Destination Weddings A to Z
Honeysuckle Hills Wedding Planner
While we prefer to speak with our couples personally, we
realize the world is a busy place. The
internet is usually where wedding research begins.
This is the most comprehensive wedding planner we have ever
written.
If you’ve never planned a wedding, don’t have the time to
plan, or want to know more about the Honeysuckle Hills venue, this is the
perfect starting place.
This wedding
planner is alphabetized so that you can find the information you need
quickly. We are still available to help
you in person, so email, text or phone Regina at regina@honeysucklehills.com
865-368-5569.
All-Inclusive
These are wedding packages that include everything you need
for your wedding with guests and reception.
They provide your wedding director, food, flowers, minister, music, and
wedding cake. While we do allow items to
be added or removed from our packages, most of the time it’s better to simply build
your own from scratch if you find yourself removing more than one included
item.
Two of our most popular all-inclusive packages are at these
links:
If you’re a couples only elopement wedding, go here:
If you’re somewhere between 15 and 50 guests and want
all-inclusive with a low-key reception, go here:
If you’re 50 to 75 guests and want all-inclusive with reception,
DJ, and a full celebration, go here:
Albums
Our professional wedding photographer still believes in
providing a high-quality wedding album with her work, along with the flash
drive of all the images. You do not have
to add our photographer to your wedding package, and are most welcome to use
your own. The only place your photographer
cannot go is behind the fences with our horses.
Our photographer does provide pricing with and without the
wedding album. 90% of our couples choose
to keep the album because of its quality and the fact they do not have the
burden of designing it themselves. .
Alcohol
We can’t sell it or serve it to you, but you’re most welcome
to bring your own. We do require a
licensed bartender to serve it. You are
most welcome to purchase your own liquor, beer, etc. and simply hire the
bartender to handle serving.
We have recommended www.thepourguys.com
for almost ten years now.
Anniversary
Celebrate those many of years of marriage! Any of our wedding packages or build-your-own
pricing applies to a vow renewal or anniversary celebration. You can do a couple’s only elopement package,
an all-inclusive full celebration with guests, or Regina will customize a
package for you. The only difference is
the wording our minister (or yours) uses during the ceremony. No marriage license is required since you are
already married.
Appointments to
Visit
Please do schedule an appointment for your tour of our
venue, and especially your wedding. We
will absolutely do our best to accommodate drop-ins. However, we cannot assist you if you arrive
when another event is taking place.
Because we are sharing our family farm with you, there may also be times
we are out running errands and will completely miss you. This breaks our heart… we want to make you
feel welcome and cared for. Call or text
Regina at 865-368-5569 for your appointment.
Availability
Honeysuckle Hills, like most wedding venues with a higher
reputation for caring for their couples, typically books a year in advance for
prime weekend dates (mid-April, May, June and early November.) We can book as far ahead as a year and a half
to two years for the months of September and October for both weekends and
weekdays. December through February are
off-season months for us with good discounts.
July and August weekends typically book six months prior. March falls somewhere in between, depending
on the weather. Cancellations
unfortunately do sometimes happen, so don’t hesitate to check on your date even
if it’s a last minute situation. Also
consider weekdays since they are more easily available and more
economical.
Bands / Live Music
Tell us which genre of music you prefer, and we will refer
you to just the right band for your wedding.
We also welcome bands you already know and want to invite to play during
your celebration. Our pavilion alongside
the creek is the perfect place for them to set up and jam. We do have electricity in our pavilion.
Need a violinist? We
know the very best, with the most affordable rate in our area. See the topic titled "Violinist" for more information.
Barbecue
It’s the perfect food for a country themed wedding! This reception food option works perfectly
for our brides with smaller guest counts who still want a full meal at their
wedding, or who want to keep costs lower than caterers typically charge. (Caterers have a 50-person minimum.)
The barbecue meal included in the “Country Style” packages
is provided from a well-known local restaurant named Corky’s. Their sides are home-made, and many of our
guests find themselves visiting their restaurant again while in town for the
wedding.
The barbecue meal can be added on separately with the “build
your own” wedding package options, too.
The cost is $25 per person with a ten-person minimum. It includes pulled pork, bbq sauce, baked
beans, potato salad, cole slaw, tea, lemonade, and bottled water. We will do all set-up and clean up for you,
and provide white plates, napkins, cups, and utensils.
Bartenders
We do require a licensed bartender to serve your
alcohol. You are most welcome to
purchase your own liquor, beer, etc. and simply hire the bartender to serve
it.
We have recommended www.thepourguys.com
for almost ten years now.
Please note already provide a table and table cloth for your
bartender to use, saving you this additional fee on their services.
Book my Wedding
When you’re ready to make your date official, we will gather
your names, address, and phone number.
We’ll send a contract by email, and you have three days to make your
first 1/3 deposit. No dates are held
without a deposit. The next two deposits
are due sixty days and fourteen days prior to the wedding date. All payments are non-refundable, but you may
reschedule based on availability. There
are no rescheduling fees, and the price you reserved at remains the same for
one year. If you reschedule more than
one year later, you simply pay the difference between the old price and the new
one.
Budget
We can usually work with any bride's budget, so don't hesitate to share this information with Regina. As long as you're being realistic with your expectations, you'll be pleased with the suggestions we offer. You have absolutely nothing to lose by asking Regina for some suggestions.
