First on the list, the stunning:

Trinity View Farm

Trinity View Farm is located just a short 30 minute drive south of Nashville, in the rolling hills of Franklin, TN. Pulling through the gates and driving up the gently curving drive through the trees feels like you’re being transported to another world. Then the trees part, and you’re greeted by the stunning villa style main building and truly incredible views of the rolling hills on all sides. It is truly spectacular to experience. Trinity View Farm was built with the intention to add to it’s surroundings, not take away, and that intention was surely accomplished.

Beyond the beautiful aesthetics though, the team at Trinity View Farm is dedicated to creating an impeccable experience for every client that walks through their doors. The care and heart they show for their clients is top notch, and since they are a low volume venue, every client is shown exquisite care. The venue is a blank canvas for creating just the right vibe for your unique story and celebration that you (and your guests!) will remember for a lifetime.

From getting ready spaces with tons of gorgeous natural light, the event barn and it’s architectural details, and the ceremony field with views for dayssss, you’re sure to fall in love at first sight (again!).

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Cheekwood Botanical Gardens

Cheekwood is a Nashville icon for a reason. The rolling hills, lush gardens, stunning architecture, and little delightful details around every corner create the perfect backdrop for your wedding. Their guiding principle of “beauty that nurtures the spirit” is evident at every turn.

Whether you’re having the most intimate elopement or the grandest affair, you’ll find a variety of stunning spaces that feel like you’ve transported to a magical land. The views and architecture at the Wisteria Arbor are always a favorite, and you can’t miss the new pavilion in the Children’s Garden.

But beyond the most well known spots at Cheekwood, you’ll find gorgeous spots for every style and event size scattered throughout the gardens.

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Noelle Nashville

Standing on the corner in the heart of downtown Nashville, amidst the hustle and bustle and growth of this musical city, is the art deco gem Noelle Nashville. Built in 1929 and originally Noel, the hotel has a storied history including transforming into a bank for decades, before now becoming a luxury experience where “Nashville’s thriving creative community comes to life”.

The white walls, stunning oak floors, and giant windows of the Saidee Gallery are a stunning spot for the celebration of your dreams (can you even imagine the way a floral installation would pop against those walls?!). It’s a blank canvas to perfectly bring to life your vision. While the glamorous gathering areas of the hotel provide endless photo opportunities. The way the light streams into the Saidee Gallery feels like you’ve just been transported to Paris–but as you glance outside you can spot the iconic sign for Printer’s Alley and know that Nashville’s musical heartbeat is just steps away.

_{See more Noelle here}

Let me know what you think–do these Nashville wedding venues make you feel like you’re in Europe?

If your heart is set on Europe and the real thing, a couple bonus notes to keep in mind. First, your wedding is your wedding. You’re allowed to follow your vision and your heart and create the intentional and joy-filled celebration of YOUR dreams. If a local wedding makes the most sense for you and your loved ones though, that doesn’t mean you can’t still celebrate in Europe! Consider a celebratory engagement trip to Paris (and take your wedding photographer along to create some stunning engagement images of you in your favorite city!). Or if the European honeymoon is more your style, you can still have post wedding images created while you’re there (and could even bring along your dress and tux if you wanted!).

Whatever you do, may it be filled with joy, intention, and magic and just perfectly you. Wishing you all the best in your planning!

xoxo,

Jen

P.S. Planning a wedding and still looking for a photographer? Let’s chat! Jen documents the stories and the magic of the in-between with stunning, heart-felt images for couples who are planning intentional days of celebration with the people they love most. Jen has photographed weddings & portraits all over the world for 14 years, and loves getting to know what matters most to you about your wedding and your photos, and delivering an impeccable experience alongside tons of beautiful photos. Reach out to learn more.

What you don’t have time for is some cheesy, stand in front of this random brick wall or tree engagement photos. No no. Your story is way bigger than that.

Here’s three ideas to take your engagement photos to the next level, that you can tweak to perfectly fit your style and personality (and remember: a great photographer will support you and guide you in this–not leave you to figure it all out on your own!).

