Family Reunion ideas (Jackson, Franklin, Germantown: 2015, rentals, receptions)

[NOV49]

We are a small group of 50-75 people planning to meet in the Nashville area in early summer, 2015. Aside from hotel banquet facilities for a dinner or Sunday brunch does anyone have any alternative ideas? This is not a formal affair, just family members now spread around the country wanting to spend the weekend together - or at least part of it.

Any thoughts are appreciated, thank you.

[brentwoodgirl]

Do you mean something more interesting (Nashville experience)or something cheaper? If you are looking for something cheaper, most Brentwood parks have pavilions that you can rent cheaply. Or free, if someone in your group lives in Brentwood. The pavilions at Granny White, and Owl Creek are all beside playground areas, so the kids could play while adults visited. A couple of them have grassy areas and basketball courts too, so you could organize some friendly family competition.
Granny White seems to have the biggest pavilion. River Park is the most intimate- your most likely to it to yourselves, but it's the smallest of the parks.

I know the Warner Parks in Nashville has some pavilion rentals too, but not sure of the details on renting those.

Crockett Park in Brentwood has a historic house and barn area that you can rent for a few hundred dollars. That would give you an inside area in case it rained.

[alleycat]

The first question is whether you want something inside or outside. Late spring/early summer is usually fairly nice here, but it could rain. I'm assuming you might mean unofficial summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) rather than June 21. It does start getting warmer around mid to late June.

And you should be aware that the CMA Festival is always held in early June. Be sure to take that in to account; getting around downtown will be harder, getting a hotel room will be harder.

[NOV49]

Thanks to you both for your great ideas. We were thinking June 26-28; after school gets out and before the 4th of July. No one lives in TN - we are scattered elsewhere. We are thinking of a nice dinner or brunch inside that doesn't cost over $50 a person but the parks for visiting, snacking and letting the kids play is exactly what I needed.

[alleycat]

You shouldn't be too far from a park wherever you have your get-together.

Just throwing out some ideas.

The Loveless Cafe (it's a lot more than a cafe). That have a large "barn" that is used for special events (it's not really a barn, it's just sort of looks like one).

Cheekwood. There is always a special outdoor exhibit in the summer. In the past they have had some cool ones, just as fancy treehouses.

The Belle Meade Plantation. Got any history or horse lovers in the group?

I have no idea what these places charge per person for a large group. Cheekwood might be pricey. All of these have webpages.

There are all sorts of places for banquets and such, of course, but these are a bit special and have something extra.

[brentwoodgirl]

So you are also looking for some restaurants that will hold 50-75? The first places I would call would be Mere Bulles (Brentwood), Merchants (Downtown), and Maggiano's (West End/Vandy area).

Maggiano's is a chain, but it's good and a great place for large groups.

Alleycat's ideas above are great too, esp. if you want more than just a restaurant. Loveless is a Nashville institution. The only downside to Loveless is it's location is 30-45 minutes from the city.

[alleycat]

You could at least look at the Opryland Hotel as well. They have remodeled the place and I haven't been there since; I'm not sure what restaurants are in there now. The building itself is fairly impressive to visit.

[brentwoodgirl]

The Opryland Hotel is beautiful and neat to visit, but IMO, the food is overpriced and bad, esp. for group events.

[CountryGirl2b=]

OK, this is a little touristy BUT it is decidedly Nashville and probably more fun than being inside . . the General Jackson (river boat, meal and a show) does do "group sales" and the the lower end of their price point should be in your price range.

Group Events - General Jackson - Nashville, TN

Maybe for groups of your size they would cut you even more than a deal. I really like the Loveless but on a weekend in the summer, I doubt they could accommodate you. Ditto with Pucketts, which has a very local flavor . . . maybe the one downtown might be willing to give you the run of the place on a Sunday afternoon???

Welcome to Puckett's Grocery and Restaurant - Franklin - Nashville

[DonCorleone]

I would also recommend Monell's which has 3 locations (Germantown, "The Manor" near the airport, and Gallatin). They specialize in family-style traditional southern cooking. The last time I was in there I noticed they had quite a few pictures of wedding receptions and bridal showers they've done so they certainly would be able to acomodate a large group like yours.