Knoxville TN Wedding Venue: The Barn at Chestnut Springs
A Mountain Wedding, About an Hour From Knoxville
Your wedding can feel like home, just with the Smokies on the horizon. The Barn at Chestnut Springs is a restored 1954 barn on thirteen private wooded acres outside Sevierville, about an hour from downtown Knoxville. Close enough that your Knoxville friends can drive out the morning of, and far enough that it feels like you went somewhere.
The venue is not in Knoxville, and that's the point. You trade a downtown ballroom for a wooded cove, a stone fireplace and a barn that has stood in Sevier County since 1954.
Why Knoxville Couples Drive Out to the Barn
Your Guests Can Make It a Day Trip
Local guests can sleep in their own beds, and out-of-town guests who fly into McGhee Tyson (TYS) are about an hour and ten minutes away.
The Whole Property Is Yours for Twelve Hours
Your twelve hours sit anywhere between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m., and the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and dancing all happen on the same thirteen acres. The rehearsal happens that day, inside your hours.
A Barn With a Real Story
The barn was built in 1954 on land owned by Dolly Parton's parents. When the property changed hands in 2007, the plan was to build cabins, until friends and neighbors who knew the barn's history asked the new owners to preserve it. Reclaimed wood from other historic barns was used throughout.
Weather Never Decides the Day
East Tennessee forecasts change fast. If it turns, the ceremony moves under the covered pavilion (seats up to 90) or inside the barn.
Four Places to Say “I Do”
- The wooded cove: guests sit on the grass beneath the trees, a short walk from the barn.
- The covered pavilion: seats up to 90 and doubles as your rain plan.
- The courtyard and fireplace: bistro lights overhead and a stacked-stone fireplace for the evening.
- The barn: up to 120 guests beneath the original beams.
What a Knoxville Couple Can Expect to Spend
Every price includes Tennessee sales tax, and your contract matches your quote line for line.
- Venue rental: $3,500–$6,500 for twelve hours, depending on the day and season. A Monday-to-Thursday date saves $2,000 compared with a Saturday.
- The Essentials: $8,450–$11,450 total with venue rental and tax. A coordinator, a four-hour beer and wine bar, a DJ and a venue host. Dinner is yours to arrange.
- The Springs (most couples choose this): $20,905–$29,887 total. Dinner, a full bar, a DJ, a $3,000 floral allowance, cake, uplighting and a send-off.
- The Chestnut: $40,482–$51,961 total. A $10,000 floral allowance, a premium seven-hour bar, a photo booth, a chocolate fountain and early access for staging.
A signed agreement and a retainer of 50% of the venue rental secure your date.
Planning the Weekend for Knoxville Guests
- Staying the night: there's no lodging on site, but many Sevierville and Pigeon Forge hotels are about 15–20 minutes from the venue. Cabins are the classic Smoky Mountain choice. See Travel & Places to Stay.
- Getting home: late-night Uber and Lyft are limited out here and often not available. For guests driving back to Knoxville after an 11 p.m. send-off, plan on a shuttle or designated drivers.
- Parking: 50 on-site spaces for guests and vendors.
- Make a day of it: guests who come early can hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park or visit Pigeon Forge, about 20 minutes from the venue, before the ceremony.
See more past weddings or the full photo gallery.
Knoxville Wedding Venue FAQs
How far is The Barn at Chestnut Springs from Knoxville?
About an hour by car from downtown Knoxville. The venue is at 1984 Chestnut Springs Way in Sevierville, Tennessee. McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) is about 1 hour 10 minutes away.
Is the venue in Knoxville?
No. The venue is just outside Sevierville in the Smoky Mountain foothills, about an hour from downtown Knoxville.
How many guests can the venue hold?
Up to 120 inside the barn. The covered pavilion seats up to 90.
Can our Knoxville guests drive home the same night?
Yes, the evening ends at 11:00 p.m. Late-night Uber and Lyft are limited near the venue, so book a shuttle or arrange designated drivers.
What does it cost to get married at the venue?
Venue rental is $3,500 to $6,500 for twelve hours. All-in totals with a package run from $8,450 (The Essentials) to $51,961 (The Chestnut), with Tennessee sales tax included.
Can we buy our own alcohol?
Yes, you buy the alcohol from a shopping list built around your guest count, and you never pay a markup on a bottle. It must be served by one of our preferred bartending vendors, so self-serve and other bartenders aren't allowed. An off-duty officer is on site whenever there is a bar.
How do we secure our date?
A signed agreement and a retainer of 50% of the venue rental. After a tour we can hold your date for 48 hours while you decide.
Come See It Before You Decide
Tours are private and by appointment: forty-five minutes in person, or 30 minutes by FaceTime or Zoom. Bring your date, your guest count and the package you priced.
Or call 865-235-2939
Also serving couples from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.