YOU’VE DECIDED TO ELOPE!
THE STRESS OF A BIG WEDDING HAS STARTED TO MELT AWAY
WE ADORE WORKING WITH COUPLES LIKE YOU- GETTING AWAY FROM WHAT’S TRADITIONAL AND FOCUSING ON THE THINGS YOU LOVE
AS SEEN ON
BUT WAIT… YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO PLAN AN ELOPEMENT IN THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS!
How do you find. breath-taking location from miles and miles away? How do you hire the best vendors? You know how you want your wedding day to feel, but it’s all so overwhelming to plan an elopement from afar. You just don’t have the knowledge of someone local to the Smoky Mountains.
That’s why we’re here! This is where we step in to plan these details for you.
HI! I’M ALISHA BACON
owner and coordinator here at Effortless Elopements. I’m more than just a coordinator though. Since I was born and raised in East Tennessee, you’ll have access to all the knowledge of a local. From locations, to officiants, down to where you should go to eat! As a photographer, I plan your elopement with the perfect pictures in mind. The kind of pictures you save on Pinterest, that you’ll be dying to show your friends and family.
Whether you are the kind of couple who hikes and adventures every weekend OR you’re more the snuggling on the couch kind. I will plan your perfect elopement that is unique to you and your love story. No matter what, your elopement will be in great hands with me
“Effortless elopements certainly live up to their name
“Effortless elopements certainly live up to their name. My now husband and I recently eloped. It was just him and I and it was an experience worth more than a pot of gold. Alisha was very quick to respond and had all the details to us when we needed them. Through their vendor recommendations we ordered a cake, got spa/salon services booked, and made a dinner reservation for the night of our wedding. All the recommended vendors were amazing!”- Katie P.
“made me feel at ease eloping 10 hrs from home”
“Alisha and her team at Effortless Elopments have truly gone above and beyond to make our wedding day so special for my Husband and I, our kids and our families. Eloping was truly effortless as Alisha answered all of my questions promptly, with kindness and knowledge and made me feel at ease eloping 10 hrs from home. Thank you Alisha ❤️ - Ashley H.
“Our experience with Effortless Elopements was just that: Effortless”
“Our experience with Effortless Elopements was just that: Effortless! I cannot speak highly enough about this company, from the many package options you can choose from, locations to be married, excellent recommendations for other services such a catering, florists etc. plus amazing photographers & officiants Alisha works with… your day will be perfect! I was very nervous about this entire process coming from out of town but Alisha was so reassuring and quick to respond to any concerns or questions we had at all times!” - Catherine H.
YES, WE PLAN YOUR ELOPEMENT, BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
THAT MEANS THAT…
I’ll be your dedicated elopement planner and will guide you through each step! You’ll have access to all my “born-and-raised-here” knowledge of the area and I’m always just a click away from answering any question. You’ll have unlimited email access to me with questions being answered with 24 hours. I’ll be handling all the stressful details so that you don’t have to!
You’ll get jaw-dropping photos of your elopement day! As a photographer, I plan your day based on getting awesome pictures.
We’ll help you choose the best location for YOUR vision. We’ve scouted out the best and most photogenic elopement locations in the Smoky Mountains. Whether you want mountains, streams, woods, or a rustic church. We’ll help you choose the best location for YOUR vision.
We take care of the permits and reservations required for your location for you. Getting married in a National Parkrequires permits to keep everything legal. Not exactly what we’d call a fun time and where do you even start??? No worries; we’ve got you.
You will be paired with the perfect officiant. Our officiants are simply the best! They have stellar reputations in the area and they all have a passion for creating meaningful ceremonies for our couples. You will receive a professional ceremony that you’ll love.
We recommend trusted and highly rated local florists, bakers, restaurants, and anything else you might need for your elopement and stay in Gatlinburg.
DITCH THE STRESS OF WEDDING PLANNING, MESSAGE US TO HAND IT OVER.
WE’VE GOT THIS!
YOU WON’T FIND ANOTHER TENNESSEE ELOPEMENT COMPANY WITH PICTURES THIS AMAZING
MOST ELOPEMENT COMPANIES JUST AREN’T THAT CONCERNED WITH YOUR PICTURES.
When you work with us, an amazing photographer will be chosen. The team of photographers I’ve put together are trained on how to capture those Pinterest-perfect images of your elopement. Photographing an elopement is way different than photographing a wedding and our photographers know elopements inside and out. As a photographer myself ( and former bride with really crappy photos) I know just how important your wedding pictures are and that you need AMAZING shots to wow your friends and family with. After all, what is an epic day without epic pictures to remember it by?
Other elopement companies view you as just a number and don’t give your photos the attention they deserve. These are your memories, the photographs you will show generations to come of your wedding day. You deserve outstanding photos!
ALL OUR ELOPEMENT PACKAGES COME WITH
An amazing and personable officiant ( You’ll love them!)
Unlimited elopement planning assistance by Alisha, owner of Effortless Elopements.
Curated preferred vendor list ( Bakers, Florists, Restaurants)
Phone Consultation with Officiant
A Professional Photographer who specializes in Elopements ( except the Simple package)
Smoky Mountain Permit coordination
Digital gallery of your images, delivered in weeks, NOT months! ( except Simple package)
Marriage license filing post ceremony
Packages
THE SIMPLE— $1500
The most simple kind of elopement, just the two of you and the officiant in a beautiful location to say your vows.
*Photography not included
THE CHIC — $2000
Includes 30 minutes of photography which is ideal for those who just want a few photos to remember the day by.
