Crescent Bend: Knoxville Wedding Venue

I have dreamt of places like Crescent Bend House & Gardens having no idea such historic beauty existed in Tennessee. I then stumbled upon this property in Knoxville, and my dreams and so many brides’ dreams have come to life like they did for Nicole & Michael!

Historic Home & Grounds

Crescent Bend property features the Armstrong-Lockett house. Which is a quintessential southern antebellum home from the 1830’s near the famous crescent bend of the Tennessee River. This property is steeped in history. A gentleman named Drury Armstrong purchased the land to build a working farm and family home for his wife and two sons. The Civil War era home has carried with it many stories. The house served as a command center and hospital for both the Union and Confederate armies, after the Confederate army secured control over the land and home. Stories also cite that Crescent Bend may have possibly served as a safe house on the Underground Railroad! A trap door hidden beneath the main staircase may have led to a room where runaway slaves stayed. With the original home dating to the 1830’s, there is nearly two hundred years of history you can learn! Your guests can take a historic tour while visiting for your wedding day to learn even more about the land and home’s history!

The historic property and home passed through a handful of owners before being purchased for restoration in 1977 (after also serving as student housing for the University of Tennessee!) While the inside has been redecorated in keeping with its historic roots, it has also been filled with 18th-century antique treasures. One of these antiques includes an English silver dating as far back as the 1560’s! The inside is definitely a showstopper and feels vintage and romantic, but the outside is hard to beat. The outside showcases some of my favorite areas for just married portraits and under-the-stars receptions.

Italian-Inspired

I have always wanted to travel to Italy. I would love to visit Italian gardens with lush grasses, fountains, and terraces! Why travel when Crescent Bend House & Gardens has all of this and more outdoors! Established in 1982 for the World’s Fair, the Toms Foundation built a three-acre Italian garden masterpiece that runs down toward the flowing Tennessee River. Nestled throughout the multi-acre garden are nine terraces and five fountains. The grounds also have flower gardens blooming rich with magnolias, roses, and other gorgeous blooms. If you happen to be a lucky bride during the Tulip Time festival, 25,000 tulips will surround you and your guests in the gardens. It is breathtaking!

As a couple, you can celebrate your nuptials in these lush gardens on an outdoor terrace space. There is also an option for indoor ceremonies in the River Room. Both spaces at this enchanting venue accommodate up to 250 guests. At night, the outdoor gardens and fountains are brought to life with lighting that illuminates the romantic venue.

I am always on the hunt for unique venues that give brides a one-of-a-kind wedding. Crescent Bend House & Gardens offers that in spades, or tulips! It is truly a spectacular venue with detail both inside and out that will leave your guests talking for years, and your photos of your wedding day standing the test of time.