An Elegant, Traditional Wedding at The Cadre Building in Memphis, Tennessee

Following a full day at a women's conference at their church, Hailey Robinson (27 and a therapist) arrived home to a driveway lined with candles and a Taco Bell hot sauce packet (an inside joke) at the door that read, "I knew you'd come back for me!" She nervously made her way into the house, hesitantly whispering James Etter’s (27 and a director of business operations) name and following a candle lit path to the back door. There she found James, waiting for her on the back porch. He took her by the hand and sat her down under a canopy of lights and amidst a scattering of candles. With a heart beating out of his chest, he spoke of a life together, a future family and lots of memories to be made. He stumbled to a knee, pulled out a ring and uttered, "Hailey Anne Robinson, will you marry me?" Somewhere in the laughter and tears, a "Yes" was said. After calling family to tell them the happy news, the couple headed downtown to Terrace at the River Inn in Memphis, TN, where a group of their friends was waiting to surprise Hailey and celebrate. For their wedding, the couple opted for an elegant, traditional affair at The Cadre Building in downtown Memphis, TN. Before kicking off an evening filled with dinner and dancing, Hailey and James invited their family and friends to join them at First Evangelical Church for a traditional ceremony. Ivory and blush arrangements dotted the ceremony aisle and adorned the altar, introducing a fresh, romantic touch befitting of the occasion. After exchanging vows, the newlyweds and their guests headed across town to The Cadre Building for the reception. The historic landmark was an obvious choice for the couple, the 36,000-square-foot venue offering ample space to accommodate their 400 guests and decorative touches like brilliant crystal chandeliers, classic 1920s architecture and gold-leaf detailing tying in seamlessly with their vision. A color palette of soft, neutral hues like dusty rose, pale coral, green and blush influenced everything from the lush high and low centerpieces to the bridesmaids’ airy mink gray dresses, while candles in silver and gold mercury glasses and a subtle glam note to each of the reception’s tabletops. Each design element was chosen to reflect the elegance and grandeur of the setting. A menu rich in southern favorites like chicken and waffle kabobs, shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese spread, brisket and barbecue nachos had a distinct Memphis flair and gave guests the energy to dance all night long to the swinging beats of Party Planet, a lively, local seven piece band. “We both love to dance so we opted for an upbeat first dance to ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’ by Stevie Wonder that started and ended with lots of energy,” says Hailey.