Nashville Day Trip for the Wedding Bands
It was one hundred and nineteen days until our wedding, and we were off to Nashville for a very exciting reason. We were headed to Genesis Diamonds in the Green Hills neighborhood to pick up our wedding bands. If you’ve never been, Genesis Diamonds is the official jeweler of the Tennessee Titans, which we thought was pretty neat. Even more meaningful for us, though, was our incredible jeweler Elizabeth, who had walked us through every step of the process.
Rich’s wedding band was stunning. It was a 7.5-millimeter Christian Bauer ring with a white gold center and red gold edges. Red gold has a beautiful warm hue that’s similar to rose gold, and it complemented my ring so well. What made it truly special, though, was the engraving inside. In my handwriting, it read: “Strike it Rich.” It was something I flirtatiously said to Rich when we first met, and it quickly became one of our favorite phrases. It felt full circle to see it there inside the band he would wear forever.
As for me, I tried on two identical white gold bands lined with brilliant round-cut diamonds. When I saw how they framed my Verragio engagement ring perfectly without covering its intricate rose gold detail, we both knew they were the ones. Rather than solder them to the engagement ring, we decided to have the two bands soldered together instead. That way, my engagement ring could still sit between them just the way we envisioned. It meant we wouldn’t be able to take them home that day, but it was worth the wait to have them done right.
This was one of those days where every detail mattered, and we were soaking in every second of it.
Exploring the Mall and Dinner at Cheesecake Factory
After our visit to Genesis Diamonds, we wandered through the Mall at Green Hills. It’s one of our favorite places to browse when we’re in town, a little bit upscale, a little bit peaceful, and full of inspiration. Since we were already floating from all the wedding excitement, it was the perfect place to window shop and dream up future home décor, travel, and life plans.
Eventually, we made our way to dinner at The Cheesecake Factory, which has always been a favorite comfort spot of ours. It was one of those meals where the food hits just right and the conversation flows so easily. We were already imagining the big day ahead and how soon we’d be wearing those rings for real. It was hard to believe how close we were to the wedding.
That dinner felt like a tiny celebration of all the steps that had brought us here. We clinked our glasses, shared bites, and stayed at the table just a little longer than we needed to, not wanting the day to end.
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park Views and a Surprise Drone Moment
After dinner, we made our way to Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park for a bit of golden hour exploring. The weather was perfect…that soft, just-before-sunset light blanketing the park in warmth. We love this spot because it has such a peaceful energy with wide open spaces, history etched into the walkways, and the Nashville skyline peeking through in the distance.
Naturally, Rich brought the drone. He couldn’t resist capturing the architecture and layout from above, especially with how beautiful the light was that evening. The footage was breathtaking, until we got a tap on the shoulder from a park ranger.
Apparently, drone flying at the park requires a special permit (oops). We were kindly asked to stop, and while we couldn’t share the footage publicly, the shots we got are still some of our favorite personal memories from that day. It was one of those moments where a little mishap turns into a memory we now laugh about.
We didn’t let that stop the magic of the evening…we were still walking on clouds, and the best ending was yet to come.
Soda Parlor Sweet Tooth and Sentimental Stops
We wrapped up our day with a sweet little tradition, dessert at The Soda Parlor. Tucked away in East Nashville, it was one of our go-to stops during that season of life. The kind of place that made you feel like a kid again.
We ordered a brownie waffle mondae (yes, mondae with an “e”, their own playful spin on the word) and some of their signature floats, the fizzy kind that sparkle in your memory long after the last sip. It was the perfect sugar rush to match the joy we were already feeling.
Sitting beside each other at that table, rings in hand (or soon to be), wedding countdown ticking, we couldn’t help but reflect on how surreal it all felt. Every detail…from Elizabeth helping us with the bands, to flying the drone at the park, to deciding on waffle sundaes, added to the dreaminess of the day.
As we drove home that night, hearts full and dessert-stuffed, we couldn’t stop smiling. Nashville had once again given us a day to remember.
Return Trip to Pick Up Abigail’s Wedding Bands
We couldn’t stay away from Nashville for long. Not when something so meaningful was waiting for us. Just a short time after picking out our wedding bands, we made the trip back to Genesis Diamonds, this time to pick up my completed set.
My two white gold bands with brilliant round diamonds had been carefully soldered together to perfectly frame my rose gold Verragio engagement ring. When I tried them on, I felt like royalty. All the intricate details we loved about the engagement ring were still visible, delicately framed by the new bands.
The set felt like us: thoughtful, refined, detailed, and meaningful. We had spent months carefully designing every part of it, and seeing the final result made the effort completely worth it.
There was something special about returning to Genesis Diamonds, walking out as if one step closer to becoming husband and wife. It was more than just jewelry, it was a symbol of everything we were building together.
Restoration Hardware and P.F. Chang’s Dinner
With my wedding bands finally in hand, we couldn’t help but stay in the moment a little longer. We headed to Restoration Hardware at the Mall at Green Hills to wander through the elegant, serene showrooms. Every detail in that space…from the lighting to the textures…sparked inspiration. We love good design, and this place always makes us dream.
After soaking in the aesthetics, we made our way to P.F. Chang’s for dinner. There’s something timeless and cozy about sitting down to familiar dishes in a beautiful setting, especially when you’re celebrating something personal. We talked about the rings, the wedding, and the fact that it was all starting to feel real.
It was one of those nights that felt both fancy and grounded. The perfect pairing to the beauty of the day.
Another Sweet Stop at Soda Parlor
Because one float just isn’t enough when you’re floating on clouds.
After dinner, we couldn’t resist heading back to the Soda Parlor. This place had quickly become a little tradition for us, and on a night like this, it felt right to end with something sweet. We each ordered floats again, basking in that blissful post-dinner, post-diamond glow.
It’s funny how simple things, like floats and familiar places, can turn into core memories. This stop wrapped up our second trip just as perfectly as the first, reinforcing our little rituals and the joy we find in doing life together.
A Perfect Pair of Nashville Trips
Two visits to Nashville, two wedding bands, and a thousand little moments that made each trip unforgettable.
These twin adventures weren’t just about checking errands off a wedding to-do list…they were about savoring the season we were in. From sweet gestures like float dates and mall strolls to meaningful milestones like designing and picking up our wedding bands, every detail felt intentional and full of love.
Both trips reflected who we are: people who care about beauty and meaning, who laugh through unexpected moments (like a drone mishap), and who turn everyday stops into something sacred. Nashville has always held a special place in our hearts, but these memories made it even more ours.
