On Thursday (Sept 3), American Idol season 14 runner-up Clark Beckham married his fiancée, Chanlie Baker, after nearly five years together.
Clark and Chanlie, a dental assistant, tied the knot at Ravenswood Mansion in Brentwood, Tennessee, People magazine reports. The couple originally planned to wed earlier this year, but the coronavirus pandemic forced them to postpone.
The Covid-19 pandemic changed plans
“The original date was May 7, and we were told we’d have to have 20 people max, which wasn’t enough for the bridal parties alone, much less staff, family and guests,” Clark told People.”We made the decision to postpone the wedding to a date we believed for sure would be free and clear of COVID. As we’ve all learned, it’s still not over so we had to cut down the vast majority of the guests that we already invited.”
“Then just a week or so before the wedding, we found out we could have most of our guests back now,” he added. “Planning a wedding is tough, but add a pandemic, and it’s even crazier.”
(See more photos at People)
Fellow American Idol finalist Rayvon Owen attended
The couple said their “I Dos” in front of a small group of guests, which included Clark’s fellow Idol season 14 finalist Rayvon Owen. The black-tie affair featured olive branches, white roses and the groomsmen and bridesmaids all in black. The bride wore a hip-hugging, long-sleeved white Pronovias Bridal sequin wedding gown.
“My wedding dress is one that I always pictured myself in,” Chanlie said. “I was seriously in love with two dresses. [They were] completely opposite, but in the end the tears told me which to choose.” Clark wore a white tux he designed with Generation Tux. He used the same company to design his groomsmen’s tuxes as well. “We’ve been really happy with them and with the tuxes we got,” he said.
Peacock Jewelers in Nashville did the couple’s wedding bands. Clark also used the company for Chanlie’s engagement ring. “They saved the day when I was proposing to Chanlie,” Clark said. “I had gotten the wrong ring for the stone we had ordered, and they were able to re-order and deliver the ring just hours before my concert where I had planned to pop the question! Wouldn’t have gotten our rings anywhere else.”
Clark and his band performed his latest song, Luckiest Man at the reception
At the reception, the newly married couple picked “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” by D’Angelo for their first dance. And since most of Clark’s groomsmen were his band members, they set up their instruments and played during the reception. Clark crooned his latest single “Luckiest Man,” which he wrote about her.
The couple met at a chicken joint
Clark and Charlie met at Champy’s Fried Chicken in Chattanooga, Tennessee nearly five years ago. Chanlie worked as a server. “I went there a lot,” Clark said. “One day I saw her, didn’t know her, wanted to know her, and walked up to introduce myself. I had never done that in my life. We talked … I was awkward, but I got her name and she got mine. Next time, we talked a little more and the rest is history.”
It didn’t happen immediately, but eventually, Clark and Chanlie realized each other was “the one.”
“Neither of us had a sudden revelation,” he said. “Many people talk about the very moment they knew. For us, it was a gradual certainty that we wanted to take on life together. Through the years of being with Chanlie, I’ve realized there’s no one in the world I’d rather have on my team when the going gets tough. It also goes without saying she’s one of the most virtuous, beautiful, brilliant people I’ve ever met and will ever meet in my life.”
Clark proposed in August 2019 after Chanlie graduated from college. “We were ready to move on to the next stage of our life together,” he said.
Clark set to release debut album in the fall
The couple will honeymoon at The Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Clark will release his debut album, Light Year, in the fall.
