People sometimes ask, “What’s your most memorable wedding?” “After officiating thousands of weddings, that can be a little tough to answer. But here’s some that stand out in my memory. And at the end I will tell you my favorite and most memorable.
#10 – Midnight on the Pedestrian Bridge
One New Year’s Eve, I officiated a wedding at midnight on the Nashville Pedestrian Bridge. It was just me and the couple.
Romantic? Absolutely.
Warm? Not even close.
The wind was howling, the temperature was dropping, and I discovered I can perform a very heartfelt ceremony in record time.
#9 – The Surprise Wedding
An older couple invited me to their home for what turned out to be a surprise wedding.
The only problem? Nobody had told their two teenage daughters.
When the girls realized why I was there, they burst into tears, retreated to their bedrooms, and shut the doors.
It wasn’t that they opposed the marriage—it was just a lot to process in about thirty seconds.
Thankfully, after everyone had a chance to catch their breath, the girls came back out, and we had a nice ceremony.
#8 – Sports Fans Take Their Vows Seriously
I’ve officiated during halftime at a Tennessee Titans game.
The groom wore a Cowboys jersey. The bride wore a Steelers jersey. I was the lone Titans jersey wearer.
I wasn’t sure whether I was performing a wedding or mediating a rivalry.
Another time, I officiated during a Nashville Predators game—and they actually gave me a referee’s shirt to wear.
I guess they wanted someone qualified to settle disputes before they started.
#7 – The Zoo Wedding
I’ve done several weddings at the Nashville Zoo, but I’ll never forget the first.
Before the ceremony, guests were treated to an animal presentation.
At one point, a zoo employee casually walked past me with a boa constrictor wrapped around his neck.
Funny thing about memories: every time I tell that story, the snake gets a little bigger.
By now, I’m pretty sure its head is about the size of a basketball.
#6 – My Hollywood Debut
One day I was asked to participate in an episode of What Not to Wear.
The show was surprising a Nashville florist with a makeover at the Hermitage Hotel. My role was simple—or so I thought.
I arrived, and the producer walked over, handed me a sheet of paper, and said, “Here’s your script.”
My script?
I remember thinking, I’m a minister, not an actor.
Somehow I survived my television debut without being nominated for either an Emmy…or a Razzie.
#5 – The Quirky Weddings
Some weddings don’t fit neatly into any category.
I’ve co-officiated with “Elvis”.
I’ve performed Halloween weddings complete with black décor and enough spooky decorations to make me wonder what I’d gotten myself into.
As it turned out, my first Halloween couple was one of the sweetest I’ve ever met. They even sent me a handwritten thank-you note afterward.
#4 – Standing Where History Happened
One of the privileges of officiating in Nashville is getting to do it in some incredible places.
Standing on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium, I couldn’t help thinking about all the legendary performers who had stood in that exact spot before me.
I’ve had similar feelings at Carnton Plantation in Franklin and at Rachel’s Chapel at The Hermitage, built by President Andrew Jackson for his wife, Rachel.
Sometimes the venue itself adds a little extra awe to the day.
#3 – Unexpected Celebrity Sightings
Every now and then, a famous face shows up at a wedding.
I’ve officiated weddings and seen Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney and others.
But my favorite celebrity moment happened at Historic Cedarwood.
I was signing the marriage license when I looked up and saw a man walking toward me.
I thought, That looks like Peyton Manning.
Then…
That can’t be Peyton Manning.
Then…
That’s Peyton Manning!
Also present were Eli Manning and Archie Manning.
Three Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks in one room.
No pressure.
#2 – The Bridesmaid I’ll Never Forget
After all these years, I’ve watched thousands of bridesmaids walk down the aisle.
Oddly enough, there’s only one I vividly remember at a wedding at Riverwood Mansion.
She was the bride’s sister and had cerebral palsy.
She didn’t glide gracefully down the aisle like most bridesmaids.
Instead, every step took determination.
But what I’ll never forget was her smile.
It was one of the biggest, happiest smiles I’ve ever seen.
She was simply overjoyed to be standing beside her sister on one of the biggest days of her life.
I honestly think I got a little misty-eyed.
For a brief moment, all the flowers, decorations, and wedding details faded into the background.
All I could see was the beauty of love, family, and the human spirit.
#1 – My Favorite Wedding
And the number one most memorable wedding?
Mine, of course.
Long before “micro weddings” became fashionable, my wife and I had one.
We were married in her grandmother’s Victorian home.
We decorated with magnolia blossoms gathered from a relative’s yard and arranged them in chicken wire.
My mother-in-law baked the cake.
My uncle officiated.
I sometimes joke that we had a cheap wedding.
My wife prefers that I say we had a budget-conscious wedding.
Either way, decades later, I’d make the exact same choice all over again.