Cabins
If you want to stay close to our venue, Caney Creek Cabin
Rentals has a variety of one, two, and three bedroom cabins within five minutes
of us. Pricing is excellent. “Starkey’s Cabin” is everyone’s favorite,
nestled in one of the few truly secluded mountain areas. www.caneycreek.com
If you’d like to stay in a luxury cabin resort with all your
family and friends in the same house, consider http://www.dollywood.com/cabins and ask for Jamie Banks. You know Dolly doesn't do anything less than first class, so you're sure to love your cabin here. It's only about fifteen minutes from Honeysuckle Hills, five minutes from the Salon we recommend, and five minutes from Dollywood and Splash Country.
Another great cabin
rental is www.summitcabinrentals.com, about fifteen minutes away. This cabin company has a variety of honeymoon
and multiple bedroom cabins to choose from, with both budget and luxury
pricing.
Cakes
Depending on which wedding package you choose, your
delicious and artistically created wedding cake is sure to please everyone.
If you choose one of the “Country Style” packages or add a
wedding cake to an hourly reservation, it will be baked by www.smokymountaincakes.com. They have a gallery of cakes to choose from
on their website, or you can simply email or text Regina a picture of a cake
you’ve found on sites like Pinterest.
Most of the time the bakery can duplicate the design. If you choose a design with flowers on top,
those flowers are considered the cake topper and are included in the
price. If you prefer a cake topper such
an initial, statue, etc., simply bring it the day before your wedding and we
will place it on the cake for you.
If you choose the “Country Charm” or “Perfect Wedding”
package, Chef Tony will design and bake your delicious cake. www.cheftonycatering.com Chef Tony considers himself a “cake snob” and
we guarantee his confections are delightful.
He will work with you on the cake design as well, and will place your
cake topper on for you if you bring it to your rehearsal the day before.
By purchasing your cake through Honeysuckle Hills or Chef
Tony, we will also have a staff member present to cut and serve the cake for
you. White plates, napkins, and silverware
is included. We also have our own knife
and server if you do not wish to bring your own. Additionally, we will box up the top layer
for your anniversary.
Want to bring your own cake? It is allowed, but please
consider carefully the challenges involved with having a family member bake your
cake, and especially travel with it. We
cannot store the cake, so it must be brought in the day of the wedding. It must arrive decorated because we do not
have a kitchen. You are also responsible
for plates, napkins, cutting, serving, and clean up if you bring your own. We do, however, have a cake table set up and
ready to go.
Car Show Weekends
These are dates you should avoid scheduling your wedding in
the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg area, unless you and ALL your guests book
lodging close to your wedding venue well in advance. The boys in your wedding circle will be
thrilled, because the antique cars in town are pretty awesome. Everyone else will pretty much be at your throat
for making them sit two and three hours in traffic. These shows happen the third weekend in April
and both the second and third weekends in September.
Catering
We know the best caterer in the southeast! www.cheftonycatering.com
has several menu options on his website to choose from, and nothing is poured
and served from a can. His delicacies
are home-made and we guarantee everything on his menu.
You may reserve our venue by the hour and contract with Chef
Tony on your own if you wish.
If you prefer one of our all-inclusive options, Chef Tony is
the caterer we use to provide the meal and wedding cake included in those
wedding packages.
Ceremony locations
Choices, choices… Our
wedding venue probably has more ceremony locations to choose from than any
other. Please don’t fret over this
decision by using internet alone. We
recommend that you wait until your tour with us the day before the wedding to
choose. Our farm looks different all the
time as we travel through the seasons… plus we’re always adding new flower
gardens or replacing décor as it ages.
Sometimes your guest count or the weather will dictate where
you’ll get married at Honeysuckle Hills.
Here’s a great link to at least start daydreaming about
where you’ll get married:
Chairs
All our benches and chairs are included in your hourly
rental or all-inclusive wedding package.
Our reception hall accommodates 100 guests with white chairs. All ceremony sites have benches set up at all
times.
Our willow tree ceremony area is
set up with benches as needed, depending on the guest count.
Chairs with backs for elderly guests can be
added to any ceremony location.
Clean up
We ask that our guests place their garbage in the containers
we provide, and to remove all personal items brought in prior to their exit
time. We do not require our guests to
remove table cloths, sweep, mop, etc.
Please note that if you bring in your own food and do not
hire a professional food vendor, you are responsible for all set-up, serving,
and clean-up. We do not recommend
bringing in your own food, but we do allow it.
Coordinator
You will work with Regina from the moment you reserve your
wedding at Honeysuckle Hills. She will
help you with the vendors you need or work with the vendors you already
have. Her staff will direct the wedding
ceremony, play your ceremony music on our Bose mp3 player (unless you have a
DJ,) and make sure everyone knows what to do and when. Ceremony songs must be available on
I-tunes.
Having a wedding director is a huge blessing. If you are trying to decide between a
do-it-yourself venue or cabin wedding versus a full service venue like ours,
the director is the biggest advantage you can have. Trust me… this is one of those things you
don’t need to learn by experience, because a wedding happens only once.
Regina will also make sure that any items you bring such as
wedding favors, guest books, or other loose decorations are set out and ready
for your wedding. (You are not required
to bring anything, and we certainly already have many wonderful things, but we
are happy to accommodate your extras.)
Please be sure to bring these items the day BEFORE your wedding. There is not enough time the day of the
wedding to get everything out, unless you’ve reserved the entire day with us.
Couples Only
Weddings
Please see “Elopements”
Cost
Please see “Pricing.”
Cord of three
strands
The cord of three strands is a unique ceremony in which the
bride and groom braid three cords together.
Please feel free to bring this ceremonial item the day before your
wedding, and we will be happy to set it out for you on wedding day. I have seen the cords hanging from a cross,
or affixed to a board. We have an easel
at our venue that we can sit the board on for you.
The cord of three strands symbolizes the
joining of the couple by God into a marriage.
Marriages takes three… you, your spouse, and God. By keeping God at the center of your
marriage, His love will continue to bind you together always.
