Thinking
about getting married in a cabin in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg?
Cabins are
certainly a beautiful vacation getaway when you’re in the Smoky Mountains. They are also an excellent honeymoon choice
along with lodging for your wedding guests.
But… when it comes to a wedding ceremony, a cabin often falls short.
Before I
explain why a wedding venue is better than a cabin for a wedding, I will go
ahead and admit I own a wedding venue.
One of the many REASONS I own a wedding venue is because I have direct
experience with how challenging cabin weddings are. You see, once upon a time I was just a traveling
wedding photographer who was paid to go to cabins, churches, and wedding venues. I knew there just had to be a better way for
brides to enjoy their sacred and special commitment than the chaos I
experienced 95% of the time… thus Honeysuckle Hills was born.
I still get
brides who call me daily, telling me they’re on the fence about having their
wedding at a cabin or at a destination wedding venue like ours. I take a deep breath, and then I tell them
exactly what I’m about to tell you now.
Here’s why I
humbly believe that wedding venues are the better choice:
1) If you’re inviting wedding guests,
even a multiple bedroom cabin can cramp your style.
No matter
how spacious their living room is or how many bedrooms there are, always
remember YOU are the center of attention.
Therefore, unless you’re willing to lock your door and turn up a loud
fan or music, you’re going to be overwhelmed with family and friends wanting to
“help.” They’re going to want to be in
the same room as you, and it’s difficult to maintain any kind of order.
Paint this
mental picture. Clothing on the
floor. Empty water and soda bottles
scattered everywhere, especially if there are children present. Someone borrowed your lipstick and you can’t
find it. No one seems to want to help
clean it all up… and this is the place you’re getting married. In five minutes.
2) Parking.
Ask the rental agent how large the parking area is at the cabin, and how
many cars are allowed. This can be a
major problem if parking is unavailable for all your guests. The guests staying at your cabin might not be
a problem, but what about all the other guests coming in just for the wedding
itself? And what about any vendors who
will need a larger area to haul in food, equipment, etc.?
3) Seating.
Will it be all right if your guests stand during the ceremony? Most cabins either do not have enough seating
for a higher wedding guest count, or they don’t have the right kind of
seating. Additionally, most cabins have
fire codes that limit the number of people allowed inside at one time.
Some cabins
have outdoor covered pavilions or gazebos they allow guests to reserve. This is a blessing if you can find it. Be sure you are allowed to lock in a specific
time period, and that no other cabin rental guests are allowed at any
time.
4) Decorations.
Who’s going to decorate? Surely
you’re not getting married with that moose over your head, right? Actually many people love this, but if you
don’t…
Most cabins
do not come with any type of decoration even remotely related to weddings, so
you’re going to have to invest some money and time into making it look like you
want. This includes that pavilion or
gazebo area we just talked about. The
time you’re allowed to decorate and when it’s due to be cleaned up is also
important to know.
5) Who’s going to direct your wedding? If it’s just
the two of you getting married, this isn’t as much a concern as it will be if
you have guests. Still, who really wants
to yell out their bedroom door to say, “OK honey, it’s time to walk up to the
fireplace now. I’m coming right
out!”
But if you
have guests, even a few, it gets crazy.
No one will listen to a familiar family member. But they will listen to a hired coordinator,
and you will appreciate the organization that comes along with having one. I beg you, if you’re still set on the cabin
for your wedding, at least hire a professional like Lindsay from Custom Love
Gifts.
6) Photography.
You’d better hire a seasoned professional who knows what they’re doing,
or your pictures will be terrible. Most
cabins have huge picture windows, and while it’s beautiful to marry in front of
a mountain view, the lower priced photographers typically either don’t know how
to expose this properly and / or don’t have the right equipment to do it. The result is silhouettes, light flares, and
washed out images with no contrast or color “pop.” Your better photographers will also know how
to find locations at the cabin for story-telling wedding images. This still won’t compare to the scenic
gardens and views of a wedding venue. If
you don’t believe me, just look at the cabin next door to yours. And the two next door on the other side… Oh…
and one just happens to be under construction.
7) Noise. Speaking of the other cabins next door to your ceremony (yes,
even if it’s at their private wedding gazebo there will likely be another guest’s
cabin in sight,) there is absolutely nothing you can do about children laughing
and screeching or the couple who decided they want to argue loud enough for all
to hear about who’s going to make the beer run.
8) Want a DJ or band?
You’d better ask first if the cabin has the electrical requirements for
the DJ, and what their ordinances are.
You sure don’t want to pay for a rockin’ sound system only to have your
cabin neighbor call the cops on you for being too loud.
9) The Reception.
Again, seating and tables are going to be an issue inside cabins, along
with the space to cook for all those guests, or the space for the caterer to set
up, or heaven forbid the amount you’re about to be charged for that glass of
wine Aunt Martha just spilled on the carpet.
10) The Officiant. Wedding venues often offer better rates for a minister's fee since they do more than one wedding at their location. Venues are also extremely picky about who they hire to conduct their couples' ceremonies, so you're more likely to get a caring professional with an excellent reputation... instead of the guy with the long beard in the pick-up truck trying to make a quick dollar.
So, you can
see how challenging a cabin wedding is compared to all the conveniences a good
wedding venue has. A destination wedding
venue in Pigeon Forge like Honeysuckle Hills will take care of all the items on
your wedding checklist.
- · Open spaces and gardens for your guests to enjoy
- · Yard games like horse shoe, corn hole, and a sand box for the kids
- · Privacy (not open to the public, and no one else is allowed during the time you reserve)
- · Wedding decorations and multiple ceremony locations to choose from
- · Back-up ceremony locations in case it rains
- · Seating, tables, and table cloths already in place
- · Variety of locations for gorgeous wedding photographs
- · Horses who love the wedding guests and provide a romantic atmosphere
- · A wedding director to make guests feel welcome and tell the wedding party what to do
- · A relaxing mountain stream running through the property
- · A miniature mountain waterfall and wishing pond
I always end my more opinionated articles with the statement that I wish to offend no one... this is simply my humble thoughts based on twenty years of experience in the wedding industry. Everyone is unique. Every wedding situation is different... so please consider what I've said as related to your own wedding story.
Now, on with the wedding planning!
Here are
some excellent links to help you find what you need to get married in the
Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg Smoky Mountain area:
