It’s very nuanced, but the question on so many couples’ minds right now…
It’s a delicate dance and it truly boils down to compassion, flexibility, patience. For weddings or elopements immediately and within the next 6 months, work with vendors on options for relocating, rescheduling, delaying with a timeline left open–ended temporarily, or, cancellation.
If you are 6 months out, you have option to wait it out to assess recovery, coordinate with vendors to relocate, or, cancel and restart planning in a new location.
If you’re just starting to plan, wait and watch recovery through early 2025 before deciding if you’ll book elsewhere. Your wedding investment can help communities revitalize when they need it most.
**Read on below for more tips from a Wedding Planner on what to do next post Hurricane Helene.**
Unprecedented Impacts Unfold
Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across 800 miles of the southeastern U.S. on September 26th, 2024, causing destruction in regions and (maybe) your wedding plans.
If you are wondering how to adjust wedding plans after Hurricane Helene because your event was in one of these impacted areas, you’re probably feeling a mix of emotions and uncertainty.
To help you navigate the complexities of rescheduling or relocating, I sat down with Kathryn Tremaine, a wedding planner and owner of Kathryn Rose Event Company, who has been supporting couples through this tough time.
Based in West Virginia, Kathryn serves much of the South, including Asheville, North Carolina (her former home) and the surrounding mountain areas.
She shared her Wedding Planner expertise, love for this region, and actionable advice to guide you through this challenging period.
Beginning with Compassion
How to adjust wedding plans after Hurricane Helene? Begin with compassion.
Often, your vendors are members of the community you would be celebrating in.
So, in addition to doing their best for their neighbors, loved ones and themselves as they work to move forward, they are also working to support you.
Cities like Asheville, North Carolina—a beloved destination for weddings and elopements—were especially hard-hit, suffering from widespread flooding, road closures, and infrastructure damage. Areas like Chimney Rock and Hendersonville have seen entire communities erased with homes and businesses destroyed, while others remain cut off due to impassable roads and downed power lines.
Many are facing devastation in their business, their lives, their homes, and, their normal. So, approaching your vendors with care and compassion matters more now than ever as these treasured locations and communities are suffering.
“When reaching out to your vendors, lead with empathy. Ask if they’re okay first and foremost before jumping into your wedding plans,” Kathryn advised.
“Florists in particular are struggling because many of their fields were wiped out and with road damage everywhere, little can get in. Even vendors who are available may be dealing with limited resources.”
Kathryn also reminded couples that some vendors, despite their own hardships, will go the extra mile to help.
“I had a caterer agree to travel to a new location four hours away. They understand how important this day is to you and want to help, but we all have to recognize the logistical challenges they’re facing right now.”
Vendor Contracts and Event Insurance
If there’s one lesson to take away from Hurricane Helene, it’s the importance of reading your contracts carefully and purchasing event insurance.
Kathryn was surprised to find many contracts lacking a “force mujure” clause, which protects both couples and vendors in cancellations in case of natural disasters.
“Your first step should be to review your contract. Does it cover unforeseen events like this? If not, have a conversation with your vendors to understand your options,” Kathryn explained.
As we learned in the pandemic, businesses use contracts to help manage risk and to provide you as a client clarity on what you can expect in a number of situations.
So, as you enter these conversations, know that as difficult as it is to hear, your vendor will likely uphold the terms their contract with you has set. If you have questions about your contract, you can always discuss with the vendor, or, contact an attorney.
She also stressed the value of event insurance.
“For a small investment—around $300—you can get peace of mind that your wedding is protected. You never think you need it, but when something like this happens, you’ll be grateful you had it.”
Whether you’re figuring out how to adjust your wedding plans after Hurricane Helene, or, looking ahead to start planning, as I tell my own elopement clients, luck favors the prepared. Strongly consider the insurance!
Assessing the Situation: Steps Based on Wedding Timelines
Where you are in your wedding planning timeline, AND, where in the path of destruction your event was planned to be held, play a huge role in what your next steps should be.
While areas in:
Florida
Augusta & other venues in Southern Georgia
The mountains in North Georgia
Or, some spots in Tennessee
may be able to clean up and reopen more quickly, the intense damage and challenging geography in Western North Carolina will have long term impacts.
In fact, most visited National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, has officially closed in its ENTIRETY as of October 4, 2024 with no reopening date noted. This is a devastating blow to the communities, couples, and vendors who love and rely on this majestic area.
Kathryn’s guidance for how to adjust your wedding plans after Hurricane Helene? Understand how severely your venue and surrounding area was impacted and estimate plenty of time for them to start recovery as you consider new dates.
Here’s mine and Kathryn’s advice, broken down by timeline:
🌿 Weddings that are 1 Month Away (Immediate Weddings)
If your wedding is just weeks away, your first priority is to assess the situation on the ground. Kathryn stressed the importance of open communication with your vendors.