You may let our minister (or yours) know which poem you’d
like to have read while braiding the strands.
The most popular recitation is from Ecclesiastes 4:12 “Though one may be overpowered, two can
defend themselves. A cord of three
strands is not easily broken.”
Don’t know where to get one?
This items is commonly found on Etsy or Amazon.
One of our own sweet brides has a shop called "Rustic Creations" where you can get one, too!
https://www.facebook.com/rusticcreations75/posts/766924760127960
One of our own sweet brides has a shop called "Rustic Creations" where you can get one, too!
https://www.facebook.com/rusticcreations75/posts/766924760127960
Custom Wedding
Packages
Regina is always glad to speak with you about your unique
wedding needs! If none of our all-inclusive
wedding packages seem to fit, tell her what is the most important to you,
including any budget. She’ll pull a
wedding together you’ll LOVE.
Also see the topic titled “DIY”
Decorations
Please DO feel free to bring along your own items if you
wish, and we will put them out for you.
As long as we do not have to remove permanently affixed décor already in
place, there is no charge for us to put out your own items.
Deposits
When you’re ready to make your date official, we will gather
your names, address, and phone number.
We’ll send a contract by email, and you have three days to make your
first 1/3 deposit. No dates are held
without this deposit, so after three days the date is released on the
calendar. The next two deposits are due
sixty days and fourteen days prior to the wedding date. All payments are non-refundable, but you may
reschedule based on availability. There
are no rescheduling fees, and the price you reserved at remains the same for
one year. If you reschedule more than
one year later, you simply pay the difference between the old price and the new
one.
Directions
Please be sure to schedule your appointment to visit, as we cannot
always accommodate drop-ins. Visitors are not allowed when a wedding or other appointment
is taking place.
Honeysuckle Hills is located at 934 Mill Creek Road, Pigeon
Forge, TN. We are only eight minutes
from traffic light #10 in Pigeon Forge (the last light before traveling the
wooded area that separates Pigeon Forge from Gatlinburg.)
·
Turn
right at traffic light #10 in Pigeon Forge onto Conner Heights Road. (the very last light traveling South on
441.) If you are coming north from
Gatlinburg, turn left at light #10 (it will be the very first traffic light in
Pigeon Forge.)
·
Go
two miles, then turn left, across a
bridge, onto Mill Creek Road. (Do NOT turn onto West
Mill Creek Road.) One of our blue Honeysuckle Hills signs is located on
the bridge you will be turning onto. You
will be at the corner of the Ponderosa Campground.
·
Go
7/10th of a mile and turn left across another little bridge onto Mill Creek
Road again. We are up the hill on the
right, just past Hurst Chapel Baptist Church.
Discounts
Honeysuckle Hills is happy to provide a 10% discount for our
military couples (active or retired.)
This discount is on the venue and photography portions of any wedding
package.
Off season months, December through mid-March, have
additional discounts. Please inquire.
Disk of Images
If you add the Honeysuckle Hills photographer, a flash drive
of all your wedding images is included.
You will also have an on-line viewing site with a password to download
your full-resolution images. A copyright
release to print on your own will be provided.
DIY or
Do-it-yourself
Honeysuckle Hills is more full-service than “bare bones,”
but we do have many options that appeal to couples who want a more hands-on
wedding approach. If you’re DIY to save
money exclusively, our venue has too many wonderful offerings to allow us to be
the cheapest price in town. But if you
have an artistic mindset and want more control, we can certainly help. (We’re not the most expensive in town, either.)
In a nutshell, if you’re looking for a venue that has
absolutely nothing, requiring you to provide everything on your own… ask Regina
for a referral. If you’re looking for a
venue that is flexible, and will allow you more control to personalize and use
your own vendors, we are ready to help.
The best link for pricing and more details is here:
DJ
If you love dancing, and especially if you have a larger
guest count for your wedding, a DJ can pull together the full wedding
experience just like the bow on top of a finely wrapped package.
For ten years running Scott Goebel and his KnoxVegas DJ crew
hasn’t missed a beat! He is familiar
with how to handle any weather situation at Honeysuckle Hills, has a staff that
ensures if someone gets sick the show still goes on, and his sound system is
above and beyond what our little mp3 player can provide. Scott also has microphones so that everyone,
no matter where they are enjoying themselves on our spacious farm, will hear
when it’s time for the cake cutting or other wedding event.
Want a song mix? You
need a DJ. Want your song to start at a
particular point in time instead of the beginning? You need a DJ. Want a slide show or other video played? The DJ can add on an audio display. He’s awesome… Get him. www.knoxvegasdjs.com
(He’s also already included in some of our all-inclusive wedding packages.)
We do allow you to use the DJ of your choice, including
family members. Please be sure they know
we do not have reliable wifi service, and we do not own our own sound system or
microphones. If you’re considering a
friend with their mp3 player, also consider the fact that many times equipment
fails, is broken on the trip, arrives with dead batteries, etc. Not great things to happen on your wedding
day…. An experienced DJ can provide
seamless, reliable entertainment for your enjoyment.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome at the Honeysuckle Hills wedding
venue! Bring your sweet fur-babies. They are allowed both inside and outside, and
certainly welcome to be a part of the ceremony.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swogL5Ynmcc&feature=youtu.b
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swogL5Ynmcc&feature=youtu.b
Dress and Tux Rental
Jeff and his staff at Fantasy Bridal offer same day wedding dress and tuxedo rentals. Simply walk in and walk out with your selection. They keep everything in stock for your special day.
Visit their website at www.fantasybridal.com or give them a call at 800-295-5602.
