Nashville Wedding Location

Tennessee Sports Groom's Cake and More

2011-09-27T15:19:00.000-05:00

Time for putting up some more of my pictures before I get backlogged. Hope you find these interesting, and maybe even get an idea or two.

The grooms cakes often are quite interesting. The sports cakes are popular, and this Tennessee sports cake below is one of the orangest I've seen.

Here's a unique groom's cake. The groom told me he loved the old Westerns, so this was a good "fit" for him:

This is the first wedding I've done at the Wild Turkey Ranch at this spot. Very nice right under a large cedar tree. I love cedar trees and there are plenty of them out there. Afterall, it is right below the Cedars of Lebanon State Park.

Here's a shot of an indoor wedding at the Rawlings out near Joelton. The quilt does make a nice cosy backdrop for the wedding ceremony.

Finally, here's a wedding set-up in front of Springhaven Mansion in Hendersonville. Notice the decorations set up before the ceremony to keep guests from walking on the pedals. The wedding director of course moved them just before the start of the processional.

New Idea for Elopements and More Wedding Pictures

2011-09-20T11:00:00.000-05:00

Just met a young couple and about 20 family and friends for a quick, no frills wedding ceremony at Edwin Warner Park on Sunday. In the pavilion areas off of Vaughn road, there a nice area just past the number 5 pavilion (the first left after you pass the sign for pavilion 5) with a quaint looking gazebo.

You can't reserve this area but I would think most often the area would be open since there are no tables, seating or grills in the area. It's also right next to the creek, and there's even an area where you could get down right by the creek for a ceremony.

It might be just the thing for you if you are wanting to elope just as a couple or even with a few guests. It is getting a bit dark for this photo below:

I always enjoy going to Scarritt-Bennett and Wightman Chapel. Often I see it during the daytime, but at nighttime it is especially spectacular. My photos don't do it justice.

When I was at Owen Chapel in Brentwood again recently I picked up one of their brochures. Here's a partial quote: Owen Chapel church of Christ was organized in 1859 and first met in this building in 1867. It stands on land donated by church member James C. Owen. Local craftsman designed the building in the architectural style typical of the 19th century churches. This style featured two front doors, triple-hung windows and walls three bricks thick. The window glass, pews, communion table and set are original...Owen Chapel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Here's a wedding at the Nashville Zoo at obviously near the elephants area. The zoo workers brought the elephants to the fence behind us for the ceremony, and at the end of the ceremony while everyone clapped for the couple, the elephants flapped their ears.

The Wild Turkey Ranch has a recent new addition for wedding ceremonies. Along with the new platform, John tells me he has plans to add a permanent arch.

The Delta Landing is a nice spot for small wedding. The waterfalls for background is great, just be sure to have the officiant wear a microphone.

Mischellaneous Nashville Wedding Photos

2011-09-02T08:16:00.000-05:00

I found on my computer a bunch of photos I've taken at weddings around town, so thought some readers might get some ideas from these:

Showed up at this home wedding in Mt Juliet last October and here's what met me in the front yard.

Jars of jam for nice wedding favors gift at Historic Cedarwood:

Had to laugh at this one. Here's the groom's work truck - a perfect "decoration" for their wedding at the lodge out at the Cedars of Lebanon Park:

Here's the best way to keep your guests cool on a hot summer day:

The grooms cakes do get creative and it seems that grooms sports cakes are the most popular:

A little different wedding favor idea. These are magnets with various quotes on them:

Good idea for kids at weddings. This table was set up at a wedding at Houston Station just outside the entrance to the wedding area with crayons and coloring books for the kids.

Oh my, pecan pie and other goodies at Front Porch Farms.

Two of my sons got married this year. Here's Tom's and his bride's wedding cake... a vows wedding cake I would call it:

Nashville Zoo Wedding at Grassmere Historic Farm

2011-07-05T11:17:00.001-05:00

I did another Nashville zoo wedding the other day. I say another. The first one was about 10 years ago and has always been one of my more unusual Nashville weddings. After all, they did have an animal presentation before the wedding!

What I didn't even realize until this wedding is that there is a beautiful historic home at the zoo, and recently the zoo has begun to promote the site for weddings.

The director told me that the home was owned by folks with no children. However, they loved to travel and whenever they came back, they brought an animal with them. When they died, their property was donated to the state with the stipulation that the land be used for conservation purposes. Thus the zoo.

The home itself is quite beautiful and fascinating. I was told that everything in the home was original and was 200 years old.

This wedding was held out behind the home in a nice secluded spot. Actually, the wedding was held after zoo hours so the whole was empty.

I'll post a few pictures that I took below, but you might want to plan a visit sometime. The tour of the home is included in the Nashville zoo admission price. Along with the tour, there is a brochure with detailed information about the home and property.

