Richel & Matt’s Wedding at Iriswoods | Mt. Juliet, Tennessee

Some wedding days are beautiful because of the details. Others are beautiful because of the people, the stories, and the meaning woven into every moment. Richel and Matt’s wedding at Iriswoods in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, was a little bit of all of that.

From a Disney-inspired ceremony to flowers lovingly grown by Richel and her mom, their day was filled with personal touches that reflected who they are and the people who helped shape their lives. There was laughter, heartfelt emotion, family, friendship, and the kind of moments that make wedding photography so meaningful to us.

As Deva & Bill of Collins & Collins Photography, we love getting to know the story behind a wedding. With Richel and Matt, it was clear that this wasn’t simply a celebration of two people getting married. It was a celebration of their relationship, their families, their friendships, and the memories they will carry with them into their marriage.

A Thoughtful Beginning to the Day

Richel wore an elegant A-line gown by Alexandra Grecco, purchased at LVD Bridal. Her cathedral-length veil added a beautiful sense of drama and romance, creating a timeless bridal look.

The wedding colors brought everything together beautifully: navy blue, dusty blue, dusty rose, and deep brick red and cranberry. These rich, complementary colors gave the day a romantic feel while allowing the personal details and floral arrangements to shine.

Matt wore attire from State & Liberty, bringing a polished, modern look to the occasion.

But some of the most meaningful details weren’t necessarily the ones you could see at first glance. They were the little reminders of the people, friendships, and memories that Richel and Matt wanted close to them on their wedding day.

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Little Details With Big Meaning

One of our favorite things about wedding days is discovering the stories behind the details.

For Richel, her something borrowed was a cake knife belonging to her friend Morgan Jones. Two other friends in their circle had also used the knife at their weddings, and Richel was the last of the group to get married.

Morgan wasn’t able to attend because she was about to welcome a new baby girl. Carrying the knife into her own wedding was a sweet way for Richel to include her friend in the celebration, even from a distance.

Her something blue was even more personal. Richel planned to attach a turquoise money clip that had belonged to her dad, engraved with her initials, RA, to her bouquet.

The honorary seat reserved in memory of her father was another reminder that weddings hold space for both joy and remembrance. Special days can make us especially aware of the people we wish could be there in person. Including these tributes allowed Richel to honor her dad’s memory while celebrating a new chapter of her life.

These are the kinds of details we love documenting. They may be small in a photograph, but their meaning can last a lifetime.

Flowers Grown With Love

One of the most personal touches of the day came from Richel’s own garden.

Richel loves gardening, and she and her mom planned to grow the majority of the flowers for the reception table bud vases themselves. Their flowers included zinnias, cosmos, and dahlias.

Think about that for a moment: the flowers decorating the tables weren’t simply selected from a catalog. They were planted, cared for, and grown with the wedding day in mind.

There is something special about bringing a little piece of home into a wedding celebration. Every bloom carried a story of time spent nurturing something together, and those flowers made the reception even more personal.

It was such a fitting touch for a day centered on love, family, and the memories we create with the people closest to us.

A First Look and Private Vows

Before the ceremony, Richel and Matt planned a first look and private vow readings.

A first look offers a couple the opportunity to see one another before the ceremony, away from the crowd and the anticipation of everyone watching. It creates space for a genuine reaction, a quiet embrace, and a moment to simply be together.

For Richel and Matt, the private vows added another layer of intimacy. Before sharing their commitment in front of family and friends, they could speak directly to one another and take in the significance of the promises they were making.

We love moments like these because they remind us that wedding photography isn’t just about documenting what happened. It’s about preserving how it felt.

A Ceremony With a Touch of Disney Magic

Richel is a self-described Disney Adult, and Matt absolutely loves that about her. Naturally, their ceremony included a song that meant something to both of them.

Richel chose “I See the Light” from Disney’s Tangled for her walk down the aisle.

