The Fontanel Estate & Mansion
Holds ceremonies and receptions
Nikki Sheppard
SALES & EVENTS MANAGER
Typically responds within 24h
Located just outside of Nashville, in Whites Creek, TN, Fontanel offers celebrating couples a captivating setting that blends rustic elegance and storied history. Originally built by country music legend Barbara Mandrell in the 1980s, this historic 30,000-square-foot mansion is a photographer's dream, nestled on 118 acres of immaculately maintained grounds. Over the years, it has housed a who's who of the entertainment industry, from Oprah Winfrey and Gwyneth Paltrow to Chuck Norris and Willie Nelson. With a legacy steeped in music history and its stunning natural setting, Fontanel is the ideal setting for a truly iconic celebration.
The estate consists of natural prairies, tumbling waterfalls, and peaceful ponds, creating endless options for ceremony sites and photoshoots. Couples can exchange vows beneath the trees, beside a tranquil brook, or in the grandeur of the Fontanel Mansion itself. Indoors, the Great Room offers sweeping countryside views and refined architecture, with the columned Juliet room enchants with soaring ceilings and a lit dance floor above water, perfect for dancing late into the evening. The estate accommodates up to 350 guests, ensuring space for both intimate gatherings and grand celebrations.
What truly sets Fontanel apart is our thoughtfully curated approach to weddings. Couples have the option of working with one of our experienced coordinators and our exclusive list of hand-selected preferred vendors—trusted partners chosen for their quality, creativity, and professionalism. From gourmet catering to luxury wedding suites and unique guest experiences, every detail comes together seamlessly. With elegance, heart, and style, the Fontanel team is devoted to making your dream wedding an unforgettable reality.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Estate
Historic Venue
Tented
Trees
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Destination Weddings
Food & Catering
Planning
Rentals & Equipment
Service Staff
Transportation
Any questions?
Meet the team
Nikki Sheppard
Sales & Events Manager
Hi! I’m Nikki, and I'm a wedding professional with a passion for turning dreams into reality! The reason I do weddings is simple: I believe in the power of connection and the beauty of a story coming together. I love working with weddings because every single celebration is a blank canvas, full of unique personalities, heartfelt traditions, and unrepeatable moments.
What I love most about weddings is the moment everything falls into place. When the nerves fade, the music swells, and two people are entirely focused on the promise they are making. It’s a privilege to be a part of a day filled with such pure joy and commitment.
When I’m not immersed in the world of weddings, I enjoy a quiet life. You can often find me curled up with a book, getting my hands dirty with any form of DIY project (I love creating something from nothing!), or, most importantly, spending time with my family, who inspire and ground me every day.
Reviews
4.8
out of 5.04 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Jasmine H
5.0
3/02/2025
Can someone write a review to confirm or deny if this venue is open or permanently closed? Looks like this is no longer in business…
Tara Q
4.0
11/27/2017
I fell in love with the Inn at Fontanel when I found it online. The courtyard is gorgeous and so are the guest suites inside. We wanted the ceremony to be in a little shady alcove ...
off to the side of the Inn and have the reception in the courtyard.
Fontanel provides a day-of coordinator, which was very helpful and one of the more important things I was looking for. I didn't want my friends and family stuck with picking up everything at the end of the day. I worked with Vance, for the most part. He was very nice and helped me make decisions when I was indecisive. He gave me his personal number so I could always text him with questions or thoughts. Sometimes he was a little slow to respond, but it all got done! Fontanel also provides all linens, place settings, and flatware with your booking fee which was so nice to have it all in one place and not have to coordinate so many moving pieces. Vance is also a florist so we chose him to do our flowers as well. They turned out beautiful!
Well! A hurricane decided otherwise on my plans for the inn, when it brought some serious rain up the weekend of our wedding. After some back and forth, we decided to just move the wedding up to the mansion to have it all be indoors, instead of a tent at the inn. Fontanel let us change locations at no charge, even though the mansion is a bigger fee than the inn.
The team at the mansion was AMAZING. Everyone was so nice and tried to help creative my vision in this new location at the last minute. My guests loved the mansion and getting to walk around it during the cocktail hour. Overall, it was an amazing location and day!
Any questions?
Lexi J
5.0
7/06/2017
Finding a venue is a huge thing to check off the list, but the Fontanel is so much more than a venue. Planning our wedding in Nashville, TN, from IL was so easy w/ the help of the ...
team at the Fontanel. They took care of our food, dessert, flowers (truly, you need to work w/ Vance- he does wonders and can pin a boutonniere in the blink of an eye), putting up decorations, and all of the organization w/ vendors that can sometimes be stressful. Jade was an absolute rock star and I have had so much confidence in her ability to see our wedding through. At one point, only a couple of weeks out, our wedding grew from 150 people to around 170. Jade immediately took to problem-solving w/ me so that we could figure out how to accommodate all of our guests without making too many changes to the evening we had been planning. She continued to help me problem-solve up until the morning of the wedding, constantly making sure she was in the loop w/ our most recent updates/changes. Jade was always responsive and has a true gift for making you feel like the most important person in the room.
The entire day was a wonderful experience- from the groomsmen enjoying playing "Go Fish" w/ our ring bearer at the Poker table in the ice cream parlor, to my bridesmaids and I feeling absolutely glamorous getting ready in Barbara Mandrell's old (and very mirrored) bedroom/bathroom. Everyone working that day helped make every part of the evening special; and Jade, Vance, and Steven kept the night running smoothly. The pictures we currently have are already beautiful, but the memories and fun that this team helped to produce that night is something truly special. I would recommend the Fontanel any day and now have relatives who are hoping to host more special events here!
Sara H
5.0
10/10/2016
I have no idea where to start! My husband, family and I can only say wonderful things about the Fontanel. The venue speaks for itself! But Jade and Mary are the icing on the cake. ...
They're not only sweet and lovely to work with but are a force to be reckoned with. I was planning a destination wedding to Nashville from Florida and honestly had no stress at all! From the day we booked our wedding with the Fontanel to the days following our wedding Jade and Mary made it a breeze. We had so much fun and are so sad for it to be over. The food was great to boot! Words cannot describe how grateful we are to have spent our Wedding Day at the Fontanel. And if we were to do it all over again, we would do it at the Fontanel! Every single time.
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The Fontanel
Nikki Sheppard
|
Sales & Events Manager
Typically responds within 24h
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