Ruby

I looked into having my wedding at Ruby or their new event space, Haesel Hall. However, it didn’t work out because of the size of my wedding and because of some unforeseen costs that arose after we started the reservation process. Pros: It’s a great space for an event if you’re looking for that industrial vibe! Cons: I felt like some of my interactions with the owners were unprofessional and found them to be very inflexible, which was disappointing. I wouldn’t recommend this venue to a friend.

We went last night for Dinner Lab and the space is really great! Clean and modern while being old! Lots of spackle (sp?) on the walls but I thought that added to the charm! The patio out front is really great and I liked that they had it tented!
One thing I would recommend to anyone having an event there with 100 or so guests is to add some type of material like décor…the noise level got really high with the wood floors and high ceilings.

We recently hosted our wedding reception for 75 people at Ruby. The evening went well — the space was beautiful and good weather made the outdoor patio especially nice.
We planned our event from afar (we live in Washington DC) and were able to coordinate pretty well with the owners over phone and email. A few miscommunications along the way, but in the end everything worked out and they were quite flexible in meeting our needs.
One thing we really appreciated, as an out-​of-​towner, was the wealth of contacts and resources the owners have for other vendors (catering, music, lights, etc.) Remember that since this is a «blank slate» space, you’ll have to do a lot of coordination when it comes to putting all the pieces together. So it’s helpful to have a few recommended names to work with. Being able to bring in a variety of vendors gives you flexibility and creative space, but can also be a bit of work, so just know that before you book.
Other great points about Ruby: the nearby dragon park and flexible rental time. Unlike other venues that kick you out at a certain hour or charge by the hour, Ruby’s cost for the event was straightforward from the start. We appreciated that.
One drawback might be parking, as there are schools and public parks nearby that make it difficult to direct parking — especially if there are other competing events being hosted downtown.
All in all, we’re happy that we picked Ruby.

My wife and I held our reception at Ruby on 5.25.13. Today is 7.15.13, and people are STILL complimenting us on our beautiful day. Ruby not only served as the perfect frame for our party to unfold within, but also intimately shaped the way our party unfolded.
When we first began looking for a place to have our reception, we toyed with the idea of an all-​inclusive package elsewhere. But the benefits of Ruby far outweighed the temptation to set the planning to autopilot. We wanted the opportunity to craft a reception after our own style, and Ruby perfectly allowed that.
First, of course, is the space itself. Ruby’s high, vaulted ceilings, plastered walls, and dark hardwood floors were ready for us to drape string lights, shoot uplights, and party. It’s also situated with a park around it, which allowed us to setup lawn games for our guests with a competitive streak. And with parking available just next door, everything was right where we needed it. All this fails to mention the front patio– which is amazing! We kept it tented just in case a little shower popped up. While we had the (huge, beautiful) doors open during our cocktail hour, most of our guests chose to hang out on the patio drinking, listening to music, and enjoying the perfect weather we were lucky to have.
Another huge plus to Ruby is the contract. We loved having the flexibility to bring in any vendor we wanted (as long as they met a few basic requirements like carrying event insurance). Ruby does offer a list of approved vendors, but by approved you should read «these folks have done amazing work in Ruby before», not «these are the only people allowed».
I feel a responsibility to respond directly to the review and responses below by Sarah R. I’m not in a place to say what is fabrication and what is truth; all I’m able to relate is our own experience. I should also note that we didn’t use Dan or Brenda’s planning service.
Our experiences with Dan and Brenda were flawless. During our planning phase, the Cooks moved twice, and even through that we always found their response time quick. When we needed to check out the space or tour a vendor, they were always available at a moment’s notice. Dan is one of those super cool guys that I hope to grow up being. When we asked for a band suggestion, he rattled off 10. When we wondered about a caterer, he pulled out his phone with pictures of the sweet things caterers have done at Ruby. He clearly lives this stuff.
When we were looking for a wedding coordinator, Dan let us know that he and Brenda were offering those services. My wife and I interviewed several planners, and the thing that stood out most about the Cooks was how engaged they were during the interview. We had a few planners who just sat back and took notes. Not Brenda. As we spoke, she actively offered suggestions based on what we were brainstorming. Ultimately though, we chose Modern Vintage Events based on their style and pricing options.
As an alternative example of what happened to us: after our wedding, we were out of there! The next day, we realized there were several things we had forgotten to assign people to take with them. After a few phone calls to family, we found that all our lawn games, and most of our décor had been left behind at Ruby. We went by to check it out, and found everything neatly stacked on the back patio waiting for us. Neither Dan nor Brenda contacted us about it, and we didn’t hear from them at all until they thanked me for reviewing them on The Wedding Channel’s website.
Overall, we had a great time and experience with Ruby and the Cooks from start to finish! Also, sorry for such a lengthy review!