“Reach out to your venue and all your vendors to check on their status. Ask about local resources like power, water, and road access. If basic utilities are still compromised, it may be time to consider relocating your wedding,” Kathryn suggested.
If you aren’t able to relocate, or, don’t want to do so because of cascade complications for guests, venue and vendors, delaying and rescheduling is next option. As Kathryn noted several times throughout our discussion, “The path for Western North Carolina to fully recover will be long.”
Or, at the end of the day, you may decide to cancel outright, take any losses on existing vendor contracts, and begin with a new plan in a new location in new timing.
This may be stressful, but if the vision for your wedding hasn’t wavered and your current venue and vendors will not have resources to deliver the vision in timing you desire, then perhaps it may be the most logical decision.
Still on the fence about if you can/should host your wedding soon-to-be-happening wedding in an area impacted by Helene?
Kathryn wisely noted, couples need to think practically about the community’s needs: “Even if your venue is still standing, do you want to bring 100 guests into a town where resources like hotels, gas, food, and water are still being rationed for local residents?”
Situations are changing rapidly, so refer to local news outlets for updates and trust the reports from your vendors about feasibility.
🌿 Weddings that are 2-3 Months Away
If your Asheville wedding or elopement is a couple of months away, now is the time to start considering all your options.
Kathryn encourages couples to have a conversation with vendors about alternative locations.
“Some venues may not be ready, or vendors may still be unable to get the supplies they need. I had a bride who moved her wedding to Durham because her caterer agreed to travel four hours to make it work.
If you have flexibility, explore options in nearby cities like Charlotte, North Carolina or Chattanooga, Tennessee, or Helen, Georgia but understand the logistical challenges that come with this,” Kathryn advised.
Relocations could also consider West Virginia has a similar “vibe” to much of Western North Carolina as well. This area does have less of the wedding industry infrastructure that Asheville has so vendor and venue availability may more limited and additional flexibility on dates may be required.
For quickly impending wedding experiences, Kathryn also highlighted the importance of flexibility with your guest list. Your wedding guests may be unable to pivot travel plans quickly, so may choose to not attend.
And, beyond guests, rebuilding your event in a new spot comes with it’s own challenges.
“Finding new venues, lodging, and skilled vendors like photographers, hair and makeup artists, or catering in a new city during peak season is going to be tough,” Kathryn shared. “It’s about balancing your dream with the realities of the situation.”
As noted previously, if relocation is not a good solution in the short term, then your next decisions to consider become:
- Delay or reschedule current plans
- Canceling outright, and plan from the ground up for another location and/or time
- Elope now somewhere else, and host your “wedding” or celebration at a later time. (Pro Tip–Telling anyone you eloped before your rescheduled event is optional! )
🌿 Weddings that are 6 Months or More Away, or, about to start planning
For couples with weddings scheduled for, or, being planned 6 months or more out, it’s all about managing expectations.
“Asheville took centuries to build, and it’s not going to recover overnight. If your wedding is planned for next year, you need to consider that the area might still be healing,” Kathryn advised.
Her recommendation? Go for the farthest-out date your venue or vendors can offer to give the area time to rebuild.
“You may still get your dream wedding, but know it won’t be the Asheville you remember. It’ll be different in the physical sense, and that’s something couples need to prepare for,” she said.
But, don’t count this area out!
It’s beauty, uniqueness, and charm stand as proud reminders of why we love this region. And, your investment to have your wedding in these mountain towns matters. Tourism is the lifeblood of many of these communities, so as they stabilize and rebuild they will begin to welcome us back. Returning will be healing for us all.
If you’re still determined to hold your wedding or elopement soon, moving your event to a nearby location could be a viable option.
Kathryn provided practical advice on this but warned of the difficulties in finding alternative vendors and venues.
“If you know you want to change locations fully, start doing some research on what you might want for the new plan such as location and timing. That way, when you approach your vendors, you can test real scenarios with them to see if they can relocate their services.
And keep in mind that you’ll be slotting into already existing 2025 wedding bookings in the new location, so, flexibility and understanding will be key.” Kathryn explained.
So… what should you consider for elopements as next steps? Scroll on below…
How to Adjust Your Elopement due to Hurricane Helene impacts
And for couples planning elopements where the “venue” is a natural setting like a park, the challenges don’t disappear.
Elopement locations, particularly in national parks, may also be impacted by the hurricane.
Elopement or Micro Wedding — Reschedule or Relocation Options
For elopements or micro weddings, rescheduling is another option that could make sense as there is often less infrastructure (such as venues, decor rentals, etc) involved so finding a new date may be easier.
For those same reasons, relocation of your elopement can certainly be an option, especially if your vendors like an officiant or photographer can travel, or, were traveling in anyways.
Kathryn suggested considering other nearby locations that may not be as affected.
“Places like West Virginia offer beautiful mountain views and trails that are just as stunning as Asheville. If you’re looking for a Plan B, consider moving your elopement to areas that haven’t been impacted.”
