CUMBERLAND GAP, Tenn. -- Among the mountains and valleys of East Tennessee, nestled along Daniel Boone’s Wilderness Road, lies a small town of about 200 people. This community is made up of friendly folks who know their neighbors by name and love to have visitors.
This is the town of Cumberland Gap.
Sitting quietly at the entrance to this small town is a quaint wedding chapel, a new building located on an old site in a town that was once called “the wedding place” of the Tri-State area.
In the 1920’s and 30’s, Squire Brooks married more than 7,000 couples in his home, charging as little as 25¢ for the service. His home became widely known as the “Marriage Place.” At this time in history, Cumberland Gap was a bustling railroad town, set in the natural gap in the Cumberland Mountains where Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee meet, making it a logical stop for travelers.
In December 2003, Cumberland Gap resident Betty Howard moved forward with her dream to build a new wedding chapel on the grounds of Squire Brooks’ former home. Howard is not a newcomer to the wedding industry. For nine years, she and a partner operated a wedding chapel in Cumberland Gap where they rented the facility that housed their chapel. When the building was later sold, Howard and her partner dissolved their business.
But Howard persevered with her dream. The chapel that stands today was built by Howard’s nephew, Jim O’Neal, another resident of Cumberland Gap, from the plans that Howard designed herself.
The Chapel will accommodate up to forty people, making it the perfect spot for an intimate ceremony. And Howard makes the planning easy by providing small or all-inclusive packages.
Service packages range from ceremony-only with two guests for $100 up to $425 which can include flowers for the bride and groom, garter for the bride, a small wedding cake with bride and groom topper, and a wedding album by a professional photographer. Additional items such as an aisle cloth, engraved champagne glasses, and champagne or sparkling fruit juice can be added.
Spring, summer, fall, or winter, every season is beautiful in Cumberland Gap. From snow-covered earth to colorful redbuds to the falling of autumn leaves, the Cumberland Gap Wedding Chapel welcomes all couples through its doors to experience a memorable wedding.
For more information on the Cumberland Gap Wedding Chapel, contact Betty Howard at (423) 869-2572 or visit CumberlandGapWeddingChapel.com.