Dressing Rooms
We have two dressing rooms, each with its own bathroom. We also have a guest bathroom downstairs in
the reception area so that you are not interrupted while getting ready. If you would like to drop off your wedding
dress, tux, etc. on the day before your wedding it will be hanging in your
dressing room when you arrive on wedding day.
If you book a couples only / elopement wedding package,
Regina will gladly assist the bride with her dress.
Elopements
By far, weddings for two are our favorite and our specialty. More emphasis is placed on the most important
thing, your love and commitment to each other.
There is also more time for the creative photography we are so well
known for.
Instead of meeting a preacher at a public site or inviting
them to your cabin, consider a more personal and memorable experience for your
elopement. We will make you feel welcome
and guide you every step of the way. We
also have two dressing rooms, shelter from the rain, and several beautiful
ceremony locations to choose from that are private.
We have many wedding packages to choose from for our couples
who wish to run away to the Pigeon Forge mountains to get married. Your immediate children are welcome at no
additional charge. (Please understand
that the addition of other guests no longer qualifies for couples only, but we
are very happy to include them with a different package.)
Fall Leaf Color
The best time to schedule a wedding to see the most leaf
color at our elevation is the last two weeks in October, especially the very
last. The leaf color lasts through the
first week in November, and then gradually fades. By Thanksgiving there is little color left,
but we still have fall decorations and potted mums.
Please be aware that all wedding venues in the Smoky
Mountain area book up to a year and a half in advance for weekends during this
time. Weekdays will fill shortly after,
and our venue reaches full capacity six to nine months in advance.
Fires
We humbly praise God for the fact our area was unaffected by
the 2016 wildfires.
Please know that when you Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, you
will not notice a fire even happened unless you purposely seek out the residential
areas that suffered the most damage. (And by the time you get here many will be
rebuilt.) By spring of 2017 the
mountains will have even more lush growth than before, so continue to plan your
picnics in Cades Cove and Smoky Mountain hikes.
To decide against our area (Honeysuckle Hills or any other wedding venue
here,) solely on the fact we had a fire will prevent you from being blessed by
our beautiful mountains and take much needed revenue from families who count on
tourism to survive. If Pigeon Forge and
Gatlinburg were on the top of your wedding destination list, you won’t be
disappointed by keeping them there.
Flowers and
Gardens
If you enjoy beautiful landscapes, Honeysuckle Hills is one
of the most beautiful wedding venues in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. You will be pleased at the spacious lay-out
of our ceremony areas, flower gardens, and even horse shoe and corn hole games
on the lawn.
In early spring (March and April,) you can expect daffodils,
dogwoods, and redbuds in bloom. Our
willow tree is the first to show off its new green leaves.
In late spring (May,) everything comes to life. Hanging pots return in multitude, most of our
trees have spring green leaves, there are ferns, pink primrose, roses,
wisteria, azalea, honeysuckle, and so many others. Our horse field is filled with yellow
wildflowers, too.
In June our lilies burst into color, along with the lantana
and hibiscus.
July and August bursts with bright colors such as
sunflowers, black-eyed susans, zinnias and cosmos.
September is the most lush time on our farm with butterfly
bushes, pink windflowers, continuing zinnia and cosmos, and our grasses plume
with their feathery tops. We do not use
chemical sprays because this adversely affects the butterfly population. You’ll thank us when you see all the
fluttering beauties.
October rushes in potted mums, pumpkins, hay bales and corn
stalks. We actually start our fall
decorations in about mid-September. Once
the first frost hits our gardens start their winter nap, but the leaves more
than make up for it with their golden and auburn colors. The peak leaf color occurs the last two weeks
of October and starts waning the second week of November.
Late November through mid-March allows you to see all the
intricate designs the limbs of trees can make, and the grasses still have their
feathery tops. I’ve had many guests say,
“Oh, how gorgeous it is here!” during these months. I do honestly think our venue is beautiful no
matter what time of year it is.
Florist
From the Heart Florist in Sevierville has brought smiles to
our couples for over ten years. Family
owned just like we are, Kris and her daughter Kelly know just the questions to
ask to magically design colors and petals that will delight your heart.
Our all-inclusive wedding packages include a flower credit
with these gals. We use a credit because
some brides like orchids and some like daisies.
Some have two bridesmaids and some have more… it’s completely up to you
how you use your flower credit. Kelly
and Kris will also deliver on wedding day.
Even if you book a package that doesn’t include flowers,
give them a call at 865-774-5588. Their
website is pretty generic, but your personal experience on the phone or in
person at their little white farmhouse on Middle Creek Road will exceed
expectations.
Guest Count
The maximum number of guests Honeysuckle Hills can
accommodate is 100 during the months of mid-April through Thanksgiving. We also have a shelter from rain for up to
100 guests in either our covered outdoor pavilion or the downstairs reception
hall (dinner theatre style for the ceremony.)
The maximum number of guests we can serve is 50 during the
months of December through March. Our
chapel upstairs seats 50 where it is heated.
We do not host receptions during these winter months. We do, however, still provide plenty of
photography, especially if it snows.
If you invite them, they will come.
We have kept track of RSVP statistics for almost eleven years, and
unless gas prices skyrocket you can expect 90% of those you invite to come to
your wedding. This holds true
whether they are traveling from 5 miles away or 500 miles away. Because Pigeon Forge is a highly popular
mountain resort town, your guests will schedule a vacation around your wedding.
Hair and Make-up
The closest place to schedule your hair and make-up is www.smokymountainsalonandspa.com, only ten minutes from us. My favorite stylist is Hannah, but all the girls are excellent. I love these gals because their make-up style is so natural and pleasing for photographs.
