If you have been researching wedding venues in the Nashville area, there is a very good chance that Cedarwood Weddings has already caught your eye. Nestled on a sprawling, wooded property in Lebanon, Tennessee, just a short drive east of downtown Nashville, Cedarwood has earned its reputation as one of the most beloved and photographed wedding venues in all of Middle Tennessee. With its seamless blend of rustic Southern charm and polished elegance, this venue delivers a wedding experience that feels both intimate and grand at the same time. As a Nashville wedding photographer who has had the privilege of capturing countless celebrations at Cedarwood Weddings, I want to share everything I have learned about what makes this venue so special and how to make the most of your day here.
From the moment you turn down the long driveway and pass beneath the towering cedar trees, you can feel the world outside fade away. That sense of seclusion and natural beauty is precisely what draws couples to Cedarwood Weddings Nashville year after year. Whether you are planning an intimate elopement with your closest family or a grand celebration with two hundred guests, this venue has the space, the ambiance, and the team to bring your vision to life.
Why Couples Choose Cedarwood Weddings
There is no shortage of stunning wedding venues in the Nashville area, so what is it about Cedarwood that consistently rises to the top of couples' shortlists? Having photographed weddings at dozens of venues throughout Middle Tennessee, I can tell you that Cedarwood stands apart for several compelling reasons.
First and foremost, the natural setting is simply breathtaking. The property is surrounded by mature cedar trees that create a canopy of green throughout the spring and summer months and a dramatic, textured backdrop during the fall and winter. Unlike venues that require extensive decoration to feel complete, Cedarwood provides a naturally beautiful environment that needs very little embellishment. The landscape does the heavy lifting, which means your floral and decor budget can go further toward the details that matter most to you.
Second, Cedarwood Weddings operates as an all-inclusive venue with on-site coordination, which is a massive relief for couples who do not want to juggle a dozen different vendor contracts. Their experienced team handles logistics from setup to breakdown, allowing you and your families to actually enjoy the day rather than stressing over timelines and details. This level of coordination is something I especially appreciate as a photographer because a well-organized wedding day translates directly into better photographs and more relaxed expressions on everyone's faces.
Third, the venue offers remarkable flexibility when it comes to ceremony and reception spaces. You can exchange vows outdoors on the ceremony lawn beneath the open sky, or move indoors to the covered pavilion if the weather does not cooperate. This versatility means you never have to worry about a rain plan ruining your vision. The spaces flow naturally from one to the next, making transitions between the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception feel effortless for both you and your guests.
The aesthetic at Cedarwood strikes a perfect balance between rustic and refined. Exposed wood beams, natural stone elements, and abundant greenery give the venue an organic, earthy quality, while carefully curated lighting, elegant furnishings, and thoughtful architectural details add a layer of sophistication. This combination photographs beautifully and appeals to couples who want their wedding to feel grounded and authentic without sacrificing polish.
Finally, the location itself is incredibly convenient. Lebanon is only about thirty minutes from downtown Nashville, which means your guests can enjoy all that Music City has to offer before and after your celebration while still experiencing a venue that feels like a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The proximity to Nashville also makes it easy to coordinate with Nashville-based vendors, including photographers, florists, caterers, and musicians who are already familiar with the venue.
Best Photo Locations at Cedarwood
One of the questions I get asked most frequently by couples booking Cedarwood Weddings is where they should plan to take their portraits. The truth is that nearly every corner of this property offers something beautiful, but there are a few standout locations that I always recommend prioritizing during your timeline.
The Ceremony Lawn
The open-air ceremony space at Cedarwood is iconic for a reason. With a natural backdrop of trees and sky, this area provides a clean, timeless setting for both ceremony photographs and portraits. The way the light filters through the surrounding trees during late afternoon creates a soft, diffused glow that is incredibly flattering for skin tones. I love capturing wide shots here that show the full scope of your ceremony with the natural landscape framing everything perfectly. After the ceremony, this space often empties quickly, making it an ideal spot for a few quiet portraits before heading to the reception.
The Cedar Forest
If you are looking for portraits that feel intimate, romantic, and a little bit magical, the cedar forest is where you want to be. The dense canopy of cedar trees creates a natural tunnel of green that filters the light beautifully throughout the day. Even at high noon, when direct sunlight can be harsh and unflattering, the forest provides consistent, soft shade that makes portrait photography a dream. I often bring couples here during the first look or immediately after the ceremony for portraits that feel tucked away and private, as though the rest of the world has disappeared for just a few minutes.
