Norris Dam Tea Room

If you are searching for a wedding and/or reception venue for your special day, consider Norris Dam State Park with the Norris Dam Tea Room. This gem offers scenic beauty for a natural backdrop along with other features that make it an appealing choice. As a professional wedding photographer, a setting like Norris Dam State Park is a dream for catching love among the natural setting of Rocky Top, Tennessee.

History

The Norris Dam was the first project by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The authority was a Great Depression-era program designed to help the Tennessee Valley in the following ways:

Control flooding
Generate electricity
Generate economic recovery
Provide jobs

Enrollees with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the Norris State Park, which to this day offers outdoor fun for all ages. The site’s use as a wedding location continues to evolve as more and more couples discover this unique and historic venue.

The Tea Room

The two-level Norris Dam Tea Room building offers ample space with rustic charm. The building is one of many built by the CCC in the 1930s. Upgrades have added useful and necessary amenities. The upgrades have not taken away any of the ambiance, they have simply made the facility all that more attractive for wedding ceremonies and celebrations.

The following list is just a partial list of the charm that is the Tea Room at Norris Dam State Park:

Cathedral ceilings
Large stone fireplace
Large deck overlooking the woods and the lake

A kitchen provides a freezer, refrigerator, and ovens. Depending upon the size of your guest list, the venue may supply enough tables and chairs, or you may want to work with a vendor to add additional seating. The maximum seated capacity for the Tea Room is 100 people.

An amphitheater and cabins round out this unique complex, nestled in the quiet woods of northeast Tennessee.

Norris Dam Tea Room at Norris Dam State Park

Cabins

One of the unique features of Norris Dam State Park is the onsite cabins, located within walking distance of the Tea Room. There are 19 rustic cabins and 10 standard or deluxe cabins. Built by the CCC, these rustic cabins are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Rustic does not mean going without modern conveniences—like that of televisions, air conditioning, heating, electrical appliances, and bathrooms. The quiet, wooded setting of the cabins provides convenience for guests and for your own lodging needs. The standard cabins feature additional bedrooms and amenities.

The cabins are an added plus to the venue and its appeal. The historical background of the cabins and the wooded setting makes for a peaceful stay that is different from a city hotel. Invite your guests to take advantage of what the park and the area have to offer by extending their stay beyond your wedding day.

Left: A groom in a brown suit holds a bouquet of white roses, greenery, and eucalyptus. Right: Wedding invitations featuring duck illustrations are elegantly displayed with green sprigs and rings on a wooden surface at the Norris Dam Tea Room.

Plenty to See and Do

Your out-of-town guests can find plenty to do both in and near the park. More than 21 miles of hiking trails exist for your active guests while others may want to explore the Museum of Appalachia.

This living history museum is a Smithsonian affiliate that demonstrates life in a pioneer mountain village. The museum features 65 acres of structures such as a church, school, and barn—complete with animals. More than 250,000 artifacts are on display for guests to enjoy.

Guests may also delight in the Big South Fork River Natural River and Recreational Area. Operated by the National Park Service, this site contains 125,000 acres of beauty in a nature preserve.

Your guests can use Norris Dam State Park as a hub-and-spoke location for visiting area sites. However, once they arrive and settle into their cabins, the natural beauty of the State Park setting may result in them never venturing outside the park.

A bride and bridesmaids laugh and hold bouquets in a wooded area with fallen leaves near the Norris Dam Tea Room. Men in suits stand nearby, creating a picturesque scene set outdoors in autumn, with trees providing a charming backdrop.

Affordability

Perhaps the most attractive feature of this venue is the price. You can find pricing on the park website and you can also contact them to confirm pricing and to secure a date.

Saving money on your venue can free up funds for other important services for your day, like that of professional photography. Investing in quality photographs of your ceremony and reception is in fact, priceless as the years roll by.

The captured memories of your day remain forever. Smartphone snaps just do not cut it when it comes to the lasting images of your day. A venue like that of Norris Dam State Park can save you money yet provide a natural setting for amazing photography.

State Parks Are a Must

Securing a venue that offers charm yet that will not break the bank is possible with Norris Dam State Park. Once you confirm your date and venue, reach out to me, and let’s chat. I would even love to capture your engagement photos at Norris Dam as well. In fact, a photograph at many state parks across the state of Tennessee and beyond!

Erin Morrison Photography

I’m Erin Morrison and I love what I do. My home is in Knoxville but my heart is throughout my adoptive state of Tennessee. I never tire of the natural beauty and how it makes for extraordinary wedding photography.

So much time and effort go into planning your special day. Worrying about your wedding photography should not consume space on your worry list. Scratch it off by contacting me to learn about my rates and my availability.

If what you do want is carefree, unplanned moments that capture exchanges of laughter, tears, and other tender moments, contact me. My goal is to have you forget that I am there, allowing me to work independently to snatch your memories on film forever. Until we chat, take a look at my wedding portfolio. I’m looking forward to chatting with you about your plans and my passion for wedding photography. C o ntact me today!