The Nashville Wedding Guide
How to have an amazing wedding in Nashville! Whether you are local to Middle Tennessee or are planning a destination wedding this guide will help you plan your dream wedding!
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Are you dreaming of a getting married in Nashville? Nashville maybe known for country music, but there is so much this city offers. If you are traveling in for a destination wedding, there are so many fun places to explore from iconic bars and restaurants along Broadway and Elliston Place to the world renowned Ryman Auditorium and The Grand Ol Opry. Nashville has exploded over the past ten years with a phenomenal food scene, more cute shops, and exponential growth while still holding true to what makes Nashville so special.
Keep reading to learn about how to plan an wedding in Nashville!
+ Nashville Wedding Guide
+ Wedding Venues in Nashville
+ Wedding Videography Packages
+ How to get to Nashville
+ Airbnb's in Nashville
+ Exciting things to do in Nashville
+ Our Favorite Restaurants
+ Fun Hikes in Nashville
We are super excited to hear from you! Fill out this form with your wedding day details and we will be in touch soon!
~ Hunter and Madison
Contact Us
LET'S WORK TOGETHER
The Importance of Wedding Videography
Wedding videography can be seen as an expensive addition to photography. As well as, wedding videography has really changed over the last ten or really even five years. The perception of wedding videography is changing. I am not here to convince you to buy a wedding videography package or even to tell you to hire a videographer. Those decisions are completely up to you! But to help address the question of is a videographer worth it, I invite you to take a few moments and go on a journey with me.
For just a few minutes imagine and go on a journey with me.
You are married! You had a beautiful wedding and everything was perfect! The dance floor was packed, the food was delicious. You couldn’t have dreamed of a better day, and best of all you got to marry your best friend.
Fast forward to your first anniversary. As you are enjoying your evening you hear the sound of your wedding film playing on your husband's phone. You snuggle up with him and you watch your video.
What do you see?
Do you see your sister braiding your hair like y’all did when you were little? Or your mom fixing your dress? A special moment with your grandparents? The first look with dad? Maybe, the moment where you were given a gift that’s been passed down for generations.
Do you see the first time your husband saw you on your wedding day? Tears in his eyes? You see your dad walking you down the aisle, you hear the vows you made with your husband and the special moments of your ceremony.
These are just small samplings of what you would see two, five, ten, twenty years after your wedding. It’s these moments that are so important and why we love what we do.
Now for a minute imagine you don’t have that video. You can’t hear your vows, see the first looks, watch your first dance, or witness the raw and genuine love you two have.
This is why we believe wedding videography is worth it. Ultimately, it’s a decision you’ll have to make. But as Nashville wedding videographers we cherish and honor the ability to create wedding films that allow our couples to relive the most important moments to them.
Should you hire a videographer for your rehearsal dinner?
The rehearsal dinner is one of the most overlooked yet special events of the wedding. It’s usually a time to gather with your friends, family, out of town guests and bridal party to celebrate one last time before the wedding day. The rehearsal is over and it’s time to relax, have some great food, and usually share toasts and stories about the couple.
Looking back on our wedding, we loved our rehearsal dinner. There is something so special about hearing your parents, best friends, aunts, uncles, and grandparents share stories about how you met, crazy times, and watching you grow up. Our crazy aunts even wrote a poem and performed it as an ode to our marriage. It’s moments like these that we get to witness when we film rehearsal dinners that we really get to cherish what we get to do.
So much goes into planning a wedding and looking back on our rehearsal dinner we don’t remember a lot of what was said. We remember who spoke, a few stories, but the vast majority was just lost between the excitement of the day and with the wedding festivities to come. By having a recording of our rehearsal dinner we get the opportunity to go back and hear our grandparents share stories, watch our best friends laugh and tell of our crazy times. We get to relive our rehearsal dinner and we are so grateful we have a rehearsal dinner film for our wedding. These memories which unfortunately are rarely recorded at so many weddings get lost in the chaos of the wedding festivities. So, we always suggest to our couples to choose rehearsal dinner coverage. You will be so happy you did.
Hotel Wedding Venues in Downtown Nashville
Nashville is home to some of the finest hotels in the southeast from small boutique hotels like Bobby, Noelle, Dream, and 21c to larger brands like Marriott and Hilton. The unparalleled experience each one of these properties provides is unmatched. We have hand-selected the best hotel wedding venues for you to explore and learn more about! If you have any questions at all! Just contact us!
