Sophisticated Weddings

Susan “Gray” Gray and Billy Connolly : Personal touches and vintage details furnish an October celebration of family

October 31, 2020 | Susan “Gray” Gray and Billy Connolly met each other in Nashville through an online dating site. In 2019, during Christmas, one of their loved ones unexpectedly passed away. As 2020 arrived, bringing a new set of challenges, they agreed that life could change so quickly and were both ready to face the new world together.

Their unique and intimate ceremony was a vintage-inspired bohemian affair at The Estate at Cherokee Dock (the former home of Reba McIntyre) created by Dawn Schenkel of Premiere W.E.D. Gray’s love of antiques and history inspired the use of vintage furniture, natural elements, and earth tones to create an inviting and entirely personal atmosphere. At the reception, areas resembled living rooms, complete with mantles with framed photos of beloved family members and vintage furniture and lighting.

Gray customized the bridesmaid’s dresses and hand-picked their jewelry to complement her Naama & Anat and Ateleria wedding dresses. Billy and his groomsmen wore bespoke suits from Indochino. Gray sentimentally carried the fingerprints of her mother and grandmother in her wildflower and rose bouquet. An abundance of flowers from T. Villager Florals was everywhere, from the aisle lined with lanterns and antique rugs to the table housing their Baked in Nashville 4-tiered cake. S’mores kits were passed around for enjoyment by the firepits.

Guests enjoyed a special farm dinner catered by Southall Farms in Leiper’s Fork. Favors inspired by some of Gray and Billy’s favorite places: Ranger Station candles (Nashville, TN), hand-made blankets (Denver, CO), and Choo-Choo Kettle Corn (Chattanooga, TN) were presented to friends upon their departure. It was a very personal weekend full of joy, peace, and celebration. After moving briefly to Denver, the couple now lives in Tampa, where Gray is a nurse and Billy is a computer programmer.

Carolyn Edwards Fisher and Benjamin Max Eisemann: Two Vanderbilt graduates make beautiful music together

May 8, 2021 | Carolyn and Ben’s guests entered the ceremony at West Glow Farm in Kingston Springs, TN, through a garden arch with a floral-lined aisle leading to a birch chuppah adorned with florals. Lavender table linens with centerpieces flanked the white dance floor trimmed in a marbleized pattern created by the groom’s grandmother. A floral ice cube floated in a specialty cocktail of Hibiscus Lavender Prosecco Punch during the cocktail hour.

With a deep love for music and dancing, Carolyn and Ben intentionally integrated songs throughout the evening. As part of their blended ceremony, a gospel choir brought the attendees to tears with their version of “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and “Let’s Stay Together.”

Pure Party Band gained a few members of their talented crew as they welcomed Carolyn on stage for several performances, including “Proud Mary” with her bridesmaids, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” and “Don’t Stop Believin’” with Ben and the Fisher family. Carolyn and Ben closed out the night on stage with a mashup of “Sweet Carolyn” and “Bennie and the Jets”. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that Carolyn and Ben had the time of their lives!

After canceling their original honeymoon trip to Patagonia, they had a grand time exploring the Southwest National Parks of Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion. As the U.S. was beginning to reopen, they avoided the long lines of the summer and enjoyed beautiful hikes and adventures together.

Carolyn and Ben met as students at Vanderbilt. This began a long-distance relationship between Nashville and New York, then Atlanta and New York, and finally to Washington, DC, where they have been settled for five years together. Carolyn is a Manager at Deloitte Consulting in the Human Capital practice, and Ben is a Vice President at JP Morgan Private Bank.