Three ideas for non-cheesy engagement photos

1. A grand European excursion: Maybe you’ve planned a trip to Paris to celebrate your engagement and enjoy some beautiful quality time together before all the hustle and bustle of planning your wedding day. Why not take a morning or afternoon to document it with your engagement photos? Strolling along the Seine, basking in the magical light that only exists in Paris, madly in love in the city of love. What could be better? Even if your wedding photographer is based in the US, it’s likely they would love to photograph you in a different destination!
   
2. An epic nature adventure with a fashion flair: Love the outdoors and going on an adventure? Pick a favorite epic nature location and enjoy some grounding, peaceful time in nature together, while you get to have stunning photos that document your love for the outdoors AND each other. For an interesting contrast, kick it up with an over the top dress–it will add beautiful movement to your images, and the contrast with the natural setting can be pure art. Check out sites like Rent the Runway for something that feels like the best kind of dress up! Permits are often required for popular hiking areas, your photographer should be able to guide you, and remember to always leave no trace!
   
3. A cozy, morning coffee at home kind of session: Take it ultra cozy by having your engagement session done at home. Think snuggly, Sunday mornings and coffee–maybe even a little bit spicy! Or, if you’re in a walkable area, start with some cozy photos at home before heading out to document some of your favorite date spots (like the below engagement session in NYC!).
   
4. And bonus: The biggest tip for non-cheesy engagement photos? Be present. Be yourselves. Let go of any idea of what engagement photos “should” be, and let the magic of what is show up and lead you to stunning, magical photos of this season of your lives together.

I’m Jen, and I create stunning and heart-felt images for your most joyful days. I love supporting you to create an engagement session that is unique and meaningful to you, something outside the box that becomes a special memory of it’s own when you look back at this sweet season in your lives. I specialize in weddings and sessions in Colorado, Nashville, and Paris, and am available for travel world wide. Get in touch for more info, and I can’t wait to hear from you!

Which engagement session vibe is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

Cheers!

xoxo,

Jen

Colorado & Nashville wedding photographer Jen Creed creates stunning and heart-felt images of your most joy-filled days. Get in touch to check availability and get more info!

One of the best things about weddings in Colorado is that there are some truly incredible venues right in the mountains so you can get stunning photos–without the hiking boots! (Keep scrolling to see more of one of my favorites!).

Which leads me to:

Three reasons why you should have a mountain wedding:

1. Soak in the beauty and peace of nature: There’s no vibes like it. Stepping out into the crisp air, surrounded by the wind in the trees and mountains as far as your eyes can see? It’s such an incredible and grounding experience–perfect for starting this next phase of your beautiful journey together.
2. Create a memorable experience–for you AND your guests: unless all your guests live in the mountains (statistically unlikely), getting away into the mountains creates a memorable experience, out of the ordinary, that will stick with them. It’s such a unique time to have people from so many different areas of your life, all in one spot. The added layer of unique and memorable location crystallizes it in time even more!
3. Get stunning wedding photos: with a venue right in the mountains, we can create stunning and heart-felt wedding photos together, without having to hike for hours or take you away from celebrating with your people for long. Just enough time for you and your love to step away, take some intentional time to enjoy being together on your wedding day and soaking in the joy, while we create magical images you’ll look back on for years to come.

To give you some inspiration, here are some favorites from a wedding at Northstar Gatherings, located in Idaho Springs, Colorado. Side note: stepping out of the car upon arrival at this venue, I was struck with how quiet it was outside. It was one of the most peaceful and magical settings I’ve ever experienced!

Looking to have stunning and heart-felt photos of your wedding day? Get in touch!

Are you considering a mountain wedding? I’d love to hear what you’re looking forward to most! Let me know in the comments!

Colorado wedding photographer Jen Creed creates stunning and heart-felt images of your most joy-filled days. Get in touch to check availability and get more info!

Images photographed by Jen Creed on behalf of Julia & Ken Photography

One of the most beautiful spots for an elopement in Nashville is among the classic columns and incredible light at the War Memorial Auditorium. This intimate ceremony was attended by just a few friends, and full of so much joy!

