We believe that each person on this earth can agree that the world is topsy-turvy and nothing is as we anticipated it to be when beginning 2020. The coronavirus pandemic has probably affected brides and grooms and the wedding industry as much or more, then any other business.

The brides who had booked with Sampson’s Hollow for March, April and most of May were faced with the choice of narrowing down their guest list to under 10 and keeping their original date, or rescheduling to a future date. We offered these choices with no penalty to our brides. And to those brides who were booked for farther out in the year, we gave them the same option if government restrictions were back in place. And, if the government has or had not implied any new restrictions, we would still offer to reschedule with only the upcharge of the increased prices for 2021.

Our June weddings went on as scheduled and July is still on track. We are following strict health and safety precautions. Each member of our staff is required to have their temperatures checked and wear masks. Our catering services are no longer self-service buffet, but guests are being served from behind a protective Plexiglass shield. Each guest table is released one table at a time to be served. Our staff routinely cleans door handles, bathrooms, and wipes down our golf carts for guest transports. Hand sanitizer stations are placed throughout the property. And, of course, guests are asked to use common sense and not attend if they have had a fever, unusual cough and/or shortness of breath — or having been exposed to someone covid 19 positive within the last two weeks prior to. Our family and staff are dedicated to providing exceptional care and safety to our guests.

Let’s try to focus on the positive; we can dance, we can celebrate and rejoice, we can eat and drink and be merry. We can have cake!! Yes, adjustments will have to be in place, including some social distancing –but even more than that, we can share in the faith and belief that all will go forward and our brides and grooms are going to be married — and isn’t that the true purpose of all of this?

If this is the new normal, we will go forward and do whatever is within our ability to take the very best care of our brides and grooms, and their respective guests. It’s what we do and we do it very well!

Visit our Elopement site at https://www.elopetothesmokymountains.com