“Wouldn’t it be cool to get up on a Sunday morning, have church, get married and eat a meal together?”

Literally surrounded by their close family and friends, Nikki and Reggie exchanged vows at the restaurant where they had their first date — The Loveless Cafe in Nashville, TN. They wanted a wedding that was intimate, Christ-centered, and beautifully simple. They chose to forego a lot of the expected wedding traditions (the wedding cake, bouquet toss, etc.) to spend the afternoon dancing, mingling with friends, and eating all of the delicious Southern food the Loveless is known for.

Nikki wore a Juliet cap veil to honor her grandmother, who wore a similar veil on the day of her Catholic Confirmation. Nikki’s mother keeps a picture of her mother on her bedside table.

Reggie is a drummer (you may remember his drumsticks making a cameo appearance during their engagement session,) so they wanted to incorporate his art into their wedding. Nikki’s theology professor, Dr. J, who counseled them before the wedding and preformed their ceremony, suggested that they play the cymbals together as a symbol of their unity.   Nikki and Reggie wanted their first act as a married couple to be prayer, led by Reggie’s mentor and Pastor, together with their family and friends. The words of love and encouragement brought them to tears and was an incredibly powerful moment.

Reggie’s favorite memories from the day were seeing his bride for the first time, their first kiss on the lips, and of course all of the delicious food.

Nikki’s favorite was the words she and Reggie’s siblings and best friends shared. Her sister, Nan, wrote a beautiful toast, while Reggie’s brother offered a heartfelt off-the-cuff speech about what his big brother’s support and sacrifices over the years mean to him, that left the room in tears. After Nikki’s best friend recounted the story of how the two met, Reggie’s best friend rounded out the toasts with his own little dose of comedy that left the room in tears, again, but from laughter.

Finally, Nikki and Reggie publicly honored their parents for all of the love and sacrifices that led them each to that moment.

TRUSTED VENDORS : VENUE + CATERING : The Loveless Cafe / MAKEUP : One10 Beauty / FLORALS : Greenfinch Floral Design