A Designer's Rustic-Glam Wedding in Nashville

The spark was undeniable when Jordana Schrager and Andrew Wolfe met in 2012 at a college party during the first week of their freshman year at the University of Michigan. The two instantly hit it off, and their chemistry was so strong that they dated all four years of college. Once graduation rolled around, continuing their relationship wasn’t even a question. The duo started their next chapter in New York City, and they stood by each other’s sides while Jordana ran her own custom art and design business, by Jordana, full time and Andrew, who is currently an attorney in New York, attended Cardozo School of Law.

Four years after their move to Manhattan, Andrew popped the question on a private rooftop overlooking Central Park. Jordana gave an exuberant “yes,” and they celebrated their newly engaged status at a surprise party with their closest friends and family. “It was incredibly romantic and such a special day for us,” Jordana recalls.

The vision for their wedding became clear once Andrew accompanied Jordana on a work trip to Nashville. “We fell in love with Nashville, and the idea of having a Tennessee barn wedding was born,” the couple says. “We both love country music and wanted to do something different and exciting.”

From there, they toured venues in Tennessee. Once they stumbled upon Saddle Woods Farm, they knew it would be the ideal spot to host their 200 guests. “It’s an incredible barn and property nestled in the wooded nature of Tennessee, perfect for our dream wedding,” the couple remarks. To highlight the natural beauty of Tennessee, they decided to tie the knot during autumn, with October 30 for their wedding date. Keep reading to see how their rustic and luxurious wedding played out, as planned by Erin Lynn Events and photographed by Nyk + Cali.

The couple gave guests a glimpse into their “Southern luxury rustic” wedding theme with an illustration of the barn venue on their save-the-dates, the wedding weekend itinerary on a map of Nashville, and wooden invitations. Jordana designed a “W” monogram to signify the couple’s shared last name, and the initial became a recurring motif that tied the wedding together. “It was used from our invitations to our cocktail napkins and throughout our printing items,” Jordana remarks. 

In true Nashville fashion, the duo kicked off their wedding weekend at The Valentine for their “honky tonk” welcome party, which was complete with live music, drinks, and bites.

The lovebirds dressed for the occasion by sporting festive cowboy hats. Jordana rocked a white jumpsuit with a deep V-neck and accessorized with white boots, a white belt, and diamond drop earrings. Andrew donned a black suit embellished with floral embroidery.

Jordana spent the morning of her wedding day primping. For her hair, the bride asked for loose curls pulled back into a chic half-up, half-down hairstyle. For her makeup, the bride stuck to soft and subtle shades. “I wanted to be as natural as possible for my bridal glam,” the bride notes. 

Since the bride runs her own custom sneaker design business, by Jordana, she wanted to flaunt one of her very own pieces on her big day. She personalized white Nike Air Force 1 sneakers with silver sparkles and her initials.

While Jordana got glam in white silk pajamas, her bridesmaids wore black pajamas, which showcased each of their initials on the back for a special touch. 

After dress shopping with her mom and sisters in Miami, Jordana found the perfect accompaniment to her rustic wedding: an elegant lace dress with an open back by Monique Lhuillier. “You just know when it’s the one,” the bride says of her wedding gown. She topped off her look with diamond earrings from Verstolo, her mom’s diamond cuff bracelet for her “something borrowed,” and nude nail polish.

Meanwhile, Andrew dressed himself in a custom navy tuxedo from Victor Talbots with a matching bow tie, which featured his initials and a paisley print on the inside. He also snapped on Cartier cufflinks, a gift from his parents.

Before the ceremony began, the pair carved out time for an intimate first look. “We wanted to have that moment between us to do as many pictures as possible, so we could attend cocktail hour with all of our friends and family,” they reveal.

Jordana carried a “lush, garden-inspired” bouquet, consisting of garden roses, spray roses, ranunculus, lisianthus, sweet peas, dahlias, double tulips, privet berries, and pieris japonica. She selected romantic shades reminiscent of autumn, including rose, rose gold, cappuccino, yellow, mauve, rust, blush, and cream. 

