A Guide to Asheville Air BnB / Rental Home Weddings

Air B&B weddings are popping up all over in Asheville and since I've photographed quite a few, I'm familiar with some great spots!

Below I list + link wedding-worthy homes for you to browse but, first, let's talk about what you should look for when choosing a rental home for your Asheville wedding!

Part 1 - Is a rental home right for my wedding?

Now's the time to look for things that a traditional event venue may offer and decide if those are necessary for you. These decisions may be based on your guest list - is it just you 2 eloping to the mountains? Just immediate families with no special needs? Grab your guest list to reference then go through the list below.

A traditional wedding/event venue will offer these things and a rental home likely won't:

• Staffing
• Rental items like tables + chairs + glass + silverware + dishes for dinner
• Multiple bathrooms for guests and they'd be regularly cleaned + restocked
• Parking
• Maintenance
• ADA compliance
• Preferred vendor list (I offer a vendor list, happy to recommend the best florists, caterers, musicians, etc.)

Still loving the rental home option?! Now that you're ready to nail down a sweet lil rental for your big day, what should you be looking for?

What to look for in the rental home to ensure a smooth wedding:

• First up, are you allowed to hold an event there? Not all rental properties allow weddings or events, it'll be up to you to uphold any rules as the renter.
• Is there a backup location if weather is bad? Do you still love the idea of getting married indoors there if rains?
• Is there parking for guests + vendors?
• Is that parking right in view of the ceremony? If so, chat with your photographer about where cars should park or how they can angle away from the parking area so cars aren't your backdrop.
• Are there a few spots around the property you'd love to have photos taken?
• If getting ready photos are important to you, do you like the look of the bedrooms where you'd be getting ready?
• Is there seating for the dinner or reception?
• Space to dance?
• What do your vendors need? As a start, they'll need space for their setup and enough power outlets -  I'd ask what they need!
• Do you need space for your family? Some have fun game rooms if you have kiddos to entertain and some can sleep your whole family!
• What are the check-in and check-out times when planning your itinerary? 

If you have to move this party indoors... It's likely you're planning part of the event to be outside but what if you need to move the whole event indoors? Every rental home is different but 2 things the can make a world of difference to capturing beautiful images indoors: window light and a nice style.

• The more windows the better, 'nuff said.
• If you hate the way the inside is decorated with antiques or blue walls then you won't want to move indoors as your rain plan because there's no hiding the overall decor of a space in photos! Most rental homes have plenty of images, send the link to your photog for a 2nd opinion if needed. Many of my clients send me links and ideas for my input to make the most of it.
• Another rain option - rent a tent for the yard! String lights and candles can do wonders to create a beautiful tented reception.

Part 2 - Where are the best rental houses in the Asheville area?

On to the good stuff! Below are a few of my favorite Asheville area rental proprieties for your wedding or elopement!

Hart House - Beautiful side yard for a private wedding ceremony + sweet little covered porch for cocktail hour. Southern manor feel on the outside. The photos on this blog post are from Hart House!
Pine Hollow - Multiple outdoor location options for a ceremony and reception! There's gorgeous trees, a lush yard and even little pond.
Cabin Heaven - Cute cabin and some of the best mountain views I've seen from the sprawling lawn!
River's Ridge Lodge - Spacious yet cozy cabin creekside with a killer deck and gazebo. And wedding-hosting experience too!
Stecoah House - An incredible modern rental home for a stylish couple wanting the cabin vibes.
Laughing Waters - Plenty of mountain views in WNC but we have a few spots for the water lovers too, like this one!
Laurel Falls - Multiple cabins, rustic yet modern. Mountain views and plenty of photo spots!
SKI Quaint Farm Barn Loft - ​This is such a cute option for an elopement for 2 - a modern charmer!
Big Butte Retreat - Multiple cabins, very rustic, perfect for a giant sleepover with your closest family and friends in the mountains. Mountain views, a small pond and plenty of photo op spots!
Weaver House - More of an event venue than an Air B&B but it is a house-like setting and since it's new - a hidden gem in WNC!

Continue your search on VRBO, Air B&B or HomeAway - these have been helpful for my past clients.

Don't forget to check out local Inns and Bed & Breakfasts in the area too. The owners are often excited to help coordinate the event with you and they provide great insight. And some have stunning settings, check out the gorgeous tree at Mountain Magnolia Inn for your ceremony backdrop or the mountain views at Wildberry Lodge!
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Part 3 - Found the place! Now what?

You've chosen your rental home and you're ready to plan this party!

Can you do a walk-through? Ask your vendors if you need to scout anything for them - such as...

• Does hair and makeup needs certain type of bathroom space for you + 4 friends to get ready? Outlets? Natural light?
• Does the musician need an outlet on the porch? Certain wattage? Enough space for a band or 1 guitarist? 
• Does the catering team have what they need in the kitchen and storage areas?

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More planning tips:

• Don't hold back on your dreamy wedding goals, I've seen couples turn a simple dining room into a Pinterest dream.
• Get a head start! If you're planning an Air B&B wedding, you're likely including some DIY fun - get it done early.
• Make sure there's plenty of toilet paper and paper towels before everyone arrives! These supplies are often limited when a rental owner only expects 4 visitors vs 20.​
• Don't forget clean-up. If you've ever rented an Air B&B before, you know that the cleaning requirements are often strict! Assign someone the job or hire someone to help bc cleaning up after a wedding of any size is a chore. Double check that there's a dishwasher too!

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I've shot many Air B&B weddings and they always turn out wonderful. I've never been to the same rental house twice for a wedding and I've experienced rained out weddings and all kinds of hiccups - it always turns out awesome. You've got this, happy planning!

Further reading:
Letting Loose After Your Wedding in Asheville
A rain plan for small weddings
​Which Wedding Package to Choose ​