Fort Smith · Arkansas
Elope near Fort Smith.
An easy run east through the river valley. Same countryside you already love, with a chapel and gardens at the end of it.
You are already in the river valley
Fort Smith couples are the easiest conversation I have, because I do not have to sell anybody on the Arkansas River Valley. You live in it. You already know what this country looks like in October, and you already know why somebody would want to get married in it.
What Fort Smith does not have much of is a small venue built specifically for intimate weddings, with the flowers and the planning already inside the price. Most of what is available is either a big room you fill yourself or a church hall. So couples come east.
Getting here
Take I-40 east toward Russellville, roughly an hour and a half, then drop south on Highway 7 across the Dardanelle bridge. If you would rather have the scenery, Highway 22 runs along the south side of the river through Paris and Subiaco and is a genuinely beautiful drive, though give yourself extra time.
Either way you arrive at 20 acres at the foot of Mt. Nebo State Park.
What $2,900 covers
Monday through Thursday, up to 30 guests. That includes four hours of venue time with two hours in the bridal suite, your bouquet, two boutonnieres, arbor florals, cake florals, your wedding cake, a cake and punch reception with a champagne toast, music and your first dance and send-off, all the setup and cleanup, and me as your planner and day-of coordinator.
Friday and Saturday dates are $5,700 for the exact same day. The gap is the whole reason this site exists.
Guests and where they sleep
Up to 30 guests are covered, and additional guests are $35 each up to 70 total. For a Fort Smith wedding most families make the drive that morning, but if you would like people to stay over, Russellville is fifteen minutes out with plenty of hotels, and Mt. Nebo has cabins and a lodge right up the mountain.
Marriage license
You can get your Arkansas license at the Sebastian County Clerk in Fort Smith, or at any clerk in the state, including Yell County right here in Dardanelle. No waiting period, no blood test, and it is good for 60 days. One thing to watch: your officiant's credentials have to be recorded with an Arkansas county clerk before they can marry you, which catches people every year when a friend gets ordained online and stops there.
Come see ours
We are on 20 acres at the foot of Mt. Nebo in Dardanelle. My husband Josh built our chapel by hand and I planted the gardens. I design every bride's flowers myself and I am there on your wedding day running it, start to finish. Send me your date and I will tell you the same day whether it is open.
If a weekday works for you, $2,900 covers just about all of it.