Jordana’s bridesmaids wore long dresses in pink and gold tones, and they carried smaller versions of the bride’s bouquet. “I didn’t give my bridesmaids any specific directions or requirements as I wanted everyone to add their own unique style and personality into the mix,” Jordana explains. “Everyone looked amazing, and the colors matched the wedding décor perfectly.”

The groomsmen looked dapper in sharp black tuxedos that contrasted with the groom's.

Organic details flooded the ceremony, and guests saw natural elements everywhere they turned. Vibrant floral hedges lined the 25-foot grass aisle and led to a floral chuppah that framed the duo’s vows. The ceiling featured an illustration of branches and leaves, which complemented the scenic forest backdrop and drew guests’ attention upwards. Crystal chandeliers brought a glamorous edge to the botanical scene.

Jordana and Andrew customized cozy blankets with their names and wedding date, so everyone could stay snug during the chilly fall ceremony.

A mobile bar in matte black served Champagne, and a tap truck offered beer, so guests could sip on a pre-ceremony drink.

The pair chose their favorite country tunes to supplement their rustic wedding, and they enlisted live string quartet Viva La Strings to perform throughout the ceremony. Andrew walked down the aisle to “Loving You Easy” by Zac Brown Band. Both of Jordana’s parents escorted her down the aisle while “Beautiful Crazy” by Luke Combs played. After exchanging heartfelt vows, they incorporated the Jewish breaking-the-glass ritual into their ceremony. After sealing the deal with a kiss, the newlyweds recessed to the classic country song, “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

After swapping vows, the couple hosted their reception in an expansive barn. “The barn was the prettiest space I’ve ever seen,” Jordana gushes. “When I walked in for the first time, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was prettier than anything I could have imagined.” After arriving at the setting, guests found their seats on a wooden escort card display with guitar picks.

“Guests went right into cocktail hour, where they enjoyed a wide range of incredible local food and cocktails,” the bride describes. Appetizers, such as single-serve charcuterie in a cone and mini grilled cheese skewers dipped in creamy tomato bisque, were abundant.

The couple also offered two signature cocktails. His was a bourbon beverage topped with monogrammed ice cubes dubbed “The Wolf,” and hers was a citrus and ginger drink called “The Rose,” which spotlighted their last name in elegant calligraphy.

The twosome had the barn converted into a real-life fairytale by decorating it with a canopy of twinkle lights, hanging floral installations, and grand chandeliers. Thanks to Erin Lynn Events, Jordana and Andrew were able to make their dream wedding a reality. “We had an instant connection with Erin and felt incredibly comfortable and confident with her attention to every single detail and her willingness to roll up her sleeves to execute our vision for the big day,” Jordana illuminates.

A runner of floral arrangements and taper candles dotted the center of each table. Each place was set with gold-rimmed lucite chargers, antique gold flatware, crystal glassware, walnut velvet napkins, and acrylic menu cards with a floral design that Jordana sketched.

For dessert, the couple cut into a five-tier white cake decorated with intricate lace detailing that matched Jordana’s dress. Alternating layers of vanilla bean cake and German chocolate cake with chocolate and caramel filling melted in everyone’s mouths. 

The bride and groom had a special moment out on the dance floor. They selected their favorite song, “Forever to Go” by Chase Rice, for their first dance.

Guests hoisted the newlyweds up in chairs for the hora, the traditional Jewish chair dance. “The party didn’t stop the entire night,” Jordana reminisces. “The dance floor and bar were packed.”

And the party kept going! “As guests were getting on the bus to head to the after-party, we sent them away with individual boxes that included Tennessee cheese straw chicken tenders, grilled chicken nuggets, black bean sliders for the vegetarians, and tater tots,” Jordana details.

To look after-party-ready, Jordana changed into a white mini dress with knee-high boots and a leather jacket. A sparkler send-off guided the pair as they departed the scene.

To conclude an unforgettable night, “We surprised our guests with a special firework show for everyone to enjoy,” the bride shares. From there, guests hopped on a bus and kept the celebration alive at the after-party, where they noshed on more late-night snacks, danced to upbeat music, and made precious memories.