Elkmont Elopement

There’s nothing sweeter than an intimate forest elopement in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and this is exactly what Jessica and Uriel had in Elkmont in early October.

Deep in the forest of Elkmont sits a freestanding stone fireplace next to the Little River. With the river babbling in the background and the birds singing in the trees, Jessica and Uriel said “I Do” on the fireplace with only her parents, their dog, and one friend in attendance. It was a romantic intimate national park wedding for the books, and Rev. Chuck O’Connor officiated.

The stone fireplace is just steps from Spence Cabin, where the couple got ready. Spence Cabin is a popular Smoky Mountain wedding venue, and the pink cabin sitting quietly in the woods is not forgotten by the guests who visit.

As part of their Smoky Mountain elopement, Jessica and Uriel wrote their own wedding vows in the cutest white vow books. She promised that she wouldn’t cry, but you could see tears slowing running down her cheek as she read her vows and looked up at Uriel with watery eyes. Her mom and dad, dog, and friend all quietly stood in front of the fireplace witnessing their nuptials.

After their ceremony at the stone fireplace, we took a very short drive up to the Daisy Town portion of Elkmont, which is near the Appalachian Clubhouse. Daisy Town is a historic section of the park  filled with abandoned cabins and cottages sitting side-by-side on a straight 1-lane road.

• Venue – Spence Cabin, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Officiant – Chuck O’Connor
• Hair & Makeup – Southern Belle Beauty

Elkmont Weddings and Elopements

Spence Cabin is one of our favorite places for elopements and weddings in the Smokies. Located in the historic Elkmont district of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it is the perfect venue for intimate weddings.  Throughout its history, Elkmont has been many things — a pioneer Appalachian community, a logging town, a resort community, and nowa campground, hiking trails, and the site of many intimate weddings and elopements.

Wedding photography and other professional photography within the national park (bridal portrait sessions, engagement sessions, etc.) requires a special photography permit, and JoPhoto has the commercial use authorization permit to provide professional photography in the park. If you’re interested in getting married in the park, and you’re looking for a Smoky Mountains wedding photographer who has the required permit to photograph your wedding, contact us.