The majestic mountains and valleys of the Great Smoky Mountains are a perfect backdrop for romance and making a lifelong commitment to the one you love. Whether you live an hour or 24 hours from Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, Tennessee, consider the beautiful and serene national park for your wedding destination.
No two weddings are the same here. And the Smokies, which are a day’s drive of two thirds of the country, have much to offer you and your guests in views, value, entertainment, attractions, venues, lodging, shopping and wedding planning.
Tennessee is one of the most affordable wedding destinations but also offers everything you need from wedding venues large and small to wedding planners, officiates, caterers, entertainment, lodging and more – for any size party and any budget. Your wedding can be as extravagant or as simple as you desire and still have the most spectacular background.
Here are six of our favorite interesting and beautiful wedding venue ideas, along with plenty of resources to help you plan your perfect day, honeymoon and destination wedding in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Dream of getting married in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park? There are several beautiful locations including Heintooga Overlook; Cades Cove – one of the most beautiful locations in the national park; and Palmer Chapel.
Weddings require a Special Use Permit from the park and must follow specific guidelines. Completed applications for Special Use Permits for weddings and other special events, along with a non-refundable $50 application fee, must be received by the park no less than 14 days prior to the start of the event.
Typical wedding permits allow for a maximum of only 6 cars and 20 people, including the minister and photographer. Exceptions to this rule are considered on a case by case basis. Certain locations allow for more people and cars, depending on the parking situation.
From the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, weddings must take place after 11 a.m. and must end before 6 p.m.
The Cades Cove loop road is closed to motor vehicles until 10 a.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays from early May through late September. On these days, wedding services will not be scheduled before 11:30 a.m. in order to avoid traffic congestion, according the National Park Service.
Rustic and Elegant Barn Wedding
When you think of Tennessee, do you think about barns and countryside, historic sites and tranquility? An elegant barn wedding can be yours at 4 Points Farm, where both rustic and elegant co-exist in the romantic timber-framed barn and patio. Both the most casual and the most refined ceremonies and receptions fit here.
Situated along historic Bird’s Creek and just 10 to 15 minutes drive to all the lodging and attractions found in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville, 4 Points Farm’s facility includes more than 6000 square feet for entertaining. A custom-crafted 4,000-square-foot barn is climate controlled, and outside, a 2000-square-foot landscaped outdoor patio opens into the oversized sliding barn doors so guests can mingle inside or outside.
Guests of the farm have access to 10 acres of beautifully landscaped Tennessee farmland. “A long private driveway lined by horse fence and fruit trees meanders alongside Bird’s Creek, and past our pond with lighted fountain, before opening into the back pasture where The Barn & Patio event center is located.”
There’s parking for 53 cars and the venue can accommodate up to 199 guests comfortably. The bridal party can get ready at the barn in the bridal lounge that includes a large make-up counter.
4 Points offers wedding and reception packages -with tables and chairs, linens and place settings included. Wedding planning, catering, makeup and all the rest are on the bride and groom, however 4 Points is incredibly helpful, providing all the tools and contacts you need to plan your event. When you reserve the farm for your event, you get a list of recommended vendors for wedding coordinating, cake, flowers, catering, and more.
Trained Horses at Honeysuckle Hills
For an all-inclusive planning event for 30 to 100 guests and an opportunity for photos with trained and majestic horses, check out Honeysuckle Hills in the red barn.
The horses at Honeysuckle Hills are trained to run behind our couples, stop and kiss them, and walk lovingly beside them. So, whether you have western wedding theme or just want your guests to enjoy graceful animals as a wedding backdrop, Sugar and Ben aim to please.
Both are rescue horses, keeping with the venue’s pet-friendly wedding policy and love for animals. “Ask Regina about her rescue squirrel, Sassy!”
In addition to its horses, Honeysuckle Hills specializes in the all-inclusive wedding event – whether you want just a wedding and a cake reception, an old-fashioned country barbecue or a full evening of dinner, dancing and cake.
Honeysuckle Hills boasts outdoor gardens, horses, country chic decor and a family staff dedicated to your wedding day. There’s a bridal suite for getting ready and relaxing with the bridal party and several locations in which to hold a ceremony and reception:
The Willow Tree
The weeping willow has been the number one ceremony choice at Honeysuckle Hills for four years running. “Planted in 2008, its towering branches provide a cozy, shaded area for couples to say, “I Do” beneath it. It is typically decorated with lantern lights on its limbs, and ferns and potted plants at the entrance.”
The White Pergola
Most popular for larger weddings, the White Pergola site has a more formal, elegant appeal. It is about a minute and a half walk from the barn and across an arched bridge. You’ll also pass by a little waterfall.
The Granite Stone Wedding Arch
Popular in the early spring and fall months, the stone arch has a classic wedding feel. It was built by hand in 2016, and a creek flows right behind it. It’s also about a minute and a half walk from the barn in the opposite direction of the white pergola, and tucked away behind seasonally flowering plants.
