Pastor Matt!
Sevierville, TN
Service area
Matthew Samler
OWNER
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Pastor Matthew Samler is a wedding officiant service in Kodak, TN, dedicated to bringing couples together in a creative and personal way. Pastor Matthew has officiated weddings for over 10 years, having united hundreds of newlyweds in their love. He strives to create a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere for nearlyweds, allowing them to revel in the feeling of their milestone.
Pastor Matthew Samler’s adaptive style can be tailored to suit each occasion’s unique needs. His ceremonies are a mix of traditional and laid-back, creating a truly personalized experience. Pastor Matthew takes the time to get to know nearlyweds, learning their love story and wedding style to ensure the selected ceremony is perfectly crafted to suit them.
Wedding planning can be a stressful time, and Pastor Matthew Samler aims to alleviate any extra pressures he can for newlyweds throughout their process. He incorporates their creative decisions into the ceremony to make it uniquely their own. Couples are invited to contact Pastor Matthew Samler with any questions.
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Details
Ceremony Types
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Religious Affiliations
Christian
Wedding Activities
Premarital Counseling
Wedding
Ceremony
Awards and Affiliations
2026 'Best of Weddings'
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding
Meet the team
Matthew Samler
Owner
Pastor Matthew Samler is a wedding officiant in Kodak, Tennessee. The Great Smoky Mountains provide some of the greatest vistas in East TN for weddings. Pastor Matthew Samler is a wedding officiant here in Sevier County and has performed weddings for over 10 years. He has been a Christian pastor for a local church and is passionate about letting the couples he officiates relax and take in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. He can adapt his service from traditional to laid back, but his favorite style is using both to create an atmosphere for the newlyweds and family to have a great time. Past
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.018 reviews
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Reviewers rave that the officiant is personable, professional, and created heartfelt, meaningful ceremonies that moved guests. He offers excellent communication, premarital counseling, and practical help—stepping in when vendors cancelled and even returning the marriage license. Inclusive and adaptable (Spanish-friendly), he's highly recommended for elopements and destination weddings.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 5
Michelle A
Highlighted review.
5.0
9/01/2025
We are beyond grateful for Pastor Matt! He officiated our wedding yesterday, and the ceremony could not have been more beautiful. His words were heartfelt, romantic, and truly mean...
ingful — not just to us as a couple, but to everyone in attendance. So many of our guests told us how much they loved the ceremony and how special it felt. Pastor Matt has a gift for creating a warm, genuine, and unforgettable experience. We cannot thank him enough for making our day so amazing.
Response from Pastor Matthew Samler on 09/01/2025
Wow! This means a lot. Both you and Daniel and your families were truly special. Beautiful...
people inside and out. Thank you for trusting me with your ceremony, but I truly enjoyed being apart of your special day.
Ella O
5.0
6/29/2026
Pastor Matt performed the most beautiful ceremony for our wedding. It was everything we wanted and more. We can not recommend him enough!
Any questions?
Ellie M
5.0
6/27/2026
We found pastor Matthew Samler on the knot and from the beginning he was so personable and down to earth. He took time to get to know us so that our ceremony was meaningful and exa...
ctly what we wanted. Family and guests both commented on how wonderful he was. Definitely recommend!
Response from Pastor Matthew Samler on 06/27/2026
Thank you so much for those kind words! I loved-loved-loved being apart of your special da...
y. Thank you for trusting me. Always here if you need me!
Destiny W
5.0
4/28/2026
Matthew was amazing, our coordinator cancelled the day before, our videographer cancelled day of; we had no idea what we were doing but he helped make it all happen & was very enco...
uraging through out the whole thing. The ceremony was beautiful; he exceeded my expectations. I think he had mostly everyone crying. Could not recommend enough!
Response from Pastor Matthew Samler on 04/29/2026
Thank you Destiny! It was my honor and privilege to officiate your ceremony. I hate the st...
ressed that was thrown on you guys last minute, but God showed up and it went so great! I will never forget the family and friends praying over you guys. You guys are so blessed to have each other. Here if you need me!
Liza D
5.0
4/04/2026
We cannot recommend Pastor Matt enough. From our very first call, he took the time to truly get to know us and understand what we envisioned for our ceremony. Because we chose a re...
ligious service, he offered thoughtful Bible verse suggestions and walked us through different ceremonial options, helping us create something that felt meaningful and personal.
His communication throughout the entire process was excellent. Before the wedding day, he checked in with helpful reminders and made sure we felt prepared and supported. After the ceremony, he took care of returning our marriage license to the county clerk’s office, which was a thoughtful extra step and made the process even easier for us.
