With wedding season already started in the Smokies, groups are flocking to these beautiful mountains to watch their loved ones tie the knot—and that means traditional wedding venues are filling up fast! Some of those traditional venues in the Smokies include Honeysuckle Hills, Angel’s View Wedding Chapel, Smoky Mountain Farm Weddings, Country Manor Acres, the Gatlinburg Wedding Center, and the Smokey Mountain Wedding & Party Barn. Each offers a picturesque locale and room for all your guests as well as helpful extras like wedding coordinators and “one-stop shop” wedding packages, which include florists, wedding photographers, caterers, wedding officiants, and more.
But whether you’re planning an intimate wedding ceremony or a bigger Gatlinburg wedding celebration with all your family and friends, there are plenty of other unique wedding venues to check out in the Smokies. Some of these lesser-known locales may be places you have visited before but didn’t know could double as locations for your one-of-a-kind wedding – and they’re perfect if you’re looking for something unique for your special day. Showcase your one-of-a-kind personality and add some playfulness to your big day at these alternative wedding venues in the Great Smoky Mountains!
Gatlinburg Space Needle
Towering above the Smoky Mountains at 407 feet, the Gatlinburg Space Needle is the perfect spot to catch panoramic views of the entire Gatlinburg area as well as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can ride the glass elevator to the top of this popular attraction any time of year and capture amazing pictures with the stunning scenery in the background. But along with being a favorite locale for pictures, the Gatlinburg Space Needle is a perfect destination for your Smoky Mountain wedding! With seating for more than 250 people, you can host your Gatlinburg wedding while sitting on top of the world! For information on planning a wedding at this venue, call (865) 436-4629.
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Celebrated as one of the top aquariums in the U.S. by USA Today and Forbes, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies has everything you need for a fun family outing in the Smokies. But did you know that this top-ranked aquarium also doubles as a unique venue for your Smoky Mountain wedding? Ripley’s Aquarium offers several wedding packages. They’ll help you with your rehearsal dinner, wedding, and reception right there at the aquarium, and you can choose anything from a formal, sit-down dinner to a casual afternoon of hors d’oeuvres. For more information about this one-of-a-kind wedding destination, call (888) 240-1358 and mention that you are interested in hosting an event at Ripley’s.
Parrot Mountain & Garden of Eden
If you’re looking for a true piece of paradise in the Smoky Mountains, you have to check out Parrot Mountain & Garden of Eden. This unique attraction offers professionally landscaped gardens, bird sanctuaries, a replica of Thomas Kinkade’s Stairway to Paradise, and so much more. Talk about picturesque scenery, Parrot Mountain & Gardens is a beautiful venue itself, not to mention that it’s surrounded by the gorgeous scenery of the Smokies. After checking out their collection of pictures online, we’re sure you’ll be interested in planning a destination wedding here. They offer an on-site wedding planner to help you coordinate the details of your big day and space for up to 300 guests. For more information about Parrot Mountain & Garden of Eden, please call (865) 774-1749.
Gatlinburg Sky Lift
Tie the knot on top of the world at the Gatlinburg Sky Lift in the Smokies! Built in 1953, the Gatlinburg Sky Lift has been a favorite attraction for decades, offering amazing views of the Little Pigeon River from heights of 1,800 feet. But many don’t know that this attraction can also be a wedding venue for couples hoping for a quiet ceremony amidst the beauty of the Smokies. The Sky Lift wedding package includes your ceremony, 2 tickets for the lift, and 5 professional photos for your collection. Sky Lift Weddings also offers intimate wedding services on an arched bridge or at an outdoor gazebo, but if you really want to keep it private, ask them to come to your Gatlinburg cabin in the Smokies!
A Wedding Ceremony in Your Gatlinburg Cabin
Perhaps the best way to keep your wedding ceremony intimate and uniquely yours is to book it at your favorite Gatlinburg cabin or Pigeon Forge cabin with Cabins for YOU. You can choose from a variety of picture-perfect cabins with mountain, valley, or creekside views. Our cabins also come in a wide variety of sizes—from 1- to 2-bedroom cabins for a small group to large-group cabins that can hold up to 50-plus guests! You can plan for a private ceremony on the deck of your cabin and then use the indoor dining tables and full-size kitchen to host your reception. Plus, the cabin doubles as a place for the wedding party to get ready together – champagne toasts, games of pool, and more! This is the perfect way to make your destination wedding in Tennessee exactly what you want — a unique and memorable day with friends and family amidst the beauty of the Smoky Mountain hills!
Honeymooning at the Cabin
Don’t forget that our Gatlinburg cabins are not only great for wedding ceremonies but also for honeymoons. We have romantic 1-bedroom cabins with indoor jetted tubs, outdoor hot tubs, private decks with mountain views, and more, providing you with the Smoky Mountain retreat you deserve after your big day – whether you say “I Do” in your cabin or at a romantic wedding chapel in the Great Smoky Mountains! Call our reservation specialists to book your wedding and/or honeymoon cabin today. And ask about special honeymoon packages as well—these include special gift baskets, romantic dinners for two, and in-cabin massages. Call (800)684-7865 for more information.
Tips for a Stress-Free Wedding in the Smokies
- Plan a wedding coordinator to take care of all the details.
- Book your cabin rental early so you can have the perfect ceremony setting or honeymoon spot.
- Do your research of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg to find the perfect location for YOU.
- Know the rules: Remember the marriage license and that Tennessee does not recognize online ordainments
- Have fun! Remember the wedding is about YOU. Choose what you love as a couple.