Blog: Plan the Ultimate Nashville Destination Wedding and Experience Music City

Whether coming from Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Miami, or elsewhere, a Nashville destination wedding is always a terrific and unforgettable experience. ✨

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If you love live music, history, southern comfort food, spas and wellness treatments, art exhibits, public art displays, and eclectic backgrounds, and just plain ol’ fun then you won’t find a better place than Nashville! 🎸

Why Choose a Nashville Destination Wedding? 💍

Let’s be honest – your guests are secretly hoping you’ll pick somewhere amazing for your destination wedding, and Nashville delivers on all fronts:

• Live music venues around every corner (literally – even our grocery stores have performers!) 🎵
• Incredible Nashville food scene beyond just hot chicken 🍗
• Rich blend of history and culture from music to civil rights 🏛️
• Easy access with direct flights from most major cities ✈️
• Activities and attractions for every type of guest from outdoor adventures to historic landmarks 🌟

Best Time of Year for Your Nashville Celebration 📅

Top Nashville Area Wedding Venues 🏡

While Nashville offers countless beautiful wedding reception venues, here’s why Legacy Farms stands out as the perfect destination wedding location…

Legacy Farms (Lebanon, TN – 30 min from Nashville) 💫

• Private 22-acre estate with historic manor
• Accommodations for 20+ guests on-site
• Full service wedding packages with planning services and gourmet catering
• Multiple indoor/outdoor ceremony locations including our stunning reception barn
• Full weekend celebration options

Imagine your guests experiencing…

• A rehearsal dinner under the stars ✨
• Accommodations in our historic manor 🏰
• A romantic garden ceremony with Nashville’s finest musicians 🎻
• A reception with stunning modern décor and Southern-inspired gourmet cuisine 🍽️
• A sweet farewell brunch before departures 🥂

If stress-free fun & romance aren’t your vibe, other notable Nashville area venues include…

• Drakewood Farm (Goodlettsville, TN)
• Belle Meade Historic Site (Nashville, TN)
• Cheekwood Estate & Gardens (Nashville, TN)
• Allenbrooke Farms (Spring Hill, TN)
• Southall Meadows (Franklin, TN)

Planning Your Nashville Destination Wedding Weekend 📋

Need fashion advice for the whole weekend? Check out our Wedding Weekend Fashion Guide below!

The Ultimate Nashville Wedding Timeline

Friday

• Guests arrive 🛬
• Welcome bags and amenities await in their rooms 🎁
• Morning brunch to soak in that southern hospitality 🌞
• Graceful rehearsal 👰
• Welcome dinner delights/Nashville night out with skyline views 🎉

Saturday

• Tie the knot! 💍
• Take time for some epic wedding photography
• Dance the night away 💃

Sunday

• Farewell brunch 🥞
• Hit midtown for some sightseeing 📸
• Departures ✈️

Nashville Activities for Your Wedding Guests 🎯

One of the best parts of a Nashville destination wedding? Your guests will thank you for giving them the perfect excuse to visit Music City! Here are the must-experience activities for your wedding weekend…

Music & Entertainment 🎵

• Grand Ole Opry House (2804 Opryland Dr) 🎤
• Bluebird Cafe (4104 Hillsboro Pike) 🐦
• Ryman Auditorium (116 Rep. John Lewis Way N) 🎭
• Broadway honky-tonks 🎸

Pro Tip: Create a custom playlist with Nashville artists to use as your pre-ceremony ambiance! 🎧

History & Culture 🏛️

Must-Visit Nashville Museums

• Country Music Hall of Fame (222 5th Ave S) 🏆
• Johnny Cash Museum (119 3rd Ave S) 🖤
• National Museum of African American Music (510 Broadway) 🎹
• Hatch Show Print (224 Rep. John Lewis Way S) 🖌️
• Tennessee State Museum (1000 Rosa L Parks Blvd) 📜

Historic Sites

• The Parthenon at Centennial Park 🏛️
• Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage 🏠
• Fort Negley Park 🏔️
• Civil Rights Room at Nashville Public Library 📚

Food & Drink Adventures 🍽️

Hot Chicken Experiences 🔥

• Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
• Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack
• 400 Degrees
• Party Fowl

Tennessee Whiskey Tasting 🥃

• Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery
• Corsair Distillery
• Nashville Craft Distillery
• Jack Daniel’s (worth the drive to Lynchburg!)

