Instead of a traditional rehearsal dinner, the bride and groom decided to keep the tone light with a murder mystery party the night before they exchanged vows. Candice says, “The murder mystery theme was ‘Til Death Do Us Part,’ and it was every bit as cheesy and ridiculous as you’d think it would be! I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard in a long time.” Steven adds, “We greased the wheels with wine and cocktails beforehand, and everyone leaned in to make it a great night.”
On an unseasonably sunny and warm February morning, the couple got ready at their Nashville home with Candice’s two daughters. “What I’ll always remember is how beautiful that day was,” says the bride. The family planned to take a vintage limo to the chapel, but it broke down before arriving to their home. “Well, I damn sure wasn’t going to be late to my own wedding, so the four of us just piled into my car, donned in tuxes and white dresses, and drove ourselves there,” says Steven. “Made it right on time, and that turned out to be our only hiccup of the day.”
The to-be-weds’ families and their officiant all gathered in the wooden chapel as the ceremony began. “Walking down the little aisle, I remember hearing the soft sounds of live guitar being played by a friend of a friend that we’d never met, the flowers making this tiny wooden chapel feel like a fairytale greenhouse, and the warm glow of light on Steven’s face,” remembers Candice. “We’d already done a first look at our house, but walking down the aisle in that warm glow of the magic hour felt like our own little secret. Like the rest of the world kept turning in chaos, and we had this small little nook of the world to ourselves. Time slowed down and felt like a love song.”
After exchanging personal vows and sealing their marriage with a kiss, the chapel immediately turned into a celebration with bubbles, music, and toasts among their family. “Stripping away the formality of a big, well-rehearsed ceremony created such a fun, relaxed vibe,” says the groom. “It wasn’t at all how I had pictured my wedding when I was younger. And I think that’s what made it so perfect. We got to breathe, laugh, cry, and focus on each other without worrying whether everything was going according to plan.”
After a few photos with the family at golden hour, the newlyweds headed into a (working) vintage car and headed to the reception. “We wanted a fun, loud, steakhouse dinner,” shares Candice. “That’s exactly what we got!” Steven remembers, “We ate, we drank, and we cut a boot-shaped cake. Our family members stood up and said incredibly nice things about us. All in all, it was a delight. I highly recommend it.”
Reflecting on the wedding weekend, the couple reflects on how it just felt magical. Says the bride, “What a gift that on our February wedding day, we got to celebrate by dancing in the warmth of the sun.” Adds the groom, “I can’t wait to show our son one day that he was there, too.”
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