The Hermitage Hotel

From behind the camera

Filming at The Hermitage Hotel: what we've learned.

Best first look spot

Two great options, depending on how much of an audience you want. For a grand first look, use the main staircase and the Grand Lobby, with marble all around and the painted-glass skylight above (a few hotel guests may stop to watch). For something private and intimate, meet in the aisle of the Veranda, your ceremony space, before guests arrive.

The light

The getting-ready suites have big windows, and that soft window light is beautiful on both photos and film. The Veranda is lined with tall windows too. And don't spend the whole day inside: the hotel's stone facade and its grand balcony over Sixth Avenue are made for portraits, with your photo and video team shooting up at you from the street. Weather permitting, plan a little time outdoors. The architecture is too good to miss.

The ceremony

Ceremonies are traditionally held in the Veranda, a long, narrow room with a sky-painted ceiling and tall windows overlooking Sixth Avenue. It's so elegant on its own that it needs very little decor. Because the room is long, so is the aisle, which makes for a truly dramatic entrance. Take your time and soak it in.

The reception

Cocktail hour happens in the Grand Lobby, with passed appetizers and a bar under the painted-glass skylight. It doesn't get more opulent in Nashville. Then everyone moves across the lobby into the Grand Ballroom, which has a completely different feel: rich walnut-paneled walls, an ornate ceiling and chandeliers. There's room for a live band, which many of our couples have brought in, and for a full dance floor.

If it rains

Everything happens indoors, so there's no rain plan to worry about, a real advantage of this venue. The only thing weather affects is the outdoor portraits out front on the sidewalk and up on the balcony, so keep an eye on the forecast and leave a little flexibility in your timeline for them.

Drone-friendly?

A drone shot is a beautiful way to open your film, setting the scene in the heart of downtown Nashville. Drone flights are regulated by the FAA, and downtown that can mean getting airspace authorization ahead of time, plus temporary flight restrictions that pop up around big events like Titans games and festivals. There are rules about flying over crowds and traffic, too. Our licensed pilots check all of it before your day and fly whenever the airspace, the weather and the day's schedule allow. Aerial footage is included in The Premiere and The Encore Collections and in our Story and Legacy bundles, and it can be added to any other collection.

One tip for your timeline

It sounds strange, but head downstairs. The lower-level restrooms by the Oak Bar are worth a few photos and a few seconds of film. The men's room is famous: an Art Deco space from the 1930s with green and black glass tile, once voted America's Best Restroom. The ladies' room has a look all its own. Five minutes down there gets you some of the most unexpected shots of the day.