Easy Smoky Mountain May Elopement
Zach and Kourtney – May 20, 2026
After 12 years together, Kourtney and Zach finally said “I do” surrounded by the peaceful beauty of the Smoky Mountains — and honestly, it felt like the perfect beginning to their next chapter together. 💍✨
These two chose Chapel in the Hollow for their easy Smoky Mountain May elopement, creating a wedding day that was relaxed, meaningful, and centered entirely around family and love. With their children standing beside them and the lush East Tennessee forest surrounding the chapel, their intimate wedding was the perfect reminder that sometimes the simplest celebrations end up being the most magical.
A Simple and Romantic May Elopement in the Smokies
One of the things couples love most about planning a Smoky Mountain elopement in May is how fresh and alive everything feels.
The forests are glowing bright green, the temperatures are warm without being overwhelming, and the soft spring light creates the dreamiest atmosphere for an outdoor wedding. 🌿🌸
Kourtney and Zach embraced that natural beauty beautifully by dressing the chapel in classic white fabric paired with our wildflower florals. The overall design felt timeless, romantic, and perfectly suited for a peaceful forest ceremony.
At Chapel in the Hollow’s outdoor wedding venue, couples often choose décor that complements the surrounding woods rather than competes with it — and this wedding was a perfect example of that approach.
The soft florals and simple white details allowed the natural Smoky Mountain scenery to shine while still creating an elegant and intentional ceremony space.
A Meaningful Wedding After 12 Years Together
One of the sweetest parts of Kourtney and Zach’s story is that they chose to get married in one of their favorite vacation destinations after spending over a decade building a life together. 🥹
There was such a calm confidence between them all day long — the kind that only comes from years of shared experiences, growth, and love.
This wasn’t about putting on a huge production.
It was about finally making official what their hearts had already known for years.
And honestly? Those kinds of weddings always feel extra emotional.
A Timeless Bridal Look with Vintage Charm
Kourtney looked absolutely beautiful for her wedding day. 🤍
She wore a midi-length off-the-shoulder white dress with a soft vintage-inspired feel that perfectly matched the relaxed elegance of the day. Paired with simple white shoes, the overall look was timeless, understated, and incredibly romantic.
Her wedding set added another classic touch, featuring a vintage-inspired white gold design that shimmered beautifully in the soft spring light.
Everything about her bridal style felt effortless in the best possible way.
Classic and Elegant Groom Style
Zach kept things classic in a black suit paired with a crisp white dress shirt and black tie. 🖤
The clean, timeless look balanced beautifully against the relaxed woodland setting, creating that perfect combination of formal and approachable that works so well for Smoky Mountain micro weddings and elopements.
But more than anything, you could see how genuinely happy he was all day long.
The smiles between these two never stopped.
Family at the Heart of the Celebration
One of the things we love most about intimate weddings is how much room they leave for meaningful family moments.
Kourtney’s father had the honor of walking her down the aisle, while their two children took on the incredibly important roles of flower girl and ring bearer. 💛
Having their children included in the ceremony made the entire day feel even more personal and emotional.
We see so many couples intentionally designing weddings around the people who matter most instead of focusing on giant guest lists or stressful timelines. Smaller weddings create space for genuine connection, and Kourtney and Zach’s ceremony was filled with exactly that kind of warmth.
Portraits Around the Smoky Mountain Forest
After the ceremony, we captured sweet family portraits at the chapel before taking the newlyweds around the property for couple photos. 📸✨
For Kourtney and Zach’s portraits, we explored:
- The mossy tree
- The vines
- The wooded road
- The creek
The East Tennessee greenery was absolutely thriving that morning, creating a lush and romantic atmosphere everywhere we went.
The mossy tree gave us those dreamy woodland vibes couples travel from all over to experience, while the creek added a peaceful, natural element that felt perfectly in tune with the simplicity of their day.
Even though it was a warm May morning in the Smokies, these two never stopped smiling.
They were just genuinely thrilled to finally be married.
From the Couple:
We met at a bonfire at Zach’s parents house in high school. We had a lot of mutual friends and knew of each other but not on a talking basis. Kourtney was a senior and Zach was a sophmore at the time. There may or may not have been some drinks involved – Kourtney gave Zach her phone to put his number in as a contact and all he did was add his name… no number 😂
Zach reached out concerned as to why he hadn’t got a text to find out the mistake he had made in not putting his number in the contact. The rest was history!
For the first date, we went to the movie theater.
Zach proposed in the kitchen while Kourtney was doing dishes.
East Tennessee is one of our favorite vacation spots, the first destination we ever took a vacation alone just the two of us adults. Also, Zach’s grandparents got married here 30+ years ago. Kind of cool!
We are both looking forward to just finally being married! We both procrastinate super hard. We’ve been together 13 years! This is actually the 2nd wedding we’ve “planned”. The first one was going to be very large – and we backed out about halfway through planning as we are both introverts and it was getting to be a huge stressor with 2 little ones.
Our 4-year engagement anniversary is on 5/20/26. And it just so happened we had already booked a cabin with her family when we discovered this, so it all worked out perfectly
We enjoy thrifting vintage toys (Barbie’s, hot wheels, legos, etc) for our kids to enjoy and some to hold on to. Going on walks, to the zoo, museums, etc
Why Couples Love Easy Smoky Mountain Elopements
Over the last several years, more and more couples have been choosing easy Smoky Mountain elopements over traditional large weddings — and it’s easy to understand why.
Elopements allow couples to:
- Focus on their relationship
- Reduce wedding stress
- Spend intentional time together
- Celebrate in nature
- Include only their closest loved ones
- Enjoy a relaxed timeline
- Create meaningful experiences instead of rigid schedules
For couples wanting a beautiful but low-stress wedding experience, the Smoky Mountains provide the perfect backdrop.
The peaceful forests, mountain views, and romantic scenery naturally create the kind of atmosphere couples dream about for intimate weddings.
Planning a May Elopement in the Smokies
May is one of the most beautiful months for a wedding in East Tennessee.
Couples planning a spring elopement can expect:
- Lush green forests
- Blooming wildflowers
- Comfortable temperatures
- Gorgeous natural lighting
- Vibrant mountain scenery
Helpful planning resources:
- 👉 Smoky Mountain Wedding Chapel Information
- 👉 Elopement & Micro Wedding Packages
- 👉 Wedding Photo Gallery
- 👉 Contact Chapel in the Hollow
For couples looking for a simple and stress-free experience, Chapel in the Hollow also offers customizable options designed specifically for intimate weddings and easy elopements in the Smoky Mountains.
Vendor Team
- Venue & Florals: Chapel in the Hollow
- Photography: Star Noir Studio
- Officiant: Ian Parrott
A Beautiful Beginning in the Smokies
Kourtney and Zach’s wedding day was proof that love doesn’t need a giant production to feel extraordinary.
After 12 years together, they chose a peaceful forest elopement surrounded by the people they love most — and every part of the day felt intentional, joyful, and deeply meaningful. 🤍🌿
From the soft spring florals to the emotional family moments and glowing Smoky Mountain scenery, their May elopement was simple in all the best ways.
Just love, mountains, and the beginning of forever together.