Hello and welcome to our series of blogs where we dive deep into our different venues and what they offer! Today we are talking about our historic and classic Hermitage Church.

Original to the property, the Hermitage Church was constructed in 1823 by President Jackson as a gift to his wife, Rachel, and the surrounding community. For generations, the Hermitage Church has been a highly sought venue for couples seeking an intimate and historic site to share their vows.

Stand-alone for a ceremony or elopement or paired with one of our unique reception sites, the church is a clean canvas for brides with many different styles and visions. It seats up to 150 guests, which allows for a broad range of wedding sizes.

The church sits a bit farther back down the property off of Rachel’s Lane, so although never required, extra personal signage is always recommended!

With windows and doors that swing wide open, this venue keeps its historical integrity with having climate-controlled heat only and allowing for a windy breeze during spring, beginnings of summer and the fall.

Nashville Wedding Collection Photography

Some clients like to put a sign-in book, welcome sign or a bit of floral touch outside the church to give guests a welcoming and romantic vibe. This is always a nice add as long as the weather cooperates!

Staff tip: Because of the pureness of the white church walls and pews, any provided color in ribbons, floral or decor will upgrade your wedding look and photos in the church!

Many clients choose live musicians in the church since its wooded acoustics echo throughout the area for beautiful sounding melodies. From strings to harps to pianists, every live musician who plays a chord in the church adores the sound. . .and so do the guests!

For the bride or client less inclined for live musicians, we’ve also seen things as simple as a Bluetooth speaker, which works just fine for music! Something important to mention for rental clients interested in this venue is that there is only one outlet to the side of the altar, so bring your extension cords if you think you’ll need a bit of power! Wireless lights and speakers are always recommended.

The church has a traditional altar that most brides choose not to use for their ceremony, though you certainly can have your officiant stand behind it if you’d like. It has also been used for different events (non-weddings) or types of ceremonies!

Most ceremonies happen in front of the altar, but we’ve also had clients cover it with a unique backdrop of their own design.

Because of the church’s history and age, we do have certain design and decor requirements and rules that clients often ask about. We typically do not allow Command strips, except for on the front doors. Water in vases and real flames are also not permitted unless written permission by our staff is given (unity candles are typically the exception). This is useful decor info for most, and we appreciate all of client’s respectfulness for our historic building!

The specialty pews complete with vintage pew doors make for a unique decor opportunity.

Staff tip: Pew hooks! Pew hooks work great for hanging things off the pews and ensuring no damage is done to the historic church in the process.

The church has its own driveway and parking lot that can park about 40 cars. That being said, parking rules are regulated by our staff, and it is most common to have cars parked in the grass at the church and up and down the driveway. We never have issues with parking for a guest count of 150 or less!

The church and its surrounding areas of grass and gorgeous old trees create incredible photo backdrops for family photos, couple photos, bridal party photos or even that precious first look with dad. Don’t feel like you have to travel to the rest of the Hermitage site to get that #photogoal you’ve been waiting for!

The church can be booked for an elopement, booked for a full ceremony stand-alone or booked as a part of a ceremony + reception package. We would love to give you a site visit to view the Hermitage Church at any point! Please feel free to check out the church’s page on our website for more information or email us at events@thehermitage.com to schedule a visit!

I Do to the Venue: The Hermitage Church

Hello and welcome to our series of blogs where we dive deep into our different venues and what they offer! Today we are talking about our historic and classic Hermitage Church.

Emily Dolch