Another great location in the heart of town in the new "Island" is http://www.margaritavilleislandhotel.com/spa.html It's a little further from us in the Margaritaville Hotel, but they have free valet parking. My favorite stylist is Jennifer, but again their entire staff is wonderful. You can also schedule couples massages here!
Handicap
Accessibility
All areas downstairs in our barn are handicap
accessible. We have a ramp leading into
the reception hall, and a spacious handicap restroom.
Our lawns and gardens are primarily flat, spacious, and easy
to enjoy with wheelchairs. The bridge
leading over the creek is a bit steep, but easily traversed with assistance
going over it. We’re glad to help.
We have a nice ramp leading into our covered outdoor
pavilion.
The willow tree ceremony location is also extremely easy to
reach by wheelchair or for those who require a little extra time to walk short
distances. The stone arch is just to the
right of the willow tree.
Because we rebuilt an existing, historic 1950 barn, we could
not provide ramps to reach the upstairs chapel area.
One other tiny area on the back side of the farm is not
accessible by wheelchairs because it is an old cattle trail that leads to the
“enchanted forest” location. There are
so many other places to enjoy on our farm this will not negatively impact your
experience, however.
Hours of Operation
We are open Tuesdays through Saturdays from dawn til
dusk. We schedule weddings and tours on
Wednesdays through Saturdays. (Tuesday
is set aside for farm chores, editing weddings, and graphic design work.)
Because we are family owned and operated, we answer phones
whenever we can. If we happen to miss
you, it simply means we are attending guests for an event or are knee deep in
dirt or horse hair. We promise we’ll
call you back as quickly as we can, so please leave a message.
Sundays are exclusively reserved to attend church and spend
time with our families. We do not return phone calls, answer
Facebook messages, or answer phone texts on Sundays. We do return phone calls, etc., at least
once on our Monday day off.
Horses
Two of our most unique wedding backdrops is our Appaloosa
horse named Sugar and her side-kick, Ben, a quarter horse paint. Both our horses are trained to run behind
you, walk with you, and kiss you during your wedding photographs with
Regina. (Our staff photographer is
required for images behind the fences with our horses due to liability.)
Should you use your own photographer, we will gladly feed
Sugar and Ben at the fence.
Our horses tend to stand at the fence during wedding
ceremonies at the stone arch because they love people so very much. The fence is right next to the seating area
at this arch.
Hotels
Any hotel near traffic light #10 in Pigeon Forge is closest
to Honeysuckle Hills. Traffic light ten
is the last traffic light before you start driving through the wooded area that
separates Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg (knows as the “spur” to locals.) We are only three miles from this light.
Itinerary
Regina will help you with your wedding timeline, or
itinerary. It is typically created about
a month prior to your wedding when your
thoughts have settled more into permanency, but can be done as soon as you
reserve the wedding and modified later if necessary.
We ask our couples to consider Regina’s advice on the time
it takes to complete certain events within a wedding, but our bride makes the
final decision. The bride is queen to
us… we will give information to make the decisions, and then carry out what our
bride wants.
Kitchen
We do not have a kitchen or food prep area. Please consider a professional food vendor /
caterer. We do have tables set up and
ready for these vendors with table cloths already in place. While we do allow our guests to bring in
their own food, it should arrive ready to serve. You are also responsible for all set-up, clean-up,
serving, plates, and utensils. We
strongly urge our guests to be sure they have a reliable, organized set of
helpers when bringing in their own food.
It’s a beautiful thing for families accustomed to this practice, but not
a good choice for those just trying to save money.
Location
Honeysuckle Hills is located at 934 Mill Creek Road, Pigeon
Forge, TN. We are only eight minutes
from traffic light #10 in Pigeon Forge (the last light before traveling the
wooded area that separates Pigeon Forge from Gatlinburg.)
Please see the topic titled “Directions” if you need to know
how to get to our venue. Please make an
appointment prior to your visit.
Locations to get
Married
Please see the topic called “Ceremony locations”
Marriage License
Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg make it super easy for you to
obtain a marriage license. You may use
the license you pick up from the clerk’s office immediately. Your
marriage license must be obtained from a courthouse in the state of Tennessee
to be used at Honeysuckle Hills. For information on the documents needed, court
hours, and pricing:
Military Discounts
Honeysuckle Hills is always pleased to offer a 10% military
discount on the venue pricing in our packages and the photography. Thank you for your service! This discount is for either the bride or
groom who has active or retired military status.
Minister
We have a list of the finest available. They have beautiful vows prepared in advance,
or you can read your own vows entirely or in addition to what the officiant
provides. This is YOUR wedding, and we
believe it should be conducted as you wish.
We have both religious and civil officiants on call.
You may use your own minister / officiant if you wish. The fee of $125 will be removed from an
all-inclusive package price, or will not be added if you are building your own
package.
Please do allow extra time for your ceremony if you are
using a family member, pastor, or person you have known a long time. They have a lot more to say during the
service.
Money Saving Tips
The biggest piece of advice we can give to save money is to
keep your guest count SMALL. This is not
only true for your pocket-book, but also for your peace of mind.
Larger guest counts require a larger venue to accommodate
them, more time to accomplish the event, and more mouths to feed. The best way to save money with food is to
provide cake and drinks earlier in the day instead of a full meal. Our resort town has countless options for
your guests to enjoy dinner on their own later.
Eating at a nice restaurant such as the Alamo or the Park Grill is also
a great money saving option for guest counts of 30 or less. Most couples provide dessert and allow their
guests to purchase the meal on their own.
Budgets are always subjective. What one bride feels is expensive is dirt
cheap to another. Regina loves her job…
so there’s nothing to lose by inquiring and giving an up-front budget. If Regina can’t help, she will refer you someone
who can, as long as you can be realistic with your expectations. You certainly don’t have to break the bank
with your wedding. Tell us what’s most
important to you, and we will create the perfect wedding package.