Opryland Hotel Elopement Deal

2011-06-21T10:10:00.003-05:00

Update: Just informed (12-21-11) pricing has changed! It starts at $1,000 and up.

Here's a nice Nashville elopement deal you might not know about.

The Opryland Hotel now offers a $500 Nashville elopement package which includes your room for the night. I did one of these weddings the other day for a couple at 8 am! Just happened that Winona Judd and Toby Keith were strolling around in the restaurant right next to us greeting folks and signing autographs. Wishing they had come over and sung a song for the wedding - what a treat that would of been for the couple.

You can see a photo of the small gazebo where the ceremony took place. The gazebo is located in a corner of the Garden Conservatory.

It is about as private a spot as you can get in the hotel and still be out in the gardens. Plus, they block off the pathways so people aren't strolling by during your ceremony.

One of the nice things about this wedding location choice is that you have all the beauty of an "outdoor" wedding without being outside! No need to worry about what the weather will be.

All in all, this looks to me like as good a deal as you can get for a simple wedding at a top class location for a few hundred dollars.

The person I spoke to out there the other day was Maureen Morris. She will be glad to answer any questions you have, and help you set things up. Her phone is: 615-458-1305 or email her at MMorris@gaylordhotels.com

Elope in Nashville in Style - and Save Money!

2011-05-12T09:31:00.000-05:00

Looking to save some money on your wedding? Dumb question, I know. Just about everybody is, the problem is if you cut back too much and you land far from your dream wedding.

I've what I think many of you will find to be some good news. There is a top notch historical wedding location in Hendersonville that just started offering during the week elopement style packages. And these are more than basic elopements - you can have everything you would have with any wedding if you can married during the week.

The lowest package is one thousand dollars. What do you get for 1 grand? To start with, up to three hours at the venue. And the other biggie is a professional wedding photographer for the allotted time.

Enough already? Where is this place? It's Spring Haven Mansion. Opened only a few years ago, Spring Haven has become a very popular choice for classy weddings. Weekends are busier than ever, but now they have opened up the venue to more weddings with the weekday options.

For all the details on the various packages visit Spring Haven's website and look for the Day to Remember packages on the pricing page.

And I'm happy to say that Spring Haven refers couples to me for their wedding officiant. My fee includes use of my Ceremony Planner to personalize your ceremony, as well as an At-Home Marriage Prep Course that allows you to save sixty dollars on your marriage license.

I am really happy to be able to pass along this information to you. I just don't know of any other venues around Nashville of this caliber that is offering this kind of deal right now.

Kennesaw Farms Baber House Wedding

2011-04-19T15:10:00.001-05:00

This last Saturday I officiated a wedding at the Baber House in Hendersonville. If you'll recall, that's the day that a cold front blew in. The winds really started whipping in the early afternoon, and this wedding was at 2 pm.

Everything went fine, but it the wind was blowing so hard during the ceremony that the bride's veil was sticking straight out, and at one point was sticking right in the face of the groom. We all had to stop and laugh at that one. I'm sure it made for some great pictures that the couple will look back on and have good laugh.

For those looking for a wedding location south of Nashville, a number of couples are choosing the Smyrna Town Centre. It's a short drive off of I-24 and is across from the Smyrna airport. The restaurant is known throughout the area for its great buffets during the week, so I suspect that the food they prepare for weddings is very good too.

They have a number of rooms and set-ups to choose from for weddings. Below you can see a picture of a set up for a wedding.

During this ceremony, the bride surprised the groom by singing him a song. It was right after they lit their unity candle, and first a young man started singing, and then the best man slipped a microphone to the bride and she joined in for the duet.

I've seen brides or grooms sing a song like this a few times. Not just anybody can pull it off, but this bride did quite well and had a beautiful voice.

Recent Nashville Weddings

2011-04-12T08:58:00.001-05:00

I've thought before that I should use this blog as a sort of "diary" for weddings I'm involved. Maybe I'll get it with it and do it more, and who knows there could be a book out of this some day.

A few things that happened recently in weddings made me come back to this idea of blogging the weddings.

The Singing Ring Bearer and Flower Girl

At a wedding at Sprng Haven Mansion in Hendersonville, I believe I witnessed the cutest ring bearer and flower girl I've ever seen, and also have a great idea for you to help get your little ones down the aisle. How many times have I seen the ring beater and or flower girl not make it! In this case the two were coming down together holding hands and the director the wedding told them to sing a song as they went down.

The song was "step to-gether, step to-gether." I couldn't make out what they were "singing" until they got about half way down, but you could tell from the git go that they were really having fun. So give your flower girl and ring bearer a song to sing!

The Vows Heard Around Nashville

Another took place at the Nashville City Club on the twentieth floor of the Suntrust Bank in downtown Nashville. This was actually a vow renewal ceremony, but done pretty much like any ceremony and with a large number of guests in attendance.