Looking to have stunning and heart-felt photos of your joy-filled day? Reach out, and I can’t wait to hear from you!

xoxo,

Jen

1. The Schermerhorn Symphony Center

Ok can you even handle the gorgeous architecture here? The Schermerhorn is located just steps off Broadway, but is an elevated, elegant space all to itself. Things to love (especially for photos!): The stunning architecture inside and out, the courtyard for an outdoor ceremony space, and the light fixtures in the concert hall top my list of favorites! Plus, the concert hall is the perfect setting for a huge dance party celebration with your favorite people!

2. Cedarwood Weddings

Let’s take it the other direction and visit Cedarwood, the elegantly relaxed historic estate. Set in the rolling hills of Nashville, this Nashville wedding venue is perfect for those who love nature and also love an elevated vibe. Things to love: The gorgeous covered pavilion, the hidden away lakeside cedar grove, the sunsets amongst the rolling hills. Plus, it’s all inclusive which means you get to sit back and enjoy the process while Cedarwood’s team takes impeccable care of all the details!

3. The Cordelle 

This Nashville wedding venue gives it all: historic charm meets modern and garden vibes, with a huge range of flexibility to fit your style! The Cordelle is a beautiful blank slate that especially lends itself to some incredible floral design, if that’s your thing! Things to love: The brightness of the great hall, the tranquility of the garden space, the incredible getting ready space in the loft! Special mention also goes to their new beautiful oasis sister venue The Saint Elle for your larger celebrations!

Looking for a photographer for your Nashville wedding? Let’s chat!

4. Cheekwood Estate & Gardens

Cheekwood Estate & botanical gardens is a Nashville classic for a reason! This venue has a huge range of variety of settings both indoor and outdoor, gorgeous architecture, and of course, the stunning gardens. Things to love: The Wisteria Arbor (need I say more?!), the light and all the greenery, the historic architecture.

5. The Hermitage Hotel

Looking for an iconic Nashville wedding venue? This is the spot for you! The Hermitage Hotel is elevated, glamorous, and right in the heart of downtown. Things to love: the elevated vibe, the light in The Veranda, the outdoor architecture. Plus, it’s just steps away from the Legislative Plaza, another stunning spot for photos! 

6. Clementine Hall (Bonus!!)

The Nashville vibe doesn’t get any better than at Clementine Hall, just steps away from downtown Nashville and near the Nations. A reimagined church building, it brings in classic brick architecture mixed with STUNNING modern details and touches. Things to love: THE COURTYARD!! Such a gorgeous oasis and beautiful light. The different touches of wallpaper and textures, the beautiful getting ready areas.

The venues in Nashville are ever growing and changing and I’d love to hear–what are your favorites? Is yours on this list? 

Happy wedding planning!

xoxo,

Jen

Planning an intentional, elevated wedding celebration with your favorite people and can’t wait to celebrate with everyone? Excited for all the magic and joy of the day? If you love photos and are still looking for your perfect fit wedding photographer, I’d love to chat with you! Fill out the form here to check availability, and I’ll be in touch to set up a call to go over all the info you need! You can also view more images and info on the website!

Nashville wedding photographer Jen Creed has been documenting weddings for over 14 years, and loves creating elevated, natural, beautiful images with you that show all the magic and joy of celebrating with the people you love most on your wedding day. Wedding collections with full story coverage, two photographers, and your digital files start at $6500, and can be customized to perfectly fit your needs. Get in touch to check availability and receive more info! 

