From their meet-cute in Nashville to their upcoming winter wedding in Wyoming, the love story of this happy couple seems fated. But it took a near-tragedy to make country singer Jenny Tolman and Grammy-nominated producer Dave Brainard realize what was right in front of them.
C&I knew Jenny Tolman from her Nashville-based country music career. We’d interviewed her in March 2019, when we premiered a music video for a song called “My Welcome Mat.” We should have seen the hearts, flowers, and fireworks floating around all the things she said about her then-producer now-fiancé Dave Brainard: “I am very lucky to work with such a talented producer like Dave, because he totally nails it every time. …” “Dave Brainard is such a musical genius. …” “Dave is one of my favorite people to play music with. He has such an inspiring energy about him and is constantly pushing me to become a better version of myself, which I love. …”
Even with all those undercurrents of love, we were still gobsmacked when people.com revealed how the two had gotten together as a couple. The headline read “Left for Dead, Nashville Producer Dave Brainard Finds Love in the Arms of Singer Jenny Tolman” followed by a quote from Jenny: “When you hear that sort of news about someone, it solidifies everything you feel for that person. …”
And then came the announcement of a new single, “I Know Some Cowboys,” accompanied in the mail by a postcard picturing Jenny in a light-pink cowboy hat along with some gourmet homemade gluten-free cookies, one of which was an icing-frosted cowboy boot. She was definitely back on our music radar, and when we found out Jenny and Dave were planning a destination winter wedding in Jackson, Wyoming, outside in the snow, we had to know more.
“Even though we live in Nashville, a lot of our love story has taken place in Jackson. It’s where we got engaged, and it’s where we’re getting married in March,” Jenny says. “We have really organically grown into the Western lifestyle with Jackson becoming somewhat of a second home to us over the last year, and with the direction my upcoming album [Married in a Honky-Tonk] has taken. We love the culture of Western living — being proud of hard work and the familial feeling that everyone seems to exude. We hope that our wedding will show our friends and family the beautiful culture, food, and landscape of the West.”
We talked with bride-to-be Jenny about Dave and their dream winter wedding in the West.
The Love Story
Dave and I have a very unique love story, ha ha. We met at a bar in Nashville, while I was singing in a writer’s round, and he was having a drink after recording in his studio that was above the bar. He approached me as I got off stage and told me how much of a fan of my voice he was, and that he’d love to get together and try writing sometime. So we did. We wrote and recorded together for about nine months, as friends, but I realized that I had very strong feelings for him after he got attacked in September of 2015.
I ended up writing a song called “Afraid,” which will be on my upcoming album, that describes exactly how I felt in that moment of realization. I sent him the song in the hospital, and he wrote back “Beautiful. Gosh you’re so beautiful.” And looking back, I guess that was the beginning of us letting our feelings for each other be known. A few months after that, we were driving around after a recording session one night, and Dave said, “I don’t know how this happened or why — and please know that this was never my intention — but I think I’m in love with you.” I thought I was gonna pass out because it was one of those moments you imagine in your head over and over, and then it actually happens and you can’t believe it’s real life! I said, “I think I’m in love with you too,” and we’ve been attached at the hip ever since — about six years later!
The Proposal
Dave proposed to me while we were hiking around Jenny Lake in Jackson, Wyoming. We were only about 15 or 20 minutes into our hike when we came across this beautiful clearing at the base of the Tetons and the foot of the lake. It is, to this day, the most beautiful place I have ever seen! We took pictures for a while, and while I was distracted, Dave secretly set up his phone on a rock to record, and he got down on one knee and proposed! It was so perfect and beautiful!
The Engagement (Ring)
We don’t have our wedding rings picked out just yet, but I can tell you about my engagement ring! My ring is something that Dave custom-designed for me. He didn’t know what he was doing, but the sweet woman, Debbie, who worked at King Jewelers in Nashville helped him out. When he showed her pictures of me, she said, “Oh, a classic beauty! She needs a classic ring that will never go out of style.” So he chose a beautiful white round-cut diamond, and with his knowledge of how much I love sparkles, placed it in a diamond-covered band. He likes to laugh about how excited I get going to new places to test the “sparkle lighting.”
The Destination
We fell in love with Jackson the moment we were coming in for a landing at the airport. It’s the most stunning place I’ve ever seen, especially covered in snow. Then we got engaged there and it became even more special. But one of the things we love most about Jackson is the people. We have made so many beautiful friends there that we love dearly. Everyone in that town is so kind and has such a strong sense of community. We have never walked around the town square without seeing someone that we know and stopping to say hello.
