These Nashville Cheekwood family photos might be my most favorite images from an outdoor session – and that’s saying a lot because I love outdoor sessions! The gardens (and by gardens I mean many, many gardens!) at Cheekwood are breath taking, this family was such a joy to be around, and our time together was midday – so no worrying about your littles one getting to bed late!

Imagine a dream session — wardrobe for mama and your littles is all provided by my client wardrobe, you were pampered in the comfort of your home with complimentary hair and makeup before our time together, you arrive mid afternoon after naps so everyone is well rested for our session, and when we are finsihed capturing your photos, your family (continues!) exploring the gardens and eats at the on-location cafe. While this is a dream for you, it’s also a dream for me as a photographer!!

These Nashville Cheekwood family photos were taken at Grace Paul‘s Rooted retreat in Nashville, TN. I have so many things to say about Grace — she has become a very special person in my life since moving to Nashville. Her heart for the Lord is something I’ve never seen, she’s the most incredible mama of five (almost six!!), a homeschool and homemaking mama, a film educator, and can plan a really special retreat!

Visiting Cheekwood

Cheekwood Estates and Gardens offers so much for young families in Nashville. Below you will find a few of the many reasons why visiting Cheekwood is a great activity for you and your family!

Explore The Gardens

I find the most simple activities with my family are the ones we enjoy the most — where there is hardly an agenda, we all get to be outside, and my kids aren’t confined to one space for a long period of time. Exploring the gardens of Cheekwood is not only incredibly beautiful for adults, it’s a great way to get out and move your body with your kids!

Activities For Children

Cheekwood offers so many family fun activities throughout the year.

TOTS! is a fun one for parents to attend with the littles where there is story time, hands-on activities, learning about the plants in the gardens, and so much more!

Their TRAINS! Exhibit features model trains running through a landscaped miniature garden. It’s a great way to for little ones to use their imagination as it features a playhouse inspired by The Little Engine That Could, a walking bridge, special children’s tunnel, dioramas of miniature worlds and so much more!

Seasonal Events and Festivities

In the Spring you can experience their Cheekwood In Bloom where you see over 150,000 bulbs – including tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths. The event often includes garden tours, family-friendly activities, live music, and special exhibits.

In the Summer they host summer camps and workshops including a variety of educational programs, camps, and workshops for children and teens covering topics such as art, gardening, and nature.

In the Summer evenings they have Cheekwood Nights where you can enjoy live music and entertainment.

In the Fall you can expereience their Cheekwood Harvest event that includes pumpkin patches, scarecrows, and seasonal displays. The event features themed weekends with family-friendly activities like hayrides, pumpkin carving, and scavenger hunts.

And in the Winter you and your family can experience their Holiday LIGHTS event which is a display of over a million holiday lights and decorations throughout the estate. The event includes special installations, holiday music, s’mores, and visits with Santa Claus. It’s a popular event for families and a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday season.

Below you will see more Nashville Cheekwood Family Photos taken by Courtney Houk

Nashville Cheekwood Family Photos

There really is no place more perfect for your Nashville Cheekwood family photos. I would love nothing more than to spend an afternoon together with you and your family at Cheekwood Estates! There is no session that wouldn’t be perfect there — imagine an intimate and slow paced maternity session or a tiny little newborn cradled in mamas arms among the flowers, or a family session allowing your littles to explore and capture effortless photos of a day spent together. Oh, the possibilites are endless!

---

Courtney is a Nashville Newborn Photographer here to provide you with a stress free, luxurious experience a mama could only dream of. An experience where you don’t have to be the person to do it all, and she will help you finally get timeless images and heirloom artwork in your hands and home. She truly takes care of it all for you. If you are interested in booking a session, please reach out sooner than later!