Happy Friday, everyone! Who can believe it’s already November?! We’re so grateful for such a full fall, and so, so excited to be sharing some of our favorite images from Megan and Daniel’s fall Cedarwood wedding with you today! Megan and Daniel just so clearly love to enjoy life together with their people. They actually met at a wedding, and they love to travel and spend time together (along with their pup, Harvey, of course!). They planned such a beautiful celebration at Cedarwood, and were so excited to have all of their friends and family together in once place to celebrate. And celebrate they did! It was such a joy-filled day, and I loved seeing their smiles that never left their faces as they soaked in time with everyone. It was a day of fun and a day of emotion (I especially love the moments between Megan and her sweet dad) and a day of families coming together. One of the highlights of the evening, to me, was the heart-felt toasts during dinner. These two love and are so loved by their people, and it was beautiful to hear about them through other’s words, and hear about what big hearts they have. Add all of that in with Cedarwood’s magical beauty and it just makes our hearts so happy!

Keep scrolling to see more of our favorites from the day!

Congratulations, Megan and Daniel! We are so happy for you both as you start out on this incredible adventure together as such an awesome time. You are both going to do amazing things! We have so loved getting to know you through this process, and getting to create these images for you! We wish you both all the joy and adventure as you grow together!

Huge thanks to everyone who helped make Megan and Daniel’s wedding so awesome, including: Venue/Planning/Styling/Floral Design: Cedarwood Weddings | Paper Design: Designs in Paper | Entertainment: Premier – The Entertainment Company | Catering: Dream Events & Catering | Cake: Patty Cakes | Bride’s Dress: Enzoani from Posh Bridal | Suits: The Groomsman Suit | Hair and Makeup: Hunter Paige Bridal

Happy Friday, everyone! We hope you are all having a great weekend!

Jen & Chris Creed specialize in creating beautiful photos of real moments for joyful couples. Located in Nashville, TN and available for travel worldwide!

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Hello, everyone!

We are excited to be sharing more of Laken and Jerry’s rainy day wedding at CJ’s off the Square with you today! Laken and Jerry are so laid back and easy going, and just love to experience life together. They planned the sweetest, intimate celebration with some of their closest family and friends, and weren’t about to let a little rain get in the way of that. Fun fact: CJ’s off the Square is less than a mile from the now infamous Pilgrimage Festival, which was taking place the same weekend as Laken and Jerry’s wedding. Throughout the day we could hear music from some of the stages, but just before the ceremony, a huge storm blew through, shutting down the festival and leaving people stranded in their cars. But thanks to the team at CJ’s, we were all warm and dry under the gorgeous pavilion, and Laken and Jerry were married to the thunderous applause of the storm and rain on the roof. So. freaking. awesome!

Keep scrolling to view more of our favorite images from their rainy wedding day!

So much love for a classic portrait!

Congratulations, Laken and Jerry! We are so happy for you both, and loved documenting your celebrations. We hope you are loving settling in to married life!

A huge thanks to everyone who helped make it such an incredible day, including: Venue/Planning/Styling: CJ’s off the Square | Floral Design: The Enchanted Florist | Catering: McConnell House Catering | Cake: Wolfe Gourmet Cakes | DJ: Premier-The Entertainment Company

Happy Halloween, everyone! Hope you’re having a great fall!

Jen & Chris Creed specialize in creating beautiful photos of real moments for joyful couples. Located in Nashville, TN and available for travel worldwide!

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Intimate weddings are typically smaller events with a smaller guest list. But that is not the only thing that makes a wedding “intimate.” It’s all about space and how you use it. You could easily have a 100-150 person wedding and still have it feel intimate. You’ll find on this list everything from elopement locations to a 300+ person intimate wedding location that can fell just as close. It’s all in how you build your wedding at the location you choose.

So here it is: Our top 8 Amazing Intimate Wedding Locations In Nashville

1. CJ’s Off The Square – Franklin, TN

CJ’s venue located just off the square in Franklin, Tn (about a 30 min drive from downtown Nashville) is tailor made for intimate weddings. This historic home venue packs a ton of charm and is home to the most amazing garden where couples usually say “I Do.” CJ’s (an all-inclusive venue) also has a perfect pavilion for your guests to enjoy cocktails, dinner (or brunch!) and dancing. Especially if you’re coming in from out of town and looking to have a great team to get all the details lined up, this is the perfect spot for you.

Click here to see more images from CJ’s Off The Square Weddings.

