Nashville weddings

Two First Dates - Marianne & Chris’ Nashville Engagement Story

Friday, May 28, 2010

Sometimes, even when that first attempt at a date seems closer to a dud than a firecracker, it's worth trying again.  I'm so glad that Marianne and Chris decided to give it another go and take their long friendship to the next level otherwise we wouldn't have a fun story to tell today!  The couple worked with Mark & Noelle of McCoy Made for their engagement session and I love how these pictures really speak volumes about the couple's compatibility and personalities.  I hope, after a rather grey, rainy start to this week, today's Real Engagement Story perk things up for you a little!

Nashville Engagement Story - Marianne & Chris

Her Name: Marianne Callis
Her Hometown: Lebanon, TN

His Name: Chris Mandrell
His Hometown: Gallatin, TN

How did you meet?:
I honestly don’t remember the first time we met, it’s been so long ago. Chris’ brother started dating my best friend ten years ago when we were all in high school (they married in 2003), so Chris and I have known of each other for a long time. But we didn’t start dating until the summer of 2007. We actually went on what we call our “First First Date” in the spring of 2006, but the timing wasn’t right. Neither of us really lost interest, though. Then in late June 2007 Chris and I started talking again, and we decided to go see a movie together (“Live Free or Die Hard”), what we now call our “Second First Date.” We’ve been inseparable ever since

How did you know this was “it?” Did you talk about it a lot? Or was it just understood from day one?:
We first started talking about marriage towards the end of our first year together, when Chris had a job opportunity that would possibly mean moving a couple hours away. We knew we loved each other and wanted to stay together, but since we both come from very traditional, conservative families, simply living together wasn’t an option. The job opportunity fell through, but the conversations continued.

The Proposal:
Where?
My apartment.

When?
September 13, 2009, an ordinary Sunday night after he got home from work.

How?
I give Chris the utmost credit for making the ordinary “extraordinary.” He called me when he got off from work saying he was going to run through Taco Bell and pick up dinner before heading to my place. He asked if I wanted anything. I had eaten dinner not long before, so I turned down the offer. He gets to my place and sits down with me to watch TV, the small bag of food sitting between us.

After a couple of minutes he gets up with the food to go get a plate, but suddenly he stops in the doorway. “Uh oh, they forgot some of my order…” This is not unusual, unfortunately, so I simply responded, “What’d they forget this time?  He turns around reaching into the bag, and in a swift motion I barely remember he’d pulled a small wooden box out of the bag, was down on one knee in front of me opening the box, smiling, and asking me to marry him.

The first words out of my mouth were, “Are you kidding me?” (in an exuberant tone, of course!). Yes, that’s really what I said! We’d been talking about marriage for a while, but hadn’t really discussed a time frame, so while I was really really really excited, I certainly wasn’t expecting a proposal!  And then I looked at the ring… It was EXACTLY the one I wanted! I’d found a picture in a magazine a few weeks earlier, but it was too expensive. But here one just like it was presented before me. Again I said, “Are you kidding me??” (lol!) After that I believe I did say yes, finally! (The ring was wrapped around a Taco Bell sauce packet with the phrase “Will you marry me?” printed on it.)

Turns out he’d taken the picture to a local jeweler, and traded in the gold on his Dad’s wedding band (his dad passed away a few years ago; Chris’ mother insisted he use his dad’s rings towards mine) for a gold band just like I’d wanted, and used the diamond from his dad’s ring as my diamond. I’m so honored to wear it!

Did you enjoy your engagement picture session? Why? Is there anything of significance you could share with us about the session?
We had a blast during our engagement session! Mark & Noelle McCoy are an absolute joy to be around! They made Chris and I feel super-comfortable during the whole process, and it shows in the pictures. We’re pretty contemporary people, and Mark & Noelle did a fabulous job capturing that about us. J (I’m so excited to get to my bridal portraits and our wedding photos I can hardly stand it! Lol!)

I don’t know that there’s really anything of significance other than it was freezing cold. Our session was right after the HUGE snowstorm at the end of January. I remember worrying about whether the snow & ice would melt enough for us to make the trip from Gallatin to Franklin, but luckily it did. We’re going to use our pictures to make a guestbook, and it’ll be neat to have pictures with snow on the ground at our wedding in the summer.

What matters most as you plan your wedding? Your life together?
For our wedding, what’s most important is just being ourselves and sharing our love with our closest family & friends. We have a relatively small guest list so we could make the experience really awesome for those who are there. And it’s pretty much the same for planning our life together: we want to be ourselves, and share all of life’s experiences with each other.