We had an elopement with no rehearsal, yet everything flowed seamlessly. Pastor Matthew guided us with a calm, positive presence that made the ceremony feel organic and effortless. His sermon was heartfelt, and even our family members who traveled from overseas were impressed by his words and the way he connected with everyone.
He made our day feel special in a way we’ll always remember.
Response from Pastor Matthew Samler on 04/06/2026
Thank you so much for those kind words! I loved your wedding! The Venue! Your families. I'...
m so happy for you both and can't wait to see how God uses you both in the future! Always here if you need me!
mya b
5.0
1/05/2026
Pastor Matt was absolutely amazing! He showed up for our wedding not even meeting us previously, except by phone call and you would’ve never guessed it! He was on it instantly and ...
everyone there said it felt like he knew us personally! I cant thank him enough for his kindness and bright personality! I truly believe he was a perfect fit for us and our day! Thank you!!
Response from Pastor Matthew Samler on 01/16/2026
Thank you so much for the review! I loved meeting you all! You guys made me feel welcomed ...
and it was easy to be apart of your ceremony. Thank you again for the opportunity to be there. Always here for you guys!
Arianna S
5.0
12/27/2025
We cannot say enough good things about Pastor Matt. From our very first conversation, it was clear that he was someone who truly cared not just about officiating a ceremony, but ab...
out us as a couple and the marriage we were entering. One of the most important things to us was having a ceremony that felt welcoming and neutral for an interfaith audience, and he honored that request completely and without hesitation. The result was a ceremony that felt inclusive, thoughtful, and meaningful for everyone in attendance, regardless of religious background.
What truly set him apart was the premarital counseling session that was included in his services. That session alone was incredibly valuable and far exceeded our expectations. He guided us through conversations that encouraged us to think deeply about marriage, communication, expectations, and the realities of building a life together, which were all topics we may not have fully explored on our own. His openness, honesty, and willingness to discuss not only the beautiful aspects of marriage but also the challenging ones gave us insight that felt both grounding and empowering. We walked away feeling more connected, more prepared, and more confident as a couple with his guidance! He also did an amazing job weaving what he learned about us during counseling into the ceremony itself. The way he told our story felt authentic and personal and we could tell he really, really listened to us and cared about our marriage. He struck the perfect balance of being relatable, warm, and even lightly humorous while maintaining a polished, professional presence throughout the ceremony. We received countless compliments from our guests about how engaging, enjoyable, and heartfelt the ceremony was, with many saying it was one of the best ceremonies they had witnessed.
Beyond his presence on the day itself, his professionalism, preparation, and attention to detail were evident throughout the entire process. His pricing was extremely reasonable for the level of care, time, and expertise he provided, and we felt that the value of his services far exceeded the cost.
We truly adored working with him and feel incredibly grateful to have had him officiate our wedding. We could not recommend him more highly to any couple looking for an officiant who brings authenticity, wisdom, inclusivity, and genuine heart to one of the most important moments of their lives.
Response from Pastor Matthew Samler on 01/16/2026
What amazing words! I'm so honored and grateful for those comments. It was truly my pleasu...
re to be apart of your special day. Couples like you give me hope for the future! Love you guys and here for you if you need me!
Samantha H
5.0
12/21/2025
We were so blessed to have Pastor Samler as our wedding officiant. My husband and I had a destination wedding and were looking for a Pastor in Pigeon Forge. From the moment I saw h...
is profile on The Knot I knew I wanted him to be apart of our special day. The first time we talked, my husband and I could tell how much he loves God and his family. He made having a destination wedding so much easier and helped calm my nerves from the stress of planning a wedding. Finding him as our officiant was by far the easiest part of planning our wedding. The words he prepared for our wedding truly amplified love and the joy of marriage. Both of our family gave him high compliments. We are so happy to have found someone who compliments our values and can always come back to for advice.
Response from Pastor Matthew Samler on 12/23/2025
Thank you so much for these words. I truly mean it, I loved getting to know you guys! Love...
d your wedding. Like I said before, I'm always here for you guys!
Delainey R
5.0
12/21/2025
Pastor Matthew was the sweetest to work with ! He was quick to get back to me with any questions or anything I had. He gave us the perfect ceremony with short and sweet just what w...
e wanted! I would highly recommend him for anyone getting married soon!
Response from Pastor Matthew Samler on 12/23/2025
Thank you Delainey! It was first time at that venue and you guys picked a perfect place! S...
o beautiful! Thank you for letting me be apart of it.
