They Found Forever Love When the Timing Was Just Right!

Full disclosure: I have known Mary Brette Clippard for a long time. In fact, she and her sisters danced the night away at my wedding when they were young girls. She is related to my husband and has always charmed me with her engaging smile and adorable dimples. The story of how she met her now-husband Cook Wylly was especially poignant since we had recently talked about the trials and tribulations of being single in Nashville.

MaryBretteCook 0258 2 — Mary Brette Clippard — cool, calm and collected as she prepares to walk down the aisle.

The story of their romance is classic! Her best friend’s older brother was always her secret crush, but the age difference of three years seemed to get in the way. Their paths crossed when they were both lifeguards at Hillwood Country Club, but once again, she was still only the friend of his kid sister. Life is about timing, and it just wasn’t the right time for their story together to begin.

MaryBretteCook 0176 — A traditional “save the date” announces their wedding date to close family and friends.

I have a philosophy that good marriages stick when the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Such is the case with Mary Brette and Cook — both from established families, both love Nashville, and both were wanting to put down roots in their hometown.

MaryBretteCook 0300 — Cook and Mary Brette see each other for the first time as they prepare to get wedding photos taken.

They may have found each other sooner, but Cook did his thing and pursued his business stints in finance and tech in New York and San Francisco. Mary Brette stayed in Nashville and pursued her career in marketing and PR at the Music City Center Authority.

Here’s where Cook’s sister comes back into play. Apparently, she had always thought they should be together, so she worked her magic so they would be at the same engagement party. This time their “chance” meeting wasn’t a coincidence; neither had married, and they were ready to change the status of their past relationship.

MaryBretteCook 0357 — Mary Brette and Cook with his family at the entrance of the Union Station Hotel

MaryBretteCook 0352 — The bride’s family gathers for a portrait.

They dated long distance for over a year, and then Cook moved back to Nashville. By 2015, they were engaged to be married. Cook bought a great place in the Gulch, and living in urban Nashville inspired them to create a truly downtown experience with their wedding.

Knowing that so many out-of-town guests would come, Cook and Mary Brette wanted to showcase some of the historical treasures in downtown Nashville. To kick things off with the rehearsal dinner, they chose Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery at Marathon Village, then Cathedral of the Incarnation for the wedding and the newly renovated Union Station Hotel for the wedding reception.