Bridge Building Wedding in Summer

Downtown energy without the chaos? Yes please. For this Bridge Building summer celebration, I photographed the first look, couple’s portraits, family and friends, and details — a streamlined coverage plan that still gave us iconic skyline frames and a relaxed timeline.

At a Glance:

Date and season: June 2024 — Summer
Venue: The Bridge Building, Nashville, TN
Coverage: First look, portraits, family and friends, details
Vibe: candid editorial, modern city views, warm summer light
Portrait spots: rooftop, riverwalk, John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
Light plan: late‑day portraits for skyline glow
Comfort plan: shade scouting, water breaks, minimal walking in peak heat
Lead photographer: Cayla Evans

wedding cake at the bridge building in nashville

Getting Ready Touchpoints and First Look

We kept prep light and candid — a few detail frames, quick moments with friends, then straight into a first look to beat the heat. The bridge doesn’t offer much privacy but we made it work. The result: editorial frames with the skyline peeking in, minus the midday harshness.

bridge building nashville ceremony set up

getting ready photos in the mirror at the bridge building in downtown nashville, tennessee

first look with groom on the pedestrian bridge in nashville

Downtown Portraits With Skyline + River Views

With a compact shot list we could wander without rushing. We took a short stroll onto the pedestrian bridge for that classic Nashville skyline and then made our way to the underside of the bridge for some modern, architectural frames.

My direction is minimalist: micro‑prompts over poses, so portraits feel comfortable and read candid on camera. Think walking, leaning into each other, a spin when the breeze cooperates, and a quick forehead‑to‑forehead reset when it’s, you know, spicy af outside.

couples portraits on the bridge downtown nashville

downtown nashville pedestrian bridge couples portraits before wedding ceremony

groom holding brides dress while walking back into the bridge building in downtown nashville

Planning a Summer Wedding at The Bridge Building: What Works Best

Timeline and light
- Schedule portraits late afternoon into golden hour. Downtown concrete reflects; the light gets much friendlier as the sun drops.
Heat strategy
- Shade scouting on rooftop and riverwalk
- Short walk windows and built‑in water breaks
- Blotting papers and a compact fan are good to have on hand
Portrait route
- Pedestrian bridge → below the bridge → riverwalk → back to AC
Wind and audio notes
- Rooftop breezes can be real. Veil pins help, and if you’re doing private vows, move 10 feet out of the wind tunnel for clean audio.
Rain or extreme heat backup
- The indoor space with floor‑to‑ceiling windows still gives city‑view portraits in AC. We can also use covered areas near the riverwalk.