Laura K. Allen Photography Archives - Infinity Hospitality

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BELL TOWER

Infinity Hospitality — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 17:06:01 +0000

THE BELL TOWER

A SLICE OF HISTORICAL HEAVEN

Amidst bustling downtown Nashville, The Bell Tower sits pretty and proudly on the corner of 4th Avenue South and Korean Veterans Boulevard.

Built in 1874, The Bell Tower was one of the first churches built by freed slaves after the Civil War.

Following the abolition of slavery, many Americans reveled in newfound freedom; and this resulted in a massive missionary effort in the south.

Consequently, this effort financed new churches and schools, and new denominations were created. Including the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E).

In what is now SoBro and the home of The Bell Tower, was once called Black Bottom. The 5-block radius got its name from the black mud and flooding of filthy water caused in part by the Cumberland River and in part by Wilson Spring Branch, a creek that was later bricked over as a sewer.

Most of the surrounding neighborhood was destroyed after World War II, and we're proud to say that The Bell Tower is one of the last original structures of Black Bottom still standing in downtown Nashville.

On June 17, 1874, construction began on a brand new Saint Paul A.M.E. Church at the corner of what was then Cherry Street and Franklin Street.

At 3 p.m., around 1500 people gathered to witness the laying of the cornerstone. Many traveled from Murfreesboro and Shelbyville just to partake in the celebration.

A marching band joyfully marched from Cedar Street through Summer to Demonbreun and back again.

Hymns could be heard coming from the ceremonial service, and a prayer was held in the adjoining building where the church was to be built.

A few decades and more than a few new faces later, here we are!

The Bell Tower has since been transformed into a breathtaking, contemporary event venue for just about any kind of social gathering or celebration.

Formerly home to EOA Architects, the space is now full of natural southern light with a spacious open floor plan allowing for a multitude of possibilities.

The original exposed beams and downstairs stonework still remain, thus keeping the character and historic charm of the venue still intact. We even kept the original sub-flooring, which contains salvaged wood from homes destroyed during the war.

Meanwhile, a towering staircase leads to a spacious mezzanine. This bonus space is perfect for another bar or extra seating with a perfect bird's eye view of the happenings below.

Our awesome production squad is ready and able to set the tone of any event with all the latest gadgets and completely customizable lighting options. Some of our favorites include paper lanterns, string lights, a custom floral ring and our stunning collection of chandeliers.

So, envisioning cocktail hour on an air-conditioned patio in the middle of July? Done, and done. Maybe a personalized gobo to represent your brand? No sweat, we can project any monogram, logo or design onto the walls or even the floor! And the options don't stop there.

Pro tip: The mezzanine is the best spot in the house for photographers to perfectly capture first dances, speeches and other memorable moments from above!

And for bonus points? The Tasting Room is located within the actual bell tower and is available for hourly rental.

Impeccably designed, bottles line the walls and striking modern chandeliers hang from above. Guests are invited to sample local favorites and lesser-known distillery spirits from a selection of over 100 hand-picked bourbons, whiskey and scotch. Because when in Nashville, do as the Honky Tonkers do! That's the saying, right?

Above all, we love seeing our innovative clients and talented staff work together to create unforgettable experiences and endless memories at The Bell Tower.

From intimate rehearsal dinners to romantic weddings, to music showcases and not-so-average corporate events, no event is left behind. And we can't wait to see more of what the future holds!

Scroll on to see the transformation of The Bell Tower over the years, and what we've been up to since.

HERE'S THE SKINNY

✓ Original Beams & Historic Sub-flooring
✓ Prime Downtown Location
✓ Seated Capacity of 400
✓ Standing Capacity of 700
✓ Two Lounges
✓ State-of-the-art Light & Sound
✓ Full Commercial Kitchen
✓ In-house Catering
✓ Covered Side Patio
✓ Upper-level Mezzanine
✓ Specialty Tasting Room
✓ 250 Mahogany Chiavari Chairs
✓ 25 60" Round Tables
✓ China, Silverware, & Glassware
✓ Handicap Accessible

Photography Credits: Sarah Sidwell, Rachel Moore, Details Nashville, Chelsea Somohano, 30MilesWest, Nyk + Cali, Janelle Elise, Teale Photography, Katelyn Nicole, Molly Peach, Mary Rosenbaum, and Laura K. Allen.

Want to see more? Take a virtual tour with us:

Videography: Frozen Exposure Photo & Cinema

The post A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BELL TOWER appeared first on Infinity Hospitality.

JORDAN + JAKE’S ELEGANT NEUTRAL WEDDING

Brittany Olsen — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 14:52:29 +0000

Swooning for days over Jordan and Jake's elegant neutral wedding at The Bridge Building!

This sweet pair were high school sweethearts, and their years of love, laughter and tears radiated through them.

Both Nashville natives, Jake proposed under a tree at her parent's house where they took prom pictures together nearly 8 years ago. Their wedding day wish was to enjoy time with family and friends, and they did just that.

