If you’re reading this guide you are most likely engaged so, first of all, congratulations!
There is nothing like the excitement of being on the verge of getting to spend the rest of your life with your person. I’ve been married over 10 years now, but still remember the joy and exhilaration of getting engaged.
I also remember the overwhelming sensation when we realized that the next step was to start planning a wedding. You are inviting everyone you love in the world to come and celebrate with you on one amazing day. Naturally, one of the key decisions you have to make is the venue. With so many options for Nashville Wedding Venues it is easy to experience “analysis paralysis”.
Choosing a Nashville Wedding Venue is a combination of style, needs, and wants. There is no wrong choice, but not all venues and venue staff are created equally.
After shooting nearly 500 weddings, I wanted to create a guide for couples on the hunt for their perfect wedding venue in Nashville.
This is not a comprehensive list. We have Google for that.
This is a guide of Nashville Wedding Venues that photograph beautifully and have staff you can trust. I am only including venues where I have personally photographed a wedding. Use this guide to narrow down your search, see real photos from a wedding day, and ultimately help you choose your perfect venue.
CLICK ON THE ARROW OR WHITE SPACE IF PHOTOS HAVEN’T LOADED
Brick + Wood + WINDOWS
Clementine
https://www.clementinehall.com
4710 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN
Clementine was originally a church dating back to 1889. The church sanctuary features soaring wood beams, brick walls, and natural light that shines through beautiful steel gothic windows. This venue has gorgeous heart pine floors and the overall feel is a perfect combination of mid-century and modern.
The Ruby
2411 Blakemore Ave, Nashville, TN
The Ruby is located in Hillsboro Village which is a vibrant part of Nashville full of great restaurants, bars, and shopping. The Ruby features exposed brick and a beautiful white interior with wood beams. It is adjacent to ‘Dragon Park’ which is a huge bonus for outdoor portraits.
The Cordelle
45 Lindsley Ave, Nashville, TN
The Cordelle is a great venue located in downtown Nashville. I have photographed full weddings here as well as weddings that used The Cordelle as a reception spot after their church ceremony. It works wonderfully for both. The interior of this venue is easy to love with it’s white walls, high ceilings, and rich wood floors. It features a great loft for getting ready and a lush garden for your ceremony, portraits, or reception.
The Cannery
http://www.eventsoncanneryrow.com
1 Cannery Row, Nashville, TN
If the words “Brick and Wood” make you perk up and pay attention then this might be the venue you have been looking for. Located just off 8th ave south in downtown Nashville, this is a great venue for couples looking to offer their guests a short commute to the wedding. It also allows for couples to make the short commute to different downtown locations for photos.
The Bell Tower
400 4th Ave S, Nashville, TN
The Bell Tower is another great option for the brick lovers out there. It is in the heart of downtown across from the Omni Hotel and right next to Martins BBQ. Being close to BBQ is always a bonus in my book. It features getting ready rooms for the wedding party, a large space for plenty of guests, and the convenience of having a downtown venue out-of-town guests can easily access.
Get Your Hands Off My MAN-sion
Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery
5025 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN
I think they said it best as the self-described “Sanctuary of Southern Hospitality”. This place just feels like the old south. I love the open spaces and the variety of options for photos. It has a few different historic buildings, a perfect garden for ceremonies, and a barn/horse stables that have been converted into a modern space for receptions.
Cheekwood
https://cheekwood.org/facility-rentals/weddings-special-events/
1200 Forrest Park Dr, Nashville, TN
This guide isn’t about my favorites, but I’m not gonna lie…I LOVE shooting at Cheekwood. It’s just…amazing. Like, really amazing. To start, it is a 55-acre botanical garden full or creeks, ponds, and any type of flower you ever wanted to see in your life. The stone work on the buildings and all over the property is fantastic. One of the more popular spots is a stone veranda with an ivy roof that overlooks the rolling hills of Tennessee.
