Theirs Was a Spectacular Fourth of July Wedding!

Christie Leigh Mueller and Billy Wells were supposed to meet for years. People had been trying to set them up, thinking that these two SEC football fans from Louisville, KY, would be a perfect match. Billy is an avid Alabama fan, and Christie Leigh is an avid Auburn fan. But geography was not on their side, with Christie Leigh living in Austin, TX, and Billy living in Louisville. Christie Leigh had just written a book Gridiron Belles: A Guide to Saturdays in Dixie, which is a woman’s guide to football in the South.

In 2012, she came to Louisville for an entire week for the book tour of Gridiron Belles, and it was during that visit that she went on a blind date with Billy. Finally. Only three short months later, Christie Leigh was packing up and moving to Louisville, confident that everything was going to work out with Billy. As she says, “I wouldn’t have left the beloved Lone Star State for just anyone.”

Christie Leigh gets ready in Fourth of July-appropriate pants and flip-flops.

Perfect Mr. and Mrs. hangers for the day

The couple combined Christie Leigh’s grandmother’s diamonds for her engagement ring with the help of From the Vault. Christie Leigh wears her mother’s original gold wedding band, and the handkerchief was “something blue,” where her maternal grandmother embroidered Christie Leigh’s new initials into her original wedding handkerchief.

Christie Leigh returned to Austin to celebrate her 30th birthday on July 25, 2014, this time with Billy in tow. She describes their trip like this: “During our flight, he asked what my favorite places were in Austin, and I told him the famous Lady Bird Hike and Bike Trail and the Texas Capitol (where I spent my 21st birthday). The day after the big party, I was heading to the trail and he woke up saying he wanted to come with me. About halfway through our route we stopped at a small landing where runners can see the skyline so he could “take a picture.” The next thing I knew he was on one knee. It was all of my favorite things and one very memorable question. We celebrated with friends on Lake Austin all afternoon. For the record, Champagne bottles DO float!”

A year later, on July 4, 2015, the couple married at Calvary Episcopal Church in Louisville, with a reception following at the Crystal Ballroom at The Brown Hotel. The bride recalls that “there was something profound about starting our lives together on such a hallowed day. It truly was a celebration, exactly what both occasions deserved.” They both come from large families, and they had lots of friends from all stages of their lives, so it was important to them to have everyone there at their wedding. That “everyone” included 300 guests and a large wedding party, with 11 bridesmaids, three junior bridesmaids, two flower girls and 10 groomsmen all in attendance.

Christie Leigh does finishing touches before putting on her dress. Here she puts on her “something borrowed,” her sister’s pearl drop earrings.

Look at those shoes!

The wedding dress was designed by Jesus Peiro and was purchased in Chicago. It had the traditional buttons in the back, a coveted collar, an almost cathedral-length train, but a modern fit. The bride loved how this dress twirled.

The bride and her mother share a moment before the ceremony. Christie Leigh wears her paternal grandmother’s necklace as her “something old.”

The bride helps her father put on his bow tie.

Christie Leigh with her sister and maid of honor, Abbey

The couple originally wanted to get married at Billy’s family farm in Shelbyville, KY, but did not want to take a chance on the hot and possibly inclement weather. They decided on a black-tie event, with the ceremony at Calvary Episcopal Church followed by a formal sit-down dinner and reception at The Brown Hotel’s venerated Crystal Ballroom. They had a seated “state dinner”-type wedding, complete with escort and place cards. The couple wanted to show off some of the Commonwealth’s best and most famous fare, so they had a Kentucky Bibb lettuce salad and a famous Kentucky Hot Brown on the menu, not to mention lots of Kentucky bourbon, as well. There was no wedding cake, but since Christie Leigh’s
grandparents are Italian, they had Italian wedding cookies from Nord’s Bakery, the coveted sugar cookies from WW Cousins and Graeter’s ice cream.

Perhaps the most memorable part of the evening for the couple was how much they smiled. They told us, “When people ask us about our wedding, we tell them it was our best date night yet — there are very few photos from that evening (of anyone, not just us), when we aren’t smiling ear to ear and reveling in every aspect of what our day was … just the beginning.”

The groom’s houndstooth accessories show his love for the University of Alabama.

The groom before the ceremony

The bride in front of the church

The first look between the bride and groom was done at the church before the guests arrived.

The bride and groom steal a moment of quiet before the ceremony and festivities.

The program was done by Julie Diamond.

The bridesmaids’ bouquets were hydrangeas and greenery.

The flower girls walk down the aisle to the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” carrying an American flag draped in a laurel leaf.

Christie Leigh was escorted down the aisle by her father. She wore a long lace veil for the ceremony.

Grand view of Calvary Episcopal Church

The bride and groom are all smiles after saying “I do.”

It’s official!

Christie Leigh wanted the wedding party’s attire to be simple, elegant and comfortable. The groomsmen were able to wear whatever black tuxedo they had, and the bridesmaids had the same instructions for their floor-length, black formal gowns.

The bride and groom steal a kiss after the ceremony.

The mother of the bride stands with the mother and stepmother of the groom.

The bride and groom see the ballroom for the first time while the guests enjoyed cocktail hour.

The Crystal Ballroom at The Brown Hotel was where the reception was held. Christie Leigh wanted the end look to be classic and clean. Wayne of In Bloom Again used her inspiration of lots of laurel leaves and greenery for the flowers and decor.

The bride and groom had fun in the photo booth celebrating the Fourth of July.

For their first dance, the couple chose Frankie Valli’s, “You’re Just Too Good To Be True.”

Christie Leigh gave a big thank you hug for a wonderful evening to her father after they danced to Stevie Wonder’s, “You Are the Sunshine of My Life.” He used to sing it to Christie Leigh and her sister as little girls.