The Lula Lake Elopement Guide: Everything You Want To Know!

For couples seeking a unique and intimate location to tie the knot, eloping at Lula Lake offers a breathtaking alternative to traditional weddings. Lula Lake Land Trust is nestled in the heart of Lookout Mountain, on the Tennessee/Georgia border and just 20 minutes from downtown Chattanooga. Lula Lake is a haven for nature lovers, offering stunning vistas, cascading waterfalls, and serene trails that create the perfect backdrop for an amazing North Georgia elopement. As someone who has spent countless days exploring this beautiful property, I can’t say enough about how special it is.

Lula Lake is known for its incredible natural features and commitment to conservation. Located on Lookout Mountain, Georgia, the Lula Lake Land Trust’s number one goal is to preserve its pristine environment, which includes:

1. Stunning Waterfalls: Lula Falls(120 ft) is a centerpiece attraction, offering a picture-perfect backdrop for your elopement photos. 
2. Scenic Trails: Miles of hiking trails weave through the property, leading to panoramic overlooks and undisturbed woodland areas.
3. Conservation Focus: The property is privately protected, ensuring the natural beauty remains unspoiled for generations to enjoy.
4. Secluded Atmosphere: Its limited access provides a quiet, intimate experience. Because Lula Lake is only open to the public a few days each month, you can elope there and have the entire property to yourselves! This is a very unique aspect of this gorgeous outdoor location. 
5. Central Location: location makes it an ideal spot for those in the Southeastern United States, particularly for residents of nearby cities like Chattanooga, Tennessee (about 20 minutes away), Atlanta, Georgia (about 2 hours), Nashville, Tennessee(about 2 hours) or Birmingham, Alabama (around 2.5 hours).
6. Getting married at Lula Lake is a great way to support conservation efforts and help preserve and share this natural space for generations to come. 

Consider eloping at Lula Lake for its unique and beautiful settings, intimate atmosphere, & accessibility. It’s a perfect choice if you want a one-of-a-kind elopement in the southeast that you’ll remember forever!

I suggest reaching out to one of Lula Lake’s preferred photographers to get the process started! To reserve the land trust for your elopement you will need to make a tax deductible donation. The total fee for the use of the land trust’s core preserve is $1000 for a weekday and $1500 for a weekend. You can bring up to a maximum of 10 people for an elopement at Lula Lake. For more info on how to elope at Lula Lake you can visit their site – https://www.lulalake.org/elopement

It can be hard to navigate it all including picking a ceremony location and other logistics but that’s what I’m here for as your Lula Lake elopement photographer! I’m here to help you in knowing what the best locations are for your ceremony, what you can expect as far as logistics, and I have all sorts of ideas for how to make your day special! 

Lula Lake has a variety of locations for your elopement ceremony whether you are eloping just to the two of you or bringing a few guests along. Popular spots for a ceremony include

1. Bluff trails/Overlook – hike the trail to the top of the mountain to enjoy a quiet environment and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains
2. Lula Falls – a stunning 120 ft waterfall serves as an epic backdrop for an elopement ceremony
3. The Meadow– a charming location ideal for those looking for a more accessible area to say their vows

Lula Lake is a protected natural area, and it’s essential to practice Leave No Trace principles during your elopement. The long-term sustainability of land is critical to the organization, and Lula Lake is committed to ensuring thriving native species, clean waterways, and reforestation. It’s important to stick to established trails and avoid any actions that could harm the environment. By respecting the land, you ensure its beauty remains intact for future visitors and couples to enjoy.

There are certain things that Lula Lake allows and certain things that are off limits. 

Things that are allowed at your Lula Lake elopement…you can have an arch or other light weight ceremony decor as long as it is free standing(no staking it into the ground, hanging it from a tree etc). You’re also allowed to have something like a small table for a guest book, a cooler with water, batter powered candles, or live flowers. Picnics are allowed and you’re welcome to bring a cake or champagne to celebrate. Just remember to keep it simple and if you need ideas, I’m here to help! One last note…dogs are allowed at Lula Lake as long as they are kept on leash and you clean up after them!

Things that are not allowed at your lula lake elopement….You can not have more than 10 people total for your elopement. Candles, fireworks, lanterns or anything containing fire is not allowed. Confetti, silk flowers, balloons, or any other products that can pollute the land or creeks are not allowed. You cannot have any releases like lanterns, birds or balloons. 

Best Places To Stay Near Lula Lake For Your Wedding

There are a variety of great airbnb options nearby!

If you’re looking for a cabin for the whole crew this is my top recommendation! The cabin on the farm sits on a gorgeous property on the west brow of Lookout Mountain. Enjoy the most beautiful sunsets from the hot tub!  https://www.littlecabinonthefarm.com/

For a luxury treehouse experience look no further than the Sassafras Treehouse. This gorgeous little cabin sits on 18 acres and has everything you’ll need for an amazing stay- Sassafras Treehouse

If you prefer to be in the middle of all the action, check out this apartment on Chattanooga’s southside. You’ll be steps from the best dining in the city and be able to soak up everything Chattanooga has to offer! – Southside Apartment

Getting Legally Married In Georgia And Georgia Marriage Licenses

Even though Lula Lake is considered to be a part of Chattanooga, it is actually located just across the state line in Georgia . In order to make things legal, you’ll need to get your official marriage license in Georgia in the county where you plan to get married. For example, if eloping at Lula Lake, you’d get your license from Walker county.

Walker County Courthouse, 101 S Duke St, LaFayette, Georgia

• You can start the process online to save a little time, but both parties will still need to go in-person with valid IDs.
• There is no waiting period or blood tests required in Georgia
• The marriage license fee varies by county, but is around $60
• No witnesses are legally required for the marriage ceremony, only the couple and the officiant

• The completed marriage license must be returned to the county probate court for recording within a specified time frame (usually 3-5 days)

Other Things To Do In Chattanooga

Chattanooga, just a short drive from Lula Lake, is a vibrant city with plenty to offer for visitors looking to extend their trip. There are great activities in Chattanooga whether you are looking to spend time in the city or explore the outdoors. For those looking for attractions, the Tennessee Aquarium is one of the best in the country and features fascinating saltwater and freshwater exhibits. The Incline Railway and Rock city are two other quintessential Chattanooga attractions.

If you’re adventurous then you probably already know that Chattanooga is a city of boundless adventure. The city and its surrounding areas offer fantastic opportunities for rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, white-water rafting, and hang gliding. Check out the Visit Chattanooga Website – https://www.visitchattanooga.com/things-to-do/outdoors/ for more details.