Olivia and Alec’s North Carolina Arboretum wedding took place on one of those October days that makes Asheville look especially beautiful.
The gardens were still vibrant and the mountains were changing colors. It was the kind of day that made you want to linger outside a little longer because the aura was just that good.
As a Chattanooga-based wedding photographer, I love getting to travel for Asheville weddings. If you’ve ever been to the Arboretum in the fall, you already know how gorgeous it is.
For Olivia and Alec, it was the perfect place to gather more than 100 of their favorite people and celebrate the start of their marriage.
Why Couples Love a North Carolina Arboretum Wedding
The North Carolina Arboretum sits on 434 acres within the Bent Creek Experimental Forest just outside Asheville. Surrounded by the Southern Appalachian Mountains and located right off the Blue Ridge Parkway, it’s one of those places that feels connected to western North Carolina.
Everywhere you turn, there’s something growing. It’s easy to see why so many couples choose The North Carolina Arboretum wedding experience when planning a celebration in Asheville.
What makes the venue especially interesting is that it was originally envisioned by Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect behind Biltmore Estate. Nearly a century later, that vision became reality when the Arboretum was established as part of the University of North Carolina system.
Today, the property serves as a public garden and a place where people gather to celebrate life’s biggest moments.
For Olivia and Alec, it provided a beautiful backdrop for an October wedding surrounded by family, friends, and the changing seasons of the mountains.
From Bumble to a North Carolina Arboretum Wedding
Olivia and Alec met on Bumble.
Their first date involved skee ball and Pop-A-Shot. Which feels like a pretty good way to figure out whether you enjoy being around someone.
There’s nowhere to hide when you’re missing basketball shots and getting way too competitive over arcade games.
A few years later, Alec planned a proposal while the two were visiting Olivia’s family in New Jersey after Christmas.
The family had gone bowling to celebrate Olivia’s dad’s birthday. At some point during the day, Olivia started wondering if something might be going on because her mom was acting a little strange.
After bowling, they headed home and took the dogs for a walk with Olivia’s best friend. The proposal team had a plan. Olivia had other ideas.
They wanted her to walk down a particular path, but since it was getting dark, she did not want to go. Then one of the dogs stopped to do what dogs do. Olivia turned around expecting Alec to be picking up after the dog. Instead, he was down on one knee.
I love proposal stories like this because they are so real. It became a moment they’ll laugh about for years to come.
A Fall NC Arboretum Wedding in Asheville
Before the ceremony, Olivia and Alec chose to do a first look.
For a few minutes, the day was focused just on two people getting married.
After their first look, we spent time exploring the grounds before family and wedding party photos. One of the best things about an NC Arboretum wedding is that you never have to search very hard for a beautiful backdrop.
The North Carolina Arboretum was showing off a little that day, and I don’t think anyone was upset about it.
A Beautiful Ceremony and Celebration at the North Carolina Arboretum
The ceremony took place surrounded by the natural beauty that makes The North Carolina Arboretum wedding venue so appealing.
Afterward, guests enjoyed cocktail hour while family photos wrapped up before heading into the reception.
The evening felt exactly the way a wedding should feel. A little emotional and a lot of fun.
Dinner was shared, toasts were given and the dance floor opened up for a full-on celebration of the newlyweds.
Olivia and Alec’s wedding was a perfect reminder that the best wedding days don’t have to be complicated. Gather your favorite people in a beautiful place, make space for the moments that matter, and the rest tends to take care of itself.
The North Carolina Arboretum was the perfect space for exactly that.
Planning Your Own North Carolina Arboretum Wedding?
If you’re getting married at the North Carolina Arboretum and think we might be a good fit, I’d love to hear from you.
Tell me about your plans, your people, and the thing you’re worried nobody else will understand but feels really important to you.
And if your proposal story involves a dog interrupting everything, even better. Get in touch here.
Vendor Team
Venue: North Carolina Arboretum
Planner: Black Orchid Events
Catering: Catering by Corey
Florals: Carolina Flowers
Hair & Makeup: Powder Me Pretty Asheville
Band: Blaze the City
Rentals: Professional Party Rentals Asheville