When visiting with couples in my home about my ceremony, I often mention that guests sometimes complain because they can't hear the couple. So I tell couples, to speak up. Well, this groom really did speak up! The guests got a nice chuckle out of it. I have to say it was much better than the times when even I can barely hear the couple though I am standing right there.

Clinton and Gore the Almost Wedding Attendees

When I arrived for a wedding at the Hermitage Hotel, the groom told me that Bill Clinton and Al Gore had just dined in the restaurant (they were in town for Ned McWherther's funeral service). The father of the groom sat right next to them and invited them to the wedding. Ok, it was highly unlikely they would come, but it's something for the couple to talk about right?

"What Not to Wear" Pretend Nashville Wedding

2011-03-19T11:26:00.000-05:00

The TLC show What Not to Wear did a pretend wedding at the Hermitage Hotel in Nashville to surprise a local florist with a make-over. I was called and asked to play the part of the minister, since the florist knew me, and it would help to pull off the ruse successfully.

When the show finally came on, I forgot to watch it. Fortunately, there is YouTube, and below is the first part of the show.

I only hoped they didn't make me look stupid. Considering the small part for me in it, I lucked out. Watch and enjoy.

Press Release: Nashville Wedding Wire Nashville Wedding Officiant Award 2011

2011-01-25T09:47:00.002-06:00

Image via Wikipedia
Nashville, TN - January 25th, 2011 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce that Nashville Wedding Minister has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for Nashville Wedding Officiants!

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Nashville Wedding Minister stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Nashville Wedding Minister for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Nashville Wedding Minister is among the very best Nashville wedding officiants within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at Nashville Wedding Minister

For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire.com, the nation's leading technology company serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 local wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives local businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. Businesses that join the WeddingWire Network appear on WeddingWire.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), ProjectWedding.com and Weddingbee.com (both part of eHarmony), and Celebrations.com (part of the 1-800-Flowers family of brands, NASDAQ: FLWS).

Recent Nashville Weddings: New, Old and Unique Nashville Wedding Locations

2010-10-05T10:15:00.001-05:00

You can get married just about anywhere. Any place that is has special meaning to you could be the perfect wedding choice for you. So it was for Kristy and Jeremy who married at Maxximo Jo's Coffee Shop in Frankin, TN. The couple live and work in Franklin, and this is a favorite hang out for them. It was simple wedding, nicely decorated and special treats from Maxximo Jo's after the ceremony. See photo below.

Jennifer and Brian got married at Historic Cedarwood a favorite Nashville wedding venue of mine. They had the special outdoor cathedral wedding, and released butterflies near the beginning of the wedding ceremonies as a remembrance of their family members not present.

The second wedding ever at Graham Central Station off 1st street in downtown Nashville took place on the evening of October 3rd. The groom surprised his bride by arranging for some friends of his, the country music singing group Emerson Drive, to sing their special song during the Sand Ceremony.

Jessica and Elisha got married high above Nashville at the Nashville City Club. Twenty floors up provides a great panoramic view of the city. The ceremony was set for 6:30 about sunset. The guests faced toward the window to the west. Unfortunately, it was cloudy so the sunset was not visible, but still the scenery is very beautiful.

Finally, another couple married at Carnton Plantation in Franklin. This was actually a surprise wedding. They didn't want to go through all the fuss of wedding planning, and simply invited their parents to meet them out at the venue and surprised them with the announcement. Ok, it might have been the least best kept secret in the world, but still turned out to be a very nice simple wedding event.

Just reading about others wedding may give you the perfect idea for your wedding celebration.

Photo below from: http://www.rauhauscreative.com/

Another Spectacular Outdoor Cathedral Wedding at Historic Cedarwood

2010-10-04T18:51:00.001-05:00

I officiated what I believe was my third wedding ceremony at Historic Cedarwood with the outdoor cathedral - what I might call less elegantly "church out in the yard". You can see some photos below. It is very nice and is becoming a popular option at this Nashville wedding venue.

It was a beautiful evening for the wedding. While it had cooled off, the wind hand died down and it was very pleasant out.

This couple did do something in their ceremony which I had not seen before.

Toward the beginning of the ceremony they released butterflies to represent the presence of the spirits of their loved ones who had passed away. Somewhat frequently couples will have me mentioned loved ones as part of the welcome part of the ceremony, but the butterfly release did add something a little special.

You've probably seen other ways couples do this including placing a rose in an empty seat or having photos of their family members set up somewhere at the reception. While the butterflies didn't seem to want to fly away right away, that in itself might have been symbolic.

Tennessee Titans LP Field – A Nashville Wedding Location?

2010-09-29T07:09:00.002-05:00

Yes, I suppose LP Field is now a site for Nashville couples ready to get married! Well, at least one. When I think I have been everywhere around Nashville where a wedding could be held, something different comes along. It does help to keep things interesting.