Cedarwood Weddings
3831 Whites Creek Pike, Nashville, TN
This 50 acre historic estate is a little outside of downtown Nashville but worth the short drive. It features multiple options for your outdoor ceremony, a really cool barn for cocktail hour, and an indoor/outdoor reception space using the main house and a large covered patio plenty big enough to hold your guests and provide them the space they need to show off their dance moves.
Riverwood Mansion
https://www.riverwoodmansion.com
1833 Welcome Ln, Nashville, TN 37216
Walking through the doors of Riverwood Mansion immediately takes you back in time. They did an excellent job of renovating the space while keeping the history and charm of the mansion alive and well. I love shooting inside the mansion with all the natural light and unique walls, but they also have beautiful grounds with a long winding brown gravel driveway and an outdoor courtyard for ceremonies. I love watching brides walk down the ivy canopy as they make their way to the ceremony. Receptions take place in a permanent tented space that feels more like an extension of the mansion then a tent.
Ravenswood Mansion
https://www.ravenswoodmansion.com
1825 Wilson Pike, Brentwood, TN
You had me at 400 Acres of beautiful lush Tennessee hills. Ravenswood Mansion is actually in Brentwood, TN about 20 minutes south of town but it’s accessibility from Nashville and 400 acres of awesomeness made it a ‘must see venue’ for my list. The mansion has plenty of space for getting ready and portraits, but with so many outdoor spaces to use, you will want to be outside as much as possible.
Farms and Barns
These venues are so much more than farms with a barns. They are more like farms that went through a Martha Stewart bootcamp…for design…not insider training.
The White Dove Barn
7235 TN-64, Beechgrove, TN 37018
The White Dove Barn has the perfect balance of indoor/outdoor spaces. They have a relatively new open air chapel. You get the feeling of a chapel with church pews but can still see the beautiful property that surrounds you. Their reception barn is stunning. White everything gives it a clean, classic, and elegant look that you will love. There are two private areas in the barn for you and your wedding parties to hang out and get ready. I’ve been blown away by the friendliness and professionalism of the staff here. Their pricing is incredibly straightforward and available on their website. The White Dove Barn is located in Beechgrove, TN which is about an hour south of Nashville. It is a great option if you are looking for a place that will not be effected by health restrictions that have made it incredibly difficult to plan a wedding in Davidson County.
Tuckers Gap
Tuckers Gap sits on 53 acres of rolling hills and is conveniently located a short 30 minute drive from downtown Nashville in Lebanon, Tennessee. They have one of the most beautiful outdoor ceremony sites I have seen. There are all kinds of options for photos on their 53 acres. Their reception space is 5000 square feet with additional covered areas. There are two dedicated areas for getting ready so everyone has plenty of space to relax and hangout between the big moments.
Mint Springs Farm
https://www.mintspringsfarm.net
7730 Nolensville Rd, Nolensville, TN
It doesn’t take much time at Mint Springs Farm to realize that they thought about every little detail for couples when they designed and created their spaces. This venue is gorgeous and the staff is wonderful. The property feels like Tennessee, perfectly placed in the middle of gorgeous green rolling hills. The spaces include an epic bridal suite, and grooms room with everything you could want, an indoor/outdoor chapel that looks over the property, and a ‘barn’ with two levels for your reception. Mint Springs Farm is located in Nolensville, TN which is a short drive from Nashville.
Saddle Woods Farm
https://www.saddlewoodsfarm.com
9522 Franklin Rd, Murfreesboro, TN
Saddle Woods Farm is a unique rustic property located in Murfreesboro which is 30-45 minutes outside of Nashville. This place is a horse lovers paradise so if you want to incorporate horses into your wedding day this is the place for you. They have a wonderful space for outdoor ceremonies and a large barn that you can design to fit your style.
Loveless Barn
8400 TN-100, Nashville, TN
Biscuits, BBQ, and a Barn. If you love these three things then you need to check out the Loveless Barn. It has a small outdoor area for ceremonies and a large open barn for receptions.
