Worship and religion have played a significant role in shaping the people, culture, and activities of the Smoky Mountains. In the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area, from wedding chapels to church services to religious attractions, there are a variety of ways that you and your family can celebrate, learn, and worship during your visit.
Religion and worship are vitally important to many people throughout the southern U.S., and the Smoky Mountains region is no exception. In fact, worship in this area has often taken on extra significance thanks to the grandeur of the landscape, itself teeming with life and creation.
Easter Sunrise worship on the mountain at Ober Gatlinburg
Spend just a few minutes in the area and it’s not hard to see why so many people consider Great Smoky Mountains National Park and its environs to be a sacred place. For a large number of visitors and locals alike, it’s a spot that rewards reflection and compels a vision of the vastness of the world beyond oneself.
Punctuate your special day with one of the most unique backdrops on earth
Weddings are among the most important celebrations for religious people of all backgrounds, and the number of Smoky Mountain weddings attest to how important this area is in this momentous event for couples who are building a life together. Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and the surrounding towns are home to many beautiful wedding chapels and churches that could be your perfect spot to say, “I do,” to the one you love the most.
In fact, getting married is one of the most popular things to do in Gatlinburg – of all American cities, only Las Vegas is home to more wedding chapels – and Gatlinburg weddings take place in the third most popular wedding destination in the world! If you’ve dreamed of getting married amid some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, our links here will help you with everything from event planning to venue selection to marriage licenses.
Image courtesy of our favorite wedding planners, the Carles-Witt sisters.
Delve into the many expressions of worship in the Smoky Mountains
Because worship is so woven into the fabric of the Smoky Mountains, there are various spiritual destinations and activities that you can include in your itinerary. The Christ in the Smokies Museum & Gardens (formerly Christus Gardens) is an attraction that is not to be missed, and it has been one of the most popular spiritual destinations in the area since its inception in 1960. It features dynamic scenes and recreations of the life of Christ, educational exhibits, and the flagship Face of Christ sculpture, all set against the backdrop of lush gardens.
Find your own way to worship while you’re in the area
Of course, while events and attractions are fantastic, it all comes down to your own relationship with your religion and expressing yourself spiritually. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to do so while you’re visiting the Great Smoky Mountains: all you have to do is find a church that’s right for you.
For a more detailed look at churches in the area, and to use the Church Finder, check our guide to Churches in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
Check our Gatlinburg cabins, Pigeon Forge cabins and our Wears Valley cabins for your best place to stay in the Smokies.
