Belle Meade

Belle Meade
5025 Harding Pike
Nashville, TN 37205
Visit their website

Average base cost for a Belle Meade Plantation wedding is calculated by figuring a 125-person guest list for a Peak Season ceremony/reception in the Boxwood Garden & Carriage House and an average food/beverage cost of $100/pp. Entertainment, flowers, additional decorations and rentals, transportation, and photography are not included. Price is rounded up to the nearest thousand. Gratuity and tax is included.*Prices subject to change.

Average Base Cost: $20,000

How it Breaks Down

Facility Rental Fee: The Belle Meade venue rental fees break down as follows:

Winter Season (Dec-Feb):

• Carriage House (everyday): $3,000

Peak Season (April, May, June, September, October):

Boxwood Garden & Carriage House

• Mon-Thurs: $3,500
• Fri or Sun: $6,000
• Sat: $7,000

Carriage House

• Mon-Thurs: $3,000
• Fri or Sun: $5,500
• Sat: $6,500

Mid-Season (March, July, August, November)

Boxwood Garden & Carriage House

• Mon-Thurs $3,500
• Fri or Sun $5,500
• Sat $6,500

Carriage House

• Mon-Thurs $3,000
• Fri or Sun $5,000
• Sat $6,000

What’s Included: 

• Set up and tear down of 250 chairs, 25 round tables, 20 rectangular tables & 14 bistros (enough for 250 guests for a reception) – $2000 value
• Back up tent with floor for outdoor ceremony included -$10,000 value
• Outdoor cocktail lawn games area – $2000 value
• Power distribution box included for band or DJ hook-up – $300 value
• Bridal and Engagement Portrait setting, exclusive to our brides only.
• Up to 5 1/2 hours for your event
• Carriage House interior spaces are climate controlled
• Year round access to grounds for planning
• One hour ceremony rehearsal the day prior for a wedding
• Fully remodeled restroom facilities for guests
• Bridal Suite
• Day of Event Supervisor
• Grand driveway entrance into our extensive 30-acre estate
• Year round indoor wedding options available
• Year round professional landscaping
• On-site parking for valet service or shuttle service
• On-site prep kitchen
• Tented reception options available
• Extra set-up time options available

Vendors: There are required vendors for lighting, valet parking & heaters.  However, you get to choose your own vendors for everything else.

Food/Beverage: You may use your own licensed caterer (hooray!)

More Stats

Space Type: Inside/Outside

Size: Up to 250 guests

Bridal Suite: Yes

Parking: Yes

How Will Grandma Get There? The venue is approximately 15-20 mins from downtown Nashville, where guests would most likely want to stay (I love The Hermitage Hotel and the Hyatt). Ideally out-of-town guests would be shuttled to the venue or other transportation would be provided.

Party On! Events can start anytime after 5 p.m. and go until 11 p.m.

The Report

Update: A lot of great changes have been made to this venue since I last looked at it, and it is now more weather-friendly and guest-friendly with the addition of a tent and new bathrooms (as noted above). My original review is below.

The Belle Meade plantation is located in Belle Meade, an upscale part of town with huge houses and a lot of history. The plantation is a historic site that is situated on 30-acres of land and used to be a famous stud farm (hence the stables). The drive onto the grounds is gorgeous…you cross an old bridge that brings you onto the main property, which is surrounded by patches of sunflowers and boxwood trees. The Boxwood Garden, where the ceremony would most likely take place, is a shady garden with a stone aisle for the bride to walk down. What’s unique about the garden setup is that guests can be faced towards the bride as she walks down the aisle, with the musicians behind them or to the side. Guests can then walk over to the reception area, either the Carriage House and Stables, or a tented Paddock Area, which is basically a giant lawn. The Carriage House and Stables are covered and have giant wooden doors, and there is a covered walkway in between and around them that can be used for either a food station area or additional seating and bars. In the winter, you can install plastic drop-downs on the covered walkway to insulate the area and keep it warm.

Woman Getting Married Says:

Note: We’ll preface this venue review by saying that getting married at a location with a troubled past is obviously a tough decision that every couple has to make on their own. We are here to provide pricing information and other details for wedding venues couples have inquired about, and couples have to decide for themselves how that history will factor into their selection.  Our notes below are strictly about the venue itself and how it functions as a venue if you choose to host an event here.

This is definitely one of those classic Southern wedding venues worthy of a destination wedding. While the grounds are beautiful and the Carriage House and Stables are unique, if you want to have a somewhat formal wedding here there is quite a bit that has to be done to spruce it up. From flowing curtains and hanging lanterns, you can see from the photos above what you CAN do to make the space look great. A formal event would also most likely require upgraded chairs and/or tables from what is included in the rental fee (you can see their folding wooden chairs in the second picture, below). With all that said, if you’re looking for a rustic vibe with Southern charm, this venue is a great option as-is. I also love it as a casual rehearsal dinner option for a down-home BBQ!

Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them. Thank you for your support!