Mountain Views
We have a spacious hill-top view of a mountain ridge located
directly across from our wedding venue.
This does require a little walk up the hill to get to the reward… but it
is definitely worth it when using our Honeysuckle Hills photographer.
Weddings just for two are welcome to have their ceremony in
this location as well. However, it is
not conducive to weddings with guests.
Honeysuckle Hills is located in the valley of a chain of
mountain ridges. Our stone arch wedding
location is the best choice for a ceremony with a tall hilltop ridge in view.
If you're adventurous, we have private property located three miles past Honeysuckle Hills that borders the National Park. We call it "Beeler Mountain," and reserve its delicate forest atmosphere for our couples only weddings, or for couples who wish to extend their photography session past our venue's borders.
If you're adventurous, we have private property located three miles past Honeysuckle Hills that borders the National Park. We call it "Beeler Mountain," and reserve its delicate forest atmosphere for our couples only weddings, or for couples who wish to extend their photography session past our venue's borders.
Officiant
Please see the topic titled “Ministers.”
Parking
Honeysuckle Hills has an ample parking lot to the left of
the barn that will accommodate enough cars for 100 guests. Should this parking lot fill, we have another
smaller area to park directly across from the barn. We also have secret hiding locations for the
couple’s vehicle if they wish to preserve their baby from the onslaught of
shaving cream and cans on a string.
(among other hilarious antics…)
Payments
Please see “Deposits”
Pets
 |
| Chrissy and "Sassy," Regina's rescue squirrel (now fully independent) |
Dogs and other pets are welcome at the Honeysuckle Hills
wedding venue! Bring your sweet
fur-babies. They are allowed both inside
and outside, and certainly welcome to be a part of the ceremony.
Photography
 |
| Brides who commission Regina typically want a more artistic approach |
You are welcome to use the photographer of your choice at
our wedding venue. However, this is one
subject we like to brag on a little… If you love the photographs you see on the
Honeysuckle Hills website, they were all created by Regina, who has almost
twenty years of full-time photography experience.
Anything you think you know about photography, just
forget. Regina’s techniques are
completely different, and therefore require just a little more time
invested. We recommend reserving at
least 45 minutes to an hour for your bride and groom images, sometimes more
depending on the art plan. Add one more
hour to include your ceremony and family images if you have a wedding with
guests. You are welcome to commission
Regina for more time, but most couples reserve her strictly for the type of
images others cannot capture with a camera alone.
The cost is $750 per hour, and this includes the sales tax,
your flash drive of all images after we complete editing, and a professional
wedding album.
Couples only wedding packages already include Regina’s
photography in the pricing.
Photography time must accompany an equal amount of venue
time. However, you do not have to
reserve our photography for the entire time you’re with us. For example, you may reserve three hours of
venue time, but only one hour of Regina’s photography to capture the stunning
wedding photographs of the two of you.
Regina does not allow other guests or photographers to
follow along while photographing the bride and groom alone together. It’s just too distracting… but she is happy
to allow anyone to photograph along with her during the ceremony and family
pictures.
Regina exclusively photographs brides and weddings at the
Honeysuckle Hills wedding venue. She
does not travel. Please consider Don
Fields Photography for weddings at other venues or for families, babies, and high
school seniors. Don is also an excellent choice for your wedding video! 865-774-7610.
Pricing
We have a wedding package option to fit any couple’s
needs. We realize all couples are
unique, and we are happy to simply reserve venue time or provide one of our all-inclusive
wedding packages… along with somewhere in between. There is absolutely nothing to be lost by
inquiring with Regina. She loves her
job! If she can’t help you, she will
find someone who can in a trusted circle of wedding professionals.
Here are links to our most popular wedding packages, even a
“build your own” list. If you’d like a
printable price guide, simply email, call or text Regina at regina@honeysucklehills.com or
865-368-5569.
If you’re a couples only elopement wedding, go here:
If you’re only inviting a few guests and don’t need a reception,
go here:
If you’re somewhere between 15 and 50 guests and want all-inclusive
with a low-key reception, go here:
If you’re 50 to 75 guests and want all-inclusive with reception,
DJ, and a full celebration, go here:
If you have 100 guests and want all-inclusive with reception, DJ, and a full celebration, go here:
http://honeysucklehills.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-perfect-pigeon-forge-wedding-for.html
For the quick list price guide to build your own go here:
Props
We have many props already in place for use such as chalk
boards, signs (“pick a seat, not a side” is the most popular,) old window
frames, burlap, tubs, white lights in the willow tree, and more!
It’s always a good idea to ask Regina if she already has a
particular wedding decoration or prop before you buy it.
Rain
We have three covered areas for use in inclement weather,
set up and ready to go at all times.
Our covered pavilion outdoors seats 100 guests.
Our reception hall accommodates 100 guests dinner theatre
style.
Our chapel in the heated / air conditioned area upstairs
seats 50 guests.
The area beneath the chandelier downstairs is popular for
couples only weddings.
If you hire our professional wedding photographer and it
rains out your bride and groom images, you may reschedule another time, based
on availability, for the same amount of time lost because of rain on your
wedding day. All other events will take
place as scheduled for your wedding.
For smaller weddings (two hours or less,) who can be
flexible, we will work with you to plan around the rain and reschedule the
wedding if possible at no charge. Many
times we have rescheduled a wedding for earlier in the day if rain is coming
later (and vice versa.)