Just a few weeks ago a bride contacted me and asked if I could help she and her finance with their wedding ceremony at the Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers game. I was all in.

What’s interesting is that the bride was a big Steelers fan, the groom a Dallas Cowboys fan, and me a Titans fan. So there we are at half-time in the stands with the field as a backdrop for the couple. She was wearing her Steelers jersey, he in a Cowboys jersey, and me with a number 28 Titans jersey that they were nice enough to buy for me since I didn’t have a Titans jersey.

There aren’t very many couples that can say they had thirty some odd thousand guests at their wedding. No, not everybody could really see what we were doing, but there was a good number of people nearby that served the role of “witnesses” and gave a hearty round of applause and shout-outs for the couple at the end. Those nice Tennessee Titans fans gave this Pittsburgh dye hard fan some slack on her wedding day!

Historic Rock Castle Wedding in Hendersonville, Tennessee

2010-09-28T16:17:00.000-05:00

Historic Rock Castle is located just to the north of Nashville in Hendersonville. I have officiated several weddings there now, including one recently. You can see a few pictures I took below. It was a beautiful day, slightly warm, but with a breeze blowing off the lake it actually very nice.

Weddings take place at different points around the main historic home which was the home of General Daniel Smith in the 1700’s. Some weddings take place right in front with the wedding party on the steps. Others have taken place on either side of the home, or behind it which is right next to the lake.

The wedding receptions usually take place on the property as well, either under the pavilion (which can seat well over 100 guests) or with the set up of a wedding tent. The wedding tent could serve as a backup location for the ceremony in case of bad weather.

The visitor’s center has rooms where the bride and groom and their family can dress for the wedding – and stay out of the heat if necessary.

If you have seen Miranda Lambert’s music video White Liar, then you have seen Rock Castle. The “wedding scenes” for the video were shot there. (the video is down below the photos)

If you are looking for a outdoor Nashville wedding location – if you like things historic – and if you like the water, then you might want to pay a visit to Historic Rock Castle.

Below is the history of Rock Castle taken directly from the website:

The History and the Family

Daniel Smith was born in Stafford County, Virginia, to Henry and Sarah Crosby Smith. He grew up on a plantation in Virginia.

Daniel studied “physic” or medicine with Dr. Thomas Walker while living at the Walker home, Castle Hill, in Albemarle County, Virginia. He most likely acquired his learning in other fields such as surveying, law, and mathematics from Walker as well. After being licensed as a surveyor by the College of William and Mary, Smith took up that profession and began his work in 1770.

In 1773 Daniel married Sarah Michie. They had two children. Their son, George, married Tabitha Donelson, oldest daughter of Captain John Donelson, III. Their daughter, Mary Ann (Polly) married Samuel Donelson, Rachel Jackson’s brother. Although forbidden by her father, Polly’s marriage was the result of a very elaborate elopment plot carried out by her intended Samual Donelson and brother in law Andrew Jackson in the late spring of 1796. It resulted in strained relations between all parties concerned, but the differences were later resolved. Of her three sons from that marriage, Andrew Jackson Donelson served as private secretary for Andrew Jackson at the White House and Daniel Smith Donelson was a General in the Civil War.

Daniel Smith received a land grant from the State of North Carolina in payment for surveying land boundaries in Middle Tennessee, which he completed in 1784. To claim his land, he brought his family to this site and began construction of Rock Castle. Much of the construction supervision as well as plantation management was shouldered by Sarah since for most of their married life Daniel was gone for long periods on surveying trips.

Daniel Smith died in 1818 at his home. Sarah died in 1831, and both are buried in the family cemetery on the grounds of Rock Castle.

In addition to being a well-known surveyor of the North Carolina (now Tennessee) boundaries and of Davidson County, Daniel served as a Captain in the Revolutionary War, Brigadier General of the Mero District, Secretary of the Territory of the United States Southwest of the River Ohio, chairman of the committee to draft the constitution of Tennessee, United States Senator, and Indian treaty negotiator

In 1793 Daniel Smith authored a pamphlet on the new Tennessee territory, which was followed by his map of the land west of the Cumberland Mountains and its many water courses. This map of the “Tennessee Government” was widely published well into the nineteenth century.

Smith was called upon in 1784 to help survey the city of Nashville. In 1785 he was one of nine trustees appointed for Davidson Academy, the first institution of higher learning in Nashville In 1798 he was appointed to serve Andrew Jackson’s remaining term in the United States Senate. He then ran for the Senate in 1805 and defeated the incumbent, William Cocke.

Photos from recent wedding at Rock Castle:

Houston Station: A New "Old" Nashville Wedding and Reception Site

2010-08-22T18:59:00.001-05:00

Just this Saturday I officiated my first wedding at Houston Station. If you haven’t heard of this place yet, you have now and will be hearing a lot more in the near future. I had the chance to speak to one of the partner owners after the wedding reception, and he was telling me of their expansion plans. In time, they plan on having a full-service event planning location.

