Cost of Smoky Mountain weddings goes up

GATLINBURG, Tenn., Sept. 18 (UPI) -- With the number of weddings in Tennessee's scenic Smoky Mountains soaring, national park officials have decided to start charging for event permits.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials said effective Oct. 1, business such as photographers and limousine services will be required to pay a $200 application fee and a "cost recovery fee" equal to $10 per month of the permit's term, the Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel reported Monday.

Ordained ministers are exempt from the requirement as long as they perform no more than four weddings per year within the park and do not advertise their services.

The permits are meant "to avoid conflicts between wedding parties and the general public and to reduce potential impacts to park resources," park officials said in a statement.