.jpg){kind=link}
Elopement Photographer · Knoxville
Erin Morrison Photography
A permit is the first thing many Smokies couples forget, which is why Erin Morrison leads with hers: she is a permitted…
- Elopements
$$ price band
Claimed
Field guide · Tennessee
Eloping in Tennessee
Tennessee requires an authorized officiant but no witnesses. The Permit Atlas documents 2 ceremony locations here, from Great Smoky Mountains National Park to The Allee, Percy Warner Park (Nashville), each checked against the managing agency. Elopelist lists 56 local elopement pros in Tennessee: 18 photographers, 12 micro wedding venues, 6 planners and 6 officiants, and more.
- 56local pros
- 2permit locations
- 9vendor categories
Permit rules verified State guide updated
01 Marriage law
The Tennessee rules at a glance
Guide updated- Officiant required
- Yes. T.C.A. 36-3-301 authorizes ministers ordained per their faith's customs, judges, county mayors, county clerks, state legislators, and notaries public (since April 28, 2021). Online ordinations are in legal gray space — for zero ambiguity, use a notary public or another person on the statute's list.
- Witnesses required
- No. Only the officiant's presence is required; no witness signatures are needed.
- License fee
- Knox County $97.50 · Nashville (Davidson) $99.50 · Sevier County $101 TN residents / $41 out-of-state. A $60 discount applies with a notarized 4-hour premarital course certificate. No waiting period; 30-day validity.
- Residency required
- No. Both parties appear in person with photo ID and Social Security number.
- Popular permit fees
- Great Smoky Mountains NP $50 application (30 days–12 months ahead) · Cherokee National Forest / Roan Highlands $0 for ceremonies under 75 people · Percy Warner Park (Nashville) The Allee $250–$300/day.
- Best window
- Early-to-mid October above 4,000 ft for peak fall color; mid-October to early November at lower elevations. Spring for wildflowers and waterfalls. Winter for permit availability and quiet trails.
From the sourced Tennessee elopement guide
02 Permit Atlas · Tennessee
Where you can marry, and what it takes.
Verified| Location | Application fee | Lead time | Max group | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park National park · National Park Service | $50 non-refundable application fee | Application no later than 30 days before the event | 25 people at outdoor sites | |
| The Allee, Percy Warner Park (Nashville) City park · Metro Nashville Parks and Recreation | $250 per day for Davidson County residents / $300 per day for… | — | — |
Short form of each rule; the location page has the full wording and sources. A dash means the agency pages read did not state it.
- National park Great Smoky Mountains National Park Smokies weddings need a $50 permit applied for 12 months to 30 days ahead, with outdoor sites capped at 25 people for one hour and historic churches at 50 for 90 minutes. Full rules & sources
- City park The Allee, Percy Warner Park (Nashville) The Allee at Percy Warner Park is booked by the day: $250 for Davidson County residents, $300 for others, in a morning or an evening slot, ceremony only. Full rules & sources
Rules change. Each location page links the official sources; confirm with the agency before you book.
03 Local pros
56 elopement pros based in Tennessee.
Browse every listing- 18 Elopement Photographers
- 12 Micro Wedding Venues
- 6 Elopement Planners
- 6 Elopement Officiants
- 4 Elopement Videographers
- 3 Elopement Florists
- 3 Hair & Makeup Artists
- 2 Wedding Musicians
- 2 Wedding Cake Bakers
Most listed in Nashville 12Gatlinburg 11Knoxville 9Chattanooga 4Memphis 3Pigeon Forge 2
Elopement Officiant · Nashville
Nashville Wedding Officiant Zelda
More than 1,300 ceremonies into her career, Zelda Sheldon remains one of Nashville's busiest independent officiants. She is…
- Elopements
- Micro Weddings
- Courthouse
$$ price band
Claimed
Elopement Planner · Gatlinburg
Above the Mist Weddings
The package menu at Above the Mist Weddings runs from a $199 gazebo ceremony for two to a $24,470 vineyard wedding with a barn…
- Elopements
- Micro Weddings
- Adventure Elopements
From $199 Profile
04 What it costs
Published starting prices in Tennessee.
Counted from the starting prices that Tennessee vendors publish on their own sites, as recorded in their Elopelist listings. A category appears once at least 3 of its listings publish a price.
| Category | Publish a price | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elopement Photographers | 7 of 18 | $1,700 | $450 – $5,000 |
| Micro Wedding Venues | 5 of 12 | $800 | $500 – $3,500 |
| Elopement Planners | 4 of 6 | $973 | $199 – $1,589 |
05 Read next