Tips for Planning an Outdoor Wedding In Chattanooga

With the new year and Valentine’s Day behind us and wedding season fast approaching, now is the time for curious couples to narrow down (or begin?) the search for the ideal wedding venue. And as a National Park City, the greater Chattanooga area is perfect for outdoor weddings. Offerings range from private farms and venues opulent enough for the finest of tastes, to essentially free elopements in state parks for the nature lovers. When it comes to beautiful places to get married, Chattanooga has something for everyone.

With so many options to choose from, we have a few suggestions to get the gears turning and some inspiration churning in your wedding planning process. Some of the most popular outdoor venues in the area are Howe Farms, only forty minutes northeast of downtown Chattanooga, Gardens in the Gorge, twenty-five minutes west, and Covey Creek, twenty minutes southeast. These options have package deals to help make your special day stress-free and everything you dreamed it would be.

Couples may also opt for a unique experience, such as holding their special ceremony outdoors at the Chattanooga Zoo or the Tennessee Aquarium. What animal lover wouldn’t love that?

And if nature immersion (and a budget) are your thing, some even marry with permits at gorgeous locations such as Reflection Riding, Enterprise South Nature Park, and Cloudland Canyon State Park.

When planning an outdoor wedding, the time of year is a very important detail and especially important in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Are you waiting for waterfall season to capture that perfect backdrop? Does a little rain not scare you away? Spring is a perfect time for the bold. With life flooding back into these hills and colors coming in hot, who cares that the area is technically a rainforest? Gimme all the moss and birdsong, right? Besides, rain on a wedding day is good luck according to a superstition rooted in ancient traditions. As Michael Scott once said, “I’m not superstitious. But I’m a little stitious.”

While not as popular, summer weddings can still be just as wonderful outdoors. Under a pavilion or tent, past the heat of the day, near a waterfall, or with a hookup for some much-needed fans, the blue sky backdrop of a summer wedding can’t be beat. Just put out some table and chair rentals and all of the flowers to make the perfect setting.

If rain and heat aren’t your thing, a fall wedding is just as gorgeous here in the South. As days grow cooler, the vivid foliage is what makes Chattanooga a fall destination for travelers, and there are plenty of venues and outdoor areas to choose from that show off our trees, from the maples to hickories with a background of pine green. As a general rule, mid-October to November is peak leaf season here in Chattanooga, but following Tennessee State Parks is a great way to keep track of leaf predictions and plan ahead for the best possible color.

Any season can host the perfect wedding, though, as long as planners are willing to think ahead. Always have the weather in mind and backup plans for rain or excessive heat, like a tent, pavilion, or a nice, shady area to set up the ceremony away from the sun’s glare. Tent rentals are always a good option, especially if you’re going with a rental dance floor to elevate and energize your outdoor wedding. Another option is to hold the ceremony outdoors, then head inside for the reception and party time.

Whatever you choose, there’s something grounding and reverent about an outdoor wedding, a ceremony set in the heart of nature, where birds and breeze can act as witnesses to your eternal vows. Friends and family lean into the hush of the earth away from the sounds of the city before celebration takes over for the reception. It just feels right to have the sun and stars as guests at your wedding. After all, we’re all just nature, too.