Photo: Mary Rosenbaum Photographs
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A Perfect Pair
Mary Rosenbaum Photographs
Chapman, 29, and Long, 30, met just over two years ago on a dating app while they were both living in New York.
“We were both looking for a special connection we didn’t think we could find in a bar,” Chapman tells PEOPLE. “Pretty early on in the relationship we each knew that we had found the person we wanted to be with.”
“We didn’t have a specific timeline, we just did what felt natural,” she adds. “We also had a longer engagement, 16 months, which felt right for us.”
02of 13Blushing BrideMary Rosenbaum PhotographyFor the big day, Chapman wore an Ines Di Santo gown and cathedral-length lace Toni Federici veil from The Bride Room Nashville.Chapman says that her only “bridezilla moment” came while picking out her dress.“I had actually decided on another dress that was beautiful but not quite it,” she says. “Then right before we got in the car to head to the bridal shop so I could get measured and send in the order, someone described a tiny part of the dress in front of Ben. Which, of course, in my mind meant the whole thing was ruined and he’d basically been given a photo of it.““This was probably my only bridezilla moment,” she continues. “I was so upset I didn’t even want to put the dress on when we got there, so my mom said, ‘Then let’s just try another one.’ I put on the new dress and the rest is history.”
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Blushing Bride
Mary Rosenbaum Photography
For the big day, Chapman wore an Ines Di Santo gown and cathedral-length lace Toni Federici veil from The Bride Room Nashville.
Chapman says that her only “bridezilla moment” came while picking out her dress.
“I had actually decided on another dress that was beautiful but not quite it,” she says. “Then right before we got in the car to head to the bridal shop so I could get measured and send in the order, someone described a tiny part of the dress in front of Ben. Which, of course, in my mind meant the whole thing was ruined and he’d basically been given a photo of it.”
“This was probably my only bridezilla moment,” she continues. “I was so upset I didn’t even want to put the dress on when we got there, so my mom said, ‘Then let’s just try another one.’ I put on the new dress and the rest is history.”
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All in the Details
The cotton paper invitation was stamped in gold foil and featured a pomegranate colored border to match the bridesmaids' dresses and other wedding accents.
For the wedding rings, Chapman says she and Long picked them out together.
“My engagement ring and wedding band are both from the Vera Wang Love Collection,” she says. “Ben saw them first and loved how they both have a little sapphire under the main diamond.”
Long’s ring, on the other hand, is black titanium with an onyx blue stripe in the middle.
“It looked a bit like a super hero ring,” Chapman says. “Which was perfect for him.”
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Mother-Daughter Moment
Amy Grant and Millie Chapman.Mary Rosenbaum Photography
05of 13Exchanging “I Dos"Mary Rosenbaum PhotographyChapman and Long exchanged vows at Immanuel Baptist Church in Nashville.“Ben cried, but we always knew he was going to,” Chapman says. “I think he cried before the doors even opened.““As I got closer, his face just sort of melted,” she continues. “I, on the other hand, was so focused on not crying while walking down the aisle, I looked very serious. In reality I was just putting up every emotional wall in my arsenal.“Chapman’s father, Grant’s first husband Gary Chapman, responded to the question “Who presents this bride?” with the words “We all do!““He captured the joy and healing of our big blended family,” says Grant, who married country singer Vince Gill in 2000.
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Exchanging “I Dos”
Chapman and Long exchanged vows at Immanuel Baptist Church in Nashville.
“Ben cried, but we always knew he was going to,” Chapman says. “I think he cried before the doors even opened.”
“As I got closer, his face just sort of melted,” she continues. “I, on the other hand, was so focused on not crying while walking down the aisle, I looked very serious. In reality I was just putting up every emotional wall in my arsenal.”
Chapman’s father, Grant’s first husband Gary Chapman, responded to the question “Who presents this bride?” with the words “We all do!”
“He captured the joy and healing of our big blended family,” says Grant, who married country singer Vince Gill in 2000.
06of 13Through Thick and ThinMary Rosenbaum PhotographyChapman was all smiles with her bridesmaids (from left to right): friend Kathryn Dudley, sister Corrina Gill, sister Sarah Chapman and cousin Sally Harrell.In 2017, Dudley received one of Chapman’s kidneys in a transplant and is now in “great” health.“We joke that she got my good kidney,” Chapman says. “The only thing I had to do was stop drinking sugar free Red Bull, something I used to love and she woke up craving after the transplant surgery.”
