From chance meetings in Romania to romantic proposals in Hawaii, Sarah and Brendan’s love story is as adventurous as it is heartfelt. Rooted in shared values, cultural heritage, and unforgettable memories, their wedding was a vibrant celebration of love, family, and unity. Held at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church and followed by a joyful reception at the Riverside Event Venue, their special day brought together 100 cherished guests to witness a deeply personal and beautifully curated experience. From a hand-beaded traditional Thai wedding dress to a custom choreographed first dance by Curtsy Ballroom, every detail reflected the unique journey that brought Sarah and Brendan together. Keep scrolling to see the gorgeous photos by James and Company Photography!
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
Riverside Event Venue
Guest Count: 100
$30,000 – $40,000
How did you meet?
Sarah: We deployed to Romania in February 2023 as the Fury and Boldsteel Executive Officers of 2-32 Field Artillery Regiment. Our love story began at Neversea music festival headlined by Steve Aoki. Ever since that day, we spent every weekend together travelling Europe from Nice, France to Regensburg, Germany.
Tell us about your engagement!
Sarah: After spending the happiest year of our lives together, Brendan proposed in O’ahu, Hawaii. We were in Hawaii visiting my best friend, Amber who is also the owner of Amber Fritts Photography. She captured our engagement and it was such a special moment. We were at the beach and of course, everyone cheered and congratulated us. Amber was one of my bridesmaids and her daughter, Emiko was our flower girl. Amber used her Super 8 camera to capture our wedding on film. Reliving our engagement and wedding day through her lens was so special.
What was the vision for your wedding?
Sarah: My mom, Patcharee, is from Thailand and that is where my parents met and later married. Growing up, there was a picture of my parents from their wedding day on the mantle. As a child, I would always walk up to this picture and admire how beautiful my mom looked. I always dreamed of looking just like her on my wedding day. So, when it came to my wedding dress, I knew I wanted a traditional Thai dress. We sent my measurements to the bridal shop, Brideo House, in Bangkok and they began tailoring the dress. My dress is all hand-beaded and it was absolutely stunning. My mom also wore a traditional Thai dress and she looked as beautiful as she was on her wedding day. Honoring my mother and this part of our heritage was the most important to me.
What was your theme and what inspired it?
Sarah: When it came to our first dance, I was inspired by the movie, Crazy Rich Asians. When I first saw the movie, I knew the cover of the song “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Kina Grannis would one day be incorporated in my wedding someway. I’m so thankful I found Morgan Mizell of Curtsy Ballroom to choreograph our dance. Each lesson with her was so much fun because of the energy she brought. Morgan was patient, encouraging and a true professional. Brendan nor I had ever danced a day in our life. In only five lessons, Morgan taught us the foundation of ballroom dancing plus the dips, spins and lifts.
During the wedding planning process, Brendan was at Fort Sill and I was still living in Tennessee. Even with the long-distance, Morgan was able to teach us virtually for one of the lessons. Thanks to Morgan, we were able to showcase her beautiful choreography in front of all our guests. I was so proud of us for nailing the choreography and I cannot thank Morgan enough for preparing us for that moment. I cannot recommend her enough to all future brides in the Nashville area. As for the dance/party portion of the evening, my inspiration came from Steve Aoki’s set at Neversea Music Festival. DJ Opik/Richard Goldbach, also deployed with us to Romania. He was at the musical festival and was able to bring the same energy from that night to our reception. Richard drove all the way from Fort Cavazos, Texas to be our DJ. Music brought Brendan and I together and Richard wanted to do the same with all of our guests at the reception. Music is his passion and how he brought everyone onto the dance floor. We loved dancing the night away with all our family and friends.
What details were used to create your theme?
Sarah: Thailand is the motherland of orchids so when it came to my bouquets and centerpieces, I had to have orchids. I cannot thank Micheal Dyer enough for bringing my vision to life. Throughout the wedding planning process, it was so fun working with him and seeing Micheal’s creative process work. He is so talented and because of him, my wedding was more than I could of ever imagined it to be. For my bouquet and centerpieces, I used white orchids and hydrangeas. I contrasted the centerpieces with lilac tablecloths to add color to the venue space. My florist added white orchids on our wedding cake as well. My bridesmaids ordered their dresses from Azazie in the color wisteria. My florist and I decided on a vibrant purple orchid to compliment my bridesmaids dresses. Our optional color scheme for the dress code was lilac and lavender.
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
Sarah: Since our wedding was in February, flowers are the most expensive this month because of Valentine’s Day. It was impossible not to splurge on florals. I was thankful to have found Micheal because most florists say no to weddings in February. Our most expensive cost was catering. We opted for a buffet so that we could serve appetizers during cocktail hour. We saved on alcohol because we only served wine, beer and seltzers. We also purchased this ourselves at Costco. Since my professional background is in logistics, I am detail-oriented and skilled in project planning. With this being said, I opted to not hire a wedding planner or day of coordinator. I had a specific vision for my wedding and only trusted myself with planning such an important a day in our lives. Even though this can be overwhelming to brides, I managed it by planning a little every day. I was able to plan our wedding in six months from start to finish. This was possible because I had a wonderful support system. My sisters were my maids of honor and I could not have done it without them, my mom, mother-in-law or sister-in-law.
What words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Sarah: Our engagement season flew by and our wedding day flew by even quicker. My advice for couples is to live in the moment and cherish every second together. As a bride, I received advice from everyone. My advice would be to take it all with a grain of salt. This is your wedding day and it should be a celebration of the two of you. My wedding day was truly perfect because I planned it the way I wanted to. Every wedding is different so make it your own. There is no right or wrong way of planning a wedding as long as you have fun! Have fun is my last word of advice! Our wedding was a celebration of us with those nearest and dearest to us. I thought our engagement was the happiest day of our lives until our wedding day. This would be the day I choose to relive over and over again because of our family and friends who made it so special.
Can you share any special moments or highlights from your wedding day?
Sarah: Rather than a bouquet toss, I wanted to dedicate my bouquet to my mom. This was as special a moment to my mom as it was for me. My mom is a mother to four children and has sacrificed so much for me and my siblings. She left her family in Thailand to raise us in China for eight years as missionaries and then here in the United States. My mom’s beauty comes from her heart. She has loved, nurtured, and supported us every day of our lives. A bouquet dedication was my way of saying thank you for raising me to be the woman I am today.
Sarah and Brendan’s wedding wasn’t just a union of two people—it was a tapestry of cultures, memories, and love that spanned continents. With the thoughtful incorporation of Thai traditions, meaningful tributes to family, and a lively celebration that echoed their first spark at a music festival, their wedding was a true reflection of who they are. As Sarah wisely shared, every couple should make their day their own—and their story is a powerful reminder that when love leads the way, every detail falls beautifully into place.
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