2. St. Augustine’s Chapel on the campus of Vanderbilt University – Nashville, TN (West End)

This beautiful, A-frame chapel located on the campus of Vanderbilt University is as charming as it is absolutely stunning. Completed in 1958, this mid-century dream of a chapel can seat up to 150 people, making it the perfect chapel for intimate weddings! If you’re thinking of having a reception, we recommend doing what Katie & Joe did after their wedding at the chapel and having it at one of the many nearby local restaurants. We recommend looking into Park Cafe in Sylvan Park or Adele’s in The Gulch.

Click here to see the full wedding at St. Augustine’s and reception at Park Cafe.

3. Riverwood Mansion – Nashville, TN (East Side)

Built in the late 1790′s among its original 2,500 acres, Riverwood is one of Nashville’s oldest homes. And you can feel the history when you drive through those gates. Another all-inclusive venue (again, perfect for destination weddings!), they have packages for elopements, intimate weddings, and weddings up to 300+. Want to have your wedding in an epic, magical garden that backs up to one of Nashville’s Oldest homes? But also want options for if it rains? This is your place. They are built to accommodate – rain or shine – with a beautiful tented pavilion and a perfect indoor space in the mansion that can serve as “plan-b”

Click here to see more Riverwood Mansion Weddings

4. Arrington Vineyards – Arrington, TN

Wine. We love it. Arrington is such a gem of a spot that not a lot of folks make it out to when they visit. Situated on beautiful hillside in Arrington, Tn (about 35 minutes from downtown Nashville), the vineyard is perfect for intimate weddings and elopements. Go buy a couple bottles of (fantastic!) wine, pop them open in the vines, and say I do! Or if you’d like a bit more structure (or have a larger group) they do have a sister property called Lilac Farms that includes a picturesque barn and house for your event. But either way, you shouldn’t miss this beautiful Nashville winery.

Click here to see more Arrington Vineyard Weddings

5. Air BnB/VRBO/HomeAway Rentals

Alright, This one sticks out from the pack but I want you to have a couple “out-of-the-box” options here as well. More and more of our couples are renting Air BnBs and the like to host guests, themselves, or even their events. One of our clients, rented an EPIC cabin in Leiper’s Fork just outside of Nashville to have their wedding. They cooked lunch for the family, got married under a tree in the front yard to the sound of absolutely nothing, and it was awesome! If you’re having trouble deciding on something that would be a fit for your needs, consider looking for rentals in the Nashville area. Definitely search for “Leiper’s Fork” area homes if you want to get a more secluded cabin feel or “12 South for a more upscale, modern feel.

Click here to see a full Air BnB Wedding In Nashville.

6. Cheekwood Botanical Gardens – Nashville, TN (Belle Meade)

Cheekwood is a must see when you’re in Nashville. A 55-acre botanical garden and art museum, it would be tough to see it all on a single visit. But the good news is, the wedding location spots are planned out. You just have to pick one Cheekwood makes for a beautiful backdrop in any season and has fantastic options for receptions as well. Definitely one of our favorites as it’s impossible not fall in love with the immense beauty of the grounds, the architecture on the home, and the incredible views from the top of the estate. Absolutely perfect!

Click here to see more Cheekwood Weddings

7. Scarritt Bennett Center – Nashville, TN (West End)

Located near the campus of Vanderbilt and just minutes from Downtown Nashville, Scarritt Bennett is a great location for those wanting a more intimate church wedding with convenience to pretty much everything Nashville is known for.  Whitman Hall (“One of the Best Places to Get Married” by the Toast of Nashville’s annual survey.) has beautiful stained glass windows that allow the afternoon light to stream through, creates a warm, inviting, and unforgettable environment for your ceremony. Even though it can fit several hundred, this is one venue that feels intimate no matter the guest count. Other options for ceremonies on the historic campus are: Skinner Chapel (for very small weddings) , and The International Garden/Labyrinth for a unique outdoor ceremony.