This past Saturday was the American Cancer Society Junior Board’s A Pink Tie Affair event. Being on the board, I had the pleasure of seeing Ruby pre and post decorations. Such a great space and it was so easy to work with.
Ruby is a church turned venue that leaves you nothing short of amazed. The architecture is very modern and clean. My favorite part of the building has to be that both walls are lined with huge window doors that open to lead you to a very charming balcony. The bathrooms also have wonderful skylights.
All in all, I think Ruby was an amazing venue decision for our event. It was large but still small enough to feel intimate, the space can absorb any décor vibe you want and it’s conveniently located between the Vanderbilt and Hillsboro Village area.

I attended the Unilocal Sponsored Pink Tie Affair here and was happily surprised at the building’s transformation. When I lived in Hillsboro Vill, I remember wondering if the place was still a functioning church or not; now, having moved back to Nashville a few years later, I’m glad to know it’s 1) functioning and 2) a fresh, new spot!
I didn’t access the patio, as it was a tad chilly, but the interior is quite spacious for mid-​small to mid-​large sized crowds. Not sure what décor was permanent in the space or brought in for the particular event, but there were several couch/​bench areas, high top tables, one bar, and a food table. The band was really good, but for the space, the speakers were definitely a tad too high. It was dark-​dim, but the pink lights gave a nice glow throughout the space.
I pulled in about 30 mins into the event and immediately found a space right behind the building and therefore, entered the event from the back of the room, behind the band (awkward!!!)…in the back lot, there are no more than 10 spaces, if that… I don’t know where other people parked, and therefore, entered through the correct, front entrance, but its got to be there somewhere! :)
All in all, it is definitely a good space to look into to book a casual or fancy event!

Had an opportunity to go to an event here soon after they opened.
Ballin’ place to do a bat-​mitzvah. The valet parking was sharp and a relief, because if you frequent this part of the world, you know what a total pain it can be to find parking.
It seemed crowded at first but once everyone arrived, it settled down a bit. Great space, I love the décor and lighting. I really enjoyed the front patio area, very nice space and overlooks Wedgewood/​Blakemore/​whatever that part of the road is.
Interior is very spacious. Had plenty of room for a bar, a dancefloor/​dj area, a buffet, and seated dining for well over 100.
One of my only regrets would have been that the traffic pattern was a little wonky, the main entrance had catering tables set up on either side and the was a lot of loitering which really congested the flow of people moving from inside to the outside. Not sure if this was because of the venue or where the caterers set up their display, but it caused some minor problems, especially since the bathrooms were located nearby too.
All-​in-​all a top-​quality venue in a great location!

You know those times when you have a Spinal Tap moment? When you wish the system had an 11 instead of just 10, or 6 stars instead of just 5? My impressions of Ruby would be one of those times.
First impressions often create the mood for the rest and from first to last, Ruby’s impressed. I was there for a bat mitzvah party and all I knew of the place was that it is new.
As I pulled up into the Valet line, I was already impressed. The building may be a re purposed church but one would hardly know it as it has been expertly made over — outside and in. The patio area that I walked through before the entry-​way was a nice touch, although it was forgotten once I entered the room. With its vaulted (church) ceiling and black and white disco dance floor, the room looked very fancy and upscale.
While the food was provided by a local caterer (kosher), the drinks and drink menu were excellent and I truly appreciated that they use Corsair and Yahoo to provide local flair.
Between the excellent bar service, the beautiful facility, and the speed of the valets, I would say this is one terrific venue for any event.

I have a feeling that I will be updating Ruby to 5 stars once I attend another event or host one myself at this newly opened event venue…
Great location located between West End and 21^st Avenue that is near Vanderbilt and Hillsboro Village.
I attended the grand opening party for this unique venue space this week and was thoroughly impressed by the layout as this space is truly convertible with an option to tent the front area, open the floor to ceiling doors to open the main room up, and the back patio that connects to the surrounding deck space. The high alter ceilings (this space was previously a church) add to the ambiance along with the lighting.
The representative for Ruby stated that nearly 250 could fit comfortably in the space depending on the furniture layout and event structure. At this fête’ there were 6 stations featuring food from local restaurants and catering brands and 2 bar areas that flowed nicely. They also had a band performing during the event which showcased the room’s acoustics nicely as well.
Ruby would be a great place to host a party, musical showcase, or various other events. i look forward to coming back.
TIP: Valet parking is offered at this event venue.