Sarah Sperling and Kyle Young met in 2013 when she returned to Nashville after 12 years in New York City. At the suggestion of her father, Harvey Sperling, a member of the education council of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, she met with CEO Kyle Young.

“We walked around the gallery spaces,” said Sarah, “and ended up in the new theater, sitting in two seats and talking. I felt a spark and was thinking he was kinda cool when he suddenly shot up and said he had to get back to work.”

In his defense, Kyle later said, “There was so much going on then, and I was so absorbed by our expansion at the museum. I don’t think I went home and pined, but I did think that might have been a really good thing.”

On May 1, 2018, almost five years later, Kyle found out it was Sarah’s birthday and sent her a quick greeting. She responded, they met for lunch and soon began seeing each other regularly.

Months later, they flew to Dallas so that Kyle could participate on a panel underwritten by Texas Monthly. The museum had opened an exhibit called Outlaws & Armadillos: Country’s Roaring ’70s, and Kyle had engulfed himself in Texas’ musical culture and contributions. He had also befriended musicians Jessi Colter, Joe Ely and Jack Ingram; filmmaker Eric Geadelmann; and others, some of whom were present in the bar at Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek on that September evening when Jessi examined and cemented Kyle’s intentions regarding Sarah.

“Jessi was asking whether Kyle was honorable,” said Sarah.

So Kyle answered, “Well, we’re going to get married.”

This was a surprise to everyone at the table, including Sarah, Jessi and, perhaps, Kyle himself.

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They became engaged on Dec. 21, 2020 — the winter solstice and the wedding anniversary of Kyle’s parents. They married on Oct. 3, 2021, at the home of Judy and Joe Barker, with Rabbi Laurie Rice of Congregation Micah officiating. The Tulip Tree’s Mark O’Bryan provided the simple but elegant white orchids for the dining table and designed a chuppah of greenery incorporating Sarah’s maternal grandmother’s tablecloth, all to complement the Barkers’ exceptional collection of contemporary art.

The couple processed to Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young,” arranged and performed by Lockeland Strings. The bride’s parents and the Barkers were the only attendees. Sarah wore her mother’s lace wedding dress from 53 years ago and carried an orchid bouquet.

After a luncheon catered by Kristen Winston, the couple continued their late afternoon celebration with martinis at Henrietta Red and honeymooned at Blackberry Mountain. Sarah is director of individual giving at Cheekwood and is a graduate of University School of Nashville, Ithaca College and Parsons School of Design. Kyle is an alumnus of Ensworth School, Montgomery Bