The Hermitage is a Nashville landmark that attracts out-of-towners and engaged couples looking to celebrate their wedding. The Hermitage offers several locations to host a wedding, each of which has a different vibe and speaks to different types of couples. In hopes of displaying all that The Hermitage has to offer, Liberty Party Rental worked with the venue and other Nashville wedding professionals to showcase this unique wedding venue.
Take a look at the pictures, and read more about how these vendors came together to showcase the Tulip Grove mansion and the Cabin-by-the-Spring at this historic location.
What a beautiful venue The Hermitage is! Can you tell us more about what the venue has to offer and why you love it?
This venue is truly one of a kind. Being one of the most well preserved presidential homes in the country gives it such a great opportunity to execute incredible looking events. The history and beauty of the site simply can’t be matched in Middle Tennessee.
What does the venue have to offer as far as a wedding goes (ceremony area, reception area, etc.)?
We offer five unique venues to suit any bride or budget. Your design can be rustic with our Cabin-by-the-Spring, or elegant at the Tulip Grove mansion. You can use the lawn space at either of those venues for your ceremony as well. You can also choose to utilize the Hermitage Church for your ceremony. The Hermitage Garden is our most exclusive venue, with terrific views of the President’s home all while being surrounded by the natural beauty of heirloom flowers and crepe myrtle trees.
What was the inspiration behind the event?
We found it difficult to really sell the venue at offsite wedding shows. We felt as though the unique nature of our venues could only be captured by visiting the site in person. We used the wedding shows to invite potential brides to come out to our open house.
What kind of style did the event exude?
Each venue’s décor was designed to highlight the one-of-a-kind characteristics of each of the different venues. Liberty Party Rental did an amazing job decorating the Tulip Grove mansion and the Cabin-by-the-Spring.
What was your favorite part about participating in styled event shoots?
It was great to see all of the vendors come together to help pull this off. Because everyone was so enthusiastic about participating, it made the entire event that much better. If we would have only had a couple of vendors, it wouldn’t have been nearly as impactful.
Wedding Vendor Team: Liberty Party Rental
Nashville Audio Visual
Two Fat Men
A Dream Come True
Ribbons of Chocolate
Celebrations Catering
Savor The Flavor
Premier DJ’s
Radisson Nashville Airport
Dulce Desserts
Harpist Kirsten Agresta Copely
Jackson Downs Wine and Spirits Green Finch Floral Design
Rebel Hill Florist
Photography by The Collection
The pictures of the food are beautiful! The food looks delicious. What did you love about the food?
We loved that each vendor got to show off their unique flavors and styles of cooking. Also, we had a wide variety of salty and sweet hors d'oeuvres. All of our preferred vendors always have a beautiful display that only adds to the amazing food.
Logan’s fairytale proposal to Christine brought tears to our eyes as he journeyed to one knee beneath the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge in Nashville, TN. Christine's name was etched into a romantically lit sign as the question of a lifetime escaped Logan's lips. Luckily, she gave a heartfelt yes!
The perfect proposal included the couple's favorite song playing in the background. Following an intimate dinner, the engagement was cemented with a tender kiss in our own Music City. Witness the Logan's perfect proposal to Christine. With the help of planning experts from Regalo Design, this engagement was beautifully crafted, and we’re happy to celebrate this joyous occasion, and wish the couple all the best!
Video below posted by Regalo Design to Facebook on Saturday, March 28, 2015
Their incredible proposal photos were captured by none other than Amelia J. Moore.
Springtime is home to weddings of all kinds, that’s true, but not many weddings have a candy buffet and a saxophone serenade by the groom, except for Marcus & Jamaria Johnson’s. After hearing about this event from the folks at Roland’s Photography, we had to see their gorgeous wedding.
This couple tied the knot at Mount Zion with the reception at Nashville’s Rocketown, where the champagne, ivory, and gold colors set the style as classic elegance. We adored the surprise serenade by the groom and the Pinterest inspired merrymaking! Wedding guests enjoyed a delicious candy buffet, a photo booth, and a large dance floor, forever naming the reception as “The After Party”.
Here’s what the bride shared with us about the best day of her life.