As an elopement photographer myself, I’ve seen people in Facebook forums talk about moving their elopements to places like the Great Smoky Mountains or other areas around the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia.
But, while this seems tempting, keep in mind, these areas may also be closed.
And, unlike large areas like Asheville or the Blue Ridge Parkway, these more rural/remote areas may not have closures as broadly communicated, resulting in a surprise upon arrival.
To that, as we approach peak season for Fall Colors tourism, sections of Great Smoky Mountains National Park are currently closed (you can check status here).
However, even areas of the park that are open, the National Park Service (as of 9/30/24) is asking visitors to stay away, stating “visitors are encouraged to reschedule their trips for their own safety.”
Still considering relocating your ceremony to an open area there?
As you consider next steps, factor in that open areas surrounding impacted zones may have hidden hazards as you are out in the wilds that hadn’t been discovered yet.
So, prepare as best as you can…
For information, check in with local national lands offices where applicable. Where that isn’t an option, you may consider checking local hiking or off-road vehicle forums for realtime updates. Local businesses who provide outdoor services or gear may also have insights, so you can also explore that avenue.
Adjusting hurricane-impacted elopement plans isn’t a license to skip the permit process.
Even in normal times, parks like Great Smoky Mountain National Park issue limited Special Use Permits, and for very specific areas that can make booking an elopement or micro wedding a challenge.
With staff shortages as National Park Service resources are redirected to hard hit areas, getting a permit (or even a response) may take longer than usual. Patience and kindness is key.
And, even where areas are open, be mindful as you venture further in where road or trail conditions may change, possibly putting you at risk.
Needing to call for Search & Rescue impacts local resources in the best of times. So, needing this support while mountain communities are still struggling creates additional challenge for all parties involved.
So, I would remind couples planning elopements to stick to the rules.
Like always, park rangers or similar could certainly check in on you if you’re having an ceremony or recreating in an unapproved area. Safety is always first. You and your photographer don’t want to deal with possible fines on top of everything else.
Long-Term Outlook for Asheville Weddings and Elopements
Asheville was hit hard, so what does the future look like?
For those dreaming of an Asheville wedding or elopement, the long-term outlook requires patience and understanding. Kathryn emphasized that Asheville will take time to recover, and the scenery and logistics may be different for quite a while.
“Couples need to understand that Asheville isn’t going to bounce back overnight. If you’re planning something for next year, you may want to push your date as far out as possible to give the community time to heal,” she advised.
Kathryn also acknowledged the emotional ties many couples have to Asheville.
“If you love Asheville for its community and soul, that’s still going to be there. But if you’re just in it for the views, you might want to consider other options for the immediate term. It’s not going to be the Asheville you remember for a while, and some couples will find that hard to reconcile.”
The most important factor to adjusting your wedding plans
Kathryn left us with one final piece of advice: patience.
“This is the biggest day of your life, but the people in these communities are dealing with the biggest days of theirs, too—their worst day. Have patience and grace. Your wedding day is important, but understanding the wider context of what’s happening is crucial.”
To answer your question of “how to adjust wedding plans after Hurricane Helene,” it comes down to patience, compassion, understanding, and, flexibility.
For couples whose weddings are several months out, she suggested waiting before diving into rescheduling or planning.
“Don’t start reaching out to vendors right away if possible. Let things settle down. If you’re starting planning for next year, give the area some breathing room. Start your planning in December or January when the situation is clearer.”
South Strong: Hope and Helping those in need
As we all move on to tackle what’s next in our own Hurricane Helene journey, I want to shine a light on the boots on the ground giving hope to those suffering, and, how you can help:
- Information for North Carolina residents
- Donate through American Red Cross
- Help provide food and water: World Central Kitchen
- Get involved through Convoy of Hope
- Donate through The Salvation Army
- Help the animals through Brother Wolf Animal Rescue
- Donate through Samaritan’s Purse
- Give with United Way
- If you aren’t personally familiar with a charity/non-profit, I encourage you to check validity of the organization before donating: Charity Navigator: Charity Ratings and Donor Resources
How to Adjust Wedding Plans After Hurricane Helene: Persevere
In the increasingly unprecedented events of our world, natural disasters and other changes to your wedding experience can and do happen.
While Hurricane Helene has brought you and your wedding experience a ton of unique challenges, you can use this guide to make informed, compassionate decisions that honor you and your partner’s love story.
Resources like The Knot for more traditional weddings, or, Wandering Weddings for elopements & microweddings can provide information, help guides, and a way to find qualified vendors on your journey.
As Kathryn so perfectly put it, “The soul of places like Asheville is still there. If you love it for what it is, that won’t go away.”
So, if you’re just starting to plan, our community here in the South urges you to wait and watch recovery in these areas through early 2025 before deciding if you’ll book elsewhere. Your wedding investment can do a world of good and can help communities revitalize when they need it most.
