There are a few things you need to know about eloping in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Aside from the usual things you’d need to do, here are the steps you need to take and some links to help you get there!
- Choose a smoky mountain location
- Get a permit
- Obtain your marriage license
- Hire your wedding professionals (photographer & officiant)
1. Choose a location in the smokies.
There are SO many different areas to choose from that are considered inside the national park. You need to choose your favorite and go from there! Keep in mind that they only allow one permit per day per location, so if you are set on your date, you might want to take action sooner rather than later!
2. Get your permit
This goes hand-in-hand with the first step. After choosing your location, you will need to apply for a permit to elope in that area. The cost is usually $50 for the permit and your application must be submitted no later than 14 days prior to the wedding date.
3. Get your marriage license
Your Sevier County marriage license will be valid for 30 days after you get it. The fee for out of state residents is $41, and for Tennessee residents is $101 unless you complete the four hour premarital course in which $60 will be deducted. You CAN use the license the day you receive it.
4. Hire your wedding professionals!
You will definitely need an officiant for your day to make things official. The officiant will take care of mailing your marriage certificate to the state. If you are going to hire a photographer, make sure they are licensed to shoot in the park! A CUA permit is required for photographers, and it is a lengthy process to complete. Willow + Rove is licensed to shoot in The Great Smoky Mountains!
The photos throughout this post were taken in Cades Cove, located inside The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Check out more from this session here!
Of course, there are many other steps you may want to take in planning your elopement, such as finding your wedding dress, choosing a color palette, creating your perfect bouquet, etc. However, these tips are specifically for eloping in The Great Smoky Mountains! Reach out to us if you’d like more information and we would be happy to help! HAPPY PLANNING!