The Hermitage Hotel
Since 1910, The Hermitage Hotel has been woven into the fabric of Nashville’s heart, offering guests an authentic, award- winning centerpiece for celebrations of all types. Italian sienna marble, a cut, painted glass ceiling in our vaulted lobby, and luxe furnishings inspired by the era offer an inspired backdrop that awaits your event aspiration.
The Noelle
With a deep southern history on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Church Street in Downtown Nashville, Noelle sets itself apart from the rest of the crowded Nashville hotel scene. With 224 rooms housed in what was once one of Nashville’s first luxury properties, Noel Place, the hotel offers an authentic experience that pays homage to its past.
21c Museum Hotel
The 124 guest rooms and suites at 21c Nashville serve as a get away from the art and activity that fills the galleries and vibrant spaces in and surrounding the property. The guest rooms have wood floors, high ceilings, contemporary furnishings, large windows, and luxurious floor-to-ceiling drapery.
Dream Hotel
Dream Nashville reimagines two historic landmarked buildings steeped in a rich and colorful heritage while maintaining the celebrated history of Printer’s Alley.
Dream Nashville boasts 168 art deco-inspired rooms with high ceilings and sleek finishes and is situated on 4th Avenue North, a short walk to the downtown core.
JW Marriot
At JW Marriott Nashville, weddings are timeless, with seamless service, distinctive experiences and unforgettable moments. They create tailored events, with customizable venues and catering to match each couple’s unique passions and personalities. Set in the heart of downtown, their stunning wedding venues capture the beauty and authenticity of your day.
Bobby Hotel
Bobby is a vibrant lifestyle hotel unlike any other in the heart of Music City. Residing on historic Printers Alley in Downtown Nashville, Bobby Hotel is just a few blocks from the bustle of the Broadway yet far enough away to get some shut eye. It is home to an inherently creative experience that will take you on a journey of meeting Bobby himself.
Cambria Hotel
Located in the heart of South Broadway, Cambria Nashville provides an elegant, sophisticated backdrop for an unforgettable evening of happiness, great food and drinks, and (of course) dancing. Cambria provides the perfect space for a truly romantic ceremony and reception in the picturesque ballroom with modern Southern charm.
Thompson Nashville
Located in the Gulch neighborhood, Thompson Nashville exudes elegance in a chic, urban setting. The boutique hotel’s event space features floor to ceiling windows that let natural light flow into all spaces. Each space can be transformed to create memorable moments, paired with unmatched culinary excellence.
Estate Wedding Venues
The Estate style wedding venues in Nashville are amazing! Some of our favorites includes The Estate at Cherokee Dock and Cheekwood Estate and Gardens! Nashville may have barn venues, but they also have these stunning properties as well! Let us know if you have any questions about this wedding venues!
The Estate at Cherokee Dock
The Estate at Cherokee Dock is secluded on 13 acres of private property, The Estate features beautiful gardens, luxury stables, paddocks, guest house, and pool house. The estate has stunning event space inside and out all while being positioned on scenic acres of lakefront views.
Riverwood Mansion
Riverwood Mansion, nestled in the heart of East Nashville’s Inglewood neighborhood, is a perfect location for a dream wedding. Nashville is home to countless wedding venues and event spaces, but what really sets Riverwood Mansion apart from the rest is their all inclusive wedding experience.
Ravenswood Mansion
Ravenswood Mansion is located just 20 minutes outside of Nashville, in the City of Brentwood. The Mansion is an 1825 Antebellum Mansion that gives clients a beautiful space to dream up their perfect event. The Mansion sits on Brentwood property with over 400 acres to explore.
CHEEKWOOD ESTATE AND GARDENS
Cheekwood is one of Nashville’s premier wedding destinations and the perfect setting for rehearsal dinners, wedding ceremonies, and receptions. Cheekwood offers beautiful and unique indoor and outdoor wedding venues options! These include the botanical gardens and the Museum of Art.
Bellemeade Plantation
Belle Meade is the perfect spot for a destination wedding for medium to large events for up to 200 guests. The venue is located just 7 miles west of downtown Nashville. The venue has a boxwood garden, climate controlled Carriage House, an outdoor game court for a cocktail hour, and a tented event space! However, some of these are not available depending on the time of year!