Reception
Whether you reserve one of our all-inclusive weddings or
choose your own food vendor, our downstairs area is perfect for your wedding
reception. It seats up to 100
guests. We have twelve round tables that
seat six each, and we have additional six foot long rectangular tables to add
more seating to reach 100.
All tables have either white or chocolate brown linens, your
choice. We also have burlap table cloth
runners, and log slices beneath seasonal vases of flowers. If you prefer a different table linen color
we can quote a fee to rent them or you can bring them on your own the day
before and we will place them on the tables for you. We will also exchange our centerpieces with
your own if you drop them off the day before.
We have tables set up and ready for your food vendor to
serve buffet style.
Your food vendor will provide plates, utensils, and
napkins. If you do not choose one of our
all-inclusive options, please inquire with your caterer / food vendor to verify
what they provide.
Our wedding reception area is tastefully decorated in a
vintage, country chic style with antiques and white lights.
We provide some bottles of water for your guests in tubs of ice, and have additional tubs for use with any other drinks you would like to bring. (Remember we can’t sell or serve alcohol for you, but by all means bring it yourselves and hire a bartender.) If you’d like to bring extra cans or bottles of drinks and ice the day before, we’ll have them ready for you on wedding day.
We provide some bottles of water for your guests in tubs of ice, and have additional tubs for use with any other drinks you would like to bring. (Remember we can’t sell or serve alcohol for you, but by all means bring it yourselves and hire a bartender.) If you’d like to bring extra cans or bottles of drinks and ice the day before, we’ll have them ready for you on wedding day.
We have a decorator for hire if you wish to have permanent
items removed and a custom theme replacing it.
(Most brides use what we already have and love it.) There is no charge for loose items dropped
off the day before to be placed by our coordinator and ready to go on wedding
day. (centerpieces, table candies, favors, etc.)
Please carefully consider the challenges of bringing your
own food. We do not have a kitchen or
food prep area, and highly recommend reserving the day with us to have enough
time to set up, serve, and clean up on your own.
Rehearsal
A one hour rehearsal is included on a day before your
wedding if you reserve the day with us or the “Country Charm” or “Perfect
Wedding” package.
Please do not fret or spend the extra money for a rehearsal
if your wedding is smaller. Our staff
has over ten years of experience making our guests feel comfortable and guiding
them every step of the way. Our venue
lay-out is also simple to understand and follow.
You and your fiance will at the very least have a small tour
and drop-off time the day before. During
this tour you will decide where you wish to be married, and drop off anything
wedding related. Those items will be
ready to go in the appropriate areas when you arrive on wedding day. We enjoy taking care of you!
Rehearsal Dinner
While the restaurants listed in the very next topic are wonderful places to gather the evening before your wedding, allow me share a local secret! If you love waterfalls and the adventure of finding unique places, you MUST at the very least visit Friendly Falls while you're in town. However, they're also an awesome alternative for rehearsal dinner. Your kids will love the gem mine there, too! www.friendlyfalls.com
Rehearsal Dinner
While the restaurants listed in the very next topic are wonderful places to gather the evening before your wedding, allow me share a local secret! If you love waterfalls and the adventure of finding unique places, you MUST at the very least visit Friendly Falls while you're in town. However, they're also an awesome alternative for rehearsal dinner. Your kids will love the gem mine there, too! www.friendlyfalls.com
Restaurants
I always enjoy sending our couples only weddings to The
Peddler in Gatlinburg for their special honeymoon meal. Located about fifteen to twenty minutes from
Honeysuckle Hills on River Road, their steaks are mouth-watering delicious. You’ll also enjoy the fresh salad bar,
superior service, and romantic atmosphere along the river. www.peddlergatlinburg.com
For our weddings with guests, we love both www.parkgrillgatlinburg.com as
well as www.alamosteakhouse.com. The Alamo is closer to Honeysuckle Hills,
only ten minutes from us in Pigeon Forge.
Salons
The closest place to schedule your hair and make-up is www.smokymountainsalonandspa.com, only ten minutes from us. My favorite stylist is Hannah, but all the girls are excellent.
Another great location in the heart of town in the new "Island" is http://www.margaritavilleislandhotel.com/spa.html. It's a little further from us in the Margaritaville Hotel, but they have free valet parking. My favorite stylist is Jennifer, but again their entire staff is wonderful. You can also schedule couples massages here!
Sand Ceremony
Please bring your sand vases to your drop off or rehearsal,
and we will place them on one of our tables at the ceremony location you
choose. It will be ready when you arrive
on wedding day.
Especially beautiful for blending families together, this is
a ceremony that contains one main, empty vase in the middle surrounded by
smaller vases that are filled with sand of different colors. The minister explains the symbolism of the
blending sands as each of you pour your designated color in the middle
vase. You may then display it proudly in
your home.
Seasonal Flowers
Please see the topic “Flowers and Gardens.”
Set up
Please see the topic called “Coordinator”
Honeysuckle Hills strives to have all areas set up and ready
for your wedding when you arrive.
Snow
For the best chances of snow on your wedding day, schedule
during the month of February. There are
also great discounts this time of year!
Be sure your vehicle is either front-wheel or four-wheel
drive to reach our venue in this type of weather.
We can reschedule your wedding, based on availability, if
you are unable to reach our venue in the event of heavy snow or an ice
storm.
Sunsets
Many couples ask us to be married at sunset. We are very happy to provide your sunset
wedding ceremony, but do keep in mind that after sunset comes dark, and we
close at dark. Photography with our
beautiful scenery is impossible in the dark… so do be sure to schedule time for
photography prior to sunset as well.
Our photographer can add a sunset to your wedding
photograph. Please inquire with Regina
(or your own professional photographer) about this incredible option allowing
you to have your cake and eat it, too.