Click here to see more Scarritt Bennett Weddings

8. Fall Creek Falls State Park – Spencer, TN

Alright, to be perfectly clear, this isn’t in Nashville. Some might say it’s not even close. But, it’s so worth it. Especially if you’re like us and you’re always up for a hike and an epic waterfall. It’s located about two hours outside of Nashville towards Chattanooga. It’s a beautiful drive and once you’re there, oh man. It. Is. Amazing. Fall Creek Falls, at 256 feet, is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States. (side note: The main falls are not always rushing. It’s best to go in a rainier season like April or October to see them in their full glory.) Other attractions include an epic rope bridge and other water falls to make a perfect backdrop to your big day! Also, this a great place to look for cabins and such as well. Or, venture down to Chattanooga! Lots of fun down there too.

Click here to see a full Fall Creek Falls Adventure Elopement

This should get you started as you search for that perfect place to have your intimate wedding in Nashville. Just remember that you get to decide how your wedding feels and the experience you want it to be for your guests and for you. If you want it to feel intimate even with a slightly larger guest count, you can make that happen! All it takes is a bit of intentionality and strategic place picking

And also, that the most important thing is that you two are getting married and that’s awesome!! So enjoy the process, soak it all in, and have fun!

Cheers to you!

Jen and Chris Creed

Keep scrolling to see some of our favorite moments of the day!

A little background to this image: I know it first glance it doesn’t look like much. But shortly before the wedding, Allison broke her foot while out playing with their dogs. She got permission to wear her gorgeous heels for the ceremony, but after was ready to get back in the boot. I just felt like there was something so incredibly beautiful that one of their first married moments was such a moment of caring, as Daniel helped Allison with her boot. <3

Love all these sweet couples so much!!!

I love that they did their grand exit, then returned inside for one last dance with everyone! So. epic.

Congratulations, Allison and Daniel!!! We are so happy for you both, and have just loved getting to know you through your wedding planning. It was such a joy to see you all celebrating with the people who mean so much to you! Wishing you all the best as you continue to grow together!

Huge thanks to everyone who helped make it such an incredible day, including: Venue: Clementine Hall | Planning/Styling: Christina Logan Design | Catering: Dallas & Jane | Dress: Enzoani from Posh Bridal Nashville | Veil: Sara Gabriel from Dress Theory | Bride’s Earrings: Sara Gabriel | Bride’s Heels: Badgley Mischka – Nordstrom | Florist: Creations by Debbie | Rentals: Liberty Party Rental |Tuxes: Jos. A Bank | Calligrapher: White Ink Calligraphy | Bride’s Hair: Allison Jenks – The Pink LouLou | Bridesmaids Hair and all Make-Up: One10 Beauty | Stationery: Minted | Programs: Etsy | Guestbook: Custom by the Bride’s cousin | Drink Menu: Custom by Bride’s brother | Cake: Homestyle Bakery & Whole Foods | Groom’s Cake: Christie Cookie Co. | Reception Entrance Music: Nashville Pipes and Drums | Band: 4AGTC | Video: Little Josh Productions

Congratulations again, Allie and Daniel, and thanks to everyone for stopping by the blog! Have a great weekend!

Jen & Chris Creed specialize in creating beautiful photos of real moments for joyful couples. Located in Nashville, TN and available for travel worldwide!

See more adventures on Instagram

Enough gushing from me! Keep scrolling to see just a few of our favorites from the day!

Also, it was just icing on the cake to an epic day that we also got to see our friends/past couple Diane and Glenn!

Congratulations, Sara and Kris! We are so happy for you both, and loved getting to document all the joyful moments of your day. You two are the sweetest, and we wish you all the best!

Thanks to everyone who helped make it such a beautiful day, including: Catering: Thompson Catering | Music: Downstage Live | Flowers: Three Toads Farm | Dress: Bridal and Formal | Stationery: Simply Done Invites | Cake: Katie Mink

Thanks to everyone for stopping by the blog! We’ve got lots more beautiful and joyful fall weddings coming up, so check back soon!

Jen & Chris Creed specialize in creating natural photos of real moments for joyful couples. Located in Nashville, TN and available for travel worldwide!

See more adventures on Instagram