The answer up front
The legal part of a Nashville elopement is a Davidson County marriage license: submit the application online, then bring photo ID for both of you and proof of each full Social Security number to the clerk at 700 2nd Avenue South. It costs $99.50 in cash or $101.49 by card, with no waiting period, no residency rule and 30 days to use it. We supply the venue, a licensed Tennessee officiant and the day's plan at Belmont Mansion, Nashville Wedding Chapel, Spring Haven Mansion or Centennial Park, from $575.
Step 1: Decide what kind of Nashville ceremony you want
The historic-mansion ceremony at Belmont Mansion
Venue: Belmont Mansion, the 1853 Italianate landmark and former summer estate of Adelicia Acklen. Original frescoes, cast-iron garden gazebos, marble statuary, 8 acres of formal gardens. Ceremonies are held inside the mansion and begin at 5:00 PM or later, seven days a week. Best for couples wanting the most architecturally significant Nashville interior and groups of 20–40. $575 Just Married to $2,975 Friends and Family.
The chapel ceremony at Nashville Wedding Chapel
Venue: Nashville Wedding Chapel (formerly Skinner Chapel), Elopements Inc.'s in-house custom chapel. Climate-controlled, stained-glass-lit. Best for weather certainty, under-16 guests, lowest entry price. Starts at $575.
The gardens ceremony at Spring Haven Mansion
Venue: Spring Haven Mansion, restored 19th-century Tennessee mansion just outside downtown. Formal garden lawn, wraparound porch, period parlor, dressing room included with the 2-hour Friends and Family package. Best for couples wanting both interior and exterior coverage, 5–20 guests. $575 to $2,375.
The Sunken Garden ceremony at Centennial Park
Venue: Centennial Park, 132-acre Metro Nashville park with the only full-scale Parthenon replica in the world (built 1897, rebuilt in concrete by 1931). Ceremonies in the Sunken Garden, with the Parthenon and Lake Watauga in the portraits. Best for iconic Nashville landmark in photos, 10–20 guests. $1,275 Getaway Plus to $1,675 Friends and Family.
Step 2: Where is the Davidson County Clerk's Office?
- Where: Davidson County Clerk's Office, 700 2nd Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37210.
- Cost: $99.50 in cash or $101.49 by card, paid directly to the county. No checks.
- Waiting period: None. Apply morning, elope afternoon.
- Before you go: submit the application online. The office wants it before your visit.
- What to bring: Photo ID for both partners and proof of each full Social Security number (the card, a W-2 or a tax document). No blood test.
- Validity: 30 days from issuance, anywhere in Tennessee.
- Residency: None required.
Step 3: Venue permits (we handle these)
- Belmont Mansion: National Historic Landmark museum operated by Belmont University. Requires approved coordinator arrangement; we have it.
- Nashville Wedding Chapel: In-house private venue. No external permit.
- Spring Haven Mansion: Private historic venue accessed exclusively through Elopements Inc.
- Centennial Park: No permit needed; we keep every ceremony at 20 guests or fewer.
Step 4: Who can officiate a wedding in Tennessee?
TN recognizes ordained ministers, priests, judges, county clerks, and designated public officials. Online ordinations are generally recognized. Every Elopements Inc. Nashville package includes a licensed TN officiant.
Step 5: The day-of timeline
An afternoon ceremony at Nashville Wedding Chapel, Spring Haven Mansion or Centennial Park:
- 9:30am — Davidson County Clerk, if you haven't picked up the license yet.
- 11:00am — Get ready at your hotel.
- 1:00pm — Arrive at the venue. On Spring Haven's 2-hour Friends and Family package, the dressing room is yours within that booked time.
- 1:30pm — Ceremony. 15–30 min.
- 2:00pm — Post-ceremony portraits. 30–90 min.
- 3:00pm — Wrap. Head downtown.
Belmont Mansion runs later: every ceremony there begins at 5:00 PM or later, seven days a week. Visit the clerk in the morning, get ready in the afternoon, and plan dinner after the portraits.
Step 6: What to do in Nashville after the ceremony
- Lunch: Bastion, Pinewood, or Hattie B's Hot Chicken.
- Dinner: The Catbird Seat (book 30+ days out), Henrietta Red, or Folk.
- Where to stay: Hermitage Hotel (1910 historic), Thompson Nashville (boutique in The Gulch), or 21c Museum Hotel.
- Next day: Music Row walking tour (RCA Studio B), Centennial Park, Belle Meade Historic Site, or Country Music Hall of Fame.
- Extra day: Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, Loveless Cafe biscuits, or Cumberland River sunset cruise.
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we elope in Nashville without telling family?
Yes. Tennessee marriage licenses become public record only after filing; the application itself isn't announced.
Do we need to be Tennessee residents to elope in Nashville?
No. Tennessee has no residency requirement.
How many guests can attend a Nashville elopement?
4–5 at Just Married, 8–16 at Getaway and Getaway Plus, up to 20 at Spring Haven Mansion and Centennial Park, or 40 with Belmont Mansion's Friends and Family package.
How much does a Nashville elopement actually cost?
$575 to $2,975 all-inclusive, plus the Davidson County marriage license fee ($99.50 in cash) paid directly to the county clerk.
How soon after getting the license can we elope?
The same day. Tennessee has no waiting period.
Is Nashville Wedding Chapel the same as Skinner Chapel?
Yes. It is the same in-house chapel under a more descriptive name.