That means for weddings, you could go to this one place and take care of catering, wedding planning and almost anything else you needed for your wedding. That could make it very convenient, a great time and money saver.

One of the things that I noticed first when entering Houston Station are the beautiful hardwood floors. And since the wedding and reception area are so large, it’s a lot of floor. By the way, at the website for Houston Station, you can download PDF’s showing the floor plan and layout for a wedding reception, or wedding ceremony and reception layout. There’s room for 350 seated wedding guests which is plenty big for the majority of weddings.

The building has that trendy old factory turning into event center look with plenty of exposed brick.

You are allowed to bring in your own caterer and other wedding service providers. There is no charge to do so. Providers like caterers of course have to have the proper licenses and insurance which you would want anyway. If you do need help choosing some resources for your wedding, then they are able to help as they have build relationships with vendors that they trust.

Visit Houston Station’s website for more information, including a map which you can check to see if your wedding date is open on the calendar. If so, you may want to get down soon and take a first hand look. I already have another wedding on my schedule for this location, and I suspect it will become popular as the news spread.

Take a look below at a few photos I took at this weekend’s wedding.

Getting Married in a Nashville Park

2010-08-20T10:35:00.001-05:00

Did you know that hundreds of weddings take place in Nashville parks and Tennessee state parks every year? There's a couple of main reasons for that. One, is the cost. The cost of renting a Nashville park site for a wedding is very affordable for most couples.

At least, compared to what they hear from some of the wedding venues around town. Another reason people use parks for weddings is the sheer beauty of the parks. What's not to love? Depending on which park you marry in, you have lakes, trees, hills and flower gardens.

Getting married in a Nashville park is a great idea but as with any wedding plans you have to have contingency plans. If the wedding date and time is rain out, you need to be ready to move yourselves and if necessary guests to an alternate site for the ceremony. There's also the matter of the wedding reception. Where will you have it, presuming you have enough guests?

Ideally, the park will have what you consider the perfect reception area. If not, park personnel can likely tell you what other couples have done to accommodate their guests for a reception. Unless they are brand new, this is not the first park wedding that they have seen.

Centennial Park is truly a Nashville park. It is only about a mile from the very center of the city. The park is the location of Nashville's Parthenon, as well as a good number of squirrels and ducks. In addition to the Parthenon, the lake makes this park quite attractive. There is a beautiful flower garden known as the sunken garden where hundreds of ceremonies have taken place - some just the couple and a minister and other with numerous guests.

The biggest park in Nashville or in the state for that matter is the Edwin and Percy Warner Parks. These parks are found in an exclusive park of the city. In fact, it's adjacent to Belle Meade which is one of the cities per ca-pita in the country. While the park is huge, you of course only need a small parcel for your wedding. You can either just show up for a simple ceremony with an officiant, or reserve an area if you want to be sure no one else can infringe on your chosen spot at your chosen time.

You could venue outside of Nashville a short drive and get married in the chapel at Montgomery Bell TN State Park. This park is located between White Bluff and Dickson, Tennessee about a 45 minute drive west of Nashville.

Another park near Nashville Crockett Park which incorporates the Cool Springs House. The Cool Springs House does book up pretty quickly as it used not just for weddings but also many community events and large family functions. Since the price is so nice that's another reason dates get taken quickly. So this one might require some ahead of time planning to make sure you can get the date you want.

These are just some of the options for a Nashville wedding in a park. You can check city and state websites for more park information.

Baber House Weddings in Gallatin Tennessee

2010-07-20T14:03:00.001-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I had my first ceremony at the Baber House in Gallatin, TN. It sits just off of Highway 31 on the south side of town, so it is also not very far north of Hendersonville.

This part of Nashville is very pretty. You have the rolling hills that are typical in middle Tennessee, and also you pass by the lake on the way north to the Baber House.

This wedding and reception venue as mentioned sits back just a bit off the highway in front of a very nice new subdivision. This whole area is growing rapidly with many nice upscale subdivisions.

The wedding ceremony took place behind the home as you can see from the pictures below. It is a very nice setting. The only suggestion I might make is to have the minister use a mic. The waterfall as the backdrop is very nice, but depending on how loud the officiant is, the guests may have trouble hearing. The same would go for the couple saying their vows.

I presume ceremonies can also take place inside the home, though for this wedding it liked every room was set up for the reception. The set up was quite nice, and again their are some photos below where you can see for yourself.

All in all, Id' say that the Baber House is a very nice Nashville wedding site and suspect that many couples will find it their perfect wedding and reception choice.

