Elope To Gatlinburg In 6 Months
You just got engaged and you can’t wait any longer to be married! However, you don’t want to compromise your vision for you wedding day when you elope to Gatlinburg. As a Gatlinburg wedding photographer, I want you to have your dream day in the most beautiful place on earth! That is why I am sharing my timeline to elope to Gatlinburg in just 6 months.
6 Months Before
Planning your elopement is easier with the more time you have, so starting about 6 months in advance is a great idea! However, if you are wanting to book for October I highly recommend 12 months in advance. If you are on a shorter timeline, that is also fine. Just take the following “to-dos” and adjust them to your timeframe. A lot of these items are as simple as booking a reservation through a call.
Book Your Venue & Set Your Date
A lot of the couples I work with have true elopements, without booking a venue. However, if you want a mountain side ceremony, we will need to apply for your special use permit through The Great Smoky Mountain National Park as soon as possible! This is the second place in the country to get married, behind Vegas!
Book Your Gatlinburg Wedding Photographer
Once your date is reserved with your venue, or you have decided on a date that works for your wedding party, start booking your vendors! I suggest contacting your wedding photographer first, as other vendors like florists can book multiple clients for a day. Whereas photographers can be more limited on how many elopements or weddings they can shoot in a day. Also the National Park prefers the special use permit be under the photographers organization as well as the bride or groom’s name.
If you book with me, I’ve got you covered! I will obtain the permit & book an officiant.
Book Your Wedding Officiant
Another wedding vendor that is extremely important and can book up quickly is a wedding officiant. As a Gatlinburg wedding photographer I have worked with some of the best officiants in the area. So when you elope to Gatlinburg, check out my recommendations for your ceremony!
Wedding Dress Shopping
Wedding dress hopping can take some time, as not every bride finds the perfect dress quickly. I suggest you start shopping for your wedding dress as soon as possible to maximize your time, as well as to allow time for alterations if needed. You deserve to feel like a bride on your elopement, and a wedding dress can play a huge role in that!
4 Months Before
As you plan to elope to Gatlinburg in 6 months, be sure to prioritize your vendors. With that said, if any of the following vendors provide services that you feel you need for your elopement, then book them sooner than 4 months prior. Some of these vendors are more traditionally used at larger weddings, however this is your day! So whatever vendors you want for you elopement should be considered!
florist
hair & makeup
cake
catering, consider if you decide to book a venue
2 Months Before
At this point, the time will fly! Solidify your wedding day timeline, especially with your officiant and photographer. In addition, reach out to any other vendors with your final timeline timeline. As a Gatlinburg wedding photographer I love having an understanding of your timeline so I can come prepared to capture every tender moment.
Additionally, you will also want to look into the details of getting your marriage license in the state of Tennessee. Here is how to obtain your marriage license, so you can have it ready before your wedding day!
And finally, it is time to say “I-do”! If you need more vendor recommendations or want to work with me as your Gatlinburg photographer, reach out! I will take the stress of planning away!
