Terms
How SmokyVows works
Last updated: August 2026
Who runs SmokyVows
SmokyVows is operated by Pope Ventures. In these terms, “we” and “us” mean Pope Ventures.
SmokyVows is a wedding vendor directory
We help couples planning Smoky Mountain weddings discover and connect with local vendors. We are not a wedding planner, marketplace, or escrow service.
How SmokyVows is funded
Vendors pay a flat monthly subscription to list on SmokyVows ($29/month Standard or $59/month Pro). Couples can browse, save, and message every vendor on the platform for free. One optional paid upgrade exists for couples who want extra help: the Wedding Planner and the AI Wedding Assistant, sold together as a single one time purchase, with no subscription and no end date. The price is shown on the planner page. We do not take a percentage of bookings, deposits, or final payments between couples and vendors.
We are not a party to your agreements
Any contract for wedding services is between the couple and the vendor directly. SmokyVows is not party to that agreement and cannot enforce it.
We take no commission on what a couple pays a vendor
We do not charge a commission or a percentage on a booking, a deposit, or a final payment. What a couple pays a vendor is the vendor’s.
Payment is usually arranged directly with the vendor
Most of the time, couples and vendors handle payment however they prefer: the vendor’s own payment processor or payment link, cash, check, Venmo, invoicing, and so on. That happens directly between them and does not pass through SmokyVows.
When a couple pays for a package on the site
A vendor may connect a Stripe payout account and offer packages a couple can pay for here. In that case Stripe processes the payment and settles it to the vendor’s own Stripe account. The service itself is still between the couple and the vendor, and we still take no commission.
Reviews are opinions
Reviews on SmokyVows reflect the opinions of couples who submitted them. We do not fact-check reviews. We may remove reviews that violate our content policies (harassment, false information, off-topic).
We reserve the right to remove listings
We may remove any vendor listing or couple account at our discretion, for example for misrepresentation, abuse, or harm to the community. We do not owe an explanation for removal decisions.
Disputes between couples and vendors
We do not mediate disputes. If a vendor doesn’t deliver, refunds and resolution are handled directly between the couple and the vendor, or, if Stripe was used, through Stripe’s standard dispute process.
Account deletion
To delete your account and all associated data, email support@smokeyvows.com from the address on your account.
Changes to these terms
We may update these terms as the service evolves. Material changes will be announced by email to active vendors. Continued use of the service after a change means you accept the new terms.
Financial disclosures
How SmokyVows generates revenue. SmokyVows is operated by Pope Ventures, and the revenue described here is Pope Ventures’s.
Vendor subscriptions. SmokyVows charges vendors a flat monthly subscription fee (Standard $29/month, Pro $59/month, Marketplace Starter $19/month, Seller $39/month, Pro Maker $69/month) to list on the platform. This is SmokyVows’s primary revenue source.
Couple optional upgrade. Couples may optionally purchase the Wedding Planner and AI Wedding Assistant together, as one payment made once. These are optional tools and are never required to browse or contact vendors.
No commissions. SmokyVows does not take a commission or percentage of any transaction between couples and vendors. What couples pay vendors goes entirely to vendors.
No pay-to-rank. Vendor search ranking is determined by the ratings couples leave on SmokyVows, and nothing else. Couples may also order results themselves by newest, most reviewed, highest rated, or lowest starting price. Subscription tier does not affect search ranking.
Affiliate relationships. SmokyVows may earn a commission when users click certain links on our blog or planning resources (such as hotel booking links or credit card recommendations). These relationships are disclosed on the relevant pages and do not influence editorial recommendations.
Questions? support@smokeyvows.com