Quick Answer
Lainey Wilson and Devlin "Duck" Hodges were married on Sunday, May 10, 2026 at The Ruskin Cave, a natural waterfall venue in Dickson, Tennessee. The intimate ceremony took place on a cobblestone ledge at the foot of the waterfall, surrounded by family, close friends, and several country music guests.
Wilson wore a custom Oscar de la Renta gown featuring hand stitched Japanese cherry blossoms. Hodges wore a bespoke D Lacquaniti suit paired with custom Western boots and a classic cowboy hat. The reception featured a Cajun menu prepared by Wilson's Nashville restaurant Bell Bottoms Up and live music from the 12 piece jazz band Rebirth.
The couple got engaged in February 2025 at the historic George Jones estate after several years of dating.
Discovering The Ruskin Cave by Accident
Rather than booking a high profile resort, Wilson and Hodges found their venue while driving the backroads of Tennessee. They spotted a billboard for The Ruskin Cave, took the detour, and decided on the spot.
"Duck said, 'You wanna get married there?' I said, 'Done deal,'" Wilson recalled. The site offered lush greenery, untouched natural beauty, and a real waterfall, giving the couple a private sanctuary far from the spotlight of country music's biggest awards stages.
The Dress and the Suit
Wilson's custom Oscar de la Renta gown leaned into timeless elegance rather than her usual bell bottom heavy stage looks. The hand stitched Japanese cherry blossoms added a romantic, almost editorial detail to the flowing silhouette.
Hodges opted for personality over convention. His bespoke D Lacquaniti suit was finished off with custom made Western boots and a cowboy hat, keeping the day rooted in his and Wilson's shared Southern aesthetic.
Vows at the Foot of a Waterfall
The ceremony itself was held on a cobblestone ledge directly at the base of the waterfall. Guests sat fully immersed in the natural sound of the cave.
"You could hear the water trickling down and birds singing," Wilson said of the moment. The setting was deliberately stripped back so that the focus stayed on the vows rather than the production.
A Cajun Dinner and a 12 Piece Jazz Band
The reception leaned heavily into Wilson's Louisiana roots. She flew in the culinary team from her own Nashville restaurant, Bell Bottoms Up, to serve a full Cajun dinner.
- Custom Cajun menu prepared by the Bell Bottoms Up team.
- Live performance from Rebirth, a 12 piece jazz band.
- Reception décor blending Tennessee and Louisiana motifs.
- Intentionally relaxed, late night dancing format.
- Tight guest list of close family, friends, and country music peers.
"We wanted it to be special and beautiful, but really welcoming and comfortable for our guests," Wilson noted. "We tried not to take ourselves too seriously."
Who Is Devlin "Duck" Hodges?
Hodges built his own legacy long before becoming Mr. Wilson. Raised in Alabama, he picked up his nickname from competitive duck calling, a discipline in which he won a state championship.
At Samford University he became one of the most decorated quarterbacks in FCS history, breaking the all time FCS passing record previously held by Steve McNair and finishing with 14,584 passing yards. He won the Walter Payton Award, the FCS equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, and later started games at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2019 NFL season.
From the George Jones Estate to Forever
The path to the altar started in February 2025, when Hodges proposed at the historic George Jones estate, a location deeply tied to country music history. Just over a year later, the couple turned that engagement into a Tennessee waterfall wedding.
The takeaway
The Wilson and Hodges wedding was a deliberately personal counterpoint to Wilson's very public career. A backroad billboard led them to The Ruskin Cave, a Tennessee waterfall framed their vows, and a Cajun dinner and jazz band kept the night rooted in their shared Southern identity.
As Wilson put it: "He's just the place that I get to call home and I'm lucky to have him and I think he's pretty dang lucky to have me, too."
When the Couple Tied the Knot
Country music star Lainey Wilson and former NFL quarterback Devlin "Duck" Hodges held their wedding in the spring of 2026, after an engagement announced the previous year. The ceremony was a private affair attended by family and a tight inner circle of friends.
The Setting
The couple chose a rural venue in Louisiana that reflects Wilson's Southern roots. Outdoor ceremony, intimate reception barn, and traditional country styling combined to create a celebration that mirrored her artistic identity.
How They Met
- Introduced through mutual friends several years before the engagement.
- Bonded over shared Southern upbringings and faith.
- Maintained a notably private relationship despite both careers attracting attention.
The Guest List
While the couple kept names tightly guarded, attendees included close country music collaborators, family members from both sides, and a handful of teammates from Hodges' football days. Phones were reportedly discouraged to protect privacy.
The Dress and the Details
Wilson wore a custom gown that blended traditional silhouettes with country styling touches, including subtle floral embroidery. The reception featured a live band, family style Louisiana cuisine, and a late night dance set that ran past midnight.
What They Have Said Publicly
- Brief, gratitude focused social media posts after the ceremony.
- References to wanting to keep most of the day to themselves.
- Acknowledgements thanking fans for respecting the couple's privacy.
What Comes Next
Wilson returns to a packed touring schedule, while Hodges continues his post football pursuits. The couple has signalled a desire to base themselves in the South and keep their marriage anchored away from the spotlight, even as Wilson's career continues to climb.
