Eilidh and Jack may have met in college, but Jack has her betta fish to thank for a reason to visit her regularly! After their initial meeting (which they both remember as totally different moments), Jack became very committed to feeding Eilidh’s finned friend every day…and things went swimmingly from there!
After their sweet engagement (more on that from Eilidh below), they set about planning a 2020 wedding, which, of course, went a little sideways. So, they pared down the guest list, set their sights on May 2021, and planned an intimate, beautiful wedding at Eilidh’s great-aunt Pat and great-uncle John’s home, and it could not have been dreamier. Says Eilidh, “The day of our wedding, we maximized the time we had with our family members by hosting a casual lunch and rousing game of croquet on a flat field of grass immediately next to the stone barn wall where we went on to have our ceremony. The weather was surreally perfect, the food was delicious, and we both enjoyed easing into the day’s events together. Even now as we reflect on the day, we’re in awe of how easy and intimate and perfect it all felt; we were floating.”
Eilidh wore her Iris gown from Lillian Ruth Bride, and that stunner of a veil? Funny story! From Eilidh, ”On my walk down the aisle with my dad, my veil got stuck between two rocks. Because of how the “aisle” was set at my great aunt and uncle’s home, our guests could see what was happening, but Jack could only see their surprised expressions. When I finally got free and made it to him, I was so excited to see him and fill him in, so I kind of yelled, “I got stuck between some rocks!” It was almost as if I forgot that we were at our wedding ceremony.”
More about their day from this sweet duo (because of course Jack chimes in!) below:
How did you guys meet?
“We met at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee when we were sophomores. Eilidh remembers meeting Jack for the first time when she went to their mutual friend’s dorm room to borrow a textbook and Jack (the friend’s roommate) sat up in his lofted twin bed, still shirtless, and formally introduced himself. But Jack remembers first meeting Eilidh at an outdoor concert on the campus. Eilidh had a betta fish in her dorm room then, and Jack suddenly became very interested in feeding him every day. Seven years later, and we’re married!”
wedding dress: Lea-Ann Belter Iris via Lillian Ruth Bride | photographer: Shaw Photography Co. | full vendor list at bottom
How did you guys get engaged?
“Jack proposed in the old-growth forest section of Overton Park in Memphis, a place where we’ve gone on many, many walks at all different stages of our relationship. We celebrated by eating lunch alone together at our favorite restaurant, and then we went to Jack’s childhood home for dinner where a small engagement party was waiting.”
What was your first dance song?
“ ”When It Don’t Come Easy” by Patty Griffin.”
One detail you couldn’t live without?
“Only a few weeks before our ceremony, we reached out to a string quartet and asked them to play “Spring I” by Max Richter as Eilidh walked down the aisle. They made our ceremony feel so, so magical, and they were a bit of a surprise because we didn’t tell many of our guests that they would be there.”
Describe your wedding day in five words or fewer:
“Intimate, joyful, intentional, easy, overdue!”
What was the funniest moment of your day?
“Eilidh: On my walk down the aisle with my dad, my veil got stuck between two rocks. Because of how the “aisle” was set at my great aunt and uncle’s home, our guests could see what was happening, but Jack could only see their surprised expressions. When I finally got free and made it to him, I was so excited to see him and fill him in, so I kind of yelled, “I got stuck between some rocks!” It was almost as if I forgot that we were at our wedding ceremony.
Jack: She walked down the aisle and the first thing she said was “You’ll never guess what just happened—I got stuck on a rock.”
Three words that best describe your partner:
“Eilidh describing Jack: Hard-working, kind, funny… sometimes.
Jack describing Eilidh: Loving, honest, goofy, smart, beautiful… three words, really?!”
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
“We had a “minimoon” at the Inns of Aurora in the Finger Lakes an hour or two from where we got married, and it was wonderfully stress-free.”
Any advice for future brides/grooms?
“Make a wedding email address to use exclusively for planning. It will make working on it together a lot easier! And if you’re writing your own vows, talk about them in advance. Eilidh is in law school, and we’ll never forget sitting on our front porch on a nice day and talking about the “terms” of our marriage “contract” and dreaming of our future together.“
Eilidh + Jack’s Hoe Wedding Vendors
wedding dress: Lea-Ann Belter Iris via Lillian Ruth Bride | photographer: Shaw Photography Co. | groom’s suit: Jos. A. Bank | groom’s tie: Dazi | day-of coordination: The Day of Buffalo | veil and final alterations: Unveiled by Brittanie | catering: The Owl House | florals: Heirloom Soul Flowers | ceremony music: Buffalo Heart Strings | tent, tables, and tableware: McCarthy Events | chairs: Hank Parker’s Party & Tent Rental | tablecloths and napkins: La Tavola Linens | bride’s wedding ring: Ursa Major Jewelry | groom’s wedding ring: Bittersweets NY
