A Lifetime Adventure: The Jones-Gardner Wedding

By Morgan Winter

Photography By Abrea Crackel Photography

Miss Jordan Brooke Jones, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Greg [Kim] Jones of Kenton, Tennessee, and Mr. Dillon Webb Gardner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark [Kim] Gardner of Sharon, Tennessee, were married on November 17th, 2018 at White Squirrel Winery in Kenton. Dr. Charles Pratt, Fayette Baptist Association’s Executive Director, presided over the ceremony and was the bride’s former neighbor and childhood pastor.

Jordan, an office manager of WestStar Leadership at UT Martin, and Dillon, a salesman at Tennessee Tractor, first met on a double date. Two of their mutual friends were going on their first date on August 17th, 2013, and they agreed to be their “wing people.” Dillon wasn’t at all what Jordan expected; he dressed well and did not appear to be an outdoorsman. How wrong she was! Jordan and Dillon ended up having a better time than their friends. They saw each other every day for two months. After a bonfire on October 17th, 2013, Dillon formally asked Jordan to be his girlfriend.

Fast forward five years and many adventures, Dillon called Jordan at 5 pm on June 22nd, 2018, and suggested that they eat at the Opera House. Their usual date spot was Cabana. Jordan met him at his new house and went to change into dressier clothes while he “took the dogs outside.” When they were leaving for their date, Dillon informed her that he wanted to show her something he bought for the front porch of the house. Once they reached the front porch, Jordan read the framed chalkboard that Dillon had hung while the dogs were out. It said “Make this our home. Will you marry me?” Dillon grasped Jordan’s hand as he knelt, asking if they could spend the rest of their lives together. Dillon had hung his hunting camera on the porch, immortalizing the moment on video.

Jordan and Dillon’s engagement party was hosted by Kate Yarbro, the maid of honor, at the couple’s new home. It was Luau themed, with guests mingling around the pool. The couple’s community hosted four showers: The Martin Church of Christ hosted and held the first, the second was hosted by friends of Kim Gardner, the groom’s mother, in the home of Wendy Thompson, the third was a Christmas shower hosted by Jordan’s coworkers and was held in the couple’s home. The Kenton Baptist Church hosted and held the fourth.

Mark and Kim Gardner, the groom’s parents, hosted the couple’s rehearsal dinner at White Squirrel Winery. Friends of Jordan’s grandmother hosted the Bridesmaids Breakfast at the home of the new couple.

Guests received lovely invitations to the wedding from Maple Lane Designs and Jordan Taylor inscribed the calligraphy.

The day of the wedding was a temperate 66 degrees and sunny. The bridesmaids, Shayna Howard, Mykaela Waterfield, Jacey Sims, and Staci Robinson and the maid of honor, Kate Yarbro, wore sophisticated dusty sage floor length dresses with a slit to the knee from Show Me Your Mumu. The bride, in addition to the traditional bridal party, also had bridesmen. Her brothers, Ben, JP, and Jaxon Jones stood by their sister at the altar. They wore royal blue suits and vests courtesy of Paula Worrell’s Sewing Room with ties from Show Me Your Mumu that matched the bridesmaids’ dresses. She also gifted her father a sage green tie with a patch sewed into the back that read “Dad, thank you for walking by my side today and always. I loved you first. Love, Jordan” and the wedding date.

Jordan wore a gorgeous mermaid-cut gown with a lace illusion neckline from Brandi Michelle’s Bridal Boutique. A diamond belt added definition and shape at the waist. An unadorned, long, trailing veil added balance to the intricate lace of the dress. Shayna Howard of Styles on Broadway curled and pinned Jordan’s hair into a low bun, leaving her bangs down to frame her face. Jordan Taylor of Maple Lane Designs did Jordan’s make-up, giving her a taupe smokey eye and a pinky-nude lip, enhancing the bride’s glow.

For the something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, Jordan mixed modern and vintage together. Her something old was her great-grandmother’s handkerchief with an embroidered “G” for her new last name which she wrapped around her bouquet. The wedding dress was Jordan’s something new. She borrowed earrings from her friend, Jordan Taylor. She incorporated blue into two different places in her wardrobe: the bottom of her jewel-encrusted wedges and the traditional garter.

Dillon cut a figure in a royal blue tuxedo with a white tie. His groomsmen, Austin Gardner, Seth Waterfield, Colton Nanney, Hunter Robinson, Matt Smith, Chevy Taylor, and Hunter Walker and best man, Jake Vincent were dashing in their navy tuxes with ties from Show Me Your Mumu that matched the bridesmaids’ dresses. Their attire was rented from Paula Worrell’s Sewing Room in Martin, Tennessee.

As guests arrived for the ceremony, they were greeted by Lauren Lovell, the bride’s cousin, and her future sister-in-law, Carly Bramlett. They were ushered to their seats by Alex Foster and OP Ogg. Kanaan Locke, the bride’s adorable young cousin, bore the ring down the aisle for the couple. Tra Faulkner sang and performed “You’re My Favorite” on his guitar and Breanna Pitcher sang “I Get to Love You” over the course of the ceremony.

At the end of the aisle, Dillon and Jordan were married under a lovely white pergola, built by the bride’s grandparents and Uncle Stacy Wheatley. Greenery twined around it and a small chandelier bearing candles hung above Dillon and Jordan. A stately tree towered over them, a promise of longevity for the couple. It meshed seamlessly with the venue, White Squirrel Winery.

The reception was catered by R & D Cakes and Catering and the tables, chairs, and other furnishings were rented from Eric’s Rentals out of Jackson, Tennessee. Both the wedding cake and groom’s cake were made by Sandy Clayton. The former was a two-tiered naked cake with eucalyptus leaves twined around it and the latter was a chocolate cake piled with chocolate covered strawberries. Oreo, chocolate, and vanilla cupcakes were baked by Makenzie Vincent, the groom’s cousin. Floral arrangements were arranged by St. Charles Florist and Paula Cooper.

DJ Kevin Runions provided the music for the reception. Dillon and Jordan Gardner shared their first dance to “With You I Am” by Cody Johnson. Jordan and her father, Greg, danced along to Dustin Lynch’s “Your Daddy’s Boots.” Dillon and Kim, his mother, swayed to Rascal Flatts’ “My Wish.” Jordan shared a special moment with a dance with all her brothers to Cole Taylor’s “Girl From a Little Town.”

As the big day progressed, it was captured by Abrea Crackel Photography. Riley Pope of Amber Ridge Photography filmed the events.

Jordan and Dillon honeymooned in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.