1. Turkeys. Yes, we have turkeys, deer, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, foxes, ducks, geese, and an occasional coyote! Wildlife noises and messes are something we mountaineers are familiar with, but they can mess with your perfect outdoor party setting. Allow a little extra time in the morning for cleanup just in case. Also, any of these creatures can hold up your wedding party as they take their time crossing the road (well, not the coyotes and foxes – they’re pretty fast!) So allow a little extra travel time, especially in the more remote areas.
2. Motorcycles. Our mountain curves are popular with motorcycle riders, so be aware that an unmuffled parade could pass your outdoor location just as you say, “I Do.” Some locations also experience loud noise from helicopters (hospital airlifts are more common here), planes, and weekend hunters. Think about having the ceremony indoors where you can control the noise level.
3. GPS Errors. Here GPS stands for “General Path Suggestion.” It just does not work very well in some of our mountain communities. Also, you might find that cell phone coverage is non-existent in some areas, so don’t count on finding your way using only your phone. Before you head out, I would check your destination's website directions page for advice. Print it. Or bring a map. And a compass.
4. Traffic. It’s not the city traffic that you might be used to, but, unfortunately, our founding pioneers never anticipated the popularity of the mountains when they planned the roads around here. Around five o’clock, some of the main roads can get really congested, and there are few alternate routes. Also, there are train tracks that run right through the center of some
of our towns, and the trains run on unpredictable schedules. Again, allow some extra travel time, particularly during the fall, when slow-driving sightseers (we call them “leaf-lookers”) really slow things down.
5. Weather. Weather changes quickly here in the mountains. In the summer we can have hot, sunny days, but we can also have a thunderstorm from 2 to 4 in the afternoon. In the spring, rain can change to hail or snow in a matter of minutes. March, April and November are particularly tricky in this respect. Have a backup plan. Most rental companies will allow you to put tents, heaters, and fans on standby for a small fee. See more advice about this on my Weather Page.
6. Southern Ways. We may be in the mountains, but we are still in the South. There’s just a slower pace of life here. Even our internet runs slower. Don’t be surprised if it takes your vendors a few days to respond to your calls or emails. Try to be patient with us. If you have not heard back after three or four days, then I would try again. We were probably just out shooing some geese off the lawn, repairing damage from a hail storm, or stuck in traffic (see above).
2. Motorcycles. Our mountain curves are popular with motorcycle riders, so be aware that an unmuffled parade could pass your outdoor location just as you say, “I Do.” Some locations also experience loud noise from helicopters (hospital airlifts are more common here), planes, and weekend hunters. Think about having the ceremony indoors where you can control the noise level.
3. GPS Errors. Here GPS stands for “General Path Suggestion.” It just does not work very well in some of our mountain communities. Also, you might find that cell phone coverage is non-existent in some areas, so don’t count on finding your way using only your phone. Before you head out, I would check your destination's website directions page for advice. Print it. Or bring a map. And a compass.
4. Traffic. It’s not the city traffic that you might be used to, but, unfortunately, our founding pioneers never anticipated the popularity of the mountains when they planned the roads around here. Around five o’clock, some of the main roads can get really congested, and there are few alternate routes. Also, there are train tracks that run right through the center of some
of our towns, and the trains run on unpredictable schedules. Again, allow some extra travel time, particularly during the fall, when slow-driving sightseers (we call them “leaf-lookers”) really slow things down.
5. Weather. Weather changes quickly here in the mountains. In the summer we can have hot, sunny days, but we can also have a thunderstorm from 2 to 4 in the afternoon. In the spring, rain can change to hail or snow in a matter of minutes. March, April and November are particularly tricky in this respect. Have a backup plan. Most rental companies will allow you to put tents, heaters, and fans on standby for a small fee. See more advice about this on my Weather Page.
6. Southern Ways. We may be in the mountains, but we are still in the South. There’s just a slower pace of life here. Even our internet runs slower. Don’t be surprised if it takes your vendors a few days to respond to your calls or emails. Try to be patient with us. If you have not heard back after three or four days, then I would try again. We were probably just out shooing some geese off the lawn, repairing damage from a hail storm, or stuck in traffic (see above).
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