Lainey Wilson and Duck “Duck” Hodges held a waterfall wedding in Tennessee featuring Cajun touches, a jazz band, and second-line celebrations.
A wedding beneath a waterfall sounds like pure cinematic fantasy, and for Lainey Wilson and Devlin “Duck” Hodges, it was exactly the setting they turned into a real-life celebration.
The couple’s story began with a blind date in 2021. a meet-cute that carried the same easy. scene-stealing energy Wilson says she associates with the kind of dramatic Americana her fans already know from Yellowstone.. After dinner and a moment of clear chemistry, the night kept unfolding as they headed to a honkytonk.. Wilson later described how they bounced between Nashville spots by the water and into the music scene. adding that she and Duck have been “pretty inseparable” ever since.
Their relationship eventually brought them to another milestone with deep country-music roots.. After four years of dating. Duck chose iconic songwriter George Jones’s estate in Franklin. Tennessee. and asked Wilson to marry him on the doorstep in February 2025.. Wilson said the proposal was carefully staged with rose petals and photos from their previous years together. and she emphasized how much it meant to her to make the moment happen at George Jones’s front porch.
More than a year after that proposal. the wedding finally arrived in May 2026. with a venue choice shaped by a detour that turned into a dream.. While driving backroads in Tennessee. the couple spotted a billboard for The Ruskin Cave in Dickson. and the question came quickly.. Wilson said Duck asked if she wanted to get married there. and she agreed on the spot after they visited. taking in both the natural beauty of the cave and the simplicity of the property.
Planning, Wilson explained, wasn’t about chasing perfection for its own sake.. She wanted a celebration that felt warm and genuinely welcoming for guests, something that reflected the couple’s personalities.. Working with Hugh Howser and Kate Steele of H Three Events. she said the goal was to keep the experience special and beautiful without making people feel like they had to “take themselves too seriously.”
That relaxed comfort showed up in the details, including a strong Louisiana influence.. Because Wilson is from Louisiana and wanted a bit of Cajun character woven in naturally. the couple brought in a 12-piece jazz band—Rebirth—and had a Cajun meal prepared by the chefs at Wilson’s bar. Bell Bottoms Up.
Even Wilson’s wedding look carried the idea of “entirely her. ” especially given the fact that she’s almost never worn a dress.. Her stylist. Alexandra Mandelkorn. teamed up with the Oscar de la Renta team to craft a custom design that leaned into distinctive symbolism rather than trend-chasing.. The gown featured tiny Japanese cherry blossoms around the neckline and scattered throughout. a choice Wilson tied to living in the moment—something she said they intentionally did throughout the day.
Duck’s outfit was built with the same attention to bespoke style.. He wore a tailored suit by D.. Lacquaniti, along with a custom bolo, cufflinks, and a hat pin created in collaboration with Mud Lowery.. His boots were custom by Golden West Boots. and his cowboy hat came from Charlie 1 Horse. with the overall look styled by close friend Raina Gir.
The ceremony itself took place on Sunday, May 10, positioned on a cobblestone ledge at the foot of a waterfall.. Wilson said she could hear the water trickling down. birds singing. and feel the spring breeze as everything unfolded around her.. She arrived in a white horse-drawn carriage and walked down the aisle with her Deddy to join Duck at the altar. where the couple was married by Wilson’s friend and mentor. Wes Williams.
Adding a personal spiritual moment, Wilson and Duck took communion together during the ceremony in front of family and friends.. She also shared how vivid the emotion of the day was. saying she had never seen Duck smile as widely as he did at the altar. and describing the nerves and excitement that came with finally saying “I do.”
Music immediately turned the ceremony into momentum.. As the newlyweds walked hand-in-hand down the aisle. Raye’s “Where Is My Husband!” played. followed by the legendary New Orleans group Rebirth Brass Band leading everyone into a second line march toward cocktail hour.. Wilson pointed out how meaningful it was to bring a touch of Louisiana up to Tennessee through the sound and spirit of home.
The celebration kept expanding once cocktail hour ended, with another second line march carrying guests to the cave reception space.. Wilson said her mama led the dinner prayer for everyone. and then the night settled into a familiar rhythm of good food. good company. and music—along with a dance floor that stayed packed.. To close the evening. Duck and Wilson joined the send-off line of sparklers and cheering loved ones. climbed into an old white Ford truck. and drove off into the next chapter.
What made the wedding resonate beyond its stunning location was the careful way multiple parts of the couple’s identities met in one place: country roots. Louisiana tradition. and a natural Tennessee setting that didn’t feel forced.. The waterfall ceremony and the moving second-line energy weren’t just aesthetic choices; they aligned with Wilson’s repeated emphasis on warmth—making sure guests felt included rather than watched.
There’s also a throughline in the milestones that brought them here. from the blind date that grew into “inseparable” companionship. to the George Jones proposal framed with rose petals and photographs. and finally to a venue discovered via a billboard and a quick question in the car.. Each moment carried the same theme: private meaning expressed through public celebration.
As with many high-profile weddings. attention often gravitates toward the visuals—yet the day’s storyline leaned just as much on shared rituals and sound.. The combination of communion in front of loved ones. a Cajun meal. a jazz band. and the second-line processions built a full cultural arc. turning the celebration into something that felt both personal and communal for everyone in attendance—Misryoum
Lainey Wilson wedding Duck Hodges Ruskin Cave wedding waterfall ceremony Cajun flair Rebirth Brass Band country music