When you imagine your perfect wedding, what do you see? Is it an elaborate affair with hundreds of guests? Or is it something different? Maybe you’re looking for something simple, intimate, and authentic – a day that reflects your unique personalities as a couple. If the second option is more your speed, then ditch the guest list and turn your focus to where it belongs. Why not embrace the adventure and elope!

If you’re considering eloping, then it’s very likely you are looking for something a little more unique than the local country club for the ceremony. You’re an adventurous couple who values experiences over things, and you want to create something meaningful with memories that will last a lifetime. Celebrate your love together with an epic Smoky Mountain elopement.

Take Advantage of the Great Outdoors with a Smoky Mountain Elopement

Make space for each other in the wide-open skies of the Great Smoky Mountains. Exchange your vows with a towering mountain as your backdrop. Share your first kiss as a married couple in a meadow filled with wildflowers or in front of a cascading waterfall. 

A Smoky Mountain elopement is filled with unexpected moments that you would never have been able to arrange with a wedding planner. See an elk grazing in the distance or a deer stopping for a refreshing drink in a nearby stream. Catch a multi-hued sunset from the peak of a mountain. Take a romantic stroll down a secluded trail and discover that you have the beauty of this little corner of nature all to yourself.

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Find a Charming Church or Historic Building for the Ceremony

The Great Smoky Mountains are filled with historic buildings from log cabins to barns to churches. The heritage and culture of the southern Appalachian people abounds, adding a rich character to any elopement location, and Cades Cove in particular has several to choose from. 

You’ll find a wide range of historic churches where you can exchange vows with a few select friends and family you’ve brought along to witness your Smoky Mountain elopement. Check out places like the Primitive Baptist Church, Methodist Church, or Missionary Baptist Church. They’re all located within the Cades Cove loop that overlooks the gorgeous beauty of the mountains.

Take Amazing Photos to Remember Your Wedding Day 

A Smoky Mountain elopement means you will get some awe-inspiring photos that capture every second of this incredible experience, both big and small. The sunsets are spectacular here with long, stretching ridges and powerful peaks that glow in otherworldly splendor. Head to the lookout at the top of Chimney Rock to watch the colors paint 75 miles worth of stunning views over wood-lined trails, waterfalls, and distant mountain peaks. 

The dreamy romance and bold streaks of brilliant colors will create the perfect lighting for your photos. From candid shots to posed portraits, when you look back on your elopement photos, you’ll be able to relive all those special moments as if you were right back here in the Smokies. 

Create Something Intimate and Meaningful

Without the hassle of to-do lists, planning, and taking care of wedding guests, you’ll have the freedom to be in the moment and focus on just each other. Strip away the anxieties and obligations and make your wildest, most romantic wedding dreams come true. 

Eloping means that you can simply melt into each other and let everything else disappear. The rest of the world can wait. There’s no stress, no pressure, no distractions – just you and your new spouse looking into one another’s eyes and committing your lives to each other the way you’ve wanted to do it all along.

Discover Unique Romantic Experiences

Turn your Smoky Mountain elopement into a romantic honeymoon with exciting activities and attractions. Stroll hand in hand down picturesque hiking trails. Stare into each other’s eyes over a candlelit dinner, dance to traditional mountain music, or explore unique shops and antique stores in quaint mountain towns. Or just hit the road with the windows down and let the wind blow through your hair as you cruise down winding mountain roads. 

With no particular place to be, you’re free to take your time and savor the views. Pull off at one of the breathtaking overlooks and steal a kiss when no one’s watching. Or take a short hike off one of the roadside trails and open a bottle of wine for a picnic in a spot with a view. The possibilities for romance are endless in the Great Smoky Mountains. 

Save Money

Weddings are expensive. From the ceremony to the reception and all the trappings that come before and after, the average price of a wedding can reach upwards of $35,000. Choosing the adventure of a Smoky Mountain elopement shaves off needless expenses that you could put towards your future instead.

And if you decide to make your elopement location your honeymoon as well, a romantic cabin in the Smokies won’t break the bank. Most places will offer a Smoky Mountain elopement package. You can get lost in newlywed bliss with private and secluded lodgings. Snuggle up by the fireplace, or relax on a rustic porch with incredible mountain views. It’s a great way to kick off your new life together. 

Whatever your reason for considering a Smoky Mountain elopement, it’s sure to create precious memories that you and your spouse will look back on for the rest of your lives.