The Covered Pavilion
The reception pavilion at Cedarwood is not just a place to eat and dance. It is also a genuinely beautiful space for photographs. The exposed wood beams and string lighting overhead create a warm, inviting atmosphere that translates wonderfully into images, especially as the sun goes down and the ambient lighting takes over. I particularly love capturing candid moments here during speeches, first dances, and the general revelry of the reception. The open sides of the pavilion also allow natural light to pour in during the earlier hours, which gives reception detail shots a bright, airy quality that you do not always get in enclosed ballrooms.
The Stone Bridge
If there is one spot at Cedarwood that was practically designed for couple portraits, it is the stone bridge. Crossing over a gentle water feature, this architectural element adds a romantic, almost storybook quality to your images. The stonework provides a gorgeous contrast to the surrounding greenery, and the slight elevation change on the bridge creates natural depth and dimension in photographs. Golden hour portraits on the stone bridge are among my absolute favorite images to deliver to couples. The warm light, the water below, and the quiet beauty of the setting combine to create something truly special.
The Garden Paths
Do not overlook the winding garden paths that connect various areas of the Cedarwood property. These paths are perfect for walking shots, which are some of the most natural and relaxed images you will get all day. There is something about two people walking hand in hand, laughing and talking, that produces photographs with genuine emotion and movement. The garden paths also work beautifully for grand exit and getaway shots, giving you a natural leading line that draws the viewer's eye through the frame.
Best Time of Day for Photos at Cedarwood
Timing is everything in photography, and Cedarwood Weddings offers some unique opportunities depending on the season and time of day. Golden hour, that magical window of warm, directional light that occurs in the last hour or so before sunset, is always the most coveted time for portraits. At Cedarwood, golden hour is particularly stunning because the low angle of the sun filters through the cedar trees and creates long shadows, warm tones, and a sense of depth that is hard to replicate at any other time of day.
The exact timing of golden hour shifts throughout the year. In the summer months, you can expect golden hour to begin around seven in the evening, while in the winter it may arrive as early as four in the afternoon. I always recommend building your timeline around this window, scheduling your ceremony so that portraits can happen during or immediately after golden hour. Your coordinator at Cedarwood can help you work backward from sunset to plan a timeline that maximizes your photography potential.
One of the great advantages of Cedarwood is that it photographs well in every lighting condition. The covered pavilion and shaded forest areas mean that even on overcast days or during the harsh midday sun, there are always beautiful options for portraits. Overcast skies, which many couples worry about, actually produce some of the most evenly lit and flattering portrait conditions because the clouds act as a giant softbox, eliminating harsh shadows and creating creamy, consistent light across your faces.
Night photography at Cedarwood is another opportunity worth planning for. The string lights in the pavilion, the ambient landscape lighting, and the natural darkness of the surrounding woods create a dramatic, moody atmosphere that lends itself to creative portrait techniques. A few minutes with off-camera flash or sparklers can yield images that feel completely different from anything captured during the daytime, adding variety and drama to your gallery.
Sample Wedding Day Timeline at Cedarwood
One of the most common questions I receive from couples is how to structure their wedding day timeline. Every wedding is different, but here is a sample timeline for a late afternoon ceremony at Cedarwood Weddings that maximizes your photography coverage and ensures a relaxed, enjoyable day.
- 1:00 PM - Getting Ready: Arrive at your getting-ready space and settle in. This is when I capture detail shots of your dress, shoes, jewelry, invitations, and any other meaningful items. I recommend having everything laid out and ready before I arrive so we can make the most of this time. Natural light near a window works best for these images.
- 2:30 PM - First Look: If you have chosen to do a first look, the cedar forest is an ideal location. This private moment, away from the eyes of your guests, gives you the chance to see each other for the first time, share your emotions, and take a few relaxed portraits before the ceremony begins. First looks also open up the rest of your timeline by allowing us to knock out many of your formal portraits before the ceremony.
- 3:00 PM - Wedding Party Portraits: After the first look, we bring in the wedding party for group portraits. The ceremony lawn and garden paths provide beautiful backdrops and enough space to move through these quickly without feeling rushed.
- 3:45 PM - Family Portraits: I always recommend having a family portrait list prepared in advance. We will work through your immediate family combinations efficiently so that everyone can be seated and comfortable before the ceremony begins.
