Nashville is a lovely city with rolling hills and green hardwoods and pines, and lots of riverfront and lakes for water sports. With its southern history and antebellum past, there are lots of venues for weddings that would be superb choices for those wanting an alternative to the traditional Church location. Imagine getting married in an ante bellum mansion or even a castle! There are several lovely and quite elegant homes that are available on a rental basis for wedding parties.
Perhaps the most lavish is the famous Bellmont Mansion, it’s Grand Salon considered to be the most elaborate interior in Tennessee Grand Salon. Filled with marble statuary collected by the home’s owner and inspiration, Adelicia Acklen Cheatham, this site would create a wedding venue of undeniable grandeur. http://www.belmontmansion.com/home.htm Please click on the web site to download contracts and to read about rental information on the wedding link. They have theatre style seating for 120 in the Grand Salon, so this will accomodate a medium-sized wedding–and they host receptions too, so people won’t have to be trotting from one spot to another. There are several other superb locations for a wedding and attendant parties–Falcon Manor, Stones River, Riverwood and Two Rivers Mansions–but I definitely think Belmost is at the top of the list for this type of elegant wedding.
I should, though, mention Riverwood, as a real ante-bellum mansion with the feel of that era. The Riverwood staff are experts at servicing weddings and offer outdoor settings as well as indoor. They have a special “La Petit” wedding and reception package for people desiring an elegant yet simple affair for smaller parties. Full service including consultation is included for a complete 5 hr. rental package. Click on the site for more details.
The beautiful Parks in historic Nashville are a perfect setting for those desiring a more open and less elegant wedding site. It can be a beautiful way for a couple to start their lives together without the huge expense that would be needed for a “mansion” wedding, which would run into thes several thousand dollar category for a 5-7 hr. rental time. Of course planning would add considerable cost, but most loval parks will allow weddings in them for around $75.
Centennial Park is one of the most popular sites for weddings and has been for decades. One reason is that weddings will take place within the breathtaking Botanical Gardens. See what is so special about this place and find more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centennial_Park_(Nashville)
The outdoor setting of a Park wedding makes a spectacular medley for picture-takers and that wedding album. Here is the contact information for them:
Centennial Park Office
Nashville, TN 37201
Phone: (615) 862-8400
Fax: (615) 862-8414
Now I have another suggestion for those really wanting a smaller wedding with close friends in an intimate setting. It will also allow you to celebrate and reward your attendees with an overnight where they can celebrate with either the bride and groom right on the spot or by themselves! Yes, I’m talking about a Bed and Breakfast wedding. No, it wouldn’t have to be lavish or accommodate many people, but what better venue for a very small, intimate type of affair?
Here are some popular and quite nice accommodations in the Nashville area: http://nashville.about.com/od/bedandbreakfast/Nashville_Bed_and_Breakfast.htm
These B&Bs; are very helpful with wedding arrangements and if you plan well ahead, the bridal couple can arrange overnight accommodations for many of their out of town guests.
One last possibility for weddings is to go the “chapel” route. It is less expensive than renting one of the mansions and these places specialize in only that–weddings–so they’re extremely professional and can offer a ton of help for couple when they’re already stressed out with all the planning. They can arrange everything from the music to setting up the officiate, so this is a particularly good avenue for these types of situations. Places like the Bridal Gallery will even be able to offer assistance with gowns and wedding accoutrements.
Here is about.com’s listing of chapels in the area: http://nashville.about.com/od/weddingchapels/Nashville_Wedding_Chapels.htm
