e blame Instagram for the rash decisions many couple couples make when choosing an outdoor venue. They see couples embracing in a field, flowers brilliant, clouds puffy. we admit it's captivating. And there are just so many outside of Nashville that for some the allure is overwhelming.
And like those heroic couples seeking to conquer the outdoors, we too are consummate outdoors people. We've lived in Wyoming for years for that reason. We enjoy the outdoors so much that we design significant outdoor areas into our venues even though they are in the heart of Nashville. In the case of Clementine, we have Brash Courtyard surrounding the front of the building. They may not be mountain vistas, but our venues are located within or next to city parks which enhance our own green spaces.
What should we expect from the outdoors? Weather.
Despite our love of the outdoors, we tell everyone not to count on using the outdoors for your event. Apart from what everyone fears most - rain - couples are more likely to get a sun beating down on finely dressed guests at a wedding ceremony or cocktail hour. Even if it's not hot enough to make guests sweat through their suits, spring or fall sun in Nashville will give you a nice tan. And there's the issue of heat or cold. And the insects. A somewhat funny story (because we weren't involved) we heard recently happened at a lake property outside of Nashville and had to do with an infestation of mayflies covering everything.
The truth is you simply cannot count on using the outdoors.
The design of Brash Courtyard
Clementine's outdoor space is what we call Brash Courtyard, a walled, garden space akin to a secret courtyard that you might find in New Orleans. It's totally private. People passing by on the street don't even know it's there. Brash Courtyard is accessible by two steel entry gates, which are closed during events. The courtyard is bordered by rich landscaping and ivy that seems to consume our board-formed concrete and mid-century breezeway block walls. Built-in seating throughout eliminates the need for much or any furniture. Building, wall, fountain, neon, and tree lighting make for what Hemmingway would call A Clean, Well-Lighted Place. The gentle sound of the fountains as well as music, complete the atmosphere.
For send-offs, as always, we like options. At Clementine, we have two entries (main and side into Little Bird Lounge), and two exits from the courtyard, which total four options for send-offs.
If you visit Clementine during the day, unfortunately you won't see the courtyard in its nighttime glory. For those visitors, we recommend having dinner at Hathorne next door with a view of the courtyard to appreciate the evening atmosphere. And might we suggest having the Clementine cocktail if you visit Hathorne?
For more on the design and construction of Brash Courtyard, this is a worthwhile article.
How we improve the odds
Just because we say clients shouldn't count on the outdoors doesn't mean that most clients don't get to use the outdoor areas at our venues. A nd they do, almost every time. But this is a function of how we designed our outdoors, not a strategy of hoping for the best.
At Clementine, we decided that brought-in tents would mar the look of the facade, so we made their use impractical by design. After all, there should be a small bit of luck involved when using the outdoors. And Clementine's large interior spaces rarely require use of the outdoors.
The more important issue when using the outdoors is having those areas hardscaped. Grassy areas are not usable even days after a rain whereas hardscape areas are immediately usable when the rain stops. Our hardscape areas are surrounded by lush landscaping, so the garden environment is preserved. And with hardscaped areas, there are no chiggers or other insects with which to contend.
Heaters may be added to Clementine's front courtyard for use in the colder months extending the use to nearly every moment without active rain.
What if we get unlucky with the weather?
Rain on a wedding day is said to be good luck. It is remarkable how may times it rains on a wedding day before guests arrive. But if the outdoors is hardscaped, these areas are instantly ready to use after the rain passes. This said, do not count on outdoor space for space that you must have for dining, bar, or cocktail area. At Clementine, you'll never need the Brash courtyard for these purposes given the size of our space and the fact that we have two large interior rooms.But, even on the worst of days your guests will experience the Brash Courtyard when they enter and you'll enjoy it during your send off.