Estel Gallery - Downtown Art Gallery for Nashville Weddings and Receptions

2010-06-29T09:02:00.001-05:00

Recently I officiated my second wedding at the Estel Gallery. If you are into art, this could be the perfect place for your wedding and/or reception.

And for art buffs, is within walking distance of the Frist Art Center and several other art venues.

If you know where Hume Fogg School is, then you are just about at the gallery. It just off Broadway on Rosa Parks Blvd.

Cynthia, the director of the gallery, told me that she does more receptions than weddings, but it is the ideal venue especially for couples who enjoy art and like the idea of being surrounded by contemporary art during their ceremony.

If you are having your wedding some other place but are looking for something different in a Nashville wedding reception venue, then Estel Gallery could help you with that.

Because of it's location, it is easy to get to from anywhere downtown and even from miles out from the city. It is far enough away from the center of downtown Nashville so that parking is not problem. The Gallery itself has several spots right next to the building.

The price is right too, I'd say. You can use the facility (at times when the gallery is closed) for $150 for up to three hours. And of course, you can add on extra time if you need to. Size? It's two thousand square feet and is well suited for events with up to 100 people.

If this sounds good to you, drive by sometime and take a look – enjoy the gallery and talk to Cynthia about the possibility of her hosting your wedding or reception.

Visit the gallery website to learn more and see samples of the the artist's work.

The photo above is from the recent wedding I was a part of there. The painting was actually the bride's, making it all the more special for the couple.

Another Nashville Area Wedding Site Idea

2010-06-22T17:30:00.000-05:00

Just a few weeks ago, I officiated a wedding at Durego in Brentwood. Below you can see several photos from this Nashville area wedding and reception location. The location was formally a restaurant, now turned into an event center. Of course, they do more than weddings here and I believe this was the first wedding event held there.

I did meet the owner, a very nice man who seemed to have a genuine interest in his clients. He told me a little about the history of this site and what they were trying to do with it now.

It is very conveniently located maybe just 3 minutes off Interstate 65 at Cool Springs. The address is 1649 Westgate Circle Brentwood, Tennessee. As the street address suggests, it is on a circle along with other restaurants and business centers in a nice area. Take a look at the pictures below, and maybe the location, size and look of it all is something that you would want to take a closer look at.

Durego is an attractive building and has separate spaces for ceremony and reception.

Front Porch Farms: New Wedding Venue Outside Nashville

2010-06-05T13:48:00.000-05:00

Front Porch Farms is a new wedding site that just had it's second wedding. I just came from there having officiated the ceremony for Kirk and Jaime. They told me they met the folks from Front Porch Farm at a bridal show in Nashville and were actually the first couple to book a wedding at this venue. Another couple was the first to wed there.

This wedding and reception site is located about forty minutes outside of Nashville. The address is actually Charolotte, TN but is essential a few miles west of Ashland City.

The "Farms" is a very beautiful location as you see to some extent from some photos I took below. These hardly do justice to the beauty of the place. There seem to be several options for wedding set-ups out there. The wedding I was part of took place, again as you can see from the pictures, in the front yard of the house overlooking the valley in front of the house. Oh, I didn't mention yet that this facility is located on top of a high hill overlooking the beautiful countryside from all angles.

This wedding had around 120 guests and the other one that hasn't taken place there had around 200. For larger weddings, the front of the home looks like the best choice. But for a smaller wedding, around the pool out back, or a couple could make use of the large metal-frame gazebo behind the home. Or still yet, a bride and groom might choose to stay out front and wed under the huge oak tree there.

There is a large tented reception area out back by the pool. There is parking for the wedding party up near the home, and wedding guest parking down the hill in front of the house. For those that don't want to make the trek up the hill, there was a shuttle vehicle.

I suspect Front Porch Farms will be hosting a good number of weddings once more couples find out about it. It's a nice pretty drive out in the country for guests, and provides a beautiful unique Nashville wedding.

A Nashville Wedding to Remember at Scarritt Bennett

2010-05-27T13:55:00.002-05:00

Guest Post

You looked deep into his loving eyes, as he was on bended knee, and said emphatically, “I do”. Now comes the fun part, the planning of your wedding. The first thing you need to choose is your venue. You want a elegant place that will accommodate fully, all of your guests.

If you have ever dreamed of an elegant Nashville wedding the Scarritt- Bennett is a lovely choice. It’s location is just minutes from Music Row, restaurants and shops. It sits on a gorgeous 10 acre spread. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous, perfect for your wedding day. The center consists of 10 buildings made of orchard stone and gothic architecture which ensure a peaceful setting.

The Center can accommodate not only your wedding reception, but the wedding as well. It has two chapels right there on sight. The Wightman Chapel (for large weddings) and Skinner Chapel (small chapel pictured above) are delicately landscaped and also add that perfect setting. Make sure you call for availably though as this place fills up very quickly.