Jamaria + Marcus
Wedding Date: April 11, 2015
Ceremony Venue: Mount Zion Baptist Church
Reception Venue: Rocketown
Guests: 175
Budget: $20,000-$30,000
Wedding Team
Decorator | Dwight Pope
Photographer | Roland’s Photography
Videographer | Modern Innovation Productions
Photo booth | Kain & Able Entertainment
Gown | Allure Romance, purchased from Glitz Bridal
Bride’s Accessories | Shoes: Christian Louboutin, Earrings & Necklace: Charming Charlie, Bracelet: Kate Spade, Vail: Custom from Glitz Bridal
Men’s Attire | Jos A Bank
Wedding Band & Rings | Kay’s Jeweler
Bridesmaids’ Attire | Angelina Faccenda, purchased from Bridal Warehouse
Hair | Cheryl White
Makeup | Brittainy Hall
Stationery | Ann’s Bridal Bargains
Caterer | Tim Wynn
Cake Artist | Sarah Mullis, Homestyle Bakery
Reception Musicians | Band, friends of the groom. DJ, Eric Sexton (DJ Twoee)
Host | Kevin Thompson
Rentals | Liberty Party Rentals
Lighting | Provided by decorator, Dwight Pope
Transportation | Grande Avenue
Guest Accommodations | Courtyard Marriott
Rehearsal Dinner location | Mount Zion Baptist Church
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Our style is elegant, classic, but still modern and fun! We love entertaining and having a great time with the ones we love.
Where did you get your inspiration?
PINTEREST! Long before I even got engaged, I had a whole board dedicated to what I wanted my wedding day to be like. Also, I’m obsessed with the beauty of springtime. I knew I wanted to get married in the spring so I could incorporate beautiful springy colors.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
Coral is such a strong, beautiful color, but I did not want it to be overpowered, so we went with ivory, champagne, and gold as the main colors, and coral was our accent color. I don’t think I was very good at describing what I wanted to Dwight Pope and his team, but he captured exactly what I wanted perfectly!
I had a vision for how I wanted everything to be and a lot of venues restrict you in your artistic ideas, but Rocketown was open to any and everything I wanted to do and I love that. We wanted our reception to be fun! We wanted a big dance floor, a photo booth, and a candy buffet incorporated into our day because they add that fun aspect.
Our ceremony was classic. We went with small details in our décor and beautiful classic songs. We jumped the broom! Very traditional, but also modern.
What was your (or your guests’) favorite aspect of your wedding?
Oh man, it’s really hard to pick one favorite part! I know our guests loved how our host, the amazing Kevin Thompson, kept everyone engaged, laughing, and on the dance floor the entire night! Our reception keeps getting referred to as “the after party” because our guests had so much fun. Another amazing aspect was our photo booth! It was really fun to see all of my friends and family snapping it up in the booth, and the guys at Kain & Able were amazing to work with!
I would also have to say one of my favorite aspects was when my husband surprised me and serenaded me on his saxophone during the reception. He’s so talented!
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
We splurged on the reception. I’ve always dreamed of what my wedding day would be like, and I wanted to walk into our reception and have the wind knocked out of me. We went simple on the church décor because Mount Zion is beautiful on its own, and that way we were able to splurge a little on our reception space. Rocketown was so awesome by letting me do anything I wanted in their space! I would have to say, Dwight Pope and his team did an amazing job making sure that everything I wanted came to life that day. The gold chairs my husband and I sat in were to DIE for!
My dress was also a splurge! It took what seemed like FOREVER to find a dress! I think I may have tried on over 50 dresses, but as soon as I slipped into this dress at Glitz Bridal, I never wanted to take it off! I started dancing in the mirror, so I knew I had to have it (thanks Mom!).
We saved on our candy buffet. I knew I wanted one, but I also knew it would be cheaper to do it myself. I bought large glass vases in different shapes and sizes throughout the year from places like Hobby Lobby, Ross, TJ Maxx, etc., and then ordered my candy from candywarehouse.com. I know it was so much cheaper than hiring someone to put it together, and it turned out great!
Who were your favorite vendors and what made them exceptional?
I loved all of our vendors! We didn’t have any problems with anything. The guys at Roland’s Photography did an amazing job capturing every aspect of our day. I loved having more than one photographer because they captured so many different angles and moments. Josh Shaw at Modern Innovation Productions put together the most AMAZING video of our day! It looks like a TV show promo! Tim Wynn "put his foot into our food!" Everyone is still talking about how great it tasted. Sarah Mullis made our cake look and taste amazing! Not to mention, she’s one of the sweetest people I’ve met. Kain & Able Entertainment amazed me with their photo booth! Everyone that had a hand in our day was absolutely exceptional.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
If we could do it all over again (which I so wish we could because it was the best day), we would definitely not wait until the last minute to book things! We got engaged in November of 2013, so we had over a year to plan and instead of taking advantage of that time, we procrastinated and ended up having to do a whole lot in the last month leading up to the wedding, which caused unnecessary stress.
As for the wedding day itself, there is not one thing I would change! It was the best day of my life!
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Remember that nothing on Earth is perfect, your wedding day is quick, and the most important thing is the marriage itself. So, take in each moment and don’t sweat the small stuff!
If you’re like us, you loved slushies when you were a kid (or even now), so why not try a new way to partake in this tasty experience? This time, you can add alcohol to the delicious, blended treats with The Daiquiri Deck.