- 4:30 PM - Ceremony: The ceremony itself typically lasts between twenty and thirty minutes. I capture everything from the processional to the first kiss to the recessional, working from multiple angles to give you a complete visual record of the most important moments of the day.
- 5:00 PM - Cocktail Hour: While your guests enjoy cocktails and appetizers, we steal away for sunset portraits. This is when the light is at its most beautiful, and the stone bridge and garden paths become our primary shooting locations.
- 6:00 PM - Reception Begins: Grand entrance, first dance, blessing, and dinner. I photograph the toasts, the candid reactions, and the beautiful details of your reception setup.
- 7:30 PM - Open Dancing: This is where the party really comes alive. I capture the energy, the laughter, and the unscripted moments that often become some of the most treasured images in your gallery.
- 9:00 PM - Sparkler Exit: A grand finale that creates showstopping images. The darkness of the Cedarwood property makes sparkler exits particularly dramatic and beautiful.
What to Know Before Booking Cedarwood
If Cedarwood Weddings Nashville is on your shortlist, here are some practical details that will help you make an informed decision about whether this venue is the right fit for your celebration.
Cedarwood can accommodate weddings of various sizes, from intimate gatherings of fifty guests to larger celebrations of up to two hundred and fifty. The flexible layout of the property means that smaller weddings still feel cozy and intentional rather than lost in a space that is too large, while bigger weddings have plenty of room for guests to spread out and enjoy themselves.
The venue is stunning in every season, but each time of year offers a slightly different experience. Spring brings wildflowers and lush green foliage. Summer delivers long, golden evenings and warm nights perfect for outdoor dancing. Fall showcases the changing leaves and rich, earthy tones that Middle Tennessee is known for. Winter weddings at Cedarwood have a quiet, romantic elegance, with bare branches creating striking silhouettes against the sky and the option for cozy indoor celebrations with ambient lighting and warm textures.
Rain plans are built into the venue experience, which is something I always encourage couples to consider regardless of the season. The covered pavilion and indoor options mean that a rainy day does not derail your wedding. In fact, some of my most beautiful Cedarwood images have been taken on rainy days when the overcast light created a soft, romantic mood and the wet surfaces added a gorgeous reflective quality to the photographs.
Parking is ample and well-organized, so your guests will not have to worry about finding a spot or walking a long distance from their cars. The Cedarwood team handles parking logistics, which is one less thing for you to think about on your wedding day.
Because Cedarwood operates as an all-inclusive venue, many coordination services are included in your package. However, they also offer flexibility when it comes to certain vendors. I recommend discussing your preferred vendor list with the Cedarwood team early in the planning process to ensure everything aligns smoothly.
Photography Tips for Your Cedarwood Wedding
As a photographer who has worked at Cedarwood Weddings many times, I have a few specific tips that will help you get the very best images from your day.
For your first look, I strongly recommend the cedar forest or the stone bridge. Both locations offer privacy, beautiful light, and a sense of intimacy that makes the moment feel truly personal. Avoid doing your first look in a high-traffic area where guests might accidentally walk through. The Cedarwood team is excellent at helping manage guest flow, so let them know your first look location in advance.
When it comes to family photo logistics, preparation is your best friend. Create a list of every family combination you want photographed and share it with me and your coordinator well before the wedding day. At Cedarwood, the ceremony lawn is the most efficient location for family portraits because it offers even lighting, a clean backdrop, and enough space to organize large groups quickly. Designating a family member to help wrangle relatives saves an enormous amount of time.
Reception lighting at Cedarwood is generally very photographer-friendly, thanks to the string lights and candles that most couples incorporate into their decor. However, I always recommend discussing lighting with your coordinator and any lighting vendors early in the process. Uplighting along the pavilion columns can add warmth and color to your reception images, and making sure the dance floor is well lit ensures that the energy of the party translates into your photographs.
Do not underestimate the power of detail shots at Cedarwood. The natural textures of the venue, the wood, the stone, the greenery, all serve as gorgeous backdrops for your rings, invitation suite, shoes, bouquet, and other personal items. Set aside ten to fifteen minutes at the beginning of your coverage for me to style and photograph these details in natural light. These images add context and artistry to your final gallery and are often some of the most popular choices for albums and wall prints.
If you are planning your Cedarwood wedding and looking for a photographer who knows the venue inside and out, I would love to hear from you. Every wedding at Cedarwood tells a unique story, and I am passionate about capturing yours in a way that feels vibrant, authentic, and true to who you are as a couple. Reach out and let's start planning.