Wedding: When Love Was Waiting in Plain Sight

Against the setting sun of a clear October sky, Elaina Siren and Zach Sharpe exchanged wedding vows with friends and family looking on at Mint Springs Farm in Nolensville, Tennessee. With a navy and blush palette as their chosen colors, one would expect the near-perfect details as Elaina is an interior designer with Red Leaf Interiors. Zach, an Apple Operations Expert, is a lifelong Nashvillian, and their love story was long in the making.

When Elaina started nannying the much-younger siblings to Zach (from his mom’s second marriage), neither one had any idea that love would later blossom. The way this relationship started allowed the pair to get to know each other casually and know each other well before any spark of a deeper relationship was ever present. But, after knowing each other, and then dating for over six years, these two said “I do” at their gorgeous ceremony.

Elaina Siren and Zach Sharpe married on a gorgeous October day last fall at Mint Springs Farm.

They planned the wedding for 13 months, after getting engaged on a large family trip to Hawaii. It seems everyone knew what was going to happen except for Elaina. In fact she describes the moment when Zach proposed as one where she was “totally shocked.” She laughs that they were on a hike and she had “… no makeup and no clue.” But, while she may have had no clue that they were about to become engaged, she did know exactly what she wanted when it came to the wedding celebration.

While Red Leaf Interiors usually works on residential interior design, the team is sometimes involved with wedding planning. One such wedding took place at Mint Springs Farm, thus Elaina knew it was a special place. She called them the day after she was engaged to see if there was space for she and Zach to get married, hoping for an October date. While there were no vacancies, one couple had reserved a weekend but not finalized it. And happily enough for Elaina and Zach, they graciously let them have the sought-after October date.

When asked what the most stressful part of the wedding was, Elaina instantly says, “Getting people to RSVP. It opened my eyes; now I order a gift and reply immediately!”

In addition to her design degree, Elaina has an event planning certification, which shows in the execution of her own wedding!

Elaina advises all brides to, “Take in every moment. Stand back and appreciate what is going on and who is there. Turn around and take the time to see every important person in your life in one room. It’s the most rewarding moment. A lot of people get stressed on their wedding day, but I had a crazy peace over me.” And, as far and Elaina and Zach’s perspective on the day, they very much felt the wedding was for their guests. They were doing this for them. They both wanted to make each wedding guest feel as important and special as they both felt about that same person taking the time to be there.

The wedding was absolutely gorgeous, as you would expect an interior designer’s wedding to be. Elaina worked hard on all the details, and it shows.

The full weekend of activities included dinner at Kitchen Notes on Thursday night. Friday brought the bridesmaids’ luncheon at Homestead Manor in Thompson Station. On Friday night there was a bridal party-only gathering at Pinewood Social. Saturday was the wedding and then on Sunday, they hosted an additional brunch! One last piece of advice from Elaina: “Don’t do brunch the day after! You will be so tired and hungry!”

The happy couple then left on their honeymoon, which they enjoyed in Newport Coast, California.

Now, let’s take a look at this gorgeous wedding (all photography is by Brandon Chesbro Photography).

Invitations were designed and ordered through The Dotted Line.

Elaina and her bridesmaids got ready at Mint Springs Farm, with new robes for everyone!

Before the ceremony, Elaina reads a letter from Zach.

Elaina getting ready with her mom, Robin Siren

A sweet moment with Elaina and her dad, Bill Siren, before walking down the aisle.

“This is how our story begins” on a small banner before the ceremony starts

Elaina and Zach married with the most gorgeous view as their backdrop.

All details were attended to!

The cocktail hour began after the wedding ceremony, and this swing was at the entrance to the cocktail area. Each bag was monogrammed and filled with petals, which were thrown at the end of the couple’s first dance!

After the cocktail reception that preceded dinner, Elaina and Zach shared their first dance, under the string of lights, to Ray Lamontagne’s “You are the Best Thing.” Elaina’s dress, with moonstones and a scalloped bodice, by Hayley Paige, moved so beautifully when they danced! As an aside, she clung to the same lucky penny that her grandmother had kept by her side on her own wedding day! The penny is dated 1963, the same year her grandmother was married.

Zach’s aunt choreographed their first dance. The guests threw petals at the end of the dance!

The flowers were gorgeous, made up by an assortment of one-of-a-kind black-eyed anemones, along with David Austin roses, eucalyptus, mini protea, English garden roses, dinner plate dahlias and chocolate cosmos.

Top: Guests found their seat assignments at this lovely display. Bottom right: Why doesn’t everyone do this?! Guests were reminded not to be on cellphones — even to take photos — and enjoy an unplugged wedding! Bottom left: A tribute to family members who Zach and Elaina were very close to, but who had passed away, including grandparents and great-grandparents. The sign reads, “We know you would be here today, if heaven weren’t so far away.”

The dinner reception was gorgeous. Note the “bride” and “groom” on the back of the two chairs at Elaina and Zach’s table. The meal was catered by The Chef and I.

The gorgeous and delicious wedding cake was from The Frosted Affair.

Everyone had an amazing time dancing!!

Even at well-planned weddings, magical unplanned moments occur. Here, completely unscripted, Elaina and Zach started dancing to the last song of the night, “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey. A few of Zach’s friends circled around, which lead to all the wedding guests joining the circle. As Elaina says, “It was a really cool moment to look around and see the people we love standing with us on our special journey ahead!”