HARDY and Caleigh Ryan Tie The Knot In Front Of Star-Studded Guest List
Nearly 350 guests flocked to Diamond Creek Farms in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday (Oct. 29) to watch the lovebirds tie the knot.
The affair was far from casual, as attendees including country sensation Dierks Bentley, Brantley Gilbert, Lauren Alaina, RaeLynn, ERNEST, Lindsay Ell, Morgan Wallen, Jameson Rodgers, Mitchell Tenpenny, and Travis Denning dressed to the nines to celebrate.
The beautiful bride stunned in a satin custom-designed gown by Naama & Haute. Meanwhile, her groom wore a luxury black tuxedo and exchanged his sleek dress shoes for sneakers to dance. HARDY wore his bow tie and gold cuff links to honor his late great-uncle.
Ahead of the big day, Ryan told PEOPLE that finding the perfect dress was challenging.
"We go to a lot of awards shows where you get to wear beautiful dresses. So, it really was about finding my wedding dress versus just another beautiful dress," she shared with the publication. "That was my biggest obstacle. So, I ended up creating a dress from scratch."
Ryan would travel from Nashville to Austin to meet with the designer to bring her fairytale vision to life. While playing around with the garments, she considered switching into a different dress for the reception.
"She did a fabulous job," Ryan previously pointed out. "I love it. It came out so beautifully, and I'm so excited about it. We were playing around with the idea of a second dress, but I just love my gown so much that I want to wear it the whole time."
Although Ryan was head over heels for her personalized look, she did change into a short "exit dress." The decision was a no-brainer, as they continued the party by bar hopping down Broadway. She declared that her dress was her "something new," HARDY's baby bonnet for "something old," held onto her grandmother's lucky penny for "something borrowed," and wore her great-aunt Rosie's aquamarine ring for "something blue."
She continued to share with the outlet that incorporating the sentimental components into the look was essential.
"I love those little family ties," said Ryan. "I've never been passed down an heirloom like that before. So, it really means a lot to me."
The chart-topping artist and his wife did a first look and exchanged their vows privately. The couple declared that they wanted the romantic ceremony to be short and sweet. HARDY's long-time friend and frequent collaborator, Smith Ahnquist served as the officiant and married the two.
"We want the ceremony to be like 30 seconds long. We just want to have a big party for everybody," HARDY declared. "I'm trying to avoid having a complete meltdown in front of everyone, and I don't think I could get through vows at the altar, and she's the same. The vows will be for us. It doesn't have to be for everybody else," he added.
Once the newlyweds said, "I do" – they ushered their guests to cocktail hour, where two "beer burros" were on site providing delectable drinks. Ryan said that the mini donkeys were one of the "first things" she paid for when planning the wedding.
To start the party, the two hired a well-respected Mississippi-based cover band.
"They only play '90s country. They've been such a staple in my party life in Mississippi. We have a big county fair where they play every year, and they're just awesome and fun," revealed HARDY. "It was very full circle because he knew them from his hometown, and they would play basically every sorority function where I went to school in Mississippi," added Ryan.
As for their first dance, HARDY and Ryan selected "Faithfully" by Journey.
While guests danced along to classics, they had the opportunity to get inked at "HARDY's Tattoo Shop." The two also served a mix of cuisines that represented their relationship. For instance, the southern-style bites represented HARDY's upbringing, and mouthwatering pasta to pay homage to Ryan's "crazy Italian family." Their wedding cake was infused with caramel, HARDY's favorite growing up.
Although the reception was filled with untraditional elements, Ryan still took a moment to do a bouquet toss. Country music star Lauren Alaina participated in the wedding tradition and caught the floral arrangement. Following the memorable evening, the couple left the venue in a vintage truck.
HARDY and Ryan first met on social media and started dating in April 2018. According to PEOPLE, the vocalist "slid into her DMs." After three years together, the hitmaker popped the question in Oxford, Mississippi.
