Not every couple dreams of a big wedding.
Some would rather skip the long guest list, the months of planning, and all the decisions that seem to come with getting married. You just want to be together, say your vows, and enjoy a beautiful day.
But that doesn’t mean you have to give up the wedding you’ve pictured.
Maybe you’ve always imagined wearing a wedding dress. Maybe you’d love to walk down an aisle with someone waiting for you at the other end, and take photographs you’ll treasure for years. You might even want to cut a cake and raise a glass to your new life together.
You can have all of that without planning a big wedding. That’s where an all-inclusive elopement at the 1812 Hitching Post, just outside Statesville, can be such a wonderful fit.
A Small Wedding Can Still Feel Like a Wedding
When I think about a wonderful wedding day, I don’t think it’s about how many guests are there. It’s about the little moments you’ll remember: the walk down the aisle, the look on your sweetheart’s face, a few happy tears, and that first kiss as a married couple. And maybe a little cake and champagne afterward!
One of my favorite things about our all-inclusive elopement package is that you get to choose where on our 26-acre property you’d like to be married. You might be drawn to the lake, with the water and trees as your backdrop. Or you might prefer to tuck in among the trees in the woods, stand out in an open field, or say your vows surrounded by the gardens.
Each spot has its own personality, and that’s part of the fun. Your wedding doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Choose the place that speaks to you and make it yours.
Your elopement can be just the two of you, or you can invite up to 20 guests: your parents, your children, your siblings, or a handful of your favorite people. Even with a small guest list, you can still have the ceremony, the photographs, and the celebration you’ve been dreaming about.
Why All-Inclusive Makes an Elopement Easier
Over the years, I’ve seen that even a small wedding can come with a surprisingly long to-do list.
First you find a venue. Then you start looking for a photographer, an officiant, decorations, music, a cake, and all the other little details. Before long, your simple wedding has turned into quite a project.
That’s where all-inclusive makes such a difference. Our elopement package brings those pieces together. You’ll have three hours at the venue, a decorated ceremony with a minister and music, private getting-ready spaces, an hour and a half of professional photography, and a mini reception with wedding cake, fruit, cheese, crackers, and beverages for you and your guests. You’re even welcome to bring your own wine or champagne!
You don’t have to spend weeks tracking everything down and making it all fit together. You get to enjoy being engaged, look forward to your wedding day, and let us help with the details. And if you have a few special touches of your own in mind, we’re happy to talk about those, too.
For package details and current pricing, visit our Elopements Up to 20 Guests guide.
Your Venue Should Fit You
A blog from Cornerstone Ranch Event Center put it in a way I love:
“A venue should fit your wedding, not the other way around.”
That’s especially true for a smaller wedding or an elopement. At the 1812 Hitching Post, our dressing rooms are cozy and intimate. Your ceremony can be tucked away in a quiet, snug spot or set out in a wide open field. The estate also has rooms big enough for large family gatherings, so you won’t feel lost in the space, and there’s still plenty of room for a gown with a big skirt!
Whether it’s just the two of you or you’re sharing the day with up to 20 guests, your ceremony can feel like your wedding.
An Affordable Elopement Near Charlotte, With Room to Breathe
The 1812 Hitching Post is in Harmony, NC, just north of Statesville and about an hour from Charlotte. It’s an easy getaway from the city, and you don’t have to travel halfway across the state to find a beautiful place to get married.
Here you’ll find historic surroundings, big old trees, open lawns, trails, and a peaceful lake, with lovely places to say your vows and plenty of scenery for photographs. There’s something special about stepping away from the everyday rush for a little while. Even if you’ve only driven an hour, it can feel like you’ve gone somewhere entirely different.
For couples looking for an affordable Charlotte-area elopement, that mix of a beautiful setting and a simpler wedding day can be just right. You get to spend less time on logistics and more time enjoying the reason you’re getting married in the first place.
Turn Your Elopement Into a Honeymoon
Why stop at the wedding? One of the nicest perks of marrying here is how close we are to some of North Carolina’s best honeymoon spots.
Blowing Rock for mountain views, charming shops, and a romantic Blue Ridge getaway
Boone and the High Country for hiking, scenic drives, and a little adventure
Lake Lure if you want water and mountains together
The Yadkin Valley wine region if you’d rather stay close to home, with vineyards, tastings, and beautiful countryside
Your wedding can be the first stop on your honeymoon, not the end of your celebration.
Through our partnership with hotelplanners.com, we offer discounted hotel reservations anywhere you’re headed.
Your Wedding Day Should Feel Like You
Maybe it’s just the two of you standing together at the arbor. Maybe your children are there, or your parents are sitting in the front row, or you’ve invited 10 or 15 people who have been part of your story.
There’s no one right way to get married. After 24 years of wedding-venue experience, I know that every couple has their own idea of what makes a wedding special, and that’s exactly how it should be.
A smaller wedding doesn’t mean settling for less romance, less meaning, or less celebration. You can still have the dress, the aisle, the photographs, the cake, and the moments you’ll talk about for years, without taking on the work of planning a large celebration.
A small wedding doesn’t have to feel small. It just needs to feel like you.
If you’re dreaming of an affordable, all-inclusive elopement near Charlotte, NC, we’d love for you to come see the 1812 Hitching Post and help you get started on your next chapter.
Explore Elopements for Up to 20 Guests
Have questions about our elopement packages, pricing, guest count or what’s included? Visit our Elopement FAQs and package details to learn more about getting married at the 1812 Hitching Post.