Farm-to-Table Dining 🌱

• The Farm House
• Husk Nashville
• Rolf & Daughters
• Folk

Unique Nashville Experiences 💫

Outdoor Adventures🌲

• Percy Priest Lake
• Cheekwood Botanical Gardens
• Radnor Lake State Park (miles of trails)
• Cumberland River kayaking or paddle-boarding

Shopping Experiences 🛍️

• Third Man Records
• Two Old Hippies
• Grimey’s Records
• Nashville Farmers Market
• Opry Mills

Destination Wedding Planning Tips 💡

Planning from afar doesn’t have to be stressful! Here’s how to make your Nashville destination wedding planning smooth…

1. Work with a Full-Service Venue 🏆

At Legacy Farms, our all-inclusive approach means one point of contact handles everything from catering to decor to timeline planning. This makes long-distance planning infinitely easier!

2. Schedule Planning Trips Strategically ✈️

Plan 1-2 visits to Nashville during your engagement:

• Initial trip: Venue selection, major vendor meetings
• Second trip: Menu tasting, final walkthrough, rehearsal planning

3. Create a Dedicated Wedding Website 💻

Include:

• Travel information
• Accommodation options
• Nashville activity recommendations
• Transportation details
• Weather expectations
• Weekend timeline

4. Consider Your Guests’ Experience 💝

• Provide welcome bags with Nashville essentials
• Arrange transportation between major events
• Create a guide to Nashville neighborhoods
• Suggest activities for different interests/budgets
• Share your favorite local spots

Wedding Weekend Transportation 🚗

Getting around Nashville is easier with a plan…

From Airport to Accommodations ✈️

• Nashville International Airport (BNA) is 20 minutes from downtown
• Ride-share services readily available
• Private shuttles for larger groups

Around Nashville 🚕

• Downtown areas are walkable
• Ride-shares for most destinations
• Consider a shuttle service for wedding events
• Golf cart taxis in downtown areas

To Legacy Farms 🚌

• 30 minutes from downtown Nashville
• 20 minutes from Nashville airport
• Shuttle service available
• Ample free parking for those who drive

Practical Planning Details 📝

Tennessee Marriage License Information 💍

• Both partners must appear in person at any Tennessee County Clerk’s office
• Valid photo IDs required
• $97-102 fee (varies by county)
• No blood test required
• Valid for 30 days with no waiting period
• No residency requirements

Accommodation Options 🏨

Beyond our on-site Manor accommodations for your VIP guests, Nashville offers:

• Luxury hotels (The Hermitage Hotel, Thompson Nashville)
• Boutique experiences (The 404 Hotel, Urban Cowboy)
• Budget-friendly chains
• Unique vacation rentals

Travel Tips for Out-of-Town Guests ✈️

• Nashville has direct flights from 76+ destinations
• Car rentals available at airport
• Downtown Nashville is 15-20 minutes from airport
• Consider arrival/departure timing with Nashville traffic patterns

Real Destination Wedding Stories 💕

Kate and James planned their wedding from Chicago without even visiting first…

“We fell in love with Legacy Farms through virtual tours and planning calls. The team made everything so seamless that by the time we arrived for our wedding weekend, it felt like home. Our guests are still talking about the entire experience – from the Nashville activities to our garden ceremony to the amazing food. Worth every penny to have a full weekend rather than just a few hours!” ✨

Ready to Start Planning? 🎉

A Nashville destination wedding gives your guests more than just a ceremony to attend – it provides them with a memorable vacation experience centered around your celebration.

At Legacy Farms, we specialize in creating stress-free destination wedding experiences where you can focus on making memories rather than managing details. Our planning team handles everything from vendor coordination to timeline creation to menu planning, all while keeping you involved every step of the way.

Whether you’re planning from across the country or across the world, we’ll help you create the perfect Nashville wedding weekend at our private estate.