The Covered Pavilion
If it rains, this is the “next-to-the best-thing” outdoor wedding ceremony. Many couples choose it in perfect weather because it is always shaded. It’s also the closest ceremony location to the barn.
The Traditional Wedding Chapel
Another option if it rains, or a year-round choice, is the traditional wedding chapel with its rich wood and cabin styled décor. There’s also access to the balcony and views of the rolling hills and horse field just outside the upstairs doors.
Outdoor Sanctuary at Flower Mountain
Exclusively Christian, Flower Mountain Weddings & Receptions offers planning, a Christian officiant, mountain views and wildflowers on a 25-acre private estate with an exclusive event space.
There are dressing suites and two ceremony options in case of rain. ere at Flower Mountain, we’ve got you covered! If it’s a rainy day, you can exchange vows under our covered porches
(and still enjoy the scenic outdoors) or indoors by a beautiful hearth and fireplace.
Chairs and décor for the ceremony included, along with professional photography and everything for up to 50 guests.
Be King of the World with a Wedding at the Titanic Museum
A romantic and unique wedding venue if there ever was one.
The two of you can have an intimate ceremony in front of the Titanic replica in Pigeon Forge by the fountain or you can take your vows from the Captain in front of up to 25 guests on the Grand Staircase. Or you can rent the 3,000-square-foot event room on the third floor of the museum for a private ceremony and reception.
Photography packages, wedding coordinator and tickets to the museum are available in some packages, along with catering.
The Heart of the Ocean diamond is on you though. Check out our recent blog about the Titanic Museum.
Host Your Wedding and Reception in a Smoky Mountain Cabin
For a view, entertaining space and lodging in the same place, host your wedding in a mountain cabin!
American Patriot Getaways has many cabins perfect for events. You can bring your own catering staff, hire someone locally or perhaps you and your family are do-it-yourself-ers. There is plenty of kitchen space in these cabins built to entertain.
Grande Mountain Lodge is a luxury plus cabin that sleeps 16 with five bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms.
Enter through a grand front entrance with an indoor fountain to the sweeping panoramic views from the back porch in this secluded mountain home. Custom lighting, high ceilings, and luxury furnishings compliment a very livable floor plan with open spaces and large rooms. The custom kitchen opens to the 3-story living room with a stone fireplace and huge ceiling fans – a perfect place for a wedding or reception or both. Downstairs, pony-up to the custom bar in the billiards room and sip your signature wedding beverage. Your guests can enjoy the theater room or play video games. The view is amazing from inside or outside, where the outdoor kitchen and entertainment area is a perfect spot for wedding entertainment.
Best View Ever is another luxury cabin that sleeps 16. This is a perfect cabin to give your guests great views and lots to keep them entertained before and after your wedding.
A large, updated kitchen on the first floor has plenty of space for dining in, and you and your guests can have some friendly competition ping pong, shuffleboard, a pool table, and cornhole. A full-sized wet bar with satellite TV is on the lower level. A hot tub sits outside on the covered patio where you can oak up the “best view ever” of the Smokies and the lights of Pigeon Forge.
Check out all our five-bedroom cabins.
Need more space? See our 10-13 bedroom cabins including Terrace Garden Manor – a beautiful secluded cabin that sleeps 42!
This cabin backs up to incredible views and 3,000 acres of undeveloped natural forest with wildlife you can spend hours admiring. This chalet was custom designed by the famous architect Hubert Bebb of Community Tectonics and was the 1968 Southern Living featured home of the year. The chalet accommodates 40 guests and boasts one of the best views in the Smokies! With 6,050 ft, your wedding party “can spread out in Gatlinburg’s best location close to Ober Mountain.”
Whichever option you choose to host your wedding, don’t forget to share your gift wishes with your friends and family. According to online wedding planner and registry Zola, the most popular wedding gift given in Tennessee is the Cuisinart Classic Waffle Maker. Check out the gifts most given in the rest of the U.S.
For something local for your registry or for a unique wedding party favor, pick up Logic Cast Iron Skillet from Lodge, the company that started as a foundry for cast iron cookware in 1896.
Smoky Mountain Wedding Help
The Smoky Mountain Wedding Association – non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the wedding industry in Sevier County, TN, and the Great Smoky Mountain area.
https://www.gatlinburg.com/plan/weddings/
https://www.gatlinburg.com/plan/weddings/things-to-know/
https://experiencecadescove.com/blog/how-to-plan-a-cades-cove-wedding/
Book Lodging, Plan Your Dream Wedding
Whether you want a formal ceremony in one of the many Gatlinburg wedding chapels or a small, romantic ceremony at the cabin of your choice, American Patriot Getaways can supply you the resources to plan a Smoky Mountain wedding memory that you will always cherish.
Give American Patriot Getaways a call at 800-204-5169. Let our experts help you find the right cabin and resources for your perfect Smoky Mountain wedding.
Be sure to check out all of our vacation guides for planning your Smoky Mountain getaway. Also see our Pinterest board for honeymoon cabins.
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