I've been doing a lot of looking back lately. Scrolling through old galleries from two, three, four years ago, I can see how parts of my style and business have changed. But the way I observe and document a day has stayed constant. My eye keeps noticing, and the instinct to capture it, to preserve the memory as it's happening, only grows stronger.
Britta and Steven got married at the historic Cades Cove Methodist Church, about the fifth stop on the right as you drive the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Planning the Day
I remember talking with Britta early on and asking what she and Steven were imagining for their day. She prioritized two things: having family there, and finding a beautiful, scenic spot for their ceremony and photos. I knew Cades Cove could give them exactly that. They were coming from out of town, and this historic corner of the Smokies is a must-see any time you visit Tennessee.
During planning, I connected them with a few trusted vendors: Rainbow Roots Floral for their flowers, Bridal and Beauty with Em for hair and makeup, Art of Cake for their sweet six-inch elopement cake, and officiant Alan Eliazer to make it official. I also helped them get their park permit and marriage license, and put together a day-of timeline with location links for where we'd meet at the start of the loop.
A First Look and a Few Traditions
Elopements can be wonderfully non-traditional, but Britta and Steven still wanted a few traditions of their own. One of them was a first look before the ceremony, which we did just outside the church.
The Ceremony at Cades Cove Methodist Church
From there, we headed inside the church for a quick, sweet ceremony to make it official. With the rest of our time, we drove the remainder of the loop, stopping at a few spots along the way for portraits and to cut their cake.
Things to Know Before You Elope at Cades Cove
Cades Cove is one of the most requested elopement locations I work in, and for good reason! It does come with a few things worth planning around:
You'll need a permit. Weddings in the park require a Special Use Permit from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The application fee is $50, and you can apply up to 12 months ahead, but no later than 30 days before your date.
Keep it small. The park discourages large or heavily decorated celebrations, and each site has its own limits. Cades Cove is perfect for an intimate elopement with your closest people.
Watch out for Wednesdays. Most Cades Cove wedding sites don't allow events on Wednesdays from early May through early September, when the loop is closed to cars for Vehicle-Free Wednesdays.
Skip October weekends. Fall color brings huge crowds, so the Cades Cove sites don't host events on Saturdays or Sundays in October. A weekday in October is still gorgeous! Here's more on the best times of year to get married in East Tennessee.
Grab a parking tag. Everyone parking in the park needs a valid parking tag, even with a wedding permit.
It's still a public park. Cades Cove stays open to everyone else visiting that day. People can explore, talk and drive by nearby, so plan on a little background noise and the occasional passerby during your ceremony.
We leave it better than we found it. I work hard to make sure we follow every park rule, so generations from now, someone's grandkids can still visit the exact spot where they got married.
Why I Love Cades Cove
The mountains, the history, the chance of spotting wildlife around every bend. It's hard to put into words what makes this place so special, but every couple I've photographed here has felt it.
As I look back, I hope to keep looking forward too, documenting many more weddings and elopements and making a little history of our own along the way.
Planning a Smoky Mountains Elopement?
If you're dreaming of a Cades Cove or Smoky Mountains elopement, I'd love to help you plan it, from permits to the perfect pull-off for golden hour! Take a peek at my elopement photography, read my Chickamauga Battlefield elopement guide for another spot close to Chattanooga, or reach out here and tell me everything!
Sources: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Wedding Information, Cades Cove Vehicle-Free Days
