1) Bring a sweater or shawl and advise your guests to do the same, it gets chilly in the High Country at night no matter what season it is.
2) In addition to summer, peak season in the High Country is also the
“leaf season”
in October. Appalachian State’s University’s Homecoming game, the
and other various events and Fall Festivals happen around that time so make sure you block off rooms for your guests well in advance.
3) The ground can be rocky so keep that in mind for your outdoor ceremony/reception when you’re putting a runner, shepherds hooks or anything else in the ground…bring a hammer and some nails. I’ve definitely put down a runner with bobby pins and a blunt object before.
4) The weather in general can be very unpredictable in the Boone/Blowing Rock/Banner Elk areas, make sure you have a indoor back up plan just in case. A good local site to check out is
5) We don’t usually have too much trouble with mosquitoes or no-see-ems in general but wait until the last minute to bring the
cake
out if you’re having an outdoor ceremony so no bugs get stuck to the cake. By the same token (and this might be obvious but I’ve seen it happen) don’t put the cake in the sun, it will melt!
6) Yes it is possible to get married somewhere along the
in the North Carolina Mountains. How it works is that you figure out where you want to get married and apply for a special use permit through the National Park Service.
“Activities such as sporting events, pageants, public spectator attractions, entertainment, wedding ceremonies, or large group gatherings require a permit. A $60 application fee is required and an additional $135 administrative fee is due upon issuance of the permit. A $60/hour monitoring permit is also charged during the event. Call park headquarters at (828) 271 4779 ext 246 for more information.
** Fees are subject to change.
If you want to get married on the Parkway and do not wish to have a large ceremony, then you may not need to have a permit. The permits are required for event gatherings of “many” people that would cause interference with the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway for other travelers.”
-Information thanks to blueridgeparkwayblog.com
7)There are lots of
local farms
in the area. Ask your caterer if they can incorporate some local and or organic foods or flowers into your reception.
8)
Rhododendrons
mostly bloom in June but sometimes a little later in the higher elevations.
9) Not necessarily a regional thing but…wedges instead of spiky heels are best if you’re going to be outside (especially if you’re in the wedding party, you don’t want to sink into the ground going down the aisle).
10) The High Country can be
windy!
Take that into consideration with table decorations and make sure to bring double sided tape. Taping the tablecloth to the table in a few strategic places will help to ensure that your table decorations stay down. My advice is to use a little bit of double sided tape in the middle of the table once you have the table cloth straight and then 4 small pieces on the edge of the table.
11) Duct Tape, pens, bobby pins, safety pins, floral wire and tape, bleach pen, twine/rope, mints, a sense of humor.
12) Use the natural scenery of the area and the current season and let it flow into your decorating theme.
13) Don’t stress!!!! Little mishaps happen there and there but that’s what makes everyone’s special day memorable and different. Focus on the positive and just have fun with your friends and family. The rest will work itself out.
828.719.9171
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