On October 29, 2022, award-winning singer-songwriter Michael Hardy – who goes by the professional name HARDY – married the love of his life, Caleigh Ryan, in such a lavish Nashville, Tennessee, wedding after four years of dating.
The short and romantic ceremony happened at a stunning new venue called Diamond Creek Farms in Nashville, Tennessee, in front of 350 wedding guests. Here are some of the details you might want to know.
They Got Hitched Ten Miles From Downtown Nashville
Before the wedding, Caleigh Ryan said in an interview that they chose Diamond Creek Farms in Nashville as their venue because it was “brand new and absolutely stunning.”
“It’s like huge, green pastures,” Ryan said. “It’s a beautiful stone venue. It has an outside ceremony space that looks out to all the trees and Tennessee landscape. It’ll be moody,”
Just ten miles from downtown Nashville, Diamond Creek Farms was recently completed in 2022. It’s a pristine luxury event venue nestled within over 100 acres of gorgeous farmland of rolling hills and lush meadows that create the perfect backdrop.
The sight of nature there is breathtaking– serene creeks and stunning views of horses nibbling on soft grasses. The place is surrounded by forests filled with rich greenery, making things even more wonderful, with rustic beauty blending with modern elegance.
Indeed, there’s no better place for HARDY and Caleigh Ryan to say, “I do.”
The Moment Caleigh Ryan Said Yes To The Dress
Caleigh Ryan said her biggest obstacle was making sure her wedding dress would not be just another fancy dress she would wear on award shows she frequently attends. So, she collaborated with Naama & Anat and Haute Bridal to create a dress from scratch.
Ryan even had to travel back and forth from Nashville to Austin to work with her designer and incorporate a personal touch to her dress.
Of course, it was all worth it! The custom-designed dress – a classic, strapless wedding gown – came out wonderfully. When her designer suggested a second dress, the bride said she loved her wedding dress so much she wanted “to wear it the whole time.”
The bride then completed her gorgeous look with makeup by Halee Brooke while Jessica Miller did her hair. Caleigh also kept the tradition alive with her late great-aunt Rosie’s aquamarine ring as her “something blue.”
HARDY’s mother also gave her the groom’s baby bonnet, which turned out to be her “something old.” Also, her “something borrowed” was a lucky penny lent to her by her grandmother.
After the reception, Ryan slipped into a shorter going-out look – which she called her “exit dress” – as the newly married continued the wedding party at Broadway, at Luke Bryan‘s multi-level bar 32 Bridge in Downtown Nashville.
HARDY, On The Other Hand, Went For A Classy Look
On the other hand, HARDY looked very handsome in his black suit made by STITCHED in Las Vegas. He finished his look with a bow tie and added a personal touch with his late great-uncle’s custom gold cufflinks.
While we’ve known HARDY for his rowdy persona, his genuine love for Caleigh Ryan made him emotional during the big day. The singer was not scared to admit that he “cried his ass off” before they even walked the aisle.
HARDY knew there would be waterworks, so he came prepared. The couple did a first look because the singer knew he would not be able to get through a public ceremony – in front of a giant crowd of people – and he wanted to let it all out.
Indeed, tears flowed! HARDY admitted that he cried so badly he could no longer see Caleigh and had to wipe his tears just to see what she looked like.
The couple also opted to exchange vows intimately because they didn’t want to have “a complete meltdown in front of everyone.” After all, HARDY said the vows would be for both of them and not for everybody else.
They Got A Star-Studded Wedding Guest List
Some of the most notable ones who witnessed HARDY and Caleigh Ryan’s special moment were Dierks Bentley, Morgan Wallen, RaeLynn, ERNEST, Lauren Alaina, Brantley Gilbert, Mitchell Tenpenny, and so many more. Hardy and Caleigh’s guest list included about 350 friends and family.
HARDY said that he could have even invited a lot more people, but he and his bride wanted the ones who knew and loved them to be present during their big day.
HARDY’s close friend, Smith Ahnquist, officiated their wedding. HARDY met Ahnquist – who is actually a songwriter – during a songwriting session.
Ever since, HARDY was impressed with Ahnquist’s strong faith, which he and Caleigh were looking for in the person who would marry them.
