta mountains and a little over an hour away from Asheville. That means you get some REALLY unique lodging options for you and any out-of-town guests!! 

Western North Carolina is cool as hell, so there are so many funky Airbnbs and cabins all around!! I always recommend checking out Airbnb and VRBO, but you can also look at Hot Springs Treehouse Cabins for some more options. 

Getting to Max Patch: What You Need to Know

As an Asheville wedding photographer who’s made this mistake a time or two, take it from me: PLEASE route your maps to Max Patch before you lose signal. Because once you get there, you’ll have 0 cell service. 

Know that Max Patch also has some SUPER curvy roads no matter which direction you’re coming in from!! If you get carsick, plan ahead, loves. 

Best Time of Year for an Elopement at Max Patch

Each season brings its own spin to your Max Patch elopement, but for the best weather and views, May-November is the sweet spot!! 

If you’re someone who LOVES colorful blooms, late spring and early summer are the BEST times of year to elope at Max Patch for wildflowers. You also get pretty mild weather throughout the day in these months, but know that the chance of rain is probably gonna be slightly higher. 

True summer months are GORGGG here. The lighting is insane, the sun rises a little bit later (so sunrise elopements don’t have to mean waking up at 3:00 am, hell yes), and the colors are SO VIBRANTTT. It’s definitely warm, so if you hate the heat, this isn’t your time, babes!! 

Okay, now fall in Western NC??? It INVENTED beauty. The colors are literally something out of a dream, and I’ll be obsessed for the rest of my damn life!! The temperatures are also super mild here, so you probs won’t be too hot OR too chilly. No notes!!! 

Best Time of Day for an Elopement at Max Patch

No matter what time of year you choose for your Max Patch elopement, the best time of day is almost ALWAYS gonna be sunrise. Since Max Patch is a public space that you can’t technically reserve, there will be more people around at sunset. 

When you’re planning your wedding at Max Patch, PLEASE check the actual sunrise times for the season you’re in. Know that I’ve gotchu, though, and will always help you plan the perf timeline!! 

How to Obtain a Marriage License for a North Carolina Elopement

If you’re eloping in Max Patch, you’ll need to get your marriage license from a North Carolina Register of Deeds. You can go anytime within 60 days of your wedding, and there are no waiting periods!! Every county has different rules for what you need and for how to set up your appointment, so ALWAYSSS check a few weeks before your wedding!! 

Rules for a Max Patch Elopement

Okay, if you know me, my whole motto is basically FUCK THE RULES!! When it comes to legally getting married, though, especially at a place like Max Patch… There are some you actually do have to follow. 

Know that you can NOT have decor, alcohol, or more than 10 people at your ceremony!! And if you bring your dog (which I love SO much, gimme all the puppy snuggles!!), it has to stay on a leash in the park. 

Most importantly, make sure to clean up after yourself and always be respectful of the BEAUTIFUL space and of other visitors!! 

What to Bring to a Max Patch Elopement

Emergency wedding kits look a ‘lil bit different when it comes to a nature elopement, so here’s what I always tell my couples to bring: 

• Your marriage license, of course
• A change of shoes
• A change of clothes
• Water and snacks
• A towel or blanket to sit on if needed
• A bouquet, if you want one!! 
• Any sort of Tide Pen or stain remover for your dress
• Umbrellas, just in case 
• A jacket
• Flashlights

Max Patch Elopement Transportation and Parking Options

There aren’t many transportation options out in the heart of Appalachia, but there is a small parking lot that will hold a few cars for your ceremony!! Again, there is a small hike to get to the top of Max Patch, and the closest parking lot is about half a mile from it. 

What’s the Rain Plan for a Max Patch Elopement?

The rain plan for Max Patch elopements?? Hope and pray it doesn’t rain. 

Seriously, though, if it rains… Embrace it, babes!! There’s no nearby backup plan, so rainy days usually mean a lot of dancing in the rain, imperfect hair and makeup, and TONSSS of belly laughs. Rainy days can be a shit ton of fun if you let them be!! 

What to Wear for a Max Patch Elopement (That Lets You Move But Also Makes You Look Hot AF)

Now for the fun stuff: outfits!! 

Most of my Max Patch elopement couples will wear hiking attire on the way there and then change into wedding attire at the top (side note: I’m the #1 fan of pop-up changing tents. They’re fucking lifesavers)!! That means not having to carry a 5-foot-long train up a mountain, which… I love for you. 

When it comes to wedding dresses, something simple and sleek always works best here!! It’s a lot easier to move around in than a full-blown ballgown, but if that’s your vibe, I’m SO here for it!!

I picture fitted or column dresses in something easy to move in, like satin or crepe!! You can also go super nontraditional with colors or add in a fun veil from somewhere like Belle Botanical Creations!! 

How to Celebrate Your Max Patch Elopement

If you’re eloping on Max Patch but still wanna PARTAYYYY, I 100% feel you. 

A lot of my favorite Max Patch elopements end up heading to Asheville for a celebration later on, at a reception space like The Venue or Junebug Retro Resort. You get the intimate, private ceremony, then the fun AF party later on, so it’s the best of both worlds!!! 

If it’s more your style, though, you can do a small restaurant or bar reception (see Katie and Falon’s elopement celebration for inspo) or even just go home, put on your pajamas, and order in. It’s your day, babes! 

Trails Near Max Patch For the Adventurous Couple to Celebrate On!!

Wanna spend the rest of your wedding day on some nearby trails?? Love you already!! Here are some trails near Max Patch that you can hike your heart out on: 

• Lemon Gap to Max Patch 
• Hot Springs to Max Patch
• Davenport Gap to Max Patch

Lindsay and Tim’s Dreamy, GORG Elopement at Max Patch 

Lindsay and Tim’s day was EVERYTHINGGG. First of all… They are literally the cutest damn couple!! They met at work, and their first date AND proposal happened during the sunrise at Max Patch, so it only made sense for their wedding to be the same!! 

We all woke up at 3:00 am to drive from Knoxville to Max Patch, and we got there when it was still dark. When we got to the top, Lindsay’s mom helped her get dressed (in a wood-grain wedding dress, so fuckin’ cool) while her best friend held up a flashlight, and it was one of those moments that I’m gonna remember forever. 

They then had a short and sweet little ceremony while the sun came up over the Blue Ridge Mountains, followed by their own ‘lil private vows away from their guests, and it was the most romantic, special time!! 

The whole vibe of their elopement was so chill, adventurous, and celebratory all at once, which is BASICALLY my recipe for a perfect day.

Wild Alchemy | Asheville Elopement Photographer

If you’re dreaming about saying your vows on top of Max Patch, actually being present for the damn thing, and getting photos that feel like your day instead of turning your day into one giant photoshoot… I GOTCHU. Come tell me what you’re planning, and let’s make this shit happen.