Memphis Guides – We Are Memphis

Need wedding ideas? See the top wedding venues in Memphis!

We Are Memphis — Wed, 16 May 2018 23:53:26 +0000

Choosing a venue is one of the biggest and most important parts of planning a wedding. Not only does the venue set the tone, it accounts for a pretty massive chunk of your budget—and it’s one of the few wedding elements that isn’t optional. After all, you can wear jeans and a T-shirt instead of a suit or a dress, but you can’t get married without a place to hold the ceremony.

If you’re planning to get hitched in Memphis, you have a lot of great venue options to choose from. From elegant mansions and opulent halls to blank canvases and vibrant outdoor spaces, Memphis has it all. Here are five of our favorites:

1. The Peabody Hotel

An iconic fixture of Downtown Memphis, the Peabody Hotel should be at the top of your list if you’ve always imagined getting married in a luxuriant, historic setting. Often referred to as “The South’s Grand Hotel,” the Peabody offers several elegant ballrooms of different sizes, ensuring a viable option for any wedding or reception party.

2. Annesdale Mansion

This 1850s Italianate-style villa is rich in Southern charm. Complete with a tree-lined drive, hand-painted ceilings and crystal chandeliers, Annesdale Mansion is nestled among 7.5 acres of luxurious lawns and gardens in Midtown Memphis’ Annesdale Snowden Historic District. Seeking the perfect backdrop for a traditional, romantic Southern wedding? Look no further.

3. Memphis Botanic Garden

The sweeping green spaces of the Memphis Botanic Garden encompass 96 beautiful acres, including several different indoor and outdoor areas available for wedding bookings. If there’s anywhere more idyllic to get married than a serene outdoor sanctuary, we can’t think of it.

4. Propcellar

The idea of a blank canvas with which to create an entire wedding from scratch sounds like a nightmare for some couples and a dream for others. If you fall into the latter category, Propcellar is for you. This warehouse space is bright and airy, with tall ceilings, concrete floors, countless windows and, best of all, nothing to get in the way of your personal vision. And if that vision incorporates a rustic ambiance, Propcellar will provide beautiful antique furniture rentals for your wedding or reception.

5. Dixon Gallery and Gardens

As its name suggests, Dixon Gallery and Gardens is both an art museum and an event venue that can accommodate up to 200 wedding guests. Have your ceremony or reception on the intimate and cozy South Lawn Stage, or there’s a handsome pavilion and 17 acres of vibrant lawns, gardens and woodlands on-site.

Picking a wedding venue may seem daunting, but with so many quality options available here in Memphis, you’re bound to find something that fits both your dreams and your budget. Best of luck—oh, and congratulations!

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Here’s what happened in Memphis this week!

We Are Memphis — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 22:27:04 +0000

There is always something wonderful happening right here in Memphis. We are a city of doers, dreamers, and believers. That’s what drives this unstoppable city. With so much going on, we sometimes miss the stories that make this city great. Don’t worry, here is a recap of the week!

Memphis, TN, USA – May 1, 2012: The sign outside of the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated as it stands today.

50th anniversary commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Although we will remember what came before, April 4 will also be a day of looking forward. We honored the man who gave his life in service for our community.

Bells ring for Dr. King

At 6:01 on April 4th, 2018, bells rang across the nation 39 times to honor the number of years Dr. King dwelled on this earth. Pause with us as we take a moment to reflect on his legacy.

I AM A MAN plaza opens in Memphis

A powerful moment for Memphis as the I AM A Man Plaza opened by Clayborn Temple.

A year to volunteer for Memphis

Volunteer Odyssey kicks off the Year to Volunteer movement in response to the National Civil Rights Museum‘s “Where do we go from here?” call-to-action. So, how will you #BringYourSoul and make an impact?

For more stories and Memphian updates, be sure to keep an eye on our website and follow us on social media!

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Memphis named the most generous city in the US!

We Are Memphis — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 06:56:46 +0000

As citizens of Memphis, we like to think our community is always growing and creating change. Otherwise, why would we live here? Embracing and elevating Memphis is the job of every single person that lives here, and one of the best ways to do that is to continually invest in your community.

When it comes to generosity and investing in the community, Memphis leads the pack. According to a study from the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Memphis ranks as the most charitable city in the United States.

Inspired to do even better

After trailing Salt Lake City, the last time rankings were revealed, Memphis broke into the top spot in 2017, spurred by increased giving to the public-school system. All told, Memphians give 5.6 percent of their overall income to charitable causes. That number is up from 5.1 percent in 2014, the last time the study was released.

Memphians were largely inspired to keep giving generously by a $90 million donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the Teacher Effectiveness Institute (TEI) of Memphis City Schools in 2009. Their belief in Memphis’ ability to keep growing and thriving have renewed belief in the Bluff City and opened the floodgates for local residents to also contribute.

Over the last decade, the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis has grown to an asset size of $430 million, and many of the donations coming in were specifically targeted to the public-school system. In 2017, that allowed the group to hand out $161 million in grants around the city.

It’s in our blood

Many also point to Memphis’ being a Southern city rooted in church philanthropy as influencing charitable giving. Cities like Birmingham and Atlanta, who also carry the same distinction, also ranked high on the list.

Besides the education system, other benefactors of Memphis’ philanthropy included:

Extension of the Green Line bike trail
Renovation of Shelby Farms Park
Completion of Big River Crossing project
Overton Square improvements

Sustained generosity

While some point to big changes in the federal tax code as it relates to charitable giving possibly hampering philanthropic giving across the country, there’s reason for optimism in Memphis. The number of public projects that have been sustained or initiated through Memphis’ generosity seems almost self-sustaining. That is, seeing all the good charitable giving has done for our city spurs continued giving.

Now that’s something to be proud of!

For more information on all things Memphis, click here!

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