Table cloths
We provide either white or chocolate brown linens for all
tables. We also have burlap table
runners.
Should you wish to have another color, we can provide them
for an additional rental fee. You are
also welcome to bring your own table cloths the day before and we will place
them on the tables for you.
Tables
For your reception, we have twelve round tables that seat
six guests each. (72 total)
We have additional six foot long rectangular tables to
increase the seating to 100 guests.
Three six foot long tables are provided for the food
vendors, along with a table for your bartender, a table for drinks, and various
other tables that can be used for additional décor, wedding favors, gifts,
etc. We usually have enough tables for
anything you bring, even at our ceremony locations to hold unity sand or
memorials. We even have easels to
display larger photographs or signs.
There are two picnic tables outdoors in our spacious lawn.
There is a small fee to set up more than three rectangular
tables with seating for a reception in the pavilion or lawn. (Our round tables are not mobile.)
Time
Please see “Hours of Operation” for times we are open and
schedule events.
How long should you reserve with us? This is dependent upon how many guests you
have, if you have your own minister, if you’re doing a reception, and if you
are hiring a professional photographer.
An hour is sufficient if you have less than 25 guests, and
are not hiring a professional photographer or having a reception. Please add another hour if you use a
professional photographer or would like to add a small cake reception in this
case. Add yet another if your guest
count is higher. (These are loosely given suggestions… Regina can provide more
specific information by giving her more details.)
Three hours is the minimum recommended time for any wedding
with reception and food items more than cake and drinks.
Four to five hours is an optimum time for weddings with
guest counts of 50 or more with full-meal receptions and especially when hiring
a DJ.
Please reserve the day with us for guest counts of 100.
Regina is happy to assist you with determining how long to
reserve, so contact her any time.
Tux Rental
Jeff and his staff at Fantasy Bridal offer same day wedding dress and tuxedo rentals. Simply walk in and walk out with your selection. They keep everything in stock for your special day.
Visit their website at www.fantasybridal.com or give them a call at 800-295-5602.
Unity Cross
This another unique way to celebrate the joining of the
bride and groom as one. A sculpture of
a cross in different pieces is assembled during the ceremony with assistance of
the pastor, representing joining the two as one with Christ as the center of
the marriage.
These crosses can be found on Etsy, Amazon, and even at
David’s Bridal stores.
Vendors
Honeysuckle Hills has excellent resources for your wedding
needs. You are also allowed to use all
the vendors of your choice.
Here’s the list of the ones who have spent years building a
strong bride-pleasing reputation:
www.cheftonycatering.com (Delicious reception, more variety than barbecue, 50 person minimum)
www.knoxvegasdjs.com (You need this extra sound and fun for weddings of 50 or more)
www.fromtheheartflorist.net (Gorgeous flowers, super sweet staff, and delivery)
www.thepourguys.com (Buy your own liquor, they'll serve it)
Venue Only Rental
We are happy to simply rent our venue by the hour, allowing
you to choose all the other vendors on your own. All our ceremony areas and reception hall are
still decorated, set-up, and ready to go.
We’ll direct your wedding for
you, or step aside if you’ve hired a separate wedding coordinator.
Here’s the link you need for pricing and more details:
Video
This is one of the most recommended additions I can suggest
for your destination wedding in Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountains.
Contact www.donfieldsphotography.com
to schedule your own wedding video.
We do welcome family members to video your wedding as
well. However, unless you merely want a
generic documentation of your ceremony, Don Fields and his family are the
better choice. You won’t regret spending
the extra money for it… EVER. (Regina’s
own wedding video is on her phone to view any time she wishes.)
Violinist
Like anything else in life, the “in-person” touch is always
better. Musical recordings move the
heart, but a live violinist moves the soul.
We have access to one of the best violinists in the
southeast, who has played all over the world including Ireland, Wales, and
Scotland.
Ask Regina for pricing and availability.
Vow Renewals
Celebrate those many of years of marriage! Any of our wedding packages or build-your-own
pricing can apply to a vow renewal or anniversary celebration. You can do a couple’s only elopement package,
an all-inclusive full celebration with guests, or build your own. The only difference is the wording our
minister (or yours) uses during the ceremony.
No marriage license is required since you are already married.
Waterfall Weddings
If you’re searching for a place to be married near the
water, we are an excellent choice. A
mountain stream flows right through our wedding venue, winding around creating
scenes everyone will enjoy, including your photographer. This creek has flowing water year-round, regardless
of how much rainfall we receive.
We created a quaint pond enjoyed by mountain salamanders and
minnows, supplied by a little waterfall from a pump that recirculates the creek
water. This is a very popular ceremony
location for our elopements. 
If you’re adventurous, we have private property bordering
the National Park at our home three miles from Honeysuckle Hills. A small hike will take you to a true mountain
stream and small waterfalls like you would see hiking on many local
trails. These waterfalls are fullest
during the winter months all the way through late spring. Please ask Regina about the “Beeler Mountain”
wedding location.
Wedding Party
There is no limit to the number of bridesmaids, groomsmen,
flowergirls, etc. you are allowed to have at Honeysuckle Hills. Higher numbers may require you to have your
ceremony location in one place over another, however. We want to make sure there is room for
everyone to stand during your ceremony.
Should your bridal party be a little larger than most, you
may have to pay just a little extra for more bouquets if you choose one of our
all-inclusive wedding packages. Our flower credit is based on an average
number of attendants. (Three on each side.)
WIFI
A country wedding has its tiny challenges… we have limited
wifi provided by satellite. Please do
not count on our wifi to be strong enough or reliable enough to provide streaming
music, Facetime, or Skype. This is true
for many wedding venues in our area.
