Cades Cove is one of the most beautiful locations in North America, making it a highly sought after wedding location. Planning a Cades Cove wedding comes with a number of regulations and restrictions, but having this breathtaking section of the Smokies as the backdrop for the happiest day of your life is completely worth it. To help you begin, we have put together a convenient guide with everything you need to know about getting married in Cades Cove.
Applying with the National Park Service
Planning a wedding in Cades Cove requires a lot of coordination with the National Park Service. Everyone who gets married in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park needs to apply for a Special Use Permit. A $50 non refundable fee is required with the application, and applications must be received at least 30 days prior to the wedding (although we suggest applying much earlier).
Make Sure Your Wedding Planner and Photographer Have Permits
If you will have a professional wedding planner, photographer, videographer, limousine driver, or any other commercial service at your Cades Cove wedding, all of these businesses need a Commercial Use Authorization. Make sure that your wedding service providers have CUAs before you hire them!
Restrictions on Cades Cove Weddings
There are some important restrictions to keep in mind as you plan your wedding in Cades Cove. Be sure to read over the NPS guidelines for all of the details, but here are some of the most notable ones:
- Outdoor Cades Cove wedding permits typically limites to 25 people and 6 vehicles for 1 hour.
- Cades Cove church weddings are limited to 50 people and 8 vehicles for 1.5 hours.
- Capacity limits include the wedding party, guests, officiant, and any vendors.
- Permitted time to use the venue includes set up, ceremony, photography, and clean up.
- Historic churches and cabins in Cades Cove are not heated and do not have electricity.
- Wedding permits are not granted on Wednesdays from May through September, due to the Vehicle-Free Days.
- Since October is peak season for heavy traffic in Cades Cove, no wedding permits are given on Saturdays and Sundays in October.
Designated Wedding Locations
Couples can choose from the following beautiful locations for their Cades Cove wedding:
Cades Cove Wildlife Overlook: located on the Cades Cove loop road, about a half mile beyond the Missionary Baptist Church.
LeQuire Cemetery Overlook: located on the exit side of the loop road, roughly 0.3 mile beyond the Sparks Lane junction. There is a field available for use adjacent to the overlook.
Historic Churches: all three of the churches in Cades Cove allow wedding (Missionary Baptist, Primitive Baptist, and Methodist).
For information about Cades Cove’s location in relation to the cities of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, check out our blog that tells about where Cades Cove is.
