A Rustic-Chic Wedding on a Tennessee Farm

Sweet Signage

A calligraphed wood sign set the perfect tone for the couple's day at Howe Farms, which Cara calls "breathtaking and exactly what we wanted."

Darling Details

The pair kept a few items on hand to bring them good vibes. Chamique's evil eye charm, a gift from Cara, was meant to ward off bad luck on the wedding day and be her "something blue." As for Cara, she held onto a few special tokens: "My mother passed away in 2013 and she was my best friend, so I wanted to have something special of hers with me for the wedding," she says. "I cut a piece of lace from my mother's wedding dress and put it on the pin to fasten to my bouquet," Cara says. "Then my sister, who was a matron of honor, brought me a tie clip with a camera on it from my grandfather who passed away, because if he had been at the wedding he would have designated himself the honorary photographer." Cara also carried a handkerchief from her late grandmother as her "something blue," and in case she got emotional during the ceremony.

The Baubles

In addition to her new bling, Cara wore sparkly drop earring and a tennis bracelet given to her by her grandmother for her 21st birthday. A spritz of Gucci Bloom eau de parfum was a finishing touch.

Twinkle Toes

For the ceremony, Chamique had her size 14 pumps custom-made by Shoes of Prey. For the reception, she changed into silver Chuck Taylor sneakers.

Getting Ready with the Girls

Cara gifted each of her bridesmaids gray jersey knit robes and flip flops to get ready in. "It fit with our theme, and I wanted the ladies to wear the robes again," Cara says. Chamique chose orange and white satin robes (for the University of Tennessee) as a keepsake for her attendants.

Suiting Up

"I knew I wanted to wear a pantsuit from the beginning," Chamique says and she got the inspiration for hers from a Martha Stewart Weddings

slideshow. (We knew we liked her!) "Next, I talked to a friend from high school, who did a sketch, and I contacted Kevan Hall, who made everything come to life," she says. "I loved the material of the train and the fabric of the pantsuit."

Hoop Dreams

Instead of a traditional bouquet, Chamique, a Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, held a hoop of white roses and greenery, an idea from their planner, Sean Cox of Cue the Champagne.

The First Look

"My favorite moment was when I first saw Cara in her gown," Chamique says. "She approached me from behind, and when I turned around she looked stunning. I was smiling ear to ear."

Swing, Swing

Before the ceremony, the pair took photos on the Howe Farms property, where a swing dripping in roses made for an gorgeous photo op. "Just to know our patience and love created this moment made me smile," says Cara, who wore a lace wedding dress by Allure Romance with cap sleeves that fit her perfectly when she tried it on and didn't need any alterations—a rarity for most brides.

Ladies' Choice

Cara's 'maids were decked out in pink dresses, while Chamique's wore pewter gowns. "We chose the most versatile bridesmaid's dresses we could find because we had 12 women, and we wanted them to wear it in their own unique way," Cara says.

Ring, Ring!

Cara's adorable nephew, Austin, took on ring bearer duties that day. "He was so cute, and even beat a few of the bridesmaids down the aisle," Cara says.

Pretty Tissues

Boxes of tissue labeled "tears of joy" were on hand for guests to grab before the ceremony. You know, just in case.

Adoring Fans

Instead of traditional program booklets or cards, the couple printed the ceremony details on paper fans they ordered from Stitchnpaper on Etsy.

Good Signs

The pair's wedding planner placed signs with the lines from 1 Corinthians along the aisle.

Bundle of Joy

Even the youngest of guests, like Cara's nephew, arrived at the wedding wearing chic cocktail attire.

Here Comes the Bride

Chamique walked down the aisle to "A Couple of Forevers" by Chrisette Michele.

The Sweet Ceremony

The pair incorporated religious and non-religious elements into their ceremony, which was officiated by Judge Rachel James Bell. It started with a reading from the book of Ecclesiasticus, then a second reading, the poem "Touched By an Angel" by Maya Angelou, was performed.

Kiss, Kiss

After making it official with a smooch, the pair recessed down the aisle to "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers.

Guest Book Redux

The newlyweds asked their friends and family to write well wishes on wooden hearts that went into a jar for safe-keeping.

Find Your Seat

Guests found their tables by referencing cards that were strung from an antique window frame.

Party Time

The couple had originally planned to celebrate the entire day outdoors, but had to move the reception inside at the last minute because of rain. "It had been raining that morning and even threw the start time for the ceremony off," Cara says. "But it stopped long enough to say I do and then we partied inside!"

On the Table

Wooden blocks and lanterns adorned each table and fit with the rustic theme of the night. Guests took their places after choosing from one (or more!) of the many food stations that served up BBQ, Chattanooga shrimp and grits, fried chicken, beef tenderloin, and biscuits.

Something Sweet

Dessert came in the form of a three-layer cake from Yellow Cake Company in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The topper captured the day in the best way possible.

Lady Vols Love

The couple's baker also made them a second confection: a cake shaped like the mascot of the Tennessee Volunteers women's basketball team, where Chamique played in college. The "23" on the collar was a nod to her number when she was on the team.

Let's Dance

During the party, the pair took the dance floor to groove to "Why I Love You" by Major, Chamique's pick from the minute she heard it.

Dancing the Night Away

Guests hit the dance floor before being treated to a special performance by Cara and her older sisters. The group did a dance to "What Can Do with this Feeling" by Aretha Franklin. "We use to do the dance and sing from the adaptation of the song in the movie Sparkle when we were little girls," she says. "So I surprised them by having it play and we did the dance for the whole song."

A Glowing Gift

At the end of the night, guests took home candles with custom labels that the pair sourced from The Dancing Wick.

Fond Farewells

The couple left the party in style thanks to a sparkler send-off from their friends in the bridal parties. And the following day celebrated once more—this time for Cara's birthday.

Sources

Photography, Mecca Gamble

Location, Howe Farms

Event planning and Flowers, Cue the Champagne

Catering, Events with Taste

Videography, Epicc Weddings

Stationery, Minted

Cake, Yellow Cake Company

Music, Salah Ananse

Cara's gown, Allure Romance

Chamique's pant suit, Kevan Hall

Chamique's hair, Julius Knowles

Brides' and bridesmaids' makeup and Cara's hair, Aliyah Hayoun of F.A.C.E.