Sophisticated Weddings

Photography by Michael Segal

Rhett and Katie met via mutual friends in their first year of college at Pepperdine University. After spending their sophomore year abroad in Shanghai, China, they knew they had found each other. Fast forward to 2019, they are about to celebrate their 6th anniversary when Rhett met Katie for New Year’s Eve in her hometown of Nashville. He surprised Katie by proposing to her on the front porch of her childhood home, surrounded by both of their families.

The wedding venue itself became the theme and source of inspiration for the couple’s festivities. The Parker, designed by Jonathan Adler, is a luxury boutique hotel in Palm Springs, California, that oozes uniqueness and charm. Rhett and Katie fell in love with every aspect of the venue and paid homage in their invitations, welcome bags, cake toppers, and outfits.

Chris, the couple’s best man, was their friend from Pepperdine and China. Molly, their maid of honor, met Katie in the sixth grade at Harpeth Hall. Rhett’s family is primarily based in southern California, but relatives also joined the festivities from Ohio, New York, and Texas. Katie’s extended family lives in Minnesota, and many of them made the long trip to Palm Springs. Rhett and Katie were married by the father-of-the-bride, Jeff, and Katie’s grandmother stepped in to be the ring bearer using the pillow she had made for Jeff’s wedding 35 years earlier. He also used scripture from the book of Matthew (7:24-27), traditionally used in weddings on the bride’s side.

Right before their engagement, Rhett and Katie entered an Instagram contest. They won an 8-week-old Goldendoodle that they named “Charlie,” just like the golden ticket from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Charlie was prominently featured in their wedding, from processing down the aisle to having his own signature drink and cocktail stir stick. He even gave a ‘bark’ of agreement, along with their parents, when the officiant asked, “who supports this couple in marriage?”

The party couldn’t finish without one last surprise - In-N-Out! Midway through their reception, a small stand was brought out onto the dance floor so guests could enjoy the California burger staple without missing a beat.

The couple spent their honeymoon in French Polynesia. They arrived on the main island of Tahiti and took a ferry the following day to Moorea. After three beautiful days at the Sofitel Kia Ora filled with kayaking, they flew to Bora Bora, where the bride lived out her dream of staying in an overwater bungalow. The following five days at The Conrad flew by as they snorkeled, swam with manta rays, and spent an afternoon lost at sea when their 2-person electric boat rental broke down. They live and work in Los Angeles. Rhett works at PricewaterhouseCoopers and Katie at Centerfield, a digital marketing firm. sl

Hair & Makeup: Makeup by Keturah, Bride’s Gown 1 (First look / Reception): Pronovias (Style: Aethra), Bride’s Gown 2 (Ceremony / First dance): Reem Acra Wedding (Style: Fleur), Bridal Boutique: NWLA, Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin, Bride’s Something Blue Ring: David Yurman

Photographs courtesy of Justin Wright

Erick Clifford and Blaire Wheeler met at a charity event through a mutual friend when Blaire moved to Nashville eight years ago. They ran into one another two years later, and Erick asked for Blaire’s email. Since she was an artist, he wanted to “send information on an artist whose work he admired.” But instead, he sent an email saying, “what is your phone number? ;)” The rest is history.

Erick and Blaire were married at Covenant Presbyterian Church. Blaire’s father walked her down the aisle wearing a cowboy hat, a nod to Blaire’s Texas roots (she grew up barrel racing!) and her father’s career as a cowboy who raises and trains horses. Her sister served as her Maid of Honor and followed them down the aisle. Blaire’s vision for her wedding was to make it effortless, timeless, and elegant.

Blaire wanted to use her artistic talents to make their intimate black-tie wedding reception at Belle Meade Country Club unique and a personal reflection of the couple: “I knew I wanted to somehow incorporate my artwork into the wedding. Originally, I was going to do smaller paintings in the entry but decided that I needed to make more of a statement. The mural I ended up painting was 14 feet high and the focal point as you entered the reception. The roses in the painting represent Tyler, Texas, the rose capital of the world. And the two ‘love birds’ are Erick and me,” said Blaire. Blaire even extended her painting skills to their wedding cake. She found a vintage 1950s cake topper at a local antique store and repainted it to look more like the couple.

Erick and Blaire honeymooned in England and Scotland, spending most of their time in the English countryside, traveling to different villages in the Cotswolds. Then they traveled on to Edinburgh and through the Scottish Highlands.

The couple makes their home in Nashville, where Erick is a Private Equity Investor, and Blaire paints in her studio in Germantown at Taylor Arts Collective (check out her work on Instagram: @blairewheelerart). sl

Gown: Satin Crepe Gown by Lela Rose,Veil: Ballet Tulle by Sara Gabriel, Shoes: Stuart Weitzman, Makeup: Crystal Brown @nashville.glamour, Flowers: Kae Gallagher, Cake: Baked on 8th