Mara
&
David

Norris Dam State Park

— 23 Sept 2023 —

Rocky Top, TN

Details

What

Wedding Ceremony
Reception to Follow

where

Norris Dam State Park
Rocky Top, Tennessee

when

September 23rd, 2023
At 4:00

lodging

We've reserved cabins for you

Mara & David at Cedar Point — Cedar Point

Cabins

UPDATE: As of 9/11/23, there are 2 CCC cabins available. Please reach out to us if you'd like to reserve them.

The ceremony and reception will be held at the Tea Room and amphitheater at Norris Dam State Park. We will be staying the weekend in a cabin next door to the venue and would love to be surrounded by our family and friends.

We have reserved 19 cabins for our wedding guests, all within a few minutes walk of the venue.

The rustic studio cabins have a kitchenette, bath, and sleep 2 or 4 people. They are stocked with dishes and linens, and each has its own picnic table, fire ring, and grill. More information can be found on the Norris Dam State Park website.

Reserved cabins are available on a first come, first serve basis. The cost is $300 for the weekend (Friday and Saturday nights), but reservations can be extended.

To inquire about reserving a cabin you can call/text or email us at maradavidwed@gmail.com.

Map of Noris Dam State Park CCC cabin area.

Cabin entrance showing a couch, bed, and chair

Three-Bedroom Cabins

There are also 3-bedroom cabins available within Norris Dam State Park, which may be more suitable for larger families or multiple couples. The modern cabins sleep 6 and are a 5-minute drive from the ceremony/reception venue along a winding mountain road. Reservations for 3-bedroom cabins can be made on the Norris Dam State Park website.

Our Story

Northern terminus of the pacific crest trail. USA / Canada border.

We met in Dahlonega, Georgia in April 2013 the day before we both started hiking north along the Appalachian Trail (AT). We ended up hiking the whole way together. Somewhere in those 5.5 hungry, sweaty, stinky, tiring months we decided we wanted to have our future adventures together.

After the trail, David moved from Washington to Michigan and we settled into life, buying a house, selling it and buying another, spending time with family and friends and our stepdogs.

Eager for another long distance adventure, we began preparations to hike from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in 2018. We were on the trail somewhere in Yosemite Valley when we found out Mara was accepted to a graduate program at West Virginia University. Two months after finishing the PCT we moved to Morgantown, WV.

For two years we hunkered down in the Mountain state. Mara studied nonstop and became addicted to caffeine. David worked from home and made great friends on the golf course. After graduation, Mara took a job traveling as a Pathologists’ Assistant. Now we get to move around the country, exploring new areas for weeks or months at a time.

At some point in 2021, we were both trying to get ready in our tiny apartment bathroom when we started talking about weddings. We decided that if we got married, it would need to be on October 1st, the day we happened to finish both our AT and PCT thru-hikes.

And that is how we got engaged. We bought rings from Etsy (well, Mara bought them and David sent money via Venmo) and then...did nothing else. No planning, no announcements to family or friends, nothing.

After months of procrastination, we finally decided how we wanted our next adventure to start: in the woods surrounded by those closest to us. We completely missed the boat on October 1st, though.

FAQ

What should I wear?

Dress code is semi-formal. No jeans or sneakers please. The ceremony will be outdoors unless it is raining, so there is a potential for brief exposure to hot or cool temps. When choosing footwear, be aware that you may be walking on grass, gravel, and uneven ground. Feel free to wear light colors, the bride will be in green.

What happens if it rains?

We’re all going to get wet! But really, if the weather looks truly awful, we’ll plan to be in the Tea Room for the ceremony as well as the reception.

Is there a fee to get into the park?

Nope!

Is there a place to park if I'm not staying in a cabin?

Yes, there is parking at the Tea Room and each cabin has its own dedicated parking spaces.

Do I have to stay overnight in the park?

Of course not! There are hotels in the nearby towns of Rocky Top and Norris, and Knoxville is only 35 minutes away.

How do I get to the tea room?

Do not follow directions to the State Park Visitor Center. The Historic Tea Room, amphitheater, and the rustic cabins are south of the dam.

Approaching from the south:
Head north on Norris Fwy/TN 441. After the dam information center there is a traffic circle, veer right and do not pass over the dam.

Approaching from the north:
Weave your way down TN 441 past the marina and cross over the dam. Veer left at the traffic circle.

Continue straight to get to the Tea Room and amphitheater. There is a parking lot on the left just past the Tea Room. If you are staying in a rustic cabin, drive past the Tea Room and amphitheater to the cabin loop.

Where are you registered?

We are lucky enough to have all we need and kindly request no physical or monetary gifts. The best gift is your presence on our special day or your well wishes from afar.

Why are you getting married at a random state park in the middle of Tennessee?

We just really love dams and other Depression-era civil engineering projects.

What is there to do at a random state park in the middle of Tennessee?

Check out the park website! There are hiking trails, boat rentals, scenic lookouts, and a few local museums and historic sites. Just down the road is Clinch River Brewing Company. If you're in the mood to extend your trip to Tennessee, Dollywood, Gatlinburg, and the Great Smoky Mountains are just over an hour away.

Hikes

Pacific Crest Trail

2,650 miles. 152 days.

Photos Posts Gear Pace

Appalachian Trail

2,186 miles. 167 days.

Photos Gear Pace

Mara & David