Nicole Ann Nelson and Charles Troy Riddle

The Bride (maiden name):Nicole Anne Nelson
The Groom (full name):Charles Troy Riddle
Date of the Wedding: October 18, 2014
Location (city): Corpus Christi
Length of engagement: 10 months

How did you meet? We met at a Christmas party. Both of our friends drug us out even though we didn’t want to go anywhere that night, but I’m sure glad we did. We didn’t believe in love at first sight but that is pretty much what happened that night when we locked eyes.

Tell us about the proposal: It was Christmas Eve and we were at his aunt’s house in front of his entire family. He asked me to get up and take a picture by the Christmas tree, and then my two daughter’s came into the room carrying the box with the ring. He told me I was was beautiful, that he loved me and asked if I would marry him. I said, “Absolutely.”

Wedding colors: Black and gold
Site of the Ceremony: St. Pius X Church in Corpus Christi, TX
Site of the Reception: The Ranch at San Patricio
Number of guests: 220
Site of rehearsal dinner: Dos Comales
Number of rehearsal dinner guests: 75

Wedding planner: No wedding Planner. Day of Planner at Reception – Circle A (Amber Anderson)
Officiant: Fr. Paul Hesse
Who designed the invitations: I designed the digital part of the invitations, and I had a calligraphist do our names on each invitation with gold ink.
Where the wedding dress is from (store/designer): Ceremony Dress – Destiny Bridal in San Antonio, Texas. Designer: Maggie Sottero. Reception Dress: Nordstrom’s Bridal – San Antonio, Texas
Where were the tuxes from: Groom’s tux purchased from Joseph A Banks
Where did you get your wedding rings: Camille’s Original Jewelry Designs
Where did you get your jewelry and/or accessories: Nordstrom’s
Where did you get the bridesmaid’s dresses (store / designer): Bella Bridesmaids & Destiny Bridal – San Antonio
Where did you get the groomsmen’s tuxes: Men’s Warehouse

Who did your hair and make up: Hair – Erica Hardy. Makeup by Megan Martinez.
Who designed the flowers: Joanie Nycum and myself
Who did the decorations: Myself with help of family and friends.
Who catered the food: Water Street Seafood Company
Who catered the liquor: We Mix You Mingle
Who did the cake:Cake Luster
Who provided your reception rentals (i.e. tents, stage, etc.):Razzle Dazzle – linens
Who was your reception entertainment: John Boyd
Who was your photographer: Studio Eleven Photography
Who was your videographer: Edward Shaw

What was your first dance song: With or Without You – U2
Father-daughter dance song: Just Fishin’ – Trace Adkins
Mother-groom dance song: My Wish – Rascal Flats

What was your get-a-way vehicle: Our Genesis
What was your wedding night lodging:Holiday Inn Corpus Christi Downtown Marina

What were your wedding favors: a CD with our favorite songs and pictures of us at Texas country concerts as the label
What were your bridal party giftsGold neckalces with their initials and a pearl and a button-down denim shirt.
Where did you register: Macy’s, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Williams-Sonoma
Honeymoon location: Downtown San Antonio mini-moon.

Favorite detail (what made your wedding unique)
Bride: The fact that that we made a lot of the decorations made it very personal and everything tied together. Everyone helped and it really made our family come closer together.
Groom: Besides a foot of rain 1 hour before the wedding, the formal casual theme at the ranch brought the city to the country.

Favorite moment
Bride:My favorite moment was our first dance because I got to take a moment to just enjoy my new husband. It was the song that Charlie always dedicated to me and our friend performed it for us and even the our guests started signing.
Groom: Watching my beautiful bride walk down the isle to me and staring into her eyes during our first dance.

Biggest challenge:
Bride: My biggest challenge was not doing everything myself and letting go of all the small details only I would notice. Being an interior designer, I wanted everything to be designed and perfect.
Groom: Biggest challenge is our kids. With so much work and the kids, times get tough, but that’s what brings us stronger together everyday. Everyone has hardships and stress in their lives, but how you deal with them makes the biggest difference.

Funniest or most embarrassing moment:
Bride:It was definitely during “the boot game” when my husband raised his boot claiming he has the best hair.
Groom: My brother was my best man and his speech was really funny and embarrassing. But I took it like the man I am because my wife means everything in the world to me.

If you could do one thing over again what would it be:
Bride: I would spend less time stressing and obsessing about the wedding and more time enjoying the engagement with my husband.
Groom: My proposal to Nicole. I had a book of things to tell her when I proposed. All that came out of my mouth was “I love you” and mumbled gibberish and had the Googly eyes in front of family. I’m not a nervous person, but that moment made me forget everything I had practiced the days before.

One piece of advice for future Brides or Grooms:
Bride: Just know the day is about pledging your life to your partner and having your friends and family witness it. All the little things you stress about really mean nothing compared to that.
Groom: There is a lot going on from the time the ceremony starts until you ride off into the sunset. You will be pulled in 10 directions at one time throughout and just have fun.

“Why did you get married, or what does marriage mean to you?”
Bride: Marriage to me means finding someone I can spend the rest of my life with and to get me through the good times and the bad. It means never giving up, growing old together, and leaning on each other for everything. That’s all you have in life is your family.
Groom: Marriage to me is understanding that my wife is more important than myself. That she is my heart and soul. No matter what happens, we work things out. We are equal to one another and help each other through everything,

How to make your spouse happy:
Bride: Honestly just being myself and giving him attention makes him happy.
Groom: I’d say a surprise Starbucks works pretty good. Can’t go wrong with that. In all seriousness, my wife loves me for the things most people take for granted. Like clean the car, cook dinner and play with our daughters.

What do you look forward to the most about being married?
Bride: I look forward to being able to be a family with our two girls and set the example for them – to show them what love is through not only words but actions.
Groom: Building our own business and Growing old together hand in hand on a front porch swing.

Any other information you’d like other couples to know:
Bride: You only get married once, so go for your dreams! You can’t do it all by yourself so ask friends and family to help. Don’t be afraid to delegate!
Groom: Don’t go to bed mad and be each other’s best friend, not parent.