The Heritage Ball is Williamson County’s longest-running black-tie affair, raising funds for and celebrating the preservation work of the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County. Chaired by Cordia and Tom Harrington, this year’s event – its 49th iteration – took guests on a celestial journey during the star-studded evening. The event took place at the Eastern Flank Battlefield Park in Franklin on October 1, welcoming approximately 800 guests to support history and preservation throughout the county.
With ethereal surprises waiting around – and above – every inch of the venue, we caught up with the ball’s unofficial CEO: expert event designer Amos Gott of Amos Events. Regarded as one of the South’s most respected tastemakers, Gott shared all the details that went into planning and executing this year’s starry soiree.
Describe your role with the Heritage Ball.
With the Heritage Ball, I am in the planning and design phase, overseeing everything from the invitations to stage production. I’m in charge of the entire guest experience – sometimes called the CEO of the ball. I laugh at that, but it helps me define my role to people. The chairs of each ball lead the pack with me by their side to ensure their vision is carried out. I bring history to the table having worked on Heritage Balls since 2019, so I’ve had the opportunity to learn what works and what doesn’t work each year. Sometimes it’s great to push the button, and sometimes it’s best to stick with what has worked.
What was the inspiration behind this year’s event?
This year, Cordia and Tom had a concrete theme idea: an evening with the stars. From there, we translated the theme into the decor. The idea was that everything would be about stars – guests would be under the stars, they would feel like stars, there would be celebrity guests. With that, I built a navy and gold color scheme to reflect night. When thinking about guests feeling like they’re under the stars, we knew that could be achieved in a lot of different ways – like through technology that hasn’t been seen before.
What can Heritage Ball guests expect for future galas?
We work to create an entire experience. The experience begins when receiving the invitation. The minute guests get out of their car, the evening begins – we ask, “What does the guest see? What do they feel? Do they know where to go? Can they see the bar? What are the flavors of the meal – should it be on theme?" All of these elements combined create the experience.
Aside from the Heritage Ball, what services do you provide?
We are an event planning and design firm specializing in all kinds of events – weddings, corporate events, and, of course, galas and balls. I began my business in Kentucky before moving to Nashville 20 years ago. We focus on taste and style, ensuring all of our events have a timeless appeal.
Missed the Heritage Ball this year? Keep up with all of the information surrounding next year’s event at williamsonheritage.org. For more information or to schedule a conversation with Amos Events, visit amosevents.com.
