4 Ways To Have The Best Smoky Mountain Weddings

There’s nothing more romantic than a sweeping adventure – except maybe an adventure that ends with a wedding. Combining the two through a Smoky Mountain elopement will genuinely be a wow-worthy experience. These mountains are an ideal outdoor ceremony spot for eloping couples, from hiking the trails up to the dreamy Smoky Mountain wedding venues to the epic views when you tie the knot. If you feel at home in the mountains, or you want to do something out-of-the-box for your big day, we’ve got some tips and tricks to help you make the most out of your mountain elopement experience.

Use natural lighting

Natural lighting is one of the killer perks of having a Smoky Mountain elopement. Using natural outdoor light will not only decrease the amount of setup you and your photographer will have to pack in and out, but you can also get some amazing shots depending on the time of day your ceremony takes place. Pledging your love to your partner at sunset with the panoramic views of the Smoky Mountains in the background is definitely worth capturing on film.

Make the practicalities romantic

Hiking boots and packs are practicalities for Smoky Mountain weddings, especially if you’re doing some serious hiking to a mountain top elopement. But don’t despair at the sight of canvas or bulky backpacks – with a few easy twists, they can still be wedding wear. Strap your bouquet onto your pack while you hike to keep your hands free and your flowers undamaged, or hang a ‘just married’ sign from it after your ceremony for a cute photo op! To add a wedding touch to your hiking boots, use blue laces for that “something blue,” or find some in a color that compliments your dress or the color scheme of your Smoky Mountain elopement.

Bring your furry friends 

We take our pets on so many of our adventures, and our weddings should be no different. Mountain elopements are perfect for the furry family members in our lives, so long as they’re permitted at your Smoky Mountain wedding venue. They are great low-key guests if you’re considering eloping privately — not to mention you get to skip the dog-sitter, saving some serious cash.

Explore the Smoky Mountain wedding venues.

Exploring the great outdoors is just another perk of having a Smoky Mountain elopement. Depending on where you’re eloping, you could mini-moon in the local city of Pigeon Forge and explore the different attractions and amusement parks. If you don’t want to go far from the Smoky Mountain wedding venues, you can climb the famous Clingmans Dome, the highest peak. Also, you can go hiking to any of the many gorgeous waterfalls in the Smokies, like Grotto Falls, which is the perfect location for tying the knot. 

If you’re looking to get out in nature this wedding season, a Smoky Mountain elopement is one of the best options. Full of history, sweeping views, and hiking trails with countless romantic spots to tie the knot, having a Smoky Mountain wedding allows you to commemorate your connection to your partner and to the epic nature of the south.

Written by Tori Ward

Victoria Ward is a writer at Simply Eloped as well as a Keats Marginalia scholar and Storyfort finalist for her fiction and creative nonfiction. When she is not writing about elopements, she writes grants for her research and non-profit work.