What decision triggered a meltdown in your wedding planning process?
No meltdowns. J Some tough decisions, maybe, but no meltdowns.

Couples disagree. Let's keep it real and help other engaged couples not kill one another! What has been your major couple disagreement and what have you done to compromise?
Honestly, to this point we’ve not had any major disagreements or arguments. We’ve always worked well with each other, “not sweating the small stuff,” as they say. Our wedding planning has been no different. We decided what the most important things are, worked on those things together, and everything else isn’t worth stressing over.

What's the one must have for your wedding day (such as a particular service, product, vendor)? His? Hers?
I had to have stellar photography!! I had been researching local photographers for awhile, and had it narrowed down to a few choices. When Chris proposed, I quickly set up meetings with my top picks. All were excellent, but I clicked most with Mark & Noelle McCoy. (I say “I” because Chris wasn’t able to go to the meeting, but he trusted me.) They were just so easy to talk to! And I knew that’s what I wanted on our wedding day. And now after seeing our engagement pictures, there’s no doubt we made the right choice.

Chris’ one must-have is a Predators groom’s cake. So we’ve ordered him a cake shaped like the Predators logo (flavor TBA). When getting decorations ready, I decided to take it a step further and do an entire Predators-themed table. I don’t want to give away the details, ‘cause I have some surprises in store for him, but it’s going to be good!

Your wedding details (if you’ve gotten that far in planning)...

Style:
Inspired by our love of Affliction-style clothing & rock music, we’re putting a rock-and-roll edge on what’s otherwise a pretty traditional Christian wedding.

Colors
The ceremony will be black & white, and the reception red & black.

Venue:
Both our ceremony & reception will be at the Greenvale Community Center in southeast Wilson County. The community center used to be a 1-room schoolhouse, and my Grandmother attended school there growing up. On the hill behind the schoolhouse stood the house where my Grandmother and Great-Grandfather (her father) were born. Lots of sentimental value!

Vendors we've hired to date
Photographers: Mark & Noelle McCoy, McCoy Made
Wedding Planner: Kristin Kaplan, Simply Stunning Events
Catering: Pam Hogancamp, Ribbons of Chocolate
Tables & Chairs: Party Providers (in Lebanon)
Jewelry: Thomas Jewelers (in Gallatin)
Cakes & cupcakes: Melanie Williams, Creative Cakes by Melanie (Groom’s Cake)
Angela Boone, Simply Sweet Treats (Cupcakes)
Dress alterations: Oakwood Cleaners
Invitations: Me!

…and a host of other things bought through Etsy, eBay, Hobby Lobby, & Michael’s! (I’m a big do-it-yourself-er)

What do you most look forward to after marriage?
Immediately after? Our honeymoon! We’re both itching for a week’s vacation. But in the long term we’re looking forward to experiencing life & building a home together.

Any words of wisdom for newly-engaged couples?
1 - Enjoy being engaged for a little while before diving into planning!
2 - Decide on a feasible budget, then pick 2 or 3 things that matter most. For us it was photography & food. Hire the best vendors you can afford for those 2 or 3 priorities, and then do the best you can with the rest of your budget to fill in the rest.
3 - Hire a professional wedding planner, even if it’s just to help run things during the wedding! I’m really enjoying doing the planning myself, but there is absolutely no way I’ll be able to take care of things on the big day, nor am I going to ask a family member to “work” that day, either. Kristin Kaplan is exactly who I need! She’s super-organized, and is going to take over everything I’ve planned a month before the wedding and make it come to life. Unless you’re getting married at the courthouse, I don’t see how anyone can enjoy their day without a wedding planner!

Congratulations Marianne and Chris, here's wishing you both all the best and a lifetime full of love together!

Thank you to McCoy Made for the pictures.

About the Author:

Tabitha

Blogging is something I’ve enjoyed doing for years. My interests lie mostly in lifestyle related topics like fashion, style, design, food and weddings. When I heard Ashley was looking to bring on new members to the ABG team, I jumped at the opportunity - I can’t think of a better way to stay involved in weddings than to write about them and to stay in touch with the trends and new ideas. Lucky for me, Ashley likes my blog and trusts my experience to bring me on and so far, it’s been a blast.

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send   Posted on May 28, 2010 | Filed under: Engagements & Proposals, Photography & Videography, Real Nashville Brides