Elopement Officiants in Tennessee

6 elopement officiants serving Tennessee couples planning an elopement or micro wedding.

Elopement Officiant

Elope Chattanooga

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Waterfalls, gorge overlooks, and mountain ridgelines around Chattanooga supply the scenery; Elope Chattanooga supplies everything else. F…

ElopementsAdventure ElopementsMicro Weddings

$$ View profile

Elopement Officiant

Smoky Mountain Notary

Knoxville, Tennessee

Fifty dollars is the published cash-rate starting point at Smoky Mountain Notary, which makes Betty Krachey's officiant service one of th…

ElopementsCourthouseLGBTQ+ Friendly

From $50 View profile

Tennessee officiant law: stricter than couples expect

Signing your own license is not an option in this state — Tennessee law requires a qualified third party to solemnize every marriage. The statute, T.C.A. 36-3-301, spells out who qualifies: ministers and other spiritual leaders ordained 'by a considered, deliberate, and responsible act,' plus a long civic list including current and former governors, judges, county mayors, and state legislators.

The fine print matters if a friend was planning to marry you. Since July 1, 2019, the statute states that persons receiving online ordinations may not solemnize matrimony in Tennessee. A federal lawsuit by online-ordination organizations left enforcement contested, but the language remains on the books — meaning a click-through ordination certificate carries genuine legal risk here that it wouldn't in most states. Couples who want certainty book someone whose credentials are beyond question.

Fortunately, supply is not a problem. The Gatlinburg chapel industry sustains what may be the densest concentration of professional wedding officiants in the eastern U.S., many of whom perform several ceremonies a day, hold GSMNP permits routinely, and will meet you at a trailhead, cabin deck, or overlook on short notice.

Planning budgets too? See elopement packages in Tennessee.

Frequently asked questions

Can we sign our own marriage license in Tennessee like we can in Colorado?
No — Tennessee law requires a qualified third party to solemnize every marriage. T.C.A. 36-3-301 lists who qualifies, including ministers ordained 'by a considered, deliberate, and responsible act' plus a long civic list of officials.
Can a friend with an online ordination officiate our Tennessee wedding?
It's legally risky — since July 1, 2019, the statute states that persons receiving online ordinations may not solemnize matrimony in Tennessee. A federal lawsuit left enforcement contested, but the restriction remains on the books.
Is it easy to find a professional officiant in Tennessee?
Yes — the Gatlinburg chapel industry sustains one of the densest concentrations of professional wedding officiants in the eastern U.S., many of whom hold GSMNP permits routinely and will meet you at a trailhead, cabin deck, or overlook on short notice.

More Tennessee wedding pros