Allenbrooke Farms
https://www.nashvilledestinationwedding.com
2023 Doctor, Robertson Road, Spring Hill, TN
Allenbrooke Farms is a certified organic vegetable farm in Spring Hill, Tennessee, that also happens to be a beautiful wedding venue. The venue has a very modern style two story barn and all the opens spaces you need for gorgeous portraits. Most couples choose to have their ceremony in the lawn adjacent to the barn but you can also have it indoors and use the covered patio for a cocktail hour while they room is flipped.
Cactus Creek Barn
http://www.cactuscreekbarn.com
1956 Yellow Creek Rd, Dickson, TN
Set by a winding creek bed with a pebbled shore, the weathered barn comes honestly to its rustic charm. Restored lovingly with repurposed materials and natural foraged elements, the event space stands warm and simple on the natural landscape. If you dream of an outdoor wedding, a short walk to a grassy riverside bank will give you a unique creekside view as you say your sacred vows. A 180 person indoor barn space and two additional covered patios provide plenty of space for all your guests. This place is also a horse lover’s paradise. It’s the only ceremony I’ve photographed where the bride rode up on a horse. It was amazing.
Green Door Gourmet
https://www.greendoorgourmet.com/farm-event-spaces
7007 River Rd Pike, Nashville, TN
Green Door Gourmet is a 350 acre farm 15 minutes west of downtown Nashville. With 350 acres you can only imagine all the possibilities for photos. They have two great buildings for your wedding day. The first is a renovated southern style cottage perfect for getting ready and small events. The main space is a large barn perfect for your reception. Most couples choose to have their ceremony at the outdoor location with the rustic wooden altar.
Legacy Farms
8061 Murfreesboro Rd, Lebanon, TN
Legacy Farms is an all-inclusive outdoor wedding venue in Nashville with an exclusive caterer, 22 acres of endless photo opportunities, and overnight options for you & your guests. They have several different spaces for you to choose from for your ceremony and the receptions are held in the event center.
Grace Valley Farm
https://www.gracevalleyfarm.com
399 Knight Campground Rd, Shelbyville, TN
I shot here for the first time last year and fell in love pretty quickly. They have 10 different options for you ceremony site. Yes…10. This 235 acre farm is located in Shelbyville, Tennessee, which is about an hour south of Nashville.
Churches and Chapels
It’s hard to beat a beautiful chapel for your wedding ceremony.
Scarritt Bennett
https://scarrittbennett.org/weddings/
1027 18th Ave S, Nashville, TN
I LOVE Scarritt Bennett. The chapel, architecture, and grounds are gorgeous and incredibly unique for Nashville. Built in classic gothic cathedral style in 1928, Wightman Chapel is a historical and architectural treasure. They also have two options for smaller ceremonies, the outdoor labyrinth garden and Skinner Chapel. There are two separate areas for getting ready with beautiful wood and great window light. Between the amazing architecture of the buildings and the alluring outdoor spaces you can't go wrong with this place.
Vine Street Christian Church
4101 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN
Vine Street Christian Church is a beautiful church located just outside the heart of downtown. This church is a grand classic style steeple church. The inside of the chapel really stands out amongst other churches in Nashville. It’s large windows lining both sides of the aisle provide perfect natural light and the large window behind the altar makes you feel like you are staring at a magical forest. The beautiful front doors make for a great backdrop and there are a handful of spaces to use outdoors for photos. It is also just minutes from Edwin Warner Park if you want to make the short trip for any photos.
Firefly Lane
https://fireflylaneevents.com/home
1406 Big Bartons Creek Road, Dickson, Tennessee
I had a difficult time knowing how to categorize this venue because Firefly Lane gives you the best of both worlds with their pristine chapel set in the middle of a lush forest. The front of the Chapel looks like an enclosed building, but once you walk through the double doors you are surrounded by woods. The 3600 sq. foot Reception Hall sits directly to the right of the Chapel. They have two climate controlled rooms connected to the reception hall for getting ready, but they also have a 2300 sq. foot farmhouse that can be used for getting ready or staying the night.
I hope this guide helped you find the perfect wedding venue for your wedding day. If you have any questions or want to see more photos from any venues just reach out with the contact form below.
