What constitutes a southern wedding? Is it geographical location, décor or cuisine? Maybe it’s something less tangible – a place where wedding goers can experience modern, southern hospitality. For 21c Museum Hotels, a wedding that truly evokes southern sensibilities brings together brides, grooms and their closest friends and family in a space where genuine friendliness already thrives.  

With the opening of our flagship hotel in 2006, 21c has quickly become a hotspot for newly engaged couples to discover rare spaces to hold engagement parties, rehearsal dinners, wedding ceremonies, receptions and brunches. Our brides and grooms often boast that hotel teams brought a depth of sincerity and attention to their occasion, from housekeepers to Front Desk agents and Event Captains. “No little detail went unloved” recalls Alex Farhang of the wedding ceremony she held at 21c Louisville in December 2012 (picture shown above). This attention to the nuanced needs of our guests in part defines the southern nuptials experience at our hotels.

What 21c provides in addition to genuine southern hospitality is an art-filled experience realized by the contemporary art that permeates all spaces at each of our hotels. 21c Louisville, Cincinnati, Bentonville and Durham each feature curated, rotating art exhibitions in a manner that is meant to make art accessible. Farhang goes on to describe this atmosphere, “Our guests flew in from all over the country and to say everyone was blown away and impressed by every detail of their stay would be an understatement…what we really love about 21c is how the warmth and personality of the team balances the sophistication of the surroundings.”

Of course, no southern wedding experience would feel complete without a nod to the region’s culinary traditions. Each 21c restaurant showcases local, regional ingredients from sustainable farmers and producers. Dishes like the Ham Brined Pork Chop at The Hive ,Weisenberger Grits at Proof on Main and NC oysters and “sea snacks” from Counting House bring touches of southern-inspired cooking to our wedding catering.

Then there is Bourbon, the most lauded of southern spirits. Bourbon is an obligatory staple to southern weddings and brides and grooms seem to love incorporating bourbon into their events. Says 21c Louisville Event Manager Emily Lardner, “Often times they have friends and family coming in from all over the country who haven’t necessarily had Bourbon and they love showing off this very southern tradition at their wedding.” Brides and grooms often work closely with the 21c event teams, creating specialty cocktails to serve at various wedding functions. 21c Cincinnati Event Manager Yasmin Albina explains how the craft cocktail movement easily lends itself to Metropole’s robust beverage program. Beginning with a tasting in the restaurant, each of our locations’ chefs and bartenders work together to customize anything from dinner menus to specialty cocktails befitting the tone of the wedding. At 21c, wedding events are truly customized to the client, making no two weddings alike.

So whether you’re looking to hold an intimate rehearsal dinner for 20, or a rocking reception, there are so many ways to execute the southern inspired wedding at 21c.

Ready to experience weddings at 21c? Contact a team member at each of our locations for more details:
> 21c Louisville. Call or email Sarah at 502.217.6312
> 21c Cincinnati. Call or email Julie at 513.578.6612
> 21c Bentonville. Call or email Emily at 479.286.6517
> 21c Durham. Call or email Lauran at 919.956.6712