Photo: Kayla Coleman Photography
Shortly after Lizelle Holstein moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 2011, she found herself at an Oktoberfest celebration in the city’s Germantown neighborhood. When a man playing guitar on stage made a joke that anyone who came on stage to tie his shoe would leave with a CD, Lizelle’s sister-in-law encouraged her to go for it. After the set had ended, Lizelle asked the mystery man how she could contact him if she wanted to know more about his music and rather than offering up his phone number, he told her she could find his tunes all over social media. Despite the apparent brush-off, the guitarist, Jeffrey, was interested, and about a week later, Lizelle’s sister-in-law told her she had connected with Jeffrey on Facebook and he wanted to buy Lizelle a drink. She went to his next show and their first date was set for just a few days later. After that, they we were inseparable.
When New Year’s Eve of 2014 rolled around, Jeffrey surprised Lizelle with a romantic proposal in their own home. They then shared drinks at a nearby restaurant where their table overlooked the Nashville skyline and the spot where they first met.
Less than three months after their engagement, the couple exchanged vows during an intimate 1920s-themed bash in Nashville. They first invited 23 guests to a ceremony at Cotton Mill Studio and then opened up the party to 85 guests during a reception at The Sutler Saloon. The date of their big day was heavily influenced by the availability of Lizelle’s top choice of photographer. Luckily, timing aligned well and Kayla Coleman Photography was there to capture every last detail of their March 21, 2015, wedding.
Photo: Kayla Coleman Photography
Despite having just a few months to plan their day, the process was surprisingly simple. “It took about one day and a bottle of wine. Once we answered the basic questions, we had enough constraints to make decisions pretty easily,” Lizelle says. “Reminding myself that we didn’t have to do all the traditional things was the toughest part.”
Lizelle tackled a few DIY projects, like creating invitations for both the ceremony and reception and festive drink menus. As a nod to the story of how the couple first met, the bride included “From tying the shoe to tying the knot” on their stationery.
The bride waited until about a month before the big day to go wedding dress shopping. Lizelle’s mother planned to fly in from Cleveland to share in the experience, but when she was set to take off, weather waylaid their plans. “The day of my appointment, there was an ice storm, so my mom had to FaceTime in for the dress shopping,” the bride says. With her mom’s digital approval, Lizelle chose a Theia sheath with a v-neckline, hand beaded details, and cap sleeves.
She wore gold Jessica Simpson pumps, rose gold earrings with rubies, and her mother’s pearl bracelet to complete her look. Her bouquet was a compact arrangement of ivory anemones and ranunculus, accented with gold-sprayed Italian ruscus and wrapped in a black ribbon.
Jeffrey wore a three piece plaid suit by Bar III, paired with Kenneth Cole wingtip shoes. For a personal touch, the groom also wore a custom pocket watch with one of his favorite quotes engraved on it.
His boutonniere contained that same gold-sprayed Italian ruscus as Lizelle’s bouquet, plus a few colorful feathers.
The ceremony venue already had vintage chairs, chandeliers, velvet curtains, and gold frames on the walls, all fitting the couple’s Gatsby-era theme, so Lizelle and Jeffrey didn’t need to do much to the space. The bride put her own touch on Cotton Mill Studio by creating the feather palms that were placed at the start of the aisle.
The bride’s father walked her down the aisle while a recorded instrumental version of The Postal Service’s “Such Great Heights” was played throughout the room. The couple wrote their own ceremony and exchanged short and sweet vows surrounded by their nearest and dearest.
The party then moved to the Sutler Saloon, where the rest of Lizelle and Jeffrey’s loved ones met them for a non-traditional reception. Instead of a plated dinner, the newlyweds focused on plates of appetizers and snacks like a bruschetta, chicken and vegetable satay, a specialty sausage and cheese plate, and seasonal fruit tarts. And, in keeping with their cocktail-style party, there was no shortage of great sips. The duo dreamed up an extensive specialty drink menu featuring 1920s-themed cocktails like the Mint Julep, Vieux Carré, and Old Fashioneds, plus craft beer and wine selections.
“My dad, who is a man of few words, grabbed the microphone and gave the most incredible welcome to all of our guests,” says the bride. “It’s one of my favorite memories my Dad’s ever given me.”
Even the couple’s guests embraced the fun vibe of the wedding, donning their best Gatsby-inspired attire for the duration of the party.
Photo: Kayla Coleman Photography
For future couples contemplating how many guests to invite, Lizelle suggests using the same logic she and Jeffrey did. “How long is your reception in minutes? How many people are you inviting? Divide reception minutes by estimated guests. That’s how much time you’ll have for each guest — remember each added person equals shorter time with your favorites!”
Ceremony Venue: Cotton Mill Studio || Reception Venue & Catering: The Cellar at the Sutler Saloon || Bride’s Wedding Dress: Theia, purchased at The Dress Theory || Hair & Makeup: Alyssa Kraus || Groom’s Attire: Bar III || Engagement Ring: Studio 1040 || Wedding Bands: Formonte Jewellery || Flowers: Belles and Buttercups || Invitations: Greenvelope || Catering: Actual Food Nashville || Photographer: Kayla Coleman Photography
Looking for more inspiration? Then check out another beautiful wedding, packed with incredible ideas, in the video below!