An estimated one in four U.S. nuptials are designed as destination weddings, and Nashville tops the list of spots to tie the knot. Getting married in Music City? Then you’ll likely have guests arriving from far and wide. Offering them an authentic taste of the city is certainly gracious, but when you’re trying to pull off a wedding, that can be a challenge. We chatted with the folks at Infinity Hospitality Group, who can not only offer some fun itinerary ideas to provide your guests, but they also add those special notes throughout your Music City wedding weekend.
Many of the hands holding Infinity’s reins are Nashville natives — unicorns by today’s Nashville standards. “We believe that authentic Nashville is about community. It is Southern hospitality in the truest sense,” says Infinity Hospitality Group’s Creative Director, Ashley Hayden. “If you grew up in Nashville, chances are you never met a stranger. You waved at passersby, you greeted everyone with a smile, and you supported local businesses above all. One of the reasons we’ve become such a thriving city is because of the supportive and creative community we’ve built and nurtured.”
So, when it comes to gracious hospitality, you can’t go wrong with Infinity Hospitality Group’s lineup of what made Nashville the “it city” it is.
PinPlanning to marry in Music City? Let the pros at Infinity Hospitality Group help create the wedding of your dreams! Image: Cannon Weddings
Start With What’s Most Important
At Infinity, plans always start with you and your fiancé. Hayden says that the team considers details like where you and your sweetie met, your hobbies and your passions, all of which help them focus on what’s unique to the two of you. Be ready to describe your dream wedding in five words, along with must-haves and must-nots, which will help assure your wedding truly represents both of you.
“With us, you have one point of contact, so you aren’t managing upwards of eight different vendors, we are,” Ashley adds. “We want our couples to enjoy the planning process as much as the wedding itself.”
For Your Guests
“To incorporate Nashville throughout the event, it’s all in the details. Welcome your guests by leaving custom welcome bags in their hotel rooms. Include a personalized map of some Nashville hot spots and a wedding weekend itinerary,” Ashley suggests. For your guests who imbibe on a little too much at the honkytonks, she suggests incorporating hangover kits in those welcome bags. One of the team’s favorite “free time” picks starts with local burgers at Burger Up before taking a stroll in the popular 12South neighborhood in which this dining destination is located. Your guests can snap a shot of the insta-famous “I Believe in Nashville” mural, nosh on a chocolate chip cookie at Christie Cookie or a gourmet Mexican popsicle at Las Paletas, or sip locally roasted coffee at Frothy Monkey’s original location.
Location, Location, Location
Infinity manages five landmark venues. Whether you have your heart set on a spectacular view of downtown at The Bridge Building, gorgeous light and literal wedding bells at The Bell Tower, the charm of a renovated 1879 hardware store at The Quarter, the ambiance of one of Nashville’s oldest homes at The Harding House, or perhaps an iconic listening room experience at 12th and Porter, your wedding’s setting will be of historic proportions.
PinThe Bell Tower’s soaring ceilings and brilliant natural light set the stage for a once-in-a-lifetime event! Image: Rachel Moore PhotoPinIn addition to its state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment, The Bell Tower also offers plenty of space for dining and dancing. Image: John Myers PhotographyPinMeanwhile at The Bridge Building, sweeping views of downtown Nashville make any event an affair to remember! Image: Lauren Galloway PhotographyPinNo detail was forgotten for this floral-filled wedding at The Bridge Building. Image: Nashville Wedding Collection
An Original Keepsake
Once you’ve landed on the venue, Ashley suggests that you “skip the traditional guestbook and get a custom Hatch Show Print poster for guests to sign when they arrive.” Rather than adding another book to the shelf, you can have it framed to remember that time you said “I Do” in front of folks who cared enough to hang their hats in Tennessee for your big day.
PinCould there be a more quintessential Nashville keepsake for any newlyweds than a Hatch Show Print poster signed by all their nearest and dearest? Image: Erin Lee Allender Photography
Wedding Fare
Indeed, this town sings its own tune while its culinary scene hits the high notes. “One of the best ways to incorporate Music City into your wedding is with dinner and drinks,” says Ashley. She recommends offering local brews on the bar from Tennessee Brew Works and Yazoo. A signature cocktail with Pickers Vodka, or a bourbon tasting bar featuring Corsair, Belle Meade Bourbon, George Dickel and Jack Daniel’s can also add to your toast of the town.
Ashley recommends you serve Southern favorites for dinner like barbecue, chicken and waffles and Nashville hot chicken, and the folks at Infinity love creating food and beverage stations. “They provide a fun interactive experience for guests, and it’s a good way to make sure there’s something for everyone, including guests with dietary restrictions,” she says.
On the sweeter side, cake isn’t necessarily the obvious choice. “For dessert, there’s nothing better than Fox’s Donut Den. If you’re a local, you know they’ve been serving up the best donuts in town since the 1970s. It was also our owner’s first job, and what would begin his career in hospitality,” shares Ashley. She adds that this iconic treasure is a prime choice to pair with Frothy Monkey coffee for dessert — just the right amount of “pick-me-up to get guests moving on the dance floor,” she adds.
PinWhen it’s cocktail hour, your guests can drink like a local with a special Pickers beverage. Image: Sara Bill PhotographyPinDoes it get more “Nashville” than Nashville hot chicken passed hors d’oeuvres? Image: Sara Bill PhotographyPinWhen your guests need a late-night pick-me-up, give ’em a GooGoo. Image: Chesley Summar PhotographyPinA doughnut dessert bar featuring treats from Fox’s Donut Den is so very Nashville. Image: Kate Anthony PhotographyPinAshley & Brian know how to treat their guests to something sweet! Image: Kendra Harrell Photography
For party favors, Ashley recommends giving your guests a little bit of Nashville to take home, like Goo Goo Clusters, marshmallow boxes from The Bang Candy Company, or miniature jars of preserves from Loveless Café.
There are so many moving parts to creating the ideal wedding, and it’s easy to become overwhelmed when trying to plan an event that’s this important. “We want our couples to get that Nashville experience from beginning to end, and that includes hospitality,” says Ashley. “Everyone from your event team assisting with planning and coordination, to the event staff serving drinks and passing hors d’oeuvres, our team treats you and your guests with the kindness we’ve all come to expect from the people of Music City.”
To learn more about Infinity Hospitality Group and the array of services offered, visit them online at infinityhospitalitygroup.com.This article is sponsored by Infinity Hospitality Group.
Melissa Corbin is a travel and culinary journalist telling the stories of folks and places that make their corner of the world unique. Find her on Instagram at @melcorbin.
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