Acquiring a marriage license is an absolutely essential part of your path to marriage. An officiant cannot legally perform your wedding ceremony without it. You can get married without guests, without formal attire, even without rings. But you definitely must have a marriage license in order to get married.

The first step is to determine from where you need to apply for your marriage license. You obtain it from the state in which you are getting married. If you're planning to get married in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Townsend, etc. then you will need to apply for a Tennessee marriage license. If you're getting married in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park you'll need to get either a Tennessee or North Carolina marriage license depending on where in the park you hold your ceremony. For the most part, New Beginnings Photography provides wedding and elopement packages on the Tennessee side of the National Park so we will focus on requirements for a marriage license in Tennessee. If you're getting married in the National park and are unsure of which state you'll be in for your ceremony, check with your officiant or elopement coordinator.

The basic requirements for getting a marriage license in Tennessee are as follows:
Both participants must be 18 years of age or older. If you are under 18 you may contact the courthouse for special requirements.
Both participants must be present, the courthouse cannot send out applications for marriage licenses through the mail.
If either participant has been divorced or widowed, you will need to know the exact date that the divorce was final or the date of death. If the bride has had a name change in her divorce and has not changed her name on her driver's license, she will need to present a certified copy of the divorce decree.
The license must be used within 30 days of issuance.
There is no waiting period so the license may be used on the same day if necessary.
There is no blood test requirement in the state of Tennessee.

You can get your marriage license from any county in the state. Most couples getting married in the Gatlinburg area apply for their marriage license from Sevier County. You can enter your information into an online marriage license application - https://secure.tncountyclerk.com/marriageform/marriageform.php?countylist=78 -prior to going to the clerk's office. Filling out the application online is NOT required, but it is highly recommended. After completing the online application you and your soon to be spouse will need to go in person to pick up your marriage license from any of the 3 Sevier County clerk's offices. Be sure to check which location(s) will be open when you plan to pick it up. The fee for the marriage license in Sevier County is discounted to $41 for couples from out of state (both participants must be a legal resident of another state). The normal fee for Tennessee residents is $101. The price will vary for other counties in Tennessee, but it's the same for residents and non-residents, between $100 and $110.

When you pick up your license from Sevier County you'll both be required to provide a valid driver's license or birth certificate, and proof of your social security number. If you're unable to locate your social security card don't worry. You can show proof of your social security number using a receipt from applying for a new social security card, a tax document or just about any other official document that includes both your name and social security number.

Remember, all of this must be done before your wedding can take place. Give your license to the officiant before your ceremony. He/she will enter the required information, and return it to the courthouse for you. It's the officiant's responsibility to get the license back to the courthouse within 3 days after your ceremony. Every county processes the license a little bit differently. The Sevier County clerk's office will mail 2 copies of your marriage certificate to you about a week after they receive it, and you should get them within two weeks after your wedding date. Some counties in Tennessee will give you the license and certificate at the same time so your officiant can complete both on your wedding day and you'll have your certificate right away. Other counties require you to come and pick up your certificate after your license is processed. If, for any reason you need your marriage certificate faster than the normal turn around time you will need to consult with your officiant and the county clerk before your wedding day.

Sevier County Clerk locations, contact info and hours of operation:
Sevier County Courthouse - 125 Court Avenue, Sevierville, TN 37862
Monday - Friday 8am - 4:30pm
(865) 453-5502

Gatlinburg Shilling Center - 405 Reagan Drive, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Monday, Wednesday and Friday - 8am-4:30pm
(865) 430-3404

Pigeon Forge City Hall - 225 Pine Mountain Road, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Saturday only - 9am-1pm
(865) 908-6613

Holiday schedule - https://www.perfectweddingpics.com/tennessee-marriage-license.php