How to Legally Elope in Tennessee

You can apply for a Tennessee marriage license and legally elope the same day. There is no waiting period — once both partners appear at any Tennessee county clerk's office with photo ID and Social Security numbers, the license is issued immediately and can be used for a ceremony that same afternoon.

No. Tennessee no longer requires witnesses for a marriage to be legal. Only the couple and the licensed officiant must sign the marriage license. This is one of the reasons Tennessee is a top elopement destination — you can legally marry with just the two of you and your officiant present.

A Tennessee marriage license costs $100, paid in cash, debit, or credit directly to the county clerk's office at the time of application. If you have completed a state-approved premarital counseling course within the past 12 months, the cost is reduced to $40. The license fee is paid directly to the county — not to Elopements Inc. — and is separate from any elopement package cost. Both partners must apply for the license in person; we cannot obtain it on your behalf.

You can apply at any county clerk's office in Tennessee — the license is valid statewide regardless of which county issued it. For Nashville elopements, Davidson County Clerk's Office is the closest. For Gatlinburg elopements, Sevier County Clerk's Office in Sevierville (about 15 minutes from Gatlinburg) is closest. Both offices accept walk-ins during business hours.

Tennessee allows ordained ministers (any denomination), judges, county clerks, and certain elected officials to officiate. Online-ordained ministers are recognized in most Tennessee counties, though a small number of counties have raised legal questions about the practice. Elopements Inc. uses traditionally ordained officiants whose authority is recognized statewide.

Yes. Great Smoky Mountains National Park permits weddings and elopements at designated locations including Foothills Parkway, Clingmans Dome, and Cades Cove with an approved wedding permit ($50 application). Permits limit ceremonies to small groups, no decorations beyond what you bring and remove, and no amplified sound. Elopements Inc.'s Gatlinburg packages cover Foothills Parkway, which is the most photographed park elopement spot.

Online ordination is recognized in most Tennessee counties, but the issue has been contested at the legislative level. To eliminate any risk of a marriage being challenged, Elopements Inc. uses traditionally ordained officiants whose credentials are unambiguous statewide. This is one of the things our coordinators handle so couples never have to worry about license validity.

Tennessee marriage licenses are valid for 30 days from the date of issuance. The ceremony must take place within that window, and the officiant must return the signed license to the issuing county clerk within 3 days of the ceremony. Elopements Inc. handles this return automatically.

Yes. Tennessee does not require residency to issue a marriage license. Out-of-state couples can fly in, apply for the license the same day they arrive, get married that afternoon, and fly home the next morning. The license and resulting marriage are valid in all 50 states and most countries.

Both partners need: a valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license or passport), Social Security number (a card is not required — the number is sufficient), and the marriage license fee ($100, or $40 with premarital counseling certificate). If either partner has been previously married, the divorce decree or death certificate is required if the prior marriage ended within the past 6 months.