East Ivy Mansion
East Ivy Mansion is 44,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space and a 250 guest capacity. The mansion is an Italian-Renaissance style mansion, built in 1867, and it features a marble-floored atrium, a walnut library, a sitting parlor, a grand dining room, a spacious living room area, a winding staircase, seven bedrooms and a master suite. The bedrooms provide guests with spectacular views of the Nashville downtown skyline or overlook a scenic courtyard.
WATCH THE FILM
Savanah & Logan
WATCH THE FILM
Kristen & Jeff
WATCH THE FILM
Samantha & Cody
Signature Wedding Films
Nashville Wedding Planners
Wedding Planners are so important to the wedding day. We absolutely love working with so many talented planners in the Nashville area! So, we compiled a list of our favorite wedding planners many of these planners we have worked with in the past, but their reputation far exceeds them! If you have any questions about nay of these planners just reach out to us!
Ad Astra Events
Ad Astra Events is an amazing planning company in Nashville, TN with a custom approach to wedding planning! Because no two weddings are the same, Ad Astra hand-crafts all package proposals. This means couples can choose how many meetings they want, what extra services they think they'll need, and how much of our time they want.
Favorite Nashville Wedding Venues: The Bedford, Wilburn Street Studio, Cannery Ballroom, The Cordelle, The Gaylord Opryland, Ravenswood Mansion, and Southall Meadows.
Amy & I Designs
Amy & I Designs provides wedding planning, and custom floral design services in Nashville. With our love for all things fabulous, we add our personal touch of style and charm to every wedding. We offer Full Service Planning, Partial Wedding Planning, and Month of Planning as well as Custom Floral Design packages. We want to help you in creating and bringing forth your vision for your special day.
Favorite Nashville Wedding Venues: 14 TENN, Loveless Barn, Noelle, Hermitage Hote
As We Gather
As We Gather is owned by Emily, a Nashville native who has found her calling assisting brides and grooms on their wedding journey. As We Gather specializes in full wedding planning and month of coordination. We have been in business for almost four years now and average 15 weddings a year or so. We only take on one wedding a weekend so that we can dedicate that whole week/weekend to the one couple.
Favorite Nashville Wedding Venues: Saint Elle, The Cordelle, Long Hollow Gardens, The Reserve, Ravenswood Mansion, Allenbrooke Farms
Elizabeth Events
At Elizabeth Events our goal is to make you feel like a guest at your own wedding! We offer packages ranging from Wedding Management all the way to Full Planning! We are also happy to tailor each of our packages to our clients needs. One thing that sets us a part is a value on our relationship with our clients. It is so important for us to build that trust with them so they can truly relax and know their wedding day is in good hands.
Favorite Nashville Wedding Venues: The Estate at Cherokee Dock, The Barn at Sycamore Farms, Ravenswood Mansion, War Memorial Auditorium, and The Reserve at Fat Bottom Brewery.
Elizabeth A. Wright Events
Elizabeth A. Wright Events has been planning upscale Southern weddings and events since 2012 in Nashville and all around the Southeast. Elizabeth is sought after by clients and vendors for her signature style and the aesthetic. She loves embracing different linen textures, color palettes, lighting, draping and calligraphy to give each event a unique personality. The close relationships with Nashville's top event industry leaders is key in her planning process. She stays current on the local wedding and event scene which is key in her planning process.
Favorite Nashville Wedding Venues: The Estate at Cherokee Dock, Cheekwood, Belle Meade Plantation, Country Music Hall of Fame, The Cordelle, Saint Elle, 14 TENN, Green Door Gourmet, Loveless, Southall Meadows, and Meadow Hill Farm!
Locklane Weddings & Events
From elaborate parties to citywide concerts, Megan has brought ideas and vision to life since 2005. We consider it an honor when couples ask us to be a part of their love story.The joining of two families, the lifetime commitment, the expression of who you are as a couple, the celebration. At Locklane, we do it all, from full-scale planning to event coordination. We relieve the stress of planning weddings and personal celebration by attending to all of the little details with a trained eye.