All The Wedding Festivities We Spotted
After the wedding ceremony, the guests were ushered to a cocktail hour that featured two “beer burros” or mini donkeys who cart around delectable drinks in baskets to guests. The bride said she fell in love with such a concept the first time she saw it and that it was one of the first things she immediately booked and paid for when planning the wedding.
To kick off the party, HARDY and Caleigh Ryan enlisted a DJ and a cover band from Mississippi – the Mustache the Band, who only played ’90s country songs and squeezed in the word “mustache” in the lyrics whenever they could. HARDY and Caleigh even joined the band on stage at one point, where they sang along to Reba McEntire’s “Fancy.”
HARDY said that Mustache the Band had been a staple in his party life in Mississippi. Conversely, Caleigh knew the band while attending Ole Miss for college, where the group would play in almost every sorority function. So, when they were looking for something unique to bring in the music, they knew it had to be Mustache the Band.
For HARDY and Caleigh’s first dance as a married couple, the two opted for Journey’s “Faithfully” – a song they played during a road trip to Arizona two months after they began dating and while HARDY was getting ready to sign a record deal.
In addition to guests’ opportunity to dance along to classics, they had the choice to get inked at “HARDY’s Tattoo Shop” – a ten-minute love or wedding-themed tattoo session by Toledo and Nashville tattoo artist Mike Stoll.
HARDY got their wedding date tattooed on his hand. Former The Voice contestant RaeLynn even turned to Instagram to proudly show off her time getting some fresh ink.
While the reception was packed with unconventional elements, the bride still took a moment to do the wedding’s traditional bouquet toss. Country star Lauren Alaina caught the floral arrangement.
The Couple Served A Mix Of Cuisines That Represented Their Relationship
Regarding food, HARDY and Caleigh Ryan went with a buffet-style feast of Southern and Italian choices – still, with an intimate touch.
For instance, the southern-style bites were a nod to HARDY’s family. At the same time, the delicious pasta pays homage to Caleigh’s “big crazy Italian family.” Even the wedding cake was in honor of HARDY’s grandmother.
The layered cake is infused with caramel, which was HARDY’s favorite bake by his grandmother while he was growing up. For those who are not fond of cakes, churros were also available.
The food even kept on coming as the couple served late-night snacks, which were chicken sandwiches and tater-tot nachos.
The couple was then seen leaving, riding a vintage truck surrounded by sparklers and the traditionally tied beer cans.
Here’s How HARDY And Caleigh Ryan’s Love Story Began
HARDY and Caleigh Ryan have one of the most romantic and exciting love stories out there. The couple started dating on April 19, 2018, after HARDY spotted Caleigh on Instagram and decided to send her a message.
The two immediately clicked and kept in contact until HARDY had a show near Caleigh’s school, where HARDY told Caleigh he would love to meet her there – at The Lyric Theater in Oxford, Mississippi. The rest was history from there.
They had never entertained anyone else since their first meeting, and HARDY revealed that he fell in love with Caleigh the third time they hung out. He told her he loved her at Stagecoach in front of the crowd. His feelings even got stronger the moment he met Caleigh’s family and showed how great of people her mother and father were.
The two quickly started talking about getting married, but Caleigh wanted to finish school and kicked off her career before doing so. Finally, they got engaged in August 2021 at the very same spot where they first met.
HARDY posted a photo of him getting down on one knee to propose with the caption, “I’m not her boyfriend anymore.” The singer apparently referred to the song he wrote titled “Boyfriend.” In it, he sings of not wanting to be a boyfriend anymore but hopes to take their relationship to the next level by marrying the love of his life.
Braving the Future Together
Less than two weeks after their wedding, HARDY and Caleigh Ryan were seen at each other’s sides as they attended the 56th Annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, on November 9, 2022.
The two even heated the red carpet when they posed for the camera. They decided to give the photographers some fun by tongue kissing. It was a big night for HARDY as he was nominated New Artist of the Year.
Today, HARDY and Caleigh are enjoying life as newlyweds. The couple took to social media to give us a glimpse of their romantic honeymoon as they jetted off to Thailand – which HARDY called the “trip of a lifetime.”
HARDY and Caleigh posted photos of their adventures where they met elephants, shopped from the traditional floating markets, enjoyed sumptuous local foods with a gorgeous view, immersed in the local culture, and so much more.
In the future, HARDY revealed they both want four kids to fill their new Nashville home. We truly can’t wait to see adorable little HARDY and Caleigh Ryan. We wish them the best.
