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 antique beauty, Tulip Grove Mansion.

Built between 1834 and 1836 while Andrew Jackson Donelson and his first wife (Emily) were living at the White House, this two-story brick dwelling was built modeled on Asher Benjamin’s pattern-books published in Boston from 1830 to 1833.

Today, however, we like to think of this gorgeous estate as a Jane Austen novel-esque dream for events. From dinner parties and weddings to holiday events and cocktail hours, you cannot go wrong when you mix a modern-day party with the vintage styles of this venue.

Featuring a two-story Doric entrance portico, the house is situated atop a wooded hill about one mile from The Hermitage. The front lawn holds a mix of tall trees that create gorgeous photo backdrops, and the unique circle drive, way reminds us what it may have been like to see a carriage stroll up to the house for visitors circa 1840.

The front lawn is incredibly popular for wedding ceremonies facing both the driveway and the mansion.

Through the double front doors of the mansion are several rooms with wood floors and a winding stair case that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a 19th-century ball.

The home features Grecian mantles, painted woodwork and an elegant, curvilinear three-story staircase. The marbleized walls in the main entrance hall are original. This entrance area is absolutely perfect as a common space for cocktail hour, seating charts, guest book signings and even the occasional first dance.

Dark wood on dark wood tones make for an elegant and rustic vintage feel inside Tulip Grove. With some original wall art and mirrors, the mansion hardly leaves you wanting for anything visually.

Some clients choose to bring in vintage style furniture to stage the mansion (see photo below). The opportunity of vision for this venue is fantastic if you’re an artist with creative desires.

For events such as corporate dinners, we love the idea of a simple and understated farmhouse style. The indoor areas of the mansion itself seat a little more than 100 guests. If you’re planning more guests than that, fear not! Keep scrolling, and we’ll show you the possibilities when you book this spot.

Before we move to the backyard, we can’t help but show you some of our favorite little nooks and crannies inside the mansion that make for fun areas for event prep/getting ready and special places for pictures!

In the back room of the house is the area we like to call the bridal suite! With bright yellow walls, this room is light and airy for brides to have a moment with their girls or put on their dress. It’s also typically where clients will store their things during the event!

The back “old kitchen” area of Tulip Grove is such a cool spot with a brick fireplace. This room will sometimes be used for caterers to setup or groom + groomsmen to prepare for the wedding in, but occasionally it remains empty and is used for first looks or private time with family.

As you navigate through the house and out through the back doors to the porch, an even broader horizon of opportunities presents itself! From the bar and cocktail tables for mingle time, to photo ops with your family and friends, the back porch and back stair case are unique in their own right!

For those weddings and events that have over 100 guests, this is where your time to shine begins because for bigger audiences, the backyard gets dressed with tents, dance floors, cocktail tables and string lighting for a magic array of vintage incorporated festivities.

We have packages to offer that include a tent, string lighting, a dance floor and seating for guest counts from 100 all the way to 300!

We do have clients that choose to bring in upgraded rental items like the cross-back chairs, draping and the chandelier above! The blank canvas of a tent gives clients the ability to to create their own vision!

At the end of the night, the circle drive and stairs in front of Tulip Grove make for a perfect exit or goodbye to friends, family and colleagues.

Tulip Grove Mansion can be booked for a full wedding ceremony and reception, as a part of a package with us or for brunches, dinners or showers. We would love to give you a site visit to view Tulip Grove at any point! Please feel free to check out Tulip Grove’s page on our website for more information or email us at events@thehermitage.com to schedule a visit!

I Do to the Venue: Tulip Grove Mansion

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 antique beauty, Tulip Grove Mansion.

Emily Dolch