Romantic garden wedding with blue and gray hues and an abundance of flowers at Long Hollow Gardens in Gallatin, Tennessee

When Stephen met Elizabeth in a physical therapy doctoral program, he was a couple of years ahead of her, so they didn’t really get to know each other too well. After keeping each other on the radar, they finally started dating about three years later when Stephen was working in California, and Elizabeth had just gotten her first job as a physical therapist in Nashville.

“He flew across the country to take me on our first date!” said Elizabeth. 

During a morning walk with their pup one New Year’s Day, Stephen surprised Elizabeth with the most romantic proposal. They were on Vanderbilt's beautiful campus under a magnolia tree, when he got down on one knee and asked her to be his wife.

“I had no makeup on,” said Elizabeth, “and was completely oblivious that he was proposing until he got down on one knee!”

Elizabeth and Stephen tied the knot on a summer evening in a grassy Tennessee meadow, followed by a lively reception in a greenhouse and adjoining veranda. All of the lush greenery and mixed white florals paired gorgeously with the rustic architecture and color palette of light blues and soft grays.

“Stephen and I wanted our wedding day to feel comfortable, simple, and unpretentious, yet elegant and romantic,” said Elizabeth. “We both wanted the outdoors to be incorporated into our wedding, which is why the greenhouse's gorgeous greens and rustic beauty was so attractive to us.”

The bridal suite was housed in a rustic-chic farmhouse, boasting off-white tufted lounge furniture and sliding barn doors. Elizabeth’s bridesmaids twirled in their mismatched gowns, all in varying shades of ice blue and stone gray, just before helping Elizabeth make final adjustments to her bridal look.

She wore a show-stopping, silk ivory gown with a fitted skirt and dramatic balloon sleeves. The bodice featured a classic boat-neck cut, while the back showcased a dramatic deep V with rows of tiny buttons down the back. Her hair was twisted into a low bun, and she wore a pair of pearl-embellished, floral statement earrings that paired perfectly with her floral-inspired block heels.

“I was set on long sleeves with an open back for my dress,” said Elizabeth. “I wanted something elegant and classic, yet modern.”

Stephen donned a modern, custom-made gray suit with a floral print, navy blue tie and a boutonniere made from baby’s breath and a soft white anemone bud. He looked handsome and timeless as he stood by, eagerly awaiting his first look at his bride.

Following their intimate first look moment, they joined their wedding party for photos in the farmhouse lawn. The summer sunlight was streaming through the trees, giving the atmosphere a soft, warm glow, and the bridesmaids’ and bridal bouquets popped against the blue and gray hues. 

“Our florals were simple and elegant,” said Elizabeth. “I felt like they fit into the beautiful setting, without stealing the show.”

The bridesmaids’ bouquets were small and simple, with fresh greenery with a couple white roses, while the bridal bouquet was a larger version, including anemones and cascading greenery. In the meadow, the ceremony decor was minimal, including an abundance of greenery accented with a variety of cream and ivory flowers.

“The best thing about our venue was that it needed very little decoration to make it beautiful,” said Elizabeth. “Our ceremony was outside in a beautiful field, so we simply had an arbor dressed in greenery and white flowers, and two gold vases at the start of the aisle with beautiful bouquets of white and green.” 

As Elizabeth descended the aisle, surrounded by her closest friends and family, the moment was completely picturesque. Her stunning, pleated train and cathedral veil trailed behind her, while the sun was setting in the distance. She and Stephen exchanged vows they each had written, which was an incredibly special moment for them. 

“Everyone else disappeared,” said Elizabeth, “and it was just him and me standing there, pledging our love to each other.”

They sealed their “I Do’s” with a kiss, and strolled down the aisle in celebration. The photographer captured their love in the luscious vineyard lawn, when the sun was down and the sky was the perfect shade of pink. To kick off the reception, Elizabeth and Stephen performed a choreographed first dance - a much-anticipated moment and fun project to work on together leading up to the big day. 

“We loved finally getting to dance it in front of our family and friends, who were clapping and cheering us on the whole way,” said Elizabeth. “We had so much fun dancing together!”

Inside the greenhouse and adjoining veranda, the space showcased a transparent roof and cobblestone floor, chandeliers intertwined with moss and greenery, festival lighting, hand-made wreaths, potted plants and bespoke drapery. With help from Southern Events Party Rental Company, the table linens were stone blue, topped with eucalyptus, candles and classic dinnerware settings.

The celebration was full of personalized elements, including mini succulents as party favors, with little flags that read "let love grow." Also, their guestbook was a sketch of a leafless tree, dressed with leaves from the thumbprints of all the guests, who were invited to sign next to their thumbprint.

“We plan to put this tree made of the fingerprints of all our loved ones in our future nursery,” said Elizabeth.

In planning the reception, Elizabeth’s priority was live music from a fabulous and talented band - and they found just that with a stellar group who kept all of their guests on the dance floor! About halfway through the party, she changed into a long-sleeved, drop-waist mini dress with floral embellishments that flounced as she twirled on the dance floor. 

“I love dancing, so I wanted the band to be spectacular,” said Elizabeth, “and they were!”

After snacking on hot chicken and fluffy biscuits, everyone gathered around for the cake-cutting. Displayed on a rustic acacia wood platter, their four-tiered wedding cake was decorated in ribbed buttercream icing and clusters of white roses and anemones. 

When the last song was played, the guests lined up to shower the newlyweds with love and white rose petals. It was the most enchanting send-off and ending to the best night of their lives.

Congratulations, Elizabeth and Stephen!

Looking for rentals and decor to bring your reception to life? Check out Southern Events Party Rental Company HERE!