Nashville Wedding Photographer | Melanie Grady
East Ivy Mansion Wedding
Here’s what led these two love birds to an East Ivy Mansion Wedding in Nashville…
Brendan and Katherine’s love story goes back almost 7 years. They met in high school (on Myspace! Pre-Facebook for you youngins). Katherine says, “Brendan took the first step by sending me a friend request, but I take the credit because I sent the first message. It was something cheesy like, ‘Hey! Do you go to MJHS?’ We spent the next few days messaging, but when it came to seeing each other at school, I guess I was a little shy. Once we finally talked in person, we never stopped, and have been together ever since.” They both went to college at Tennessee Tech, and the summer before their senior year, Brendan proposed. His parents were taking a trip to Disney World (Katherine’s favorite place on Earth), and she was super jealous that they weren’t taking them, too. Brendan’s parents made up a story about winning a free vacation for family members, and Katherine was ecstatic. Her wish had come true—she’d get to join them at Disney World after all. “Brendan got on his computer and pretended to buy plane tickets for the next day. I was so excited I had no clue he already had the tickets.”
Brendan and Katherine headed to the Magic Kingdom, Brendan doing his best not to give anything away. Before long, though, Katherine could tell something was up. They walked down Main Street and straight to the castle, where Brendan suggested they take a picture. Brendan set down his tripod and started digging in his backpack and that’s when Katherine says she knew, for sure, that he was proposing. “It was a blur, but it was so so perfect.” Brendan also surprised Katherine with a celebration dinner with both of their families, right there in Disney World. “I burst into tears,” Katherine says. “It was the weekend before my mom started back at school, so it was really unexpected.”
Katherine and Brendan’s planning process was definitely inspired by Disney. She wanted her wedding day to look like a page out of a fairy tale—with lots of greenery and natural colors and flowers. “I love candles and think they are super romantic, so I wanted a lot of lights and candles to make everything sparkle.”
Katherine was going for a light, romantic and whimsical feel, and did she ever accomplish it. The East Ivy Mansion’s gardens really make you feel that as soon as you see them. She also wanted everything to be natural and not super overdone. Mission accomplished.
Katherine says, “I think our relationship is unique because we’ve been together so long. Brendan is my best friend and we know each other better than we know ourselves.”
The sweetest ring engraving EVER!
Nashville wedding photographer, Melanie Grady
East Ivy Mansion Wedding Photographer, Melanie Grady
East Ivy Mansion Wedding Photographer, Melanie Grady
East Ivy Mansion Wedding Photographer, Melanie Grady
East Ivy Mansion Wedding Photographer, Melanie Grady
Nashville Wedding Photographer, Melanie Grady
East Ivy Mansion Wedding Photographer, Melanie Grady
Thank you, thank you Katherine and Brendan. Meeting you both has been such a blessing, and I’m so incredibly happy to have been the one to capture your love story.
Huge props to the following:
My talented assistant photographer for the day, Miss Carrie Ann Smith xoxo
Professional Event Coordinator
Jamie Lane at East Ivy Mansion- Day of Coordinator
Premier DJ
Joshua Hearing
Bridal Gown
The White Room in Lebanon, TN
Cake
Nashville Sweets
http://www.nashvillesweets.com
Caterer
Chef Penelope
Flower Designs
Basket of Flowers- Lois Knox
Hair
Indulgence Salon in Hermitage, TN- Tisha
Make-up
Elizabeth Huspen
Facebook or Instagram- Looks by Liz
Videographer
MaryMac Films- Ryan Stewart
Nashville Audio Visual (NAV)- Lighting
Music City Tents and Events- Tables, Chairs, Linens
