Cheekwood Estate and Gardens Wedding

Cheekwood Estate and Gardens is one of Nashville’s premier wedding destination and the perfect setting for rehearsal dinners, showers, wedding ceremonies, and receptions. Instead of ballrooms, Cheekwood offers beautiful and unique indoor and outdoor wedding venues options! These include the botanical gardens and the Museum of Art. If you are searching for the perfect wedding venue in Nashville, Cheekwood is the perfect venue to make your wedding dreams a reality.

The Cheekwood Estate and Gardens is a 55-acre botanical garden and art museum located on the historic Cheek estate. The estate was originally established in 1929 as the home of Leslie and Mabel Cheek and is a prime example of the American Country Place Era. In 1960 the estate was converted into a museum of art and botanical garden featuring world-class art exhibits, world-renowned gardens, and a historic estate unlike anything else in the southeast. Cheekwood is the only botanical garden in Nashville, and it welcomes over 225,000 visitors every single year. Creekwood boasts events and festivals year-round with over 150,000 blooming tulips in the spring to one mile of holiday lights in the winter, and even a fall festival with pumpkins galore!

Cheekwood Estate and Gardens Weddings

Cheekwood Estate and Gardens weddings are the perfect way to celebrate your wedding! They offer so many amazing wedding venue options across the property! So, we have compiled a list of ceremony and reception options available at Cheekwood!

Wills Perennial Garden

The Wills Perennial Garden is located below the formal gardens of the Historic Mansion & Museum. The garden is dedicated to both new and traditional perennials and is a favorite site for wedding ceremonies. The garden has expansive views of rolling hills. The beautiful perennials and expansive lawn that can seat 300 guests make it one of Cheekwood’s most beautiful outdoor venues.

The Reflecting Pool

The Reflecting Pool is perfect for ceremonies, cocktail hour, and even elopements! The pool is located on the western side of the mansion, where it overlooks the nearby hills of Percy Warner Park. The garden is accented with water features, stonework, and a beautiful view of the museum and surrounding property. The Reflecting Pool can seat 120 guests, so it is the perfect outdoor space for your intimate wedding ceremony.

Wisteria Arbor

The Wisteria Arbor is one of the most photographed and arguably one of the prettiest spots on the entire estate. The arbor is situated on the mansion’s west wing with breathtaking views of the surrounding Warner Park and the Reflecting Pool. The Wisteria Arbor consists of two parts; an upper and lower arbor separated by a dramatic fountain and cascading double staircase. The arbor is perfect for elopements, cocktail receptions, intimate receptions, and ceremonies. The arbor can accommodate 50 guests for a ceremony, 75 for a cocktail reception, and 30 for a seated dinner.

Loggia

The Loggia is a unique and beautiful space on the property with vast ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, the historic Loggia overlooks the beautiful Swan Lawn and Swan Fountain. The Loggia connects the mansion to the back of the property. The Cheekwood staff suggests pairing this dinner space with cocktails on the Wisteria Arbor for the ultimate Cheekwood mansion experience. The loggia is perfect for ceremonies (75 guests), receptions, and even seated dinners (50 guests).

Howe Garden Ceremonies

The Howe Garden, one of the most famous gardens on the property because of its horticulture, design, and environmental impact was originally a private garden in the home of horticulturalists Mrs. Harry A. (Cora) Howe in the mid-20th century. The Howe Garden is highlighted by water streams, a thatched cottage, and the original iron gates, but now serves as a beautiful wedding ceremony option!

Shōmu-en, Blevins Japenese Garden

Shōmu-en, or the pine mist garden, is one of the most peaceful locations at Cheekwood with a dark bamboo forest, gingkos, maples, and water streams. The garden features a pavilion that serves as the perfect location for small wedding ceremonies (can accommodate up to 50 guests). The Shōmu-en, Blevins Japanese Garden can give your ceremony that all the destination wedding feels, without ever leaving Nashville.

Burr Terrace Garden

The Burr Terrace Garden is perfect for micro-weddings and elopements as it can accommodate up to 35 guests. The garden is reminiscent of a garden in Padua, Italy that is considered to be the oldest surviving botanical garden in the world.

