Open Doors: 7 Locations for Your Nashville Wedding Ceremony That Don’t Require Membership
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Whether you’re having a Nashville destination wedding, haven’t found a spiritual home or your church just isn't an option, there are plenty of lovely options for your wedding ceremony at churches all over Nashville that welcome non-membership couples. And the options won’t disappoint. Big or small, grand or quaint, our city pretty much offers what any bride would want. Check out some of my finds below.
1) The Downtown Presbyterian Church
Telephone: 615-254-7584
Website: DPChurch.com
Location:154 5th Ave North, Nashville, TN 37219
Image courtesy of DivineImages.net and Brocade Designs
How about a grand pipe organ playing “Here Comes the Bride” as you walk down the aisle? The Downtown Church’s sanctuary is spacious, illustrious and has its impressive organ as the centerpiece for the ceremony. There are two main aisles and the church’s rich history is apparent through the décor and architecture. William Strickland, designer of the Tennessee State Capitol, created the church in an “Egyptian Revival” style. These elements are clearly shown throughout the building, including the sanctuary, with Egyptian scenes and design displayed on the walls and woodwork. For more information you can visit their site for the non-member and member guidelines.
2) College Grove United Methodist Church
Image courtesy of Flickr.com
Contact: Rev. Justin Collett
Telephone: 615-368-2191
Website: CollegeGroveUnitedMethodist.com
Location: 8568 Horton Highway, College Grove, TN 37046
This adorable, cottage-esque church has been a part of the Williamson county area since 1861. With a long past of additions and remodeling, the building was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1988. And in my opinion, what’s even cooler about the church is the bragging rights that come along with it. After your ceremony you can say, “I got married in a church that’s been in a Madonna music video.” Not to mention it’s been used in an Alabama and Waylon Jennings music video and Tom Hanks’, “The Green Mile” used the church to film a portion of the movie.
3) Vine Street Christian Church
Telephone: 615-269-5614
Website: VineStreet.org
Location: 4101 Harding Road, Nashville, Tennessee 37205
It’s safe to say Vine Street Christian’s sanctuary may be one of my favorites. They have long, open windows and tall ceilings giving brides their “grand entrance” storybook beginning. They also have an option to hold ceremonies in their chapel for smaller weddings. Pricing and guidelines are available on their site.
4) Woodmont Christian Church
Image courtesy of Lotus Blossom Photography
Contact: Marion Greenlee
Telephone: 615-383-3344, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday - Friday
Website: WoodmontChristian.org
Location: 3601 Hillsboro Road (at Woodmont Boulevard), Nashville, TN 37215
Woodmont Christian has a great variety of music formats! Brides have the opportunity to use an organ, piano, strings, trumpet, and even bagpipes. And their music director and organist, Michael Graham, who holds a Masters from George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, may even play at your wedding and if not a CD of his stylings on the pipe organ is included in the wedding package. And just a smidge more importantly, the church is quite picturesque. Their steeple is a site to behold and, as their website suggests, will serve as a “beacon” for a couple’s big day.
Image courtesy of Lotus Blossom Photography
5) Franklin Cumberland Presbyterian
Contact: Director, Stephanie Hyden
Telephone:615-545-4542
Website: franklincpchurch.com
Location: 615 West Main Street, Franklin, TN 37064
Franklin Cumberland Presbyterian has more than a traditional ceremony space….it has an impressive history. Before the Ryman was even a sketch on an architect’s pad, Franklin Cumberland Presbyterian was designed. The same man who designed the church, Hugh Carthcart Thompson, would later become the visionary behind Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. So, if you’re the type of bride interested in a more traditional, subdued ceremony without all the hullabaloo of a downtown wedding; this Presbyterian Church can accommodate up to 225 guests, grants access to a small reception area and they even offer pre-marriage counseling.
6) Scarritt Bennett Center
Image courtesy of Joy Marie Photography
Telephone: 615-340-7500
Website: ScarrittBennett.org
Location: 1008 19th Ave. South, Nashville, TN 37212
Their Wightman Chapel was voted “Best Place to Get Married” in the Tennessean’s 2010 “Toast of Music City!” That’s enough to get my attention. Their other chapel, Skinner, is similar to Wightman because of their shared gothic-stone style. I have to say, after all my research the Scarritt Bennett Center definitely fell on the top of my favorites list. Their buildings have a very romantic feel and, in my opinion, perfect for evening weddings. The center offers catering, options for rehearsal dinners, bridal showers and engagement parties. It’s the perfect all-in-one. They even offer overnight accommodations for up to 139 guests.
7) Tulip Street United Methodist Church
Images courtesy of TulipStreet.org
Telephone: 615-255-6248
Website: TulipStreet.org
Location: 522 Russell Street, Nashville, TN 37206
I’m one of those people who wishes there was a time machine that could throw me back into the Medieval Times. So for now, I’ll settle with visiting Tulip Street United Methodist. Its sanctuary is beautiful and has the ability to transform any wedding into a “royal” affair. On their site, they tell a bit about the building’s historical background and I love some of the little tid-bits including, “the cherub faces on the four corners of the exterior of the bell tower are placed above the gargoyles, symbolizing the presence of “good over evil”. The hand-carved cherub faces overlooking the main chandelier inside the sanctuary symbolize angels “watching from above”.
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Posted on March 8, 2011 |
Filed under: Wedding Venues and Locations,
