Knoxville has such a unique cityscape and great energy, making it a stunning backdrop for your elopement. Whether you want to elope downtown, on a riverboat on the Tennessee River, or even at the Knoxville Zoo, the city has something to offer every couple. This city is renowned for the iconic Sunsphere, the historic downtown area, which features charming cobblestone streets and 19th-century buildings, and its vibrant arts scene.
As a native Tennessean and elopement photographer, I’ve found Knoxville has everything you could need for the elopement of your dreams! Fun fact – I actually spent the first 20+ years of my life in East Tennessee, so I’m familiar with Knoxville, having spent a lot of time in this beautiful city.
Continue reading to learn how to plan an unforgettable elopement in Knoxville.
Your Guide to Eloping in Knoxville
Here’s everything you need to know about eloping in Knoxville to plan an unforgettable celebration:
How to elope in Knoxville
If you want to elope in Tennessee, the first thing to do is apply for a marriage license from the local County Clerk. If you love a time-saving hack, you can complete an online pre-application before coming to the office to save time. Both partners must appear together, and you both need to bring proof of date of birth (ex: birth certificate, driver’s license) and proof of SSN. It’ll cost you around $100, but you can save about $60 if you complete a premarital preparation course.
In Tennessee, there is no waiting period, so you can get married right away once you obtain your marriage license! If you aren’t getting married right away, the license is valid for thirty (30) days.
Another thing to know about eloping in Knoxville is that a witness is not required for you to get married. While a witness is not required, you cannot self-officiate your marriage in Tennessee, so an officiant is needed.
When is the best time of year to elope in Knoxville?
Each season in Tennessee has something different to offer you, so it all really depends on what you’re looking for and if you want to elope indoors or outdoors. Another great thing about eloping in Knoxville is that you’ll experience a pleasant climate throughout most of the year. You’ll encounter higher temperatures in the summer and very mild winters. It happens to be a city with more than 200 days of sunshine a year!
Here’s an overview of what to expect with each season in Knoxville:
Fall
Fall in Knoxville means mild temperatures, gorgeous red, yellow, and orange fall foliage, and encountering a crisp autumn breeze in the air as soon as you step outside.
Spring
Spring also has mild temperatures and pleasant weather. Additionally, everything will once again be in full bloom, including the red buds and wisteria, creating a colorful backdrop for your celebration.
Summer
Summer in Knoxville brings with it higher temperatures and humidity. It’s a popular time of the year for weddings and elopements. Keep in mind that in summer, there’s also always a chance of afternoon thunderstorms so always keep rain gear on hand!
Winter
Winter brings the lowest temperatures compared to the other seasons. Some months, it may even snow, creating a magical winter wonderland backdrop. One of the best reasons to elope in the winter? Popular locations are typically empty, allowing you and your partner to have a quiet and intimate elopement in a city that is usually very busy.
Where should you elope in Knoxville?
Besides weather and wondering how to elope here, another question I’m sure that’s crossed your mind is, where should we elope? Here are some of my favorite locations where you could elope in Knoxville:
Knoxville Botanical Gardens
The Knoxville Botanical Gardens are an enchanting place to plan your celebration. You’ll be surrounded by thousands of feet of stone walls and charming stone buildings, creating a dreamy and romantic atmosphere. You’ll also find 47 acres of gardens, trees, and lawns, all set amid walking paths and numerous spots to take incredible photos.
Knox County Courthouse
The Knox County Courthouse is a beautiful brick and granite structure built in 1874. Located in the heart of downtown Knoxville it houses the Knox County offices, probate court, and district attorney’s offices. It also houses the State of Maine Superior Courtroom, clerks’ offices, and judges’ chambers. Another noteworthy feature of the courthouse is the clock tower out front.
Pro tip – ask if you can elope on the steps leading up to the courthouse if you want an outdoor ceremony, rather than having it inside.
Downtown Knoxville
Your entire elopement can be in Downtown Knoxville! Maybe you want to start your day at the courthouse or have your ceremony in a wedding chapel and then wander to places such as Market Square and the Tennessee Theater for stunning photos.
Dara’s Garden
Dara’s Garden is only 10 minutes away from downtown Knoxville. The garden is a gorgeous venue to choose as the backdrop for your elopement. The venue features multiple ceremony sites, including a pavilion surrounded by lush greenery and flowers, as well as a historic home on the property. They have elopements Monday-Thursday. If you choose to elope here, you’ll have private use of the entire garden grounds and the ceremony location of your choice.
Ijams Nature Center
Ijams Nature Center has over 40 miles of trails, 10 parks, undisturbed woods and wildflowers, and a variety of wildlife. Plus, it’s just minutes away from Downtown Knoxville. You’ll also encounter a multitude of scenic overlooks, caves, unique rock formations, and a tranquil lake that provides you with a plethora of eye-catching backdrops for your celebration. They have a few different elopement package options you can choose from, with different ceremony sites and prices, which you can learn more about here!
Knoxville Zoo
If you’re looking for a fun elopement location in a nature oasis and you want to be surrounded by adorable and exotic animals, the Knoxville Zoo could be the perfect place. The Knoxville Zoo has a custom elopement package that is designed for intimate celebrations and accommodates up to 10 guests. After your ceremony, part of your package includes a half-hour photo tour around the scenic zoo grounds! Learn more about eloping at the Knoxville Zoo here!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Great Smoky Mountains are a magical destination for planning an elopement, as the park is filled with beautiful forests, peaceful meadows, scenic overlooks, swoon-worthy waterfalls, and much more.
On top of all that, the park makes it incredibly easy to plan your elopement here, as they have a simple permit process, easy-to-access ceremony location options, and offer a variety of diverse locations for your elopement. Want to learn more about planning your elopement in the Great Smoky Mountains + elopement locations in the park? You can learn more here!
What activities should you add to your Knoxville elopement?
One of my favorite things about elopements is getting to add whatever your heart desires to your itinerary – and Knoxville has an endless list of activities for you and your partner to enjoy! As a native Tennessean and elopement photographer, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite Knoxville elopement ideas, which you can view here.
Ready to Elope in Knoxville, Tennessee?
I hope you found all this info on planning an elopement in Knoxville helpful. Whether you’re into city life, nature vibes, or a bit of history, Knoxville has so much to offer you!
And…if you are still looking for a queer elopement photographer to capture your elopement in Knoxville, I’d love to chat! You can explore my elopement photography services here or visit this link to get in touch and start discussing your dream wedding day!
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