Favorite Nashville Wedding Venues: The Schermerhorn, Wilburn Street Studio, Beech Grove Historic Venue, Clementine
Music City Events
With Music City Events you have experienced, enthusiastic and committed planners available to walk you through the process. Each of our packages include a team of experienced planners, online management with real time updates, unlimited communication and support! Music City Events approaches each wedding as it is: a personal expression of your tastes. We do not have a "one angle approach" and work to ensure your wedding looks like YOU! Not your friends. Or that wedding on Pinterest. YOU.
Favorite Nashville Wedding Venues: The Cordelle, The Hermitage Hotel, The Schermerhorn, Cheekwood, Noelle
The New Eclectic
The New Eclectic is a boutique event planning company specializing in Full Planning. Partial Planning, and Month of Coordination in Nashville, TN. Our number one goal is to make the wedding planning process, which has been highly commercialized to equal stress, as peaceful and as stress-free as possible. We strive to create wedding environments that are unique to each couple, peaceful, comfortable, fun, and a true reflection of the things that are important to the couple
Favorite Nashville Wedding Venues: The Cordelle, Saint Elle, ONE, Ruby and Clementine, Wilburn Street Studio
Premier W.E.D.
Premier W.E.D. is an award winning wedding and event planning company based in Nashville, Tennessee and producing events nationwide. Owner Dawn Schenkel has earned a reputation over her 20 year career for producing events with unparalleled design and flawless execution. Coming on to the hospitality scene years before Pinterest or even Google was truly what it is, only strengthened Dawn's design sense and helps her keep an organic and authentic approach to each client's design. No cookie cutter brides! Let her hand-selected team of bright, energetic planners and directors bring your vision to life.
Favorite Nashville Wedding Venues: Cheekwood, The Estate at Cherokee Dock, Schermerhorn, Saint Elle, Cordell, East Ivy Mansion, Sycamore Farms, Clementine, War Memorial, Country Music Hall of Fame.
Velour Premier Events
Velour Premier Events was founded on the belief that an event, no matter how large or small, signifies a major historical milestone and deserves authentic planning and the utmost attention to detail. Whether it's a grand opening, album release, wedding or gala; each event requires precise execution. Velour aims to put a creative design to your vision and make the event of your dreams come to life.
Favorite Nashville Wedding Venues: Cherokee Dock, Clementine, The Cordelle, St. Elle, The Space at 100 Taylor, Sycamore Farms, And Cheekwood!
Vision in White Events
When potential couples meet us, they often tell us that they can tell we love what we do - and they're right! This doesn't feel like a job to us and it shows. We're passionate and creative and we're almost always having a laugh with our clients. We truly enjoy getting to know them on a personal level and maintain those relationships long after the bouquet has been tossed and the last sparkler has been extinguished.
Favorite Nashville Wedding Venues: The Cordelle, Belle Meade Plantation, Country Music Hall of Fame and Musician's Hall of Fame, Long Hollow Gardens and Saddle Woods Farms.
Elliott Events
Elliott Events is a boutique style wedding and event planner based in Nashville, TN. They specialize in creating custom events that are unique to our clients' personal style. What sets them apart in the industry is they are not only wedding planners but designers as well. Tiffanie and their team executes all of the décor aspects such as floral and draping, ensuring that every detail is how you imagined it would be
Favorite Nashville Wedding Venues: Marathon Music Works, Noah liff Opera Center ,
Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Country Music Hall of Fame
The Best time to visit Nashville
Nashville is beautiful all year round, but is most popular during the spring, summer, and fall. From large events like CMA Fest, and conferences, Nashville stays a very busy city. It truly has become a "hit city." For weddings and events, the most popular months are October, November and May and June. So, if you are considering a wedding in Nashville keep this in mind as you are looking for a wedding venue, picking a date, and planning!
How to get to Nashville!
Nashville is home to the Nashville International Airport which is undergoing a major renovation known as BNA Vision with plans to add a state of the art international arrivals facility, a new concourse, and so many other amazing features. The airport connects Nashville to the world with international and domestic flights! Nashville is also just a 2 hour drive from Chattanooga, TN and 3 hours from Birmingham, AL, Memphis, TN, and Knoxville, TN.
Best Airbnbs in Nashville!
Nashville is home to many different lodging options from hotels to Airbnb rentals! Use our built in widget below to find some amazing Airbnb's in Nashville!
Exciting things to do in Nashville!