The Daiquiri Deck is a service that provides customers with the opportunity to enjoy their favorite frozen, blended drinks, with the option of adding alcohol. It’s not a bar service, but a machine that blends your preferred flavors and gives your guests the pull-down spout to fill their glasses. No bartenders necessary.
The inspiration for this endeavor began when The Daiquiri Deck creator, Sha’ Johnson, fell in love with the daiquiri shops in Louisiana. She felt that her fellow Nashvillians should also have the freedom to experience flavors from the Big Easy, so she brought it to Music City.
“I am bringing Bourbon Street to your event.”
It’s easier than you think, despite the geographical distance. The Daiquiri Deck provides a machine for your guests to use that keeps the drinks frozen and flowing. Choose your favorite New Orleans flavor from The Daiquiri Deck, customize your straws and cups if you’re feeling squirrely, and let them do all the heavy lifting. They cater to your daiquiri needs. The tasty flavors include Strawberry, Pina Colada, Electric Lemonade (Blue Raspberry), Cyclone, Mango, Peach, Banana Creme, Hurricane, Margarita, Grenadine, and Sweet & Sour.
From bachelorette parties to weddings, to corporate events and backyard parties, The Daiquiri Deck provides high quality service to enhance any event. They can even rent to businesses for commercial use!
Why use a Daiquiri Deck machine instead of a regular blender?
That’s an easy one. Instead of manning the blender for the entire party and missing out on all the fun, or hiring people and wasting money, these machines are set up with your flavor of choice and can run by themselves. You can enjoy the party with your guests while it mixes away.
You also don’t have to worry about running out of time with it either. It includes the all-day event rental (24 hours), setup, cleanup, pickup, 35 cups/lids/paper straws, utility cart, and, most importantly, your favorite set of New Orleans flavors.
“Our machines keep the party flowing and consistent.”
The best part is that there’s no cleanup for you afterward. The Daiquiri Deck crew will clean it for you. Your only job is to enjoy your event.
If you want to rent the machine overnight, that’s no problem. All units have a standby switch that allows the mix to remain in the unit overnight, held at 40 degrees, which reduces startup time and stops you from losing product.
How much does it cost, you ask? Including all of the features we told you above, plus the delicious flavors, it’s only $249.99. For an added bonus, the first 10 AshleysBrideGuide.com readers will receive a full extra day at no charge! Who could beat that?
The folks at The Daiquiri Deck want you to have an amazing party without the messy cleanup of a blender or the inconvenience of stopping your fun to make drinks.
What you need:
● 20 amp dedicated outlet.
● Water and/or alcohol (if you prefer alcohol).
● The ability to have fun!
Check out The Daiquiri Deck at thedaiquirideck.com for suggestions and all the details that you may need. You can also call at (615) 500-9697 to ask any questions, and the fabulous owner Sha’ will be happy to help! Daiquiri Deck is also affiliated with Pro Entertainment Nashville who has an array of party services for you to enjoy.
We love the prospect of a premade daiquiri, especially at those Nashville summer weddings! You have to have something to quench your thirst after hours on the dance floor.
If you found this article helpful, don’t forget to share with your fellow brides!
Let's face it; living in Music City, brides have SO MANY great options as far as live music is concerned. How does one decide between a band or a DJ? Now, you don't have to! The latest in wedding entertainment is booking both a band and a DJ for the best overall experience for your guests.
Music City Events knows all about this unique approach to wedding reception entertainment, and we chatted with owner Sarah to learn more.
Sarah, owner of Music City Events
Plenty of Nashville brides are eager to have live music at their reception, but don't want to sacrifice the fluidity of the evening. That's why a lot of weddings now are reaching out to Music City Events for help fusing both a band and a DJ together at their reception for the ultimate experience that is sure to prevent any lapse in energy. Your band wants to take a break? No problem. The DJ will pick up where they left off, spinning the Top 40 hits that some of your college pals are dying to hear, but that wouldn't really fit the bill for your '60s funk band.
When you hire a band for your reception, you need to factor in that the band will take a break approximately every 45 minutes for anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes. Have you ever thought about what your reception will be like during those breaks when absolutely no music is playing? Talk about being super awkward for both you and your guests!
If you were thinking that hiring both a band and a DJ will double the cost of your musical entertainment, you'd actually be mistaken! Here's the average cost breakdown...
Cost DJ - $900-1200 for 5 hours
Cost Band - $3000-3500 minimum
Cost of fusion – Cost of band plus $500 for DJ
This is less than HALF of the cost of hiring both separately. Who says you can't have it all on your big day?
The Respectables is one of a few companies in Nashville who offers a DJ/band fusion. Their all-inclusive package includes the band, DJ, sound system, and stage lighting. According to their website, "with the band & DJ combo, you get the excitement of a live band with the flexibility of a DJ, all in one affordable package."
At Ashley’s Bride Guide, we’re always on the lookout for innovative and exciting wedding ideas.
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