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Through Thick and Thin
Chapman was all smiles with her bridesmaids (from left to right): friend Kathryn Dudley, sister Corrina Gill, sister Sarah Chapman and cousin Sally Harrell.
In 2017, Dudley received one of Chapman’s kidneys in a transplant and is now in “great” health.
“We joke that she got my good kidney,” Chapman says. “The only thing I had to do was stop drinking sugar free Red Bull, something I used to love and she woke up craving after the transplant surgery.”
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Modern Family
Chapman poses with her blended family (from left to right): brother Matt Chapman, sister Sarah Chapman, father Gary Chapman, Gary’s wife Cassie Chapman, Gary and Cassie’s daughter Eva Rose Chapman, Grant, Gill, Grant and Gill’s daughter Corrina Gill, and Jenny Gill (Gill’s daughter from his previous marriage to ex-wife Janis Oliver).
Chapman’s sisters Sarah and Corrina served as her maids of honor.
08of 13Cheers!Mary Rosenbaum PhotographyPrior to the ceremony, Chapman shared a joyful toast with her bridesmaids and her mother on the front porch of her family’s home in Nashville, where Grant and Gill reside.
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Cheers!
Prior to the ceremony, Chapman shared a joyful toast with her bridesmaids and her mother on the front porch of her family’s home in Nashville, where Grant and Gill reside.
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The Reception
Vince Gill and Amy Grant.Mary Rosenbaum Photography
For the reception, Chapman chose to hold it in Grant and Gill’s backyard since it is a place she has always felt “comfortable.”
“Neither Ben nor I love crowds and it was going to be a fairly large wedding, so we wanted to celebrate it somewhere we felt at home,” she says.
When it came to the décor, Chapman says she only had two rules: “No pastels and no monograms.”
As Grant and Gill welcomed the crowd of 230 family and friends to their backyard, Gill said, “We didn’t do things perfectly…or everything just right, but we’re all here now to celebrate this beautiful couple.”
10of 13The First DanceMary Rosenbaum PhotographyChapman’s sister Corrina serenaded her and Long with a rendition of “Stand By Me” for their first dance as a married couple.Then came the live band,Az IzZwho “did an amazing job of getting our guests on the dance floor,” says Chapman.“We are not usually big dancers, but the band’s energy was amazing,” she says. “I’ve never seen so many people on a dance floor so fast and it stayed full until the last song ended.”
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The First Dance
Chapman’s sister Corrina serenaded her and Long with a rendition of “Stand By Me” for their first dance as a married couple.
Then came the live band,Az IzZwho “did an amazing job of getting our guests on the dance floor,” says Chapman.
“We are not usually big dancers, but the band’s energy was amazing,” she says. “I’ve never seen so many people on a dance floor so fast and it stayed full until the last song ended.”
11of 13Yummy BitesMary Rosenbaum PhotographyGrant told guests that Chapman was a picky eater as a child — so dinner was a nod to her childhood favorites.Kristen Winston Cateringincorporated family recipes liked mini BLTs, pulled pork on griddle corn cakes and mini grilled cheese. Dinner included filet of beef, lemon herb chicken breast and ricotta stuffed ravioliLate night snacks were also served to guests like mini Oreo milkshakes, sliders and mini chicken and waffles.
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Yummy Bites
Grant told guests that Chapman was a picky eater as a child — so dinner was a nod to her childhood favorites.
Kristen Winston Cateringincorporated family recipes liked mini BLTs, pulled pork on griddle corn cakes and mini grilled cheese. Dinner included filet of beef, lemon herb chicken breast and ricotta stuffed ravioli
Late night snacks were also served to guests like mini Oreo milkshakes, sliders and mini chicken and waffles.
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The Wedding Cake
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Slice of Heaven
Chapman and Long cut the cake, which was aptly dubbed “Hallelujah Cake.”
“Apart from wanting something tropical, I just wanted a good book and a swim up bar,” Chapman says. “Ben wanted a place that didn’t feel too crowded where he could just relax.”
source: people.com
