The Hermitage Hotel

The Grandeur of The Hermitage Hotel

There are beautiful hotels, and then there is The Hermitage Hotel. Built in 1910 in the Beaux Arts style, this downtown Nashville landmark has hosted presidents, musicians, and dignitaries for over a century. The lobby alone is worth a visit: a soaring, vaulted ceiling covered in a hand-painted mural, intricate plasterwork, stained glass skylights, and Russian walnut paneling that glows under warm, ambient lighting. It is the kind of space that stops you in your tracks the first time you walk in, and it has exactly the same effect on wedding guests.

What makes The Hermitage Hotel special from a wedding photography perspective is the quality of its interior spaces. Unlike outdoor venues where the light and atmosphere are dictated by weather and time of day, The Hermitage provides a controlled, consistently stunning environment. The architectural details, from the carved marble columns to the ornate ceiling medallions to the polished stone floors, create depth and texture in every frame. This is a venue where I can produce editorial-quality images regardless of the season or weather outside, because the beauty is built into the walls themselves.

The Hermitage Hotel is also one of the few Nashville venues that feels genuinely luxurious without being cold or impersonal. The staff treats every wedding as a private event, and the level of service extends to working seamlessly with vendors, including photographers. This collaborative approach means I can focus entirely on capturing your day rather than navigating logistics, which translates directly into a better gallery for you.

Photography at The Hermitage

Photographing a wedding at The Hermitage Hotel requires a different approach than shooting at an outdoor or rustic venue. The lighting is primarily interior, the backdrops are architectural rather than natural, and the scale of the spaces demands an understanding of composition and perspective that takes experience to develop. After working at The Hermitage multiple times, I have a thorough understanding of how light moves through these spaces and where to position couples for the most impactful images.

The Lobby

The Hermitage lobby is one of the most photographically rich interiors in all of Nashville. The vaulted ceiling, with its painted mural and stained glass panels, creates a cathedral-like atmosphere that adds a sense of occasion to every image taken here. I use the lobby for both grand, wide-angle compositions that showcase the full architectural spectacle and more intimate portraits that use the warm wood and soft lighting as a backdrop for quiet, emotional moments. The lobby is especially beautiful in the late afternoon when natural light from the front entrance mixes with the interior fixtures to create a layered, golden glow.

The Grand Staircase

The main staircase at The Hermitage is a classic bridal portrait location, and for good reason. The curved marble banister, the ornamental iron railings, and the height of the stairwell all contribute to images that feel regal and cinematic. I love using the staircase for bridal portraits during the getting-ready phase of the day, when a bride descending in her gown against this backdrop creates one of those defining images that anchors the entire gallery.

Ballroom & Lobby Shots

The Hermitage Hotel ballroom is where most ceremonies and receptions take place, and it is a space of genuine grandeur. The high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and neutral-toned walls provide a canvas that can be styled in virtually any direction while maintaining an underlying elegance that elevates everything placed within it. From a photography standpoint, the ballroom offers several advantages:

• The chandeliers provide warm, even overhead light that flatters skin tones and creates beautiful catchlights in your eyes during ceremony and reception shots
• The neutral wall tones reflect light softly rather than casting color shifts, which means your images maintain accurate, vibrant color throughout the gallery
• The ceiling height allows me to shoot from elevated angles when appropriate, capturing the full scope of your ceremony or the dance floor from above
• The ballroom transitions seamlessly from ceremony to reception, which means the visual story flows naturally without jarring changes in backdrop

Beyond the ballroom, the hotel's corridors, private dining rooms, and mezzanine level all offer additional portrait locations that I incorporate throughout the day. One of my favorite approaches at The Hermitage is to use the quiet moments between events, while guests are transitioning from the ceremony to cocktails, for example, to pull the couple into one of these architectural gems for a few quick, stunning portraits that most guests will never see but that make the gallery feel complete.

Planning a Hermitage Hotel Wedding

A wedding at The Hermitage Hotel calls for a photography approach that honors the sophistication of the setting while staying true to the authentic, unposed style that defines my work. The architecture and the luxury of the space provide the drama. My job is to make sure you look and feel like yourselves within that drama, not like models posing for a set designer.

I recommend building at least forty-five minutes of portrait time into your Hermitage Hotel timeline. While the lobby and staircase produce stunning images quickly, having enough time to explore a few different corners of the hotel makes a noticeable difference in the variety and depth of your gallery. I also encourage couples to take advantage of the hotel's getting-ready suites, which are beautifully appointed and flood with natural light from the tall windows, creating ideal conditions for the detail shots and preparation moments that open your wedding story.

For couples considering a downtown Nashville wedding with a sense of historic gravitas and five-star service, The Hermitage Hotel stands alone. If you are planning your celebration here, I would love to be part of it. Reach out through my inquiry form and tell me about your Hermitage Hotel wedding plans. You can also review my photography packages or visit my Nashville wedding photography page to see more of my work across the city.