As a Nashville Wedding Photographer, I love venues that give couples a beautiful setting while still allowing their wedding day to feel completely their own. If you’re dreaming of a Ravenswood Mansion Wedding, Ravenswood Mansion offers historic Southern charm, rolling Tennessee hills, and plenty of space to create a celebration that feels both elegant and relaxed. Located just 20 minutes outside Nashville in Brentwood, this 1825 Antebellum mansion sits within 400 acres of beautiful scenery, giving you a peaceful setting close to the city without the hustle of being downtown.
From its historic architecture and spacious grounds to gorgeous golden-hour light, Ravenswood Mansion offers so much for couples planning an outdoor Tennessee wedding. Whether you’re envisioning a ceremony on the lawn, an intimate celebration on the porch, or a reception beneath a sailcloth tent, here’s everything you need to know when planning your wedding at Ravenswood.
Table of Contents:
- Ravenswood Mansion FAQ: Travel & Accommodation Details for Your Guests
- Ravenswood Mansion Wedding Ceremony & Reception Spaces
- Planning Your Ravenswood Mansion Wedding: Seasons & Capacity
- How to Book Your Wedding Venue
- How Much Does a Ravenswood Mansion Wedding Cost?
- Food & Beverage at Your Ravenswood Mansion Wedding
- What to Know: Rules & Limitations at Ravenswood Mansion
- Amenities at Ravenswood Mansion
- Getting Married in Nashville: What You Need to Know
- Why I Love Photographing Weddings at Ravenswood
Ravenswood Mansion FAQ: Travel & Accommodation Details for Your Guests
One of the things I love about Ravenswood Mansion is its location. You get beautiful Tennessee scenery and quiet surroundings while staying close enough to Nashville for out-of-town guests.
Where is Ravenswood Mansion Located?
Ravenswood Mansion is located in Brentwood, Tennessee, within Marcella Vivrette Smith Park. Its Brentwood location gives couples a peaceful setting outside the busier parts of Nashville while still keeping the venue convenient for local and out-of-town guests.
For guests driving to the wedding, parking is available in the adjacent lots. The mansion driveway is reserved for vendor loading and unloading and guest drop-offs, so guests should plan to park in the designated areas.
What’s the Closest Airport to Ravenswood Mansion?
For guests flying in, Nashville International Airport (BNA) is the closest airport. It’s approximately a 20-to-25-minute drive from Ravenswood Mansion, depending on traffic.
Transportation Options from the Airport
Uber and Lyft are convenient options for getting from Nashville International Airport to Ravenswood Mansion or nearby hotels, while taxis, town cars, and private car services are also available. Guests staying for the weekend may prefer a rental car, especially if they plan to explore Nashville or Franklin.
Since there isn’t a direct public transit route from the airport to Ravenswood Mansion, I recommend planning transportation ahead of time and sharing those details on your wedding website.
Where Should Guests Stay for a Ravenswood Mansion Wedding?
Several great areas are available for guests attending a Ravenswood Mansion Wedding, whether they want to stay close to the venue or enjoy a Nashville weekend.
Brentwood is one of the closest options, about 10 to 15 minutes away, with a quieter, upscale feel. Cool Springs and Franklin, about 15 to 20 minutes away, offer plenty of hotels, restaurants, and shopping. For guests who want to experience Nashville, Downtown Nashville is about 20 to 25 minutes away and close to Broadway, restaurants, and live music.
A few nearby hotel options include:
- Hilton Garden Inn Nashville Brentwood
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott Nashville Brentwood
- Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Franklin
- Franklin Marriott Cool Springs
Ravenswood Mansion Wedding Ceremony & Reception Spaces
One of the biggest draws of Ravenswood Mansion is the flexibility of its grounds.
Outdoor ceremonies can take place on the lawn or the mansion’s beautiful front porch. With the historic home and hundreds of acres surrounding you, there are so many ways to make the ceremony feel like it belongs in the Tennessee countryside.
Indoor ceremonies are also possible, although they’re best suited for intimate weddings. Because the historic mansion is divided into individual rooms, indoor ceremonies are currently limited to no more than 40 guests so everyone can see the ceremony comfortably.
For couples planning a micro-wedding, Ravenswood offers an indoor or outdoor ceremony with an indoor or back-porch reception.
The venue also features a 40-by-90-foot stone patio that can accommodate up to 250 guests with space for a stage and dance floor, making it a wonderful option for larger celebrations.
Planning Your Ravenswood Mansion Wedding: Seasons & Capacity
The season you choose can make a big difference in how your Ravenswood wedding looks and feels.
Peak Season: April Through October
Spring, summer, and early fall are especially beautiful at Ravenswood. The lawns and surrounding landscape become lush and green, while October brings those gorgeous Tennessee fall colors.
Peak-season rentals also include an important feature: a luxury sailcloth tent. For peak-season weddings beginning in 2027, the tent and string lighting are included with the venue rental, creating a beautiful covered reception space while still allowing you and your guests to enjoy the surrounding views.
Off-Peak Season: November Through March
Winter weddings at Ravenswood have a completely different feel. Without the peak-season tent, celebrations tend to make more use of the mansion and its wide porches.
The historic interiors, antique furnishings, and cozy spaces can be especially beautiful for smaller celebrations. If your off-season wedding has more than 50 guests, you’ll need to work with a licensed outside vendor to rent a tent.
Ravenswood Mansion can accommodate events of up to 300 guests depending on the setup.
