Y’all, this wedding was a blast! Starting with a traditional ceremony, Stephanie looked absolutely elegant in her lace dress paired next to Geoffrey’s dress whites. Swoon! But it doesn’t stop there! They followed their sweet nuptials with a little joyride around town, a quick stop at Pinewood Social for milkshakes, fries, and a bowl or two, ending at their colorful reception at Marathon Music Works. See it all below with behind-the-scenes details from their day!
How did you meet?
“It all started in Philadelphia at a Patriot League student-athlete conference. After a day of meetings and an evening of bowling, strangers became friends at a local pub. Several members of the group were distracted by the scene, but we were distracted by each other. He bought me a drink and we talked for hours, made connections about mutual friends, and ended the night with the group for a Philly Cheese Steak!
The next day, we attended more meetings before I hurried out of town without saying goodbye to Geoffrey. He mustered the courage to reach out and stay in touch while I traveled abroad to Spain. We kept in touch over several months until I finally came to Annapolis for an afternoon at Davis’, a local favorite. We spent hours walking around the Naval Academy and learning about each other’s families and lives.
Over time, we visited each other between Washington, DC and Annapolis; the travels continued over to the Bluegrass State (my hometown), down the east coast and across the Florida panhandle (where Geoffrey moved for flight school), into the hill country and coast of Texas (where Geoffrey moved for flight school, part 2), and eventually to the Pacific coast with many adventures in between.”
What is your favorite quality in your husband?
“My favorite quality in Geoffrey is his generosity. He invites friends who don’t have plans to hang out with us. He is intentional about making time to talk to his family. He knows when I’m excited or passionate about something and often supports my idea without even admitting that he had an idea of his own. He doesn’t count the cost of doing or buying something if it’s a way to love on others. He is a selfless man and loves without conditions or limits and I am lucky to be his wife!”
What traditions did you incorporate?
“We had a prominent Catholic tradition and Navy tradition during our wedding. We had prayed a rosary every day for the 54 days leading up to our wedding, asking Mary, the mother of Jesus, to guide our hearts closer to God’s love to prepare us for marriage. In the Mass, we visited a statue of Mary to say “thank you” for her guidance and love and I left a flower from my bouquet at the foot of her statue.
Since Geoffrey is commissioned in the Navy, we exited the church in the traditional sword arch after the ceremony. Six men in uniform lined up facing each other with their swords on the front stairs and requested ‘a kiss to pass’ before we could walk down the stairs. By the end, the crowd was cheering and we loaded into our over-the-top, all-American getaway car for a little joyride!”
Did you have a specific theme or design inspiration for your big day?
“We wanted the wedding to make people feel like they were at a ‘Classy Backyard BBQ,’ which depicts our relationship perfectly. We are both very laid back, and just wanted everyone to feel comfortable and at home, and of course eat BBQ when in Nashville!”
What was the most memorable moment?
“For me, the most memorable moment was when my dad and I met Geoffrey at the front of the aisle. My dad lifted and turned my veil and gave me to Geoffrey. My dad, Geoffrey, and I were all on the verge of an explosion of tears! That moment was significant and meaningful because I became deeply aware of the love these two men have for me, and I was overcome with joy from my own love for each of them and for the future of my married life with Geoffrey.”
What was your first dance song, and why did you choose it?
“My top love language has never been physical touch. But during our season of engagement, Geoffrey would recognize that I was feeling some stress and he would give me a hug. I wanted to resist the hug at first, but eventually the more I let him love me, the less tense I became. We dubbed ‘more hugs’ as our motto.
When we heard the song ‘Hold On,’ we felt like it captured that motto perfectly and was a reminder of our shared priority to let ourselves be loved, to consider our gratitudes, and to hold on tight to the people in our lives. Beyond the lyrics, we love how the song is slow and romantic at first but builds up to the end!”
Tell us about your grand exit!
“A very close family friend drove up her husband’s American flag convertible camaro for us to drive out away from the church and at the end of the night! She had a sweet special licence plate made with the date on it, and it was so fun for us to drive away in!”
Congratulations Stephanie & Geoffrey!
Featured in the Winter/Spring 2019 Tennessee Weddings by The Pink Bride Magazine
Credits:
Ceremony Location · Church of the Assumption
Reception Location · Marathon Music Works
Photographer & Photo Booth Rental · Details Nashville
Wedding Planner · Alison Burry
Cake · The Puffy Muffin
Flowers · LMA Designs
Invitations · Dear Addie
Attendants’ Attire · Calvin Klein
Tuxedos/Suits · Jos. A Bank
DJ · Spangler Entertainment
Rehearsal Dinner · Pastaria
Rentals and Decor · Music City Tents & Events
String Lights · Bright Event Productions
Bowling Alley · Pinewood Social
