Shelley & Portugal are wife-and-husband documentary wedding photographers serving Kentucky and beyond.

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BEST ACCOMODATIONS AND GETTING READY SPACES | BGKY WEDDINGS

March 4, 2026

So you’re looking for the best accommodations (and/or “getting ready” spaces for the morning-of your wedding) in Bowling Green, KY? Maybe because you’re planning a destination wedding weekend at one of Bowling Green, KY’s unique wedding venues like Lost River Cave; or maybe you’re from here, but need accommodations so your wedding party can spend the whole weekend together; or maybe, photography is at the top of your priority list and you want to make sure you’re getting ready in a beautiful space the morning of your wedding? (and if so…we approve)

Being an interstate town, Bowling Green has a plethora of nice hotels available. But for those couples who want to elevate their experience (and especially those couples who want something unique and really special), here is a list of some of our favorite local-owned Airbnbs and rental homes!

Our credentials? Shelley has lived in BG her entire life, and we’ve lived here together the entirety of our marriage! We even own a small business downtown, so we LOVE the local BG scene and look for every opportunity to shout out the locals who are doing really cool things to put our little town on the map.

BEST ACCOMMODATIONS THAT DOUBLE AS BEAUTIFUL “GETTING READY” LOCATIONS

The 816 House

Why we love it: Located in the heart of downtown BG, this beautiful old house can sleep up to 12 people! It’s literally steps away from the best bars, restaurants, and BG’s original coffeeshop, Spencer’s, so there is no need to call an Uber for your night-before festivities. 😉

As photographers, we love the historic-meets-modern interiors and all the natural window light. See a real wedding day photographed at 816 House here!

East Main

Why we love it: Just a couple of doors down from 816 House, East Main is also just steps away from the best bars, restaurants, and BG’s original coffeeshop, Spencer’s. So again, a big plus is you are wanting to celebrate the night before and not have to worry about calling an Uber! This smaller historic home sleeps up to 4 people, but it is a fantastic “getting ready” space as well. If you have other accommodations and are just needing a cute getting ready space for the morning-of, East Main is the perfect fit.

As photographers, we loooove the natural light and clean, historic yet modern interiors! See a real wedding day photographed at East Main here!

The Jerry E. Baker Residence (at Baker Arboretum)

Why we love it: This gorgeous old house sits amongst the natural hillside beauty of the Baker Arboretum. Private, beautiful, and full of art around every corner (the Downing Museum of Art is literally steps away from the front door), this unique home can accomodate up to 30 people. Whether you are having your wedding celebration at Baker Arboretum or off-site, it is a wonderful space to get ready the morning of your wedding (and for taking any group/couples portraits!). Plus, it’s only a 10 minute drive into Bowling Green.

As photographers, we love this unique venue and how well it celebrates and preserves local art! It has a unique historic beauty and is one of BG’s finest hidden gems. Bonus: The Downing Museum is also available for grooms/groomsmen to get ready or hang out in the morning of.

See a real wedding day photographed at Baker Arboretum here!

HONORABLE MENTIONS ON AIRBNB:

We checked Airbnb so you don’t have to! These are all photographer-approved locations for their decor, capacity, ratings, and locations. We’re allergic to millennial gray around here, so these have all been hand-picked for their unique decor/character!

  • Modernized historic home out Beech Bend Road (Sleeps up to 8) — This home is on Beech Bend Road, a BG landmark! Just minutes away from downtown, yet surrounded by some of the most beautiful farmland in the entire county (take a drive down nearby Garvin Lane and you’ll see what we mean)! As photographers, we love the natural light and clean, minimal decor of this home.
  • Large historic mansion (Sleeps up to 10) — This beautiful home has maintained a lot of its historical integrity, and we love that it feels like “grandma’s house!” Fun wallpaper and lots of natural light is any wedding photographer’s dream, TRUST! It’s just a 20-minute drive into Bowling Green, and situated amongst some beautiful Kentucky farmland. If you stay here, you’ve got to make the quick drive into downtown Smith’s Grove for breakfast at Grammie’s, coffee at Sly, and treasure-hunting at some of the BEST vintage shops in the county!
  • The Highland House (Sleeps up to 10) — This beautiful home sits on Highland Way (one of Shelley’s favorite residential streets in town). It’s a mostly quiet street in the middle of town, so you’re basically close to everything!
  • Adorable downtown home (Sleeps up to 8) — This beautiful historic home is giving Gilmore Girls in the best way. Clean, adorable cottage-style furnishings and tons of natural light… plus, literally steps away from downtown BG for good coffee, food, and nightlife!
  • Light, bright modern cottage in the middle of town (Sleeps up to 8) — This adorable modern cottage boasts lots of character with modern amenities. It may not be a walkable location, but it’s literally in the middle of town so you’re close to everything, including downtown!
  • Beautiful, modern countryside retreat (Sleeps up to 10) — This gorgeous home is full of character and modern, fun decor. It’s a little further out in the country than the other selections, but it’s right off the interstate for easy access!
  • Modernized Cabin near Franklin, KY (Sleeps up to 12) — At the time of writing this review, this listing currently does not have any ratings. However, we absolutely love the look and feel of this “modernized” cabin! If you’re getting married near Franklin, KY we would definitely recommend looking into this one!

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about us

we're shelley AND portugal

Before we were wedding photographers, we were just two kids in love. We met on Instagram and fell in love over FaceTime. A shared interest in roadkill portraiture is what brought us together (it’s a funny story), but what ultimately compelled us to take a chance on long-distance is the fact that we weren’t looking for surface-level. We craved a shared life full of connection, vulnerability, and the kind of love that changes you. Now we bring that same energy to your wedding day to capture the real story, not a performance.