How to Book Your Ravenswood Mansion Wedding Venue
Before booking, I always recommend touring the venue if possible. Ravenswood offers guided, self-guided, virtual, and video tours, with in-person tours available by appointment on select Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
You can book wedding dates up to 18 months in advance. Once you choose an available date, you’ll have 72 hours to complete the electronic contract. Weddings more than six months away require 50 percent of the rental fee to secure the date, while weddings less than six months away require full payment. Any remaining balance and the cleaning fee are due six months before the wedding.
How Much Does a Ravenswood Mansion Wedding Cost?
Wedding budgets can vary significantly depending on your guest count, season, vendors, and the details you choose for your day.
According to Ravenswood Mansion’s 2026 wedding budget guide, couples can expect an overall wedding budget of approximately $20,000 for 50 guests and $35,000 or more for around 150 guests. These numbers aren’t simply the venue rental fee. They’re estimates intended to help couples understand the larger investment involved in hosting a wedding at Ravenswood.
Venue rental pricing varies by season and day of the week, so I recommend contacting Ravenswood directly for current rates and inclusions.
Winter Micro Weddings at Ravenswood
For couples wanting something small and intimate, Ravenswood offers a winter micro-wedding option from December 1 through March 20.
The package is designed for indoor events with fewer than 50 guests and includes tables and chairs, a choice of an indoor or front-porch ceremony, an indoor or back-porch reception, and use of the bridal suite and groom’s quarters.
Current Friday, Saturday, and Sunday pricing is $2,000 for venue use from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Food & Beverage at Your Ravenswood Mansion Wedding
Ravenswood gives couples plenty of flexibility with food and beverage. You can choose your own licensed and insured caterer, and food trucks are also permitted with the required City of Brentwood permit.
Couples can provide their own alcohol, but it must be served by a bartender licensed through the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Host liquor liability insurance is also required, so coordinate with Ravenswood ahead of time to have the proper documentation in place.
What to Know: Rules & Limitations at Ravenswood Mansion
Historic venues naturally have guidelines to protect the property, and knowing the important ones ahead of time can make planning much easier.
Liability insurance is required for larger weddings and events serving alcohol, and caterers, tent, rental, and lighting vendors must also carry appropriate insurance.
Outdoor music must end by 10 p.m., and dancing and bands aren’t permitted inside the mansion due to its original wood floors.
Decorations cannot be taped, nailed, stapled, or attached to the property. Glitter, confetti, and fake flower petals aren’t permitted, and exits cannot include sparklers, fireworks, balloons, rice, or birdseed. Approved alternatives include bubbles, glow sticks, ribbon wands, and streamers.
Open flames aren’t allowed inside the mansion, although flameless candles are welcome. Candles may be permitted on porches and in certain outdoor areas when they meet venue guidelines.
Ravenswood also requires a professional wedding planner or event management company, with at least month-of planning for weddings. Rehearsals must generally take place during your contracted rental period unless you arrange additional time.
And if you want your dog included in your wedding, pets may be permitted with advance approval! They must remain leashed with a handler and aren’t allowed inside the mansion.
Amenities at Ravenswood Mansion
Ravenswood Mansion includes several amenities that can make planning your wedding a little easier.
Couples receive exclusive use of the historic mansion and surrounding grounds during their wedding rental, along with three spacious getting-ready suites, on-site parking, guest restrooms, and a catering prep kitchen.
The venue also provides tables and chairs for up to 200 guests, along with cocktail and bistro tables, beverage bars, and ceremony backdrops. Ravenswood Mansion is also handicap accessible, with accessible parking and restrooms available for guests.
Getting Married in Nashville: What You Need to Know
Planning a Ravenswood Mansion Wedding? Along with choosing your venue and vendors, you’ll want to make sure the legal side of getting married is taken care of, too.
Since Ravenswood Mansion is located in Brentwood, couples can obtain their marriage license through Williamson County.
How Much Does a Marriage License Cost in Williamson County?
A Williamson County marriage license currently costs $100 and must be paid in cash. Couples who complete qualifying premarital counseling and provide the required notarized certificate can receive a reduced rate of $40.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Marriage License?
There is no waiting period, but both parties must be present to obtain the license.
Once issued, your marriage license is valid for 30 days and can be used anywhere in Tennessee.
What Documents Do You Need?
Before visiting the Williamson County Clerk’s office, complete the online marriage license application and select Williamson County.
You’ll also want to bring the required identification and documentation, which may include:
- Driver’s license or passport
- Social Security card
- Final divorce decree signed by a judge, if applicable.
Marriage license requirements and fees can change, so always confirm the latest information with the Williamson County Clerk before applying.
Why I Love Photographing Weddings at Ravenswood
As a Nashville Wedding Photographer, Ravenswood Mansion is one of those venues that gives you so much of what I love about Tennessee weddings in one place.
You’re close enough to Nashville that the venue is convenient for couples and guests, but once you arrive, it doesn’t feel like you’re anywhere near the middle of a busy city. Instead, you have rolling hills, beautiful open spaces, historic architecture, and some seriously gorgeous golden-hour light.
I especially love Ravenswood for couples who want an outdoor Tennessee wedding. There are so many beautiful places around the property for portraits, and the historic mansion gives your photos a completely different backdrop without ever leaving the venue. I also appreciate that Ravenswood has great getting-ready spaces for both sides of the wedding party, which makes those first few hours feel comfortable and relaxed.
There’s something about the combination of the mansion, the rolling Tennessee landscape, and that warm evening light that photographs beautifully every single time.
If you’re planning a Ravenswood Mansion Wedding and are looking for a photographer who loves natural moments, beautiful light, and all of the little connections that make your wedding day yours, I’d love to hear what you’re planning. From getting ready inside the historic mansion to portraits across the grounds at golden hour and celebrating with everyone you love, Ravenswood is an incredible place to tell the story of your wedding day. Fill out my contact form, and I’ll be in touch!
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