The couple's wedding weekend began with an elegant rehearsal dinner at The Quarter, followed by a timeless ceremony and reception at The Bridge Building.

They utilized a neutral color scheme of white, ivory and beige while florals and greenery added a touch of color. Jordan’s mom brought in some really fun rugs to enhance the ceremony space and other personal touches to incorporate.

Jordan and Jake kept their wedding traditional with the inclusion of Forget Me Not Designs' natural wood cross and the exclusion of a first look. Following a beautiful rooftop ceremony, guests headed to the riverfront for drinks and light bites.

For dinner, guests enjoyed table-side wine service along with maple mustard glazed chicken or creole shrimp and grits. Family and friends were given custom koozies, light-up sunglasses, fun light-up tambourines, and personalized M&M’s as take-homes.

The evening ended with sparkler sendoff under the Pedestrian Bridge, and the pair drove off into the night in a luxury sedan from Grand Avenue.

Scroll on for more from this elegant neutral wedding.

WEDDING DETAILS

Date: May 12, 2018
Bride & Groom: Jordan and Jake
Location: The Bridge Building
Guest Count: 181
Colors: White, Ivory & Beige
Photographer: Laura K. Allen Photography & Design
Videographer: Big Hill Productions
Florist: Forget Me Not Designs
Cake: Nothing Bundt Cakes & Publix
Paper Goods: Darby Cards
DJ/Band: Top Tier & Corwin Trio
Bar: Nashville Event Bartending
Catering: The Bridge Building
Production Design: Infinity Hospitality
Planning: Brittany O. | IH

The post JORDAN + JAKE’S ELEGANT NEUTRAL WEDDING appeared first on Infinity Hospitality.

THE HISTORY OF THE FLOWER GIRL

Infinity Hospitality — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 21:04:45 +0000

We just love these sweet flower girl photos, and that got us thinking. Where did the flower girl tradition come from?

There were many different variations of flower girls from the Victorian Era to the Elizabethan Era, but the flower girl dates all the way back to the Roman Empire.

In ancient Rome, flower girls carried sheaves of wheat and bouquets of herbs to bless the couple with fertility and prosperity. Later, in the 14th century, they often carried strands of garlic to ward off evil and jealous spirits.

It wasn't until nearly the 16th century that we began to see flowers incorporated with the traditional herb bouquets carried by the little ones. From symbols of fertility, happiness and love to symbols of fidelity and luck, flowers and herbs played a significant role in wishing the wedding couple well. Among the most common were roses, orange blossoms, rosemary, and baby's breath.

Today, the flower girl might not necessarily represent fertility or carry strands of garlic down the aisle to ward off spirits, but they remain an important part of many ceremonies.

So what do you think? Will you incorporate flower girls into your wedding? Let us know what the traditions means to you.

Photos by Laura K. Allen Photography, Molly Peach, Justin and Hannah, Steph Sorenson, Wind & Gold, and Rebecca Denton.

The post THE HISTORY OF THE FLOWER GIRL appeared first on Infinity Hospitality.

HALEY + TOM’S SOUTHERN SUMMER WEDDING

Lesa Neff — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 18:46:18 +0000

Haley and Tom's southern summer wedding was more than romantic, it was a fairytale. The Bell Tower set the scene for this gorgeous couple's "I do's" with lush greenery and white blooms by Forget Me Not Designs.

Embracing all things summer and southern, guests were treated to our signature tequila-infused watermelon, and fried macaroni and cheese during cocktail hour.

Dinner was served station-style and included house-smoked brisket and pulled pork biscuit sliders.

They topped the night off with a build-your-own ice cream sundae bar adorned with a sweet sign which read, "All you need is love and a little ice cream!" We couldn't agree more!

Congratulations to Haley and Tom!

WEDDING DETAILS

Date: July 15, 2016
Happy Couple: Haley and Tom
Location: The Bell Tower
Guest Count: 175
Colors: Ivory & Gray
Photographer: Laura K. Allen Photography
Florist: Forget Me Not Designs
Linens: Liberty Party Rental
Catering: The Bell Tower
Production Design: Nashville Lighting & Production
Planning: IH

The post HALEY + TOM’S SOUTHERN SUMMER WEDDING appeared first on Infinity Hospitality.

Laura K. Allen Photography Archives - Infinity Hospitality

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BELL TOWER

THE BELL TOWER

HERE'S THE SKINNY

JORDAN + JAKE’S ELEGANT NEUTRAL WEDDING

WEDDING DETAILS

THE HISTORY OF THE FLOWER GIRL

HALEY + TOM’S SOUTHERN SUMMER WEDDING

WEDDING DETAILS

Date: July 15, 2016Happy Couple: Haley and TomLocation: The Bell TowerGuest Count: 175Colors: Ivory & GrayPhotographer: Laura K. Allen PhotographyFlorist: Forget Me Not DesignsLinens: Liberty Party RentalCatering: The Bell TowerProduction Design: Nashville Lighting & ProductionPlanning: IH