Congratulations on deciding to have your wedding in the picturesque Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina! We’re certainly bias, but we believe that there is nothing better than a North Carolina Mountain wedding! To help you and your fiance prepare for your big day, we’re listing our favorite tips for planning an Appalachian Mountain wedding.

Keep in mind that booking doesn’t just include the venue; be sure to think about hotel blocks, caterers, photographers, and what else may be happening in town that weekend (like an App State football game, or the Wooly Worm Festival).

Peak wedding season in the Appalachian Mountains coincides with the overall peak tourist season; the fall. If you’re looking to get married during peak leaf season, pick a date in late August through early November.

Peak leaf season is also peak wedding season, which is the entire month of October. When planning your Appalachian mountain wedding, keep in mind that most vendors and lodgings will be booked well in advance. Our recommendation is to book your vendors and lodgings 10-16 months in advance.[

Having an outdoor wedding in the North Carolina Mountains is ideal nearly all year round. Obviously, peak leaf season mentioned above is the most popular season for weddings, but having an Appalachian Mountain wedding is a great idea any time of year.

Temperate Rainforest

The Appalachian Mountains are considered a temperate rainforest. Which means, at a basic level, that the weather can change in a moment’s notice!

Seasons

  • Spring: Spring mountain weddings offer beautiful weather, with average high temperatures topping around 69 degrees, and lows staying just above freezing. Be sure to have a sweater or light jacket on hand! However, any given day in the spring can have a 30-40% change of rain which leads to a high number of rescheduled weddings.
  • Summer: Summer in the NC mountains is gorgeous! Even more gorgeous is a mountain wedding! Having a summer North Carolina mountain wedding will have you surrounded with lush, full green foliage, with high temps averaging around 77 degrees and lows in the mid-50s.
  • Fall: As we mentioned above, fall is peak wedding season due to the abundance of fall colors in the Appalachian mountains. Temperatures are still ideal, with highs around 70 and lows not quite freezing yet.
  • Winter: Brave the gusts of winds and potential down pouring of snow for a winter mountain wedding if you dare! Unfortunately, because it stays right at or below freezing during the winter months, nearly all foliage is dead.

The North Carolina High Country thrives on locally owned businesses. You’ve already chosen the perfect, one-of-a-kind, locally owned outdoor mountain wedding venue, so why not keep up that theme! West Jefferson, Boone, Blowing Rock, and Banner Elk are littered with exquisite dining and catering options, not to mention all the local farms! Coordinate with your caterer or wedding planning to see how you can incorporate these local delights into your mountain wedding!

The mountains of North Carolina are filled with tourists from within the state and all over the country every weekend. And its no wonder too with the seemingly endless activities to do on any given weekend.

Since you’re having a destination wedding in the North Carolina Mountains, and its likely your guests are out-of-towners, consider scheduling a few of the following activities for the wedding party to participate in throughout the weekend.

  • Ziplining at Hawk’s Nest
  • Wine Tasting at Grandfather Vineyard
  • Local Brewery Tours of Appalachian Mountain Brewing, Blowing Rock Brewery, and Kettel Beer Works in Banner Elk
  • Fly-fishing in the New River or Watauga River
  • Grandfather Mountain
  • Hiking Trails

Check out some more of our favorite local attractions near West Jefferson for your wedding weekend!

Weddings are all about family, friends, enjoying the moment, and savoring the food! Take time to soak in the long range mountain views and enjoy the crisp North Carolina Mountain air on the happiest day of your life!


The Barn on New River hosts elegant weddings and parties near one of the world’s oldest rivers: the South Fork of the New River. You will not find another property as remarkable as ours. It hosts a 4900 square foot barn with 30’ ceilings on 100 beautiful acres and a cabin and honeymoon suite.  We’re located in the High Country in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Boone and West Jefferson North Carolina. Take a deeper look at the venue, availability, and packages.