this month’s featured wedding :: celia + yancey

About the Bride

Bride’s Name:  Celia Leigh Stephens

Hometown: Lexington, KY

Education:  University of South Carolina (Bachelors); Gonzaga University (Masters)

About the Groom

Groom’s Name:  Michael Yancey Gregory (goes by Yancey)

Hometown:  Whitmire, SC

Education:  University of South Carolina (Bachelors and Masters)

About the Couple

Yancey worked at the University of South Carolina bookstore as a graduate student, when I was first beginning undergrad. A mutual friend introduced us there and we would see one another around town in 2003 and early 2004, but would became better friends in later years, when Yancey worked at a cafe that I frequented, and where her friend and roomate also worked.

In 2006, the we friends became next door (I’m talking shared-walls!) neighbors and began spending way more time together. Our shared passion for live music had us traveling around the Southeast to catch our favorite bands and artists in venues large and small. A love developed that was impossible to refuse, though we both tried at varying intervals. Once the mutual decision to “really give it a shot” was made, life together became more fun and more special than either of us had imagined. 

The Proposal

01/20/2011 in Our backyard!

We like to have our Cake and eat it, too. On a snowy January evening, we took the risk, braving icy roads and sketchy scalpers, and ventured downtown in hopes of nabbing tickets to a sold out concert at the Ryman Auditorium.   First things first though, we enjoyed a romantic dinner (Yancey,, the chicken wings and me, the fried shrimp basket) and conversation on Broadway. After dinner, we procured two tickets at a low-low price, which was thrill enough, then took in a fantastic show from the balcony, where we ran into friends and danced and sang.

After returning home to an energetic mutt ready to walk, Yancey fiddled with the palm tree lamp outside, which illuminated the backyard, blanketed with fresh snow. He feigned frustration and needing help as he knelt beside the outlet, and as I knelt to see what was the matter, he pulled out a ring box and said he was “actually wondering if you would marry me.” Shocked, I began crying and Baxter squished between us, licking our faces. Yancey explained that this night just felt perfect, and being home together meant more than proposing at any fancy restaurant or what-not. I agreed and, naturally, said yes and we giddily walked the dog before heading to bed happy, with big news we would not share till the morning.

About the Wedding

Ceremony: 09/16/2011, Reception: 09/17/2011

Ceremony Location: Shelby Park in East Nashville

Reception: Cellar One, Nashville

Number of guests: 100

Your  Wedding Style:  Festive Cocktail Party

Colors and why you chose them: Black, white and bright red, because the colors are classic and bold, and easy to coordinate!

Wedding WOW Factor: To Yancey and me, it was the fact everyone came from different places to celebrate our marriage, and the joining of these loved ones felt natural and SO fun! Maybe to others it was the downtown venue, the PERFECT weather (we can’t take credit for), or seeing the two of us all dressed up — a far cry from our jeans-and-t-shirts norm!

Favors: Our invitations were our favors, really: a mix of some of our favorite songs (Nashville-related and not) came in every envelope, in screen-printed CD sleeves with the invitation language right on ‘em. (See StickhousePress.com for more!)

Personalized Touches: After fretting over finding cake toppers that looked like us but weren’t too “stuffy,” we just resigned to framing a black and white photo of each of us and arranging red gerbera daisies around them. The gothic style, black plastic picture frames matched the ribbon around each of three tiers, and really tied together our simple but elegant cake design.

Gifts for Bridesmaids / Groomsmen: We didn’t designate a wedding party, which made things more inclusive and easier, especially because so many of our closest friends live out of town. We gifted them with hugs, kisses, food and drinks, though!

Your most special moment: Our first dance was pretty sweet, because we’d been mingling separately with friends and family during the cocktail hour and were blissfully reconnected for this traditional element of the reception. We laughed and whispered while slow dancing to a classic country duet (“I Want To Be With You Always”), and everybody woo hoooooo!’d when Yancey spun and then dipped me.

What was your favorite element of your wedding? I’d say the “Fauxtaux Booth,” courtesy of hannahelaine photography, which captured everybody at their most hilarious!

What did you splurge on?  Was it worth the extra money? We knew throwing a reception would be pricier downtown than elsewhere. But I am SO happy we hosted our loved ones at Cellar One, especially with the gorgeous courtyard for greeting them all around sundown! It was definitely worth it.

What did you save on?  What was the best value for your money? Local wedding bands and DJs won’t like this, but we crafted PERFECT reception playlists and brought our iPod to the reception, simply renting speakers and a mic. I couldn’t have been happier with our “mingle” music, our “transitional” music and our “dance party!” music, which flowed wonderfully throughout the evening, with brief interruptions for announcing us as a couple and sharing our first dance, and then cutting the cake a bit later. I also saved big on my attire, by having a simple gown shortened to tea-length and adding a red sash. I could get married in the park, then dance the night away, without dirtying the bottom!

What would you do differently if you were planning again? I would schedule and enjoy more massages, really milking that “bride-to-be” thing!

What would you recommend to other Brides? Graciously listen to others’ opinions, but don’t relinquish all control in the planning of YOUR special day — you want it to feel like the best party you’ve ever thrown, the overall atmosphere one you and your husband will relish in and remember forever! You may bend to well-intioned loved ones, but don’t break!

Tell us anything about your wedding that you would find useful for other Brides planning their wedding.  Tips, tricks, advice, vendor recommendations, etc. are all helpful!

Seriously, patronize the businesses of my dear friends, hannahelaine photography and Stickhouse Press (stationary and signage) — they’re amazing!

Here is a photo gallery of beautiful images from Celia and Yancey’s personalized and fabulous ceremony and reception…