It’s a song about seeing the world differently when you find the person you want beside you. For a couple beginning their married life together, it was a fitting choice—and a beautiful reflection of something Matt loves about Richel.

If you love the natural beauty of this venue, you can also see another Iriswoods wedding in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee that we photographed.

Surrounded by Their Favorite People

Richel had her matron of honor, Ali, standing with her, while Matt’s best man and brother, Christian, stood by his side.

A wedding party is more than a group of people dressed for the occasion. These are the friends who have been part of your life, the people who cheer you on, and the ones who help make the day feel like yours.

With family and friends gathered at Iriswoods, Richel and Matt were able to celebrate not only their marriage but also the relationships that brought them to this moment.

Those family portraits and candid interactions become especially meaningful with time. Years from now, they’ll be reminders of who was there, the hugs that were shared, the laughter that filled the room, and the people who surrounded them at the beginning of their marriage.

A Reception Full of Personal Touches

The reception carried the same thoughtful spirit as the rest of the day.

The table arrangements featured the flowers Richel and her mom had grown, while the wedding colors tied the celebration together. The details were beautiful, but what made them memorable was the thought behind them.

For their first dance, Richel and Matt chose Nat King Cole’s “L-O-V-E.” They wanted something fun, short, and sweet that would be easy to dance to.

We love that choice. Not every first dance needs to be an elaborate performance. Sometimes the best first dances are the ones where a couple can relax, enjoy the music, look at each other, and savor the fact that they’re finally married.

The reception was also filled with meaningful family moments, including dances that honored important relationships and memories.

As the celebration continued, the dance floor gave everyone a chance to let loose, laugh, and celebrate Richel and Matt in their own way.

The Moments That Matter Most

When we look back on a wedding day, we don’t remember only the dress, the flowers, the venue, or the decorations.

We remember the emotion behind a first look. The significance of a song. A family member’s embrace. A borrowed item that connects friends across different seasons of life. Flowers grown by a mother and daughter. A place set aside to remember someone dearly missed.

Those are the moments that turn a wedding gallery into a family legacy.

Richel and Matt’s day at Iriswoods reminded us that the most meaningful weddings aren’t about following a formula. They’re about making choices that reflect your relationship and surrounding yourselves with the people and memories that matter most.

Richel and Matt, thank you for allowing us to be part of your wedding day. We hope these photographs always bring you back to the joy, love, and meaning that filled Iriswoods as you began this next chapter together.

With love,

Deva & Bill
Collins & Collins Photography

Planning an Iriswoods Wedding?

If you’re planning a wedding at Iriswoods in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, we’d love to hear your story. As a husband-and-wife photography team, we photograph weddings throughout Nashville and Middle Tennessee, focusing on genuine moments, timeless portraits, and the meaningful details that make every celebration unique.

You can explore our wedding photography to see more of the celebrations we’ve documented, or learn more about our wedding photography collections as you plan your day.

Your wedding deserves to be remembered not just for how it looked, but for how it felt.

Ready to tell your story? Get in touch with us to share your plans and learn more about working with Collins & Collins Photography.

Wedding Vendors

A beautiful wedding comes together through the work, care, and creativity of many talented people. Here are the vendors who helped bring Richel and Matt’s wedding day to life.

• Venue: Iriswoods — Mt. Juliet, Tennessee
• Wedding Planner: Paula Ortiz — paula.iriswoods@gmail.com
• Bride’s Gown: Alexandra Grecco — purchased at LVD Bridal
• Groom’s Attire: State & Liberty
• Catering: Wildberry Catering
• Flowers: Reception flowers, including zinnias, cosmos, and dahlias, grown by Richel and her mom
• Cake and Desserts: Homestyle Bakery
• Hair Stylist: Michelle Joy, BBC Salon — Nashville
• Makeup Artist: Allison Johns, BBC Salon — Nashville
• Invitations: WithJoy
• Wedding Favors: Zazzle
• Ceremony Reading: Jenny Sawyer
• Wedding Photography: Deva & Bill, Collins & Collins Photography