The night that Dave and I told each other we loved one another, the biggest snowstorm in like 10 years hit Nashville. We’ve always loved snow for that reason. We got engaged in the snow in Jackson, so it only felt right to get married in the snow! We love the snow so much that we are actually crazy enough to get married standing in the snow. Plus, it will make for such pretty pictures!
The Planning
Long-distance planning from Nashville has not been the easiest process. (I understand why everyone says to just elope, now, ha ha!) But, thankfully, we do have quite a few local friends who have been super-helpful in guiding us while we aren’t there.
For people planning a destination wedding, I would say to make sure you have someone you can trust at that destination, whether that’s a wedding planner, a friend, a person who works at the venue, etc. I think that’s what has helped me so much with making decisions that I otherwise wouldn’t know what to do with. It’s been a huge blessing having local friends to help give us their honest opinions and considerations.
As far as Dave’s role in the planning goes, he has been a part of it in the best way, in which he sits by and says, “Whatever makes you happy!”
The Dress
Oh my goodness, I am soooo in love with my dress! It is designed by Martina Liana, with the most gorgeous lace and beadwork all over it, long sleeves, an open back, and a super-unique illusion high neckline. Being on Say Yes to the Dress was absolutely a dream come true. I have watched that show ever since I was a little girl, so getting to actually go to New York City and visit Kleinfeld Bridal with my mom and sister was insane. I got my favorite consultant, Lisa, from the show. It was a little intimidating at first, because the salon was completely shut down and empty other than us who were filming. So, instead of having the hustle and bustle of the salon going on around you, you felt a little more pressure to be entertaining since it was just you. But everyone on the production team was so kind and helpful. It was just an amazing experience and dream come true.
Say Yes to the Dress is planning on coming to the wedding to film a follow-up episode that has a recap of the wedding, so I am excited about that! Stay tuned!
The Ceremony
I’m planning on dark emerald green, gold, and white for the wedding colors. I want it to feel very romantic and classy.
Dave and I will write our own wedding vows for each other. I am really looking forward to this part of the wedding. Since we are both songwriters, I think they will really turn out beautiful.
I know Dave will be wearing cowboy boots, and probably all the groomsmen, too. He also really wants to get a special cowboy hat for the wedding; he’ll most likely have it on at the reception/after party, too.
My sister will be my matron of honor, and then my childhood best friend and my other best friend/bandleader will be my two bridesmaids. Dave’s niece will also be a junior bridesmaid, while my niece will be our flower girl. One of Dave’s nephews will be the ring bearer, and Dave wants to put him in a bear costume and call him the “Ring Bear.” Ha ha (boys!). We’ll see if he gets his way. We are still working on finding the perfect dresses for the girls, but I envision a beautiful deep emerald colored velvet dress with long sleeves to keep them warm in the snow.
Snow has always been a significant symbol of our love for each other, and Dave and I are literally getting married in the snow. So snow boots were a no-brainer for me! I already have added a bunch of rhinestones to them!
The Music
Dave and I have talked about if we want to sing for each other at the wedding. Honestly, I think I am excited to have a night off of the stage and just getting to enjoy each other and our friends and family and not making it about putting on a show, necessarily. But, who knows? I love performing so much, I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up getting up there on stage after a couple of Wyoming Whiskeys.
The Reception
I haven’t made a lot of those decisions just yet, but I am a cake girl for sure! Dave and I are both gluten-free, so we’ll have a gluten-free wedding cake. Dave’s mother, who was Korean, recently passed away, so we are going to have special Korean appetizers to honor her at the wedding. Her cooking was the favorite of the family, so having food dedicated to her feels like a perfect way to have her there in spirit.
The Honeymoon
I haven’t picked out my going-away outfit yet, but knowing me, it will probably have a lot of rhinestones and/or fringe. We are going to Costa Rica for our honeymoon! We have never been to a tropical place like this together, so we are super-excited to explore the jungle and try all of the amazing food. One of the main reasons why we chose Costa Rica is because they are very ahead of the curve on organic, gluten-free food, which is the lifestyle that we live.
The Anticipation
I just have so much fun imagining the day as it is coming together. I almost get sad about the day actually happening, because then it’s over!
I am looking forward to getting to show our friends and family the town that we love so much: Jackson, Wyoming. It has become such a special place for us over the last year. We have made so many beautiful memories with the people there that we are just so excited to share it with our loved ones!
The Wedding Playlist
We’ve got the singer’s recommendations for a countrified wedding bash.
Click here to learn more about Jenny's upcoming album Married in a Honky-Tonk.
Photography: For the West and Wild Photography