Your guests are sure to be thrilled with the very tasty buffet style or professionally served dinners. Some of items on the menu for your choice are: baked tilapia, pasta with feta, spinach soufflé’, zucchini julienne, and soft bread pudding. There are many other hearty food choices as well, and, you can all of this at just $22.00 a person.

Hor D’ Oeuvres are a wonderful option for your wedding reception. It will help entail that your guests are happy while you are doing important things such as taking your pictures. The choices though, will make your mouth water. The list includes: spinach dip, crab cakes, veggie spring rolls, bbq meatballs, shrimp, beef skewers, baked brie, quesadillas, and so on.

They also have a magnificent carving station with a min. of 50 people and each station accommodating 50 people at $150.00. You have the choices of: honey ham, flank steak, turkey breast, or ham. Don’t forget about dessert either. Serve your guests the dessert sampler consisting of: cheesecakes, key lime squares, fluffy pastries, mini tarts, and whoopie pies.

There is also the snack option for your wedding party. These snacks are delivered to the bride’ or groom’s room and is a min of 10 people. This is a great option to take the edge off before the marriage ceremony. If you are having an afternoon wedding, perhaps the sunrise sampler is an option with breakfast foods and fresh fruit.

What though, if you have guests from out of state? Well, have no worries for the Center also offers overnight accommodations. The gorgeous rooms are located on beautiful grounds and also maintain the gothic architecture. Stand room price is $45.00 and for an upgrade it is $62. There is also an art gallery present and was voted best art space.

This quaint little getaway truly has it all. From the moment you arrive you will notice how beautifully landscaped it is. The chapels make it convenient, so no one has to drive to the reception. The menus are fantastic and offer any dish to suit your pallet, the overnight amenities will make it a night your guests will never forget. The staff is friendly and fully equipped to meet your every desire. You can have the wedding of your dreams and a night to remember at the Scarritt -Bennett.

Nashville Garden Weddings at Cheekwood

2010-05-20T14:15:00.001-05:00

Guest Post

Cheekwood Botanical Gardens extends to an area of 55 acres and also constitutes an art museum housed within the celebrated Cheek estate. The botanical garden helps to preserve its buildings, landscape, art as well as the botanical collections through unique ways and offers an area of inspiration for the visitors to understand or appreciate their connections with nature, art and the overall environment.

This site comprises the actual Cheek gardens created by Bryant Fleming, complete with fountains, pools, boxwood plantings, statuary along with the spectacular views of the beautiful Tennessee hills. There is also a Japanese garden, two perennial gardens, an herb garden, water garden, the famous wildflower garden and season’s garden. Visitors would be mesmerized by the greenhouses displays consisting of a cloud forest, orchids and camellias.

This site also makes for an ideal venue for a Nashville wedding. In fact, any wedding ceremony or reception in Nashville would be a memorable affair when held at the Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. The wedding facilities include:

•    The Wills Perennial Garden: An ideal setting for an outdoor wedding, it is a wonderful green terrace whose beauty is accentuated by a wrought iron spectator area. The garden area can even be tented. The garden has to be reserved along with the reception area from April to June and for September as well as October. The rental fee for the wedding venue is $1200 along with a refundable damage deposit amount of $200. This place can accommodate about 250-300 guests.

•    The Burr Terrace Garden: Small Nashville weddings or other gatherings can be held here. The lovely location has a fountain and an arbor. There is space for 35 seated guests and 60 standing at this location. The rental fee is $700 with a $200 refundable deposit.

•    The Herb Garden: This actually comprises two connected spaces having wonderful flagstone flooring. For booking this place for a wedding or any other event, you have to pay a fee of $800 along with a refundable deposit of $200.

• The Reflection Pool: Situated on the western side of the museum, this is another lovely site ideal for any Nashville wedding ceremony/reception. Prior booking has to be made for April, May, June and September as well as October. About 150 people can be accommodated in this space while standing, while the seating capacity is for 120 people. The rental fee is $1,400 and a refundable damage deposit consists of $500.

Other sites in the Cheekwood Botanical Gardens for holding events, but with limited capacity include the Boxwood Trail and the Japanese Garden. Cheekwood requires insurance to hold any private event. The venue is available for wedding and receptions only after 5 pm. The rental fee is inclusive of the usage of the garden for the wedding rehearsal before the occasion, from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. You may check the Cheekwood website for further details or contact any of their representatives to talk about your e

Two Rivers Mansion – Historical Nashville Wedding Event Venue

2010-05-10T08:18:00.001-05:00

Guest post:

Dating back from the Civil War, Two Rivers Mansion is one of the most historical places in Tennessee. It boasts of a 14 feet ceiling that makes anyone walk inside it with great awe. So much is the beauty of the place that not only tourists go gaga over it. Couples who are very much in love see this beautiful place as the most perfect venue for a union of love.

