5 Best Places to Propose in Nashville

For those planning to pop the question, Music City is rich in proposal possibilities. Even out-of- towners travel here to propose at downtown landmarks like The Hermitage Hotel and Riverfront Park on the Fourth of July. The trick to pulling off a successful proposal is recognizing what your partner likes, and by this time you should have definitely figured it out. Nashville offers a diverse set of proposal locations, from the totally unpretentious to the classy and traditional. Here are our five favorite places to propose in Nashville:

A Private Carriage Tour

While most carriage ride proposals are far from unique, Nashville’s historic charm lends itself well to this romantic opportunity. This is especially true on sultry evenings and throughout the holidays. There are several carriage tour companies that operate in downtown Nashville, and fees and trip lengths vary significantly. So, start with some online research and then take it a step further by calling the individual operators to ask if they offer custom proposal services. If they don’t, supplement your carriage ride with a bouquet of roses and other small touches, but remember that the ultimate keepsake on this excursion will be the diamond ring that you bring with you. Some carriage services offer pick-ups from hotels, which is a practical option when you’re planning a romantic overnight stay in the city.

Shelby Park & the Shelby Bottoms Greenway

Perfect for couples with active lifestyles, Shelby Park is a flat and fast 5K from Downtown Nashville. The park covers 361 acres, with a mix of paved trails and dirt paths that connect to the 960-acre Shelby Bottoms Greenway along the Cumberland River. When combined, you can easily find bike trails of seven or more miles, depending on the routes you’ve selected. You can extend your trip by crossing the Cumberland River pedestrian bridge, which links to the Stones River Greenway and eventually J. Percy Priest Lake, resulting in a thirty-mile out-and-back adventure. No matter how far you go, don’t forget to bring along the diamond engagement ring – and plenty of water if the weather is warm.

Centennial Park

While most tourists call it “the park with the Parthenon”, the West End’s 132-acre Centennial Park is a cultural epicenter for Nashville’s youthful set. This might be why it remains a popular proposal place among Vanderbilt University students and young professionals. The sunken garden is one of the most scenic places for popping the question, but the entire park will be crowded on sunny spring days. Free parking dries up in the summer heat, especially during Shakespeare plays, symphony performances and food truck roundups, so be prepared to walk for a spell. Finding a place to sit is relatively easy, although picnic tables are frequently in use around lunch and dinner. Portions of Centennial Park are currently undergoing extensive improvements, so if construction is loud or unsightly have a backup proposal plan in mind.

Cheekwood Art & Botanical Gardens

Proposal privacy comes easy at Cheekwood Art and Gardens in West Nashville. This 55-acre park receives almost 200,000 visitors each year, but the pools, walls and sculptures throughout the varied landscape create intimacy and privacy. Unless you want to ride the park train or hang around the children’s treehouse, you won’t encounter interruptions. Seating areas are numerous and spread between the herb, perennial and wildflower gardens. Picnics are encouraged as long as you do not serve up your food in the adjacent art museum.

Capitol Grille

Few establishments in the city embody the elegance of old Nashville like the Capitol Grille inside The Hermitage Hotel. It is a perfect proposal spot for couples who love fine dining in romantic settings. The innovative cuisine is New American with a nod toward Southern tradition. With the exception of seafood, much of the food on the rotating menu is sourced from local farms. Friday and Saturday nights are often the busiest of the week, but you should have no problem securing reservations if you call several weeks in advance. If you’re considering overnight accommodations, TripAdvisor recently named The Hermitage Hotel one of the best luxury hotels in the United States.

Still searching for the perfect ring to accompany your Nashville proposal? In Nashville, engagement rings with a classic style are the most popular. This is true for the state of Tennessee as a whole, as well. Classic engagement rings span a wide spectrum of styles, including but not limited to those with traditional solitaire settings, tapered bands lined with diamonds, and round cut diamonds.