Lisette R
5.0
12/05/2025
We hired Mr Matthew to officiate our Gatlinburg elopement and it was hands down amazing. Pastor Matthew took time to get to know the both of us. From how we met, what we about lov...
e about each other, and spoke a few sentences in spanish. We absolutely loved it made our families also feel inclusive since some of them don’t speak english. He gave us advice on how to keep a healthy marriage and about keeping God first to help us through any terrain we come across. Would highly recommend having pastor Matthew to have you officiated, he really took the time to make it feel special in our way. Thank you.
Response from Pastor Matthew Samler on 12/05/2025
I loved your day! Thank you for trusting me. Your families are some of the nicest people I...
've ever met. Made me feel welcome the first minute I was there. Rooting for you guys!
Jacob I
5.0
9/08/2025
Pastor Matt did a great job with our wedding ceremony and was easy to work with.
Response from Pastor Matthew Samler on 09/08/2025
Thank you so much Jacob! What a day it was buddy! Beautiful day after the rain, and the ce...
remony was perfect! Congrats guys!!!
Callie F
5.0
9/06/2025
Pastor Matt did an amazing job officiating our wedding! He beautifully incorporated God into the ceremony, making it heartfelt, meaningful, and truly memorable. We couldn’t have as...
ked for anyone better!
Response from Pastor Matthew Samler on 09/08/2025
Callie you were a beautiful bride! I loved both your families! Thank you for trusting me w...
ith your wedding. I loved it. Oh and Skol Vikings!!!!
Rafaella B
5.0
6/22/2025
Pastor Matt was amazing! We were lucky enough to have premarital counseling with him and to have him officiate our wedding. He worked with us on everything to make sure the script ...
was exactly what we wanted, and even added a bit of Spanish in there for us! Our guests loved him and so did we. So thankful!
Response from Pastor Matthew Samler on 06/22/2025
You guys were amazing! I loved our time both in our counseling and at the ceremony. I'm so...
excited to see God continue to use you both. Always here if you need anything.
Sarena C
5.0
12/13/2024
Pastor Matt was absolutely amazing. We were traveling to get married from out of state and he made everything easy! Spoke with us on the phone to learn about us and our relationshi...
p and we had a beautiful ceremony with the help of Matt
Response from Pastor Matthew Samler on 01/16/2025
Sarena thank you for review! I absolutely loved meeting you and Dylan! What a great day, t...
he venue, and the family were all so perfect! You guys are so special! Always rooting for you both!
Felixander S
5.0
11/19/2024
I can’t speak highly enough about Pastor Matt.
My wife and I were in a tight spot after loosing our last location due to hurricane damage. Pastor Matt helped make the transition...
easy. His thoughtful, caring, and humorous nature helped make our day special.
Response from Pastor Matthew Samler on 11/20/2024
What a perfect ceremony! It came together just like it was supposed to. So grateful to mee...
t you both. Thank you for the kind words guys.
Julia J
5.0
11/14/2024
Super happy with our decision to have Pastor Matt marry us! He made the ceremony seamless and fun. Super easy to communicate with.
Response from Pastor Matthew Samler on 11/18/2024
Thank you Julia! Great venue, great family and wedding party! Loved being apart of it!
Nathan O
5.0
10/18/2024
Pastor Matthew Samler did an absolutely outstanding job officiating our wedding! Personable, friendly; great communication. He did an outstanding job when meeting our families: ver...
y warm and courteous. I highly recommend to anyone looking for a wedding officiator!
Response from Pastor Matthew Samler on 10/18/2024
Thank you for the 5 star review Nathan! I loved the trip down to officiate your wedding, m...
eeting your families and I'm glad I was there to witness the first dance moment. That was EPIC! Thanks guys and here for you if you need anything.
Phyllis and Ray N
5.0
10/16/2024
We are from Louisiana and planned a wedding in Pigeon Forge in the mountains. We talked with Pastor Matt on the phone and had an instant connection with him. He told us we could w...
rite our own ceremony or take his script and tweak it how we wanted it, which is what we did. His ad libs were perfect also. He totally understood our vision and made our wedding exactly what we wanted and more. He is so professional, personable and easy going, and for that short time became part of our family, We knew he would be good, but he far exceeded our expectations. We can’t imagine our wedding without him as the Pastor.
Response from Pastor Matthew Samler on 10/16/2024
I will never forget this wedding! I absolutely love you guys and your family and friends w...
ere so welcoming. What an amazing day! We will see each other again!
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Pastor Matthew Samler
Matthew Samler
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Typically responds within 24h
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