*Couple only, no guests
THE ELEGANT— $2800
Includes 90 minutes of photography which is perfect for those with large families ( because you know Mom has a list of photos ready!) or those who want extended time for photos with their brand new spouse!
Our most popular package
THE CLASSIC— $2400
Includes 60 minutes of photography to capture your ceremony and formal wedding portraits.
THE OUTSTANDING— $4200
Includes 1 hour of photography to capture you and your honey getting ready for your big day and 2 hours of photography at up to 2 locations so you have plenty of time for family and couples portraits and to show off the Smoky Mountains. Perfect for the photo obsessed!
DO YOU SEE A PACKAGE THAT’S PERFECT FOR YOU?
~ ADD- ONS ~
Special add-ons for your big day to enhance the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg Elopement Experience.
HAIR AND MAKEUP FOR ONE PERSON
450
We make your life a little easier by taking care of booking your hair and makeup with one of our professional artists. Services are provided on-site at your hotel or cabin for additional ease.
Additional hair and makeup per person is 300
CHAIRS
200
6 white wedding chairs delivered and set up at the Foothills Parkway or Cades Cove ( Maximum allowed chairs in the National Park)
HELPING HAND
300
Do you need an extra hand on your wedding day? Someone to help with your children? An expert in coordinating large families for photos? Also have us live-stream for family back home on your phone or take cell phone photos for instant keepsakes!
VIDEOGRAPHY
$1500- 90 MINUTE COVERAGE WHICH PRODUCES A 2-3 MINUTE HIGHLIGHT REEL VIDEO AND FULL FOOTAGE OF THE CEREMONY
ARE YOU READY TO DO THIS THING??
ME TOO! BUT FIRST, I’D LOVE TO GET TO KNOW YOU
Fill out the form below and leave me some details on how you met or how he proposed. I adore a good love story!
I’ll get back to you within 24 hours and from there you can choose your package and location.
THE BIG QUESTION: CAN WE HAVE GUESTS?
ABSOLUTELY! We love guests and can accommodate up to 25 in most locations.
Keep in mind, as you add more guests, the logistics change a bit. We have to think about things such as parking, bathrooms, extra photography time, and location guest limit.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW DO I RESERVE MY DATE?
Your date is reserved by filling out a contract and paying a retainer of 35% of your package price. The remainder is due one month prior to your ceremony.
HOW DO I OBTAIN A TENNESSEE MARRIAGE LICENSE?
We have a fantastic blog post that walks you through the process of getting a Sevier County Marriage License: https://www.gatlinburgelopements.com/blog/what-do-i-need-to-get-married-in-gatlinburg-tn-how-to-have-a-pigeon-forge-wedding-tennessee-marriage-license
After the ceremony, we’ll take care of filing it with the county clerk!
WHAT HAPPENS IF IT RAINS ON MY ELOPEMENT DATE?
Check out a great blog on the subject
Unfortunately, rain does happen here in Gatlinburg. We do everything in our power to work around our ever-changing weather ( I always tell my brides, if you don’t like the forecast, wait 5 minutes, it’ll probably change). We’re fortunate in the fact that it almost never rains all day in Gatlinburg. Overcast and sprinkling days actually make for FANTASTIC photos. We can break out the umbrellas and make the best of the rain, tweak the time for before or after the storm, or move indoors to your cabin. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of waiting out the rain for 10 minutes. Don’t panic if it looks like rain; we’ll get you taken care of.
CAN SOMEONE WALK ME DOWN THE “AISLE”?
Yes! Anyone you love can give you away during your ceremony.
DO YOU PROVIDE LODGING/CABINS/HOTELS?
No, we do not. VRBO makes a fabulous starting point in your cabin search though!
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL ELOPEMENT TIMELINE LOOK LIKE?
On the day of your elopement, we’ll ask that you arrive, dressed and ready, to your Gatlinburg elopement location 15 minutes prior to your ceremony time. This allows for some wiggle room in case you should get lost, time for hair and makeup touchups and allows us to quickly go over the ceremony with you prior to performing it.
Next we take a few moments to do a first look ( If desired). The ceremony will then begin and last on average 8-10 minutes; short and sweet. After the “I dos”, then we’ll take more posed couple or family pictures for the remainder of the time.
EX. CEREMONY TIME 3PM
2:45pm- Arrive, touch up hair and makeup.
3pm- Go over ceremony, ensure you understand all the parts, and make any notes (Such as whether you’d like to say your own vows you’ve written)
3:05pm- First look, couples pictures
3:10pm- Begin Ceremony
3:20pm Ceremony Ends
3:20-4pm Couples and/or family portraits
HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY PICTURES?
All our images are digital files and are delivered via a digital gallery, with a print release, for you to download and enjoy. Prints may be purchased anywhere and we do not restrict how you can share.
HOW MANY IMAGES WILL I GET?
In a typical 60 minute Classic package you should expect roughly 60-75 images in your gallery.
In a typical 30 minute Chic package you should expect roughly 30 images in your gallery
IS THERE SOMEWHERE TO GET READY?
Please arrive dressed for the wedding. There are no changing rooms, or rest rooms. If changing on site is a must, grab a pop up changing tent from Amazon!
DO YOU ORGANIZE RECEPTIONS?
No, we are a ceremony-only company. Most of our brides opt for a reception dinner at one of our local favorite spots!
CAN I PLAY MUSIC TO WALK DOWN THE AISLE OR FOR A FIRST DANCE?
Yes! You’re welcome to bring a bluetooth speaker to play music on.
CAN I HAVE A BRIDAL PARTY?
Of course! Whether you want just a best man and maid of honor, or a full 18 person bridal party, that is 100% do-able.