Catering to summer and winter weddings, the mansion is very much equipped to house intimate gatherings and large banquets. Winter weddings usually take part indoors. However, they are very much coordinated that it is unfair to say that they are just par with outdoor weddings.

Drama touches a lot of flair during weddings at the mansion. The bride can very much choose to make her entrance from the long-drive to the mansion a very memorable one by riding a horse-drawn carriage to the lawn.

The mansion lets the couple choose between an indoor or outdoor reception. Moreover, there is also a back porch fit enough for a garden reception. Couples could also wish to set up tents and wedding canopies for more drama. Smaller celebrations could also take advantage of the gazebo place located in the premises of the mansion.

There is nothing more perfect than a beautiful wedding. Make yours the dream of every lady by ensuring that you get the perfect place. With this in mind, there is no doubt that Nashville's very own Two Rivers Mansion would be on top of your list.

Loving a person is very much paired with a lot of good and bad things. The brave decision and willingness to go on these things together is a miracle for all mankind. Weddings, as the culmination of such step, must be celebrated with grandeur fitting for persons in love. So, why not celebrate it at Two Rivers Mansion?

The Cannonsburg Village Little Country Church - Murfreesboro

2010-05-06T05:51:00.001-05:00

Guest post:

Love, as they say, is a many splendor thing. That’s why it is not a surprise that people getting married take the time to think of places where they would like to remember the momentous event that will link their hearts forever. When it comes to sentimentality, one of the most interesting places to get married in Tennessee is at Cannonsburg Village located just southeast of Nashville in Murfreesboro.

Engulfed with a rich history that goes back to the early 19th century, Cannonsburg Village located near downtown Murfreesboro, is very much one of the most-preserved historical sites in the country. It is for this reason that a lot of tourists get attracted to the scenic but simple beauty of this pioneer village. A couple of years ago, photographers were taking pictures of the buildings around the village to use on the front covers of Little House on the Prairie books. Laura would be proud for sure.

For a long time now, countless weddings have taken place in the famous Cannonsburg Village Little Country Church. Making the village perfect for pictured memories, the place is very much embellished with well-preserved culture and history. This little white chapel sits near the center of the village.

It is well suited for a smaller wedding, maybe 50 guests or so. There is not room for a lot of attendants either, but smaller weddings don't need likely won't have a big wedding party. There is an organ in the chapel and they allow for the lighting of a unity candle.

Some weddings at Cannonsburg take place outside in front of the chapel. There is a covered and rather large gazebo that sits there.There is a "house" that sits across from the church and is usually where the bride and her attendants get ready.

Receptions can take place in a nearby building that is part of the complex, or of course there are numerous restaurants that would work around the city.
Some of the other things to see at the village include: old log cabins, old mills, Civil War cannons and other historical landmarks.

There is a large collection of old tractors and fire trucks that many guests find very interesting. There is a museum that sits next to the wedding chapel that has a lot of old farm implements and other historical artifacts. Unfortunately, some vandals burned the original huge wooden barrel at the well. It is supposed to be rebuilt.

The best thing about making this village your very own wedding venue is that you can invite your guests to take part of history while at the same time being a part of your own life’s history. It is a looking back but also a looking forward.
A posh venue is not all that matters. Why not make your choice standout? Make your friends remember your wedding at the famous Cannonsburg Village.

The Hermitage Hotel - Nashville 5-Star Hotel

2010-04-16T16:05:00.003-05:00

The Hermitage Hotel located in downtown Nashville is a 5-star hotel and location of many beautiful weddings. Before telling you more about the hotel, let me tell you about a recent "unusual" wedding I was part of there recently. Actually, it was a pretend wedding set up to spring a happy surprise on a local florist.

Have you heard of the show on TLC called What Not to Wear? Well, they came to Nashville to do one of their programs. And since this was local wedding florist, it was the perfect set up to get her in on a wedding which was really no wedding at all.

There she was sitting in the crowd of guests - us all waiting for the bride to come in. And we kept waiting and waiting, and still no bride. Finally, Stacy Lunden, one of the co-hosts of the show started down the aisle. Well, I won't tell you the whole story. It was quite a surprise for Hillary. I was told that the show will air sometime next fall.

But back to the Hermitage Hotel. It is one of the most beautiful historic hotels in Nashville. I think only the Union Station Hotel could come close to rivaling it. The hotel has a rich history and has had many famous guests from the past and present. And you may have heard that the men's restroom at the hotel won an award. And yes, women are allowed to take a look.

Most of the weddings at the hotel take place in the beautiful veranda at the front of the hotel overlooking 6th avenue. The length of the veranda creates a nice long aisle for the bride to come in on. I've had the privilege of being a part of several weddings at this location. It is really impossible to describe its beauty. It's just a place you need to go and visit to see for yourself, whether you decide to get married there or not.