+ The Ryman Auditorium
+ Downtown Franklin, TN
+ Explore the Gulch
+ Country Music Hall of Fame
+ The Grand Ole Opry
Our favorite Nashville restaurants!
+ Taqueria Del Sol
+ 5th and Taylor
+ Monell's
+ Jack Brown's
+ Martin's BBQ
+ L.A. Jackson
+ McDougal's
+ Pinewood Social
Fun hikes and parks in Nashville
+ Radnor Lake
+ Percy Warner Park
+ Cheekwood Estate
+ Long Hunter State Park
WHERE SHOULD WE TAKE OUR WEDDING PHOTOS IN NASHVILLE?
A: It really depends on which Nashville wedding venue that you book, but many venues offer getting-ready areas. If it's possible, I'd highly recommend that you get ready on-site. It makes for stress-free day, you don't have to rush around from one place to the next, and you simply are just more present with your day. That said, if your venue doesn't have a place for you to get ready thats big enough or beautiful enough for what you're wanting, I'd recommend getting a gorgeous Air BnB or Hotel room somewhere close to your venue with big windows and tons of natural light.
As Nashville wedding videographers, we have worked many weddings in the area, I highly recommend you book a venue where you can get ready there. The logistics of the whole day are simpler, your day is more laid back, and more enjoyable.
Q: WHERE SHOULD I GET READY FOR MY WEDDING?
A: It totally depends on your big day as each wedding is unique, but most couples are totally happy with 8 hours of coverage. If you are wanting more of the "all day" sort of coverage, 9 hours would be your best match. The biggest decision is really all about how much reception that you want covered. Are you planning on doing a special send-off at the end of the night? If so, you might want that 9 hour coverage -- if you don't want to do a fake send-off when your videographer is scheduled to leave. There are a few variables that affect what is a good number of hours of coverage.You can always add on time after everything is made official, too. So, at the very minimum, I highly recommend you start with at least 8 hours, and that's what roughly 80% of couples who book us stick with.
HOW MANY HOURS OF VIDEOGRAPHY COVERAGE DO WE NEED?
A: Nashville venues are extremely popular, so as soon as you know your wedding date that you want - book it! Don't hesitate at all to lock in your wedding venue. And when you tour the venue of your dreams, it's even a good idea to have a backup date in mind. After all, if that Saturday you want to book is already taken, booking that venue on a Friday or Sunday can not only be available, but it might be available for a lower rate as well! Each owner/manager operates differently, so make sure to get in touch with them directly and ask your questions early. There's never a time "too early" to lock in the venue and the vendors who you really want to ensure are there for you on your wedding day. Same goes for your Nashville wedding videographer - us! We've had many couples even book with us prior to their wedding to ensure they have their date reserved on our calendar, and then they find a wedding venue that fits that date. Nashville's popular wedding venues book usually at least 12 months in advance.
Q: NASHVILLE WEDDING VENUES ARE GETTING BOOKED UP! HOW FAR IN ADVANCE SHOULD I BOOK MY VENUE?
A FEW OF OUR MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS!
FAQ
A: At your venue! Heading off-site in Nashville is not recommended unless you add in ample time, so book a wedding venue that makes for amazing photos! To be quite frank, Nashville traffic makes it complicated to do offsite photos. If you choose a wedding venue downtown there are photo options close by, just plan in adequate travel times and transportation for you, your bridal party, and your photo and video teams!
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We met in kindergarten and are the best thing that has ever happened to one other! We are childhood friends, turned high-school sweethearts. We love to travel and explore the world, usually with cameras in hand. Some of our favorite places have been Banff, Moab, London, and Ireland.
Our love story is very special, and we believe that is one reason we love wedding filmmaking so much; we have the honor of telling each couple’s love story as if it were our own!
Our work has been featured in publications like The Knot, Artfully Wed, Nashville Bride Guide, and Aisle Society. In the past four years, we have worked with amazing clients and have raving reviews. Needless to say, we love what we do!
We hope this guide has been so helpful in planning your wedding! If you have any questions, need recommendations, or want to chat send us an email!
GET TO KNOW THE Videographers behind this Nashville Wedding Guide!
Meet Us!
We are super excited to hear from you! Fill out this form with your wedding day details and we will be in touch soon!
~ Hunter and Madison
Contact Us
LET'S WORK TOGETHER