Massey Hall

The most versatile of Cheekwood’s indoor wedding venues, Massey Hall and its adjoining terraces provide a changing backdrop of art exhibits and greenery. Massey Hall is the perfect space for larger weddings and receptions as it can accommodate 300 guests seated and 400 for a cocktail reception.

Historic Mansion & Museum

Transport yourself to another era with this 1930’s Georgian-style Mansion. The mansion has authentic furnishings surrounded by lush, formal gardens perfect for any large wedding or reception. The mansion can accommodate up to 300 guests. Note: The rental of the Historic Mansion & Museum includes access to Wisteria Arbor, Loggia, and use of Cheekwood’s beautiful Swan Lawn. If you choose to use the Swan Lawn you are required to rent a tent and floor.

Frist Learning Center Courtyard – 250 Receptions

The Frist Learning Center has a rustic, yet elegant appeal, combining the original stables and carriage house of the Cheek estate with a two-story, glass building opening onto a lovely brick courtyard. The former stables have been transformed into the ideal setting for an outdoor wedding reception under the stars. The courtyard can accommodate up to 250 guests. In addition, this space offers three rooms to accommodate catering and holding areas. The Frist Lawn is also available as an add-on as it is adjacent to the Frist Learning Center and has beautiful views of the eastern slope of the museum grounds.

The venue is spectacular in all seasons, and has so many options when it comes to outdoor weddings! With your Cheekwood Estate and Gardens Wedding, it includes

Membership to Cheekwood (Cheekwood members get discounted admission and other member-only events throughout the year! )
Self Parking; Valet options are available for an additional fee
An Event Supervisor
Use of Cheekwood grounds for engagement or bridal portraits prior to the wedding date. Use of the grounds day of the event for photography is included.
Ceremony rehearsal
Vendor referrals
White folding chairs (up to 250 for ceremony sites). Alternate styles available for an additional fee.

Elopements at Cheekwood

It has become so popular for weddings and events that is one of the top elopement destinations in the southeast! If you are looking for something a bit more intimate and romantic, then Cheekwood is the venue for you! You can use the gardens as the backdrop for your beautiful elopement! Their elopement package is available for ten guests or less, which also allows for free admission and parking for everyone. If you are planning to elope in Nashville, this elopement package is available weekdays only, Tuesday-Friday from 9 am – 5 pm. Each elopement package includes 3 hours and must be completed before the estate closes. Cheekwood allows couples to pick any outside location in the gardens for a standing-only ceremony (you cannot bring chairs). They also have a changing area available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Things to note when Planning a Cheekwood Estate and Gardens Wedding

A few important things to note about having your wedding a Cheekwood from the Cheekwood events team!

Cheekwood is open to the public from 9 AM – 5 PM. In order to give our guests the best experience, we allow all private events to start times no earlier than 5:30 PM for a garden ceremony and 6 pm in our reception spaces. Unfortunately, Cheekwood cannot accommodate daytime weddings. In 2020, ceremonies may start at 6pm with receptions to follow.
We have designated areas that can be used for a changing area for the bride and her bridesmaids that are on a first come first served basis which can be available as early as 9 AM. Please inquire about these spaces upon booking. On your wedding day, you have access to the grounds for photography beginning at 9 AM and ending when we close to the public at 5 PM, pending the availability of space. This may include all gardens and ground as well as the arbors that are on the side of the Historic Mansion & Museum. Once we close to the public, we ask that you and all guests make your way to your designated rental.
All rental items must be booked through Cheekwood. Please Be Seated is our preferred partner for general rentals and Bright Events is our preferred partner for lighting and A/V needs. All valet service requests will be arranged by Cheekwood with PMC, our preferred valet service provider. Billing for all of these services will go through Cheekwood.
Cheekwood requires that you contract with at least a month of planner for all events held at the Historic Mansion & Museum, Frist Learning Center, and/or Massey Hall.

If you want to learn more about a Cheekwood Estate and Gardens Wedding? Click here to learn more and schedule a tour today! Let us know if you have any questions about this beautiful venue, and if you are still looking for a videographer for your wedding, we would love to talk with you!