How to Choose Your Ceremony Officiant at Honeysuckle Hills
When you book an all-inclusive wedding package at Honeysuckle Hills, you get to choose from our wonderful group of ceremony officiants! We’ve hand-picked a team of professionals who are not only legally authorized to sign your marriage license but are also experts at delivering heartfelt, personal ceremonies. We truly believe that love is love—we welcome all couples and all faiths, and we’re excited to help you find an officiant that’s a perfect fit for your unique story.
Your officiant will arrive approximately 15 minutes prior to your ceremony for a “meet and greet.” You may choose from the vows provided in the marriage license section of our venue resource guide, or submit a script of your own prior to the ceremony. Personal vows and unity ceremonies are always welcome additions.
Don’t forget to bring us your Tennessee marriage license because it gives you permission to get married. Because you’re getting married in Tennessee, it can ONLY be obtained from a clerk’s office in Tennessee. After your wedding ceremony, your officiant will sign your license and return it to the appropriate clerk. Sevier County automatically mails your marriage certificate, which is the document you’ll need to change your name. (Your license is permission to get married, and the certificate indicates you actually got married.) If you obtain your marriage license from a different county in Tennessee, ask that clerk how they handle mailing the certificate once the wedding is over.
Learn how and where to get a Tennessee marriage license for your wedding in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg in our Marriage License Tutorial blog.
The base ceremony rate covers your officiant’s services for the wedding day itself and is included in your all-inclusive wedding package unless otherwise noted. While attendance at rehearsals, walk-throughs, or pre-marital counseling is not included, these services are available as add-ons. Each of our officiants sets their own independent fees for these extras and would be delighted to discuss them with you directly.
Here are descriptions of each of the officiants you may choose from for your Honeysuckle Hills all-inclusive wedding, based on their availability. Let your coordinator, Regina, know your first and second choice and she’ll schedule the officiant for you. These officiants conduct ceremonies all over the Smoky Mountains, so choose sooner rather than later.
Pastor Lloyd, The Cowboy Preacher
Ordained by his late Pastor, Sam Gerhardt, Lloyd is a retired Army veteran and semi-retired wedding officiant (literally thousands at our venue from 2008 through 2024) He is the most conservative on our list, but is happy to officate either religious or non-religious ceremonies.
He wears jeans, a vest with bolo, and cowboy hat to officiate weddings.
Here’s his famous introduction to the wedding ceremony (unless you choose a non-religious script:)
And Ruth said, “Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for wither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God."
Especially perfect for: Christian, faith based ceremonies
LGBTQ: Please choose Miss Santana, Jim Eastin, or Regina instead
“Legendary” Phil King
Phil King is a beloved Sevier County official who has performed literally thousands of weddings in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Born and raised in the Smoky Mountains, he is well known for his love of the outdoors and hunting. His voice is deep and melodic, and he always dresses in a suit and tie. When welcome, he starts each ceremony with a personal prayer including tidbits of information derived from conversation just prior to the ceremony. He has a pastoral presence with a sweet, kind nature. Many couples lovingly refer to Phil as their “Smoky Mountain Grandpa.”
We are thankful for Phil’s return to health after a liver transplant in 2023! Our entire community rallied together to make the transplant possible.
Best For: Faith based, Civil, or Commitment ceremonies
LGBTQ: Please choose Miss Santana, Jim Eastin, or Regina instead
Pastor Jody, AKA “The Mountain Preacher.”
Pastor Jody Secaur is the epitome of the mountain man persona for your Smoky Mountain wedding with his long beard, black vest and leather hat. He is an Evangelist and the Senior Pastor of Cowboy Church in the Smokies where many of our couples attend services while they’re in town.
He officiates with a touch of humor mixed with the sacredness of the wedding vows. He is especially knowledgeable about hand fastings, foot washings, and even baptisms! Photographers especially love him because of his coaching on hand placement during the ring exchange along with a few other “secrets.”
Request him as quickly as you can because he travels all over the Smokies, especially within the National Park.
Best for: Faith based, Civil, or Commitment ceremonies
LGBTQ: Please choose Miss Santana, Jim Eastin, or Regina instead
"Right Rev" Stephen Doyal
Beyond leading your vows on wedding day, our Signature officiant, Reverend Stephen Doyal, elevates the experience by weaving your love story into the ceremony script. He includes a phone consultation to provide one-on-one vow guidance, and his joyful personality will put you at ease right away. Regina counts him as one of her all-time favorite officiants AND sweet friends since 2008.
Welcoming ALL couples with open arms, the “Not Right Rev” (as he’s affectionately known to all of us,) will even add a dash of entertainment into the ceremony if you wish. His days of eliciting belly laughs date all the way back to Silver Dollar City and Dollywood during his checkered past as a train robber. Some of his funniest weddings were for couples with a Princess Bride and Star Wars theme.
Humor aside, if your family prefers a more traditional, dignified presentation he’ll don his ministerial robe and officiate with the voice of angels. Reverend Doyal is the current pastor of Bookwalter United Methodist Church in Knoxville, TN, and has been in ministry for 32 years.
This signature experience is included in our “Appalachian Celebration” package. For all other weddings, there is an extra fee of $200 unless Regina waived the fee for special circumstances.
Pastor Jim Eastin
Pastor Jim Eastin officates weddings with a smile and welcoming personality. He’s a retired Methodist Pastor and a beloved story-teller in our area. Most Tuesdays at 8pm you can find him at the Tree Tops resort spinning his tales! He is a local treasure, and once you meet him you’ll understand why.
He dresses with a pastoral presence and is loved by photographers because of his unique style of moving around during the ceremony to ensure the couple is the main focal point.
Best for: Faith based or Civil Ceremonies
LGBTQ: Welcome with open arms
Regina Starkey, TN Notary
Regina is the venue owner of Honeysuckle Hills, and sometimes even your coordinator or photographer! As long as she is not the lead coordinator or photographing your wedding, it's always a joy for her to officiate. If you would like a family member or friend to officiate the ceremony, but they are not legally permitted to sign the Tennessee license, Regina can help with this, too. She’ll conduct a short ceremony prior to the wedding and notarize your license, allowing someone more personal to handle the ceremony for you.
Best for: Faith based or Civil Ceremonies
LGBTQ: Welcome with open arms
Miss Santana (Evermore Vows)
Santana is the owner of Evermore Vows and officiates as a TN Notary with a heart dedicated to providing a meaningful ceremony experience. Her heart is open to ALL couples in love, including the LGBTQ community. She officiates with a peaceful, soft nature similar to a gentle spring breeze.
I met Santana in 2025 and have never regretted adding her to our team of ceremony officiants.
Best for: Faith based or Civil Ceremonies
LGBTQ: Welcome with open arms
