Laryssa & Eric | Nashville, TN

WEDDING STORIES

Jan 22

Laryssa & Eric’s wanted their wedding at Clementine Hall to be moody and elegant, with touches of modern. From the 115 candles lit for each guest to the white roses that surrounded them as they said “I do”- with the help of Kelsey Rae Designs and a fantastic team of vendors, that vision came to life beautifully!

How They Met

Laryssa & Eric both met in college! Eric played football and Laryssa played volleyball, so they had a lot of mutual friends.

Fast forward to their first date. They went to a school in a small town, so Applebees was their best option. Laryssa did beg him to take her to the aquarium in Gatlinburg… and he finally did shortly after they made things official.

The Proposal

When it came time for Eric to propose, he wrote “Will you marry me” on a sky lantern and had Laryssa's brother and his girlfriend hold it with the question hidden while Laryssa and Eric let off their lantern. Eric went into his big speech about how much he loved her in front of her family, Laryssa thought he was being cheesy and trying to be funny, but then they turned the lantern around for her to read it while he got down on one knee. Needless to say, she was SO surprised!!

Choosing a Venue

They chose their venue because it had so much character with the exposed brick and huge arched windows, so they knew they wouldn’t need to do much. They went with the classic black-and-white color scheme with hints of gold. The main goal was to keep it simple, sleek, and timeless with a touch of modern. Laryssa also wanted candles EVERYWHERE and ended up having 115 lit behind them at the altar (one for each guest). It was stunning!

Designing the Evening

Laryssa and Eric chose Clementine because they loved everything about it! They wanted a dark and moody vibe, and with the help of Kelsey Rae Designs- it delivered. The hardwood floors made the perfect simple aisle for walking down. Laryssa didn’t want anything in the aisle because she feared her dress would get caught on something. The arched window behind them in the ceremony was the perfect backdrop. The built-in bar was a hit during cocktail hour and the reception, along with the lounge off to the side for guests that wanted to get away from the party. The guys had the best lounge to chill in all day, and the bridal suite had a wall of mirrors perfect for them to get ready in front of. The built-in lighting features that were fully customizable were also a great touch. They kept the lighting warm during the ceremony and switched to pink later in the night. They were able to create and project a monogram on the walls and floor to personalize the space and received many compliments on that.

When it came to the ceremony, they kept it short since they shared their vows privately, which allowed the ceremony to feel more intentional to them and less drawn out. Laryssa's mom and Eric’s mom read a passage or scripture out loud, which meant a lot to them, and they felt so honored to be incorporated into the ceremony. Their grandmothers also walked down the aisle together, and it was SO cute!!

They did a fun little champagne tower and toast with their wedding party, parents, and siblings during the reception to kick off the night. They felt like they really needed to emphasize how much they appreciated and loved them. Their reception was so fun, and they were able to spend some time with each of their guests, but once they made it to the dance floor, they did not leave. They didn’t do any traditions like cake cutting, bouquet or garter toss because they really wanted to be off the hook of all obligations once the reception started. Instead, they had cinnamon rolls and lots of dancing!

Decor wise- Justin and Hailey Bieber’s ceremony inspired the vision for their altar of candles. Laryssa knew she wanted a lot of candles, so it was just a matter of finding a design that would work on stage. They didn’t have any big floral arrangements because she wanted the tables to be glowing with candles and is personally not a big flower girl, so it wasn’t a priority to her. Laryssa liked the white roses' airy look in bud vases, so that was all they incorporated besides bouquets. For their reception, she just wanted it to look inviting. They had the marquee lights propped on stage for height and the classic black and white dance floor.

Favorite Moment of the Day

Laryssa's favorite part was right after the ceremony. She just remembers feeling so happy! Eric’s favorite part was the first look and he couldn’t stop crying; it was so sweet.

Advice for Couples Planning Their Wedding

Laryssa's advice for brides planning their wedding is to have fun with it!! She bounced so many ideas off of Eric and her mom before they finalized anything. She advises you to take your time picking vendors but be proactive. Ask the hard questions and really get a feel for whether or not you’ll enjoy their company and energy for the entire day. Get a team of people who you trust and who have excellent communication. Never lose sight of the fact that this is YOUR wedding.. this is the one time you get a free pass to do what YOU want to do, so take it and don’t worry about anyone else’s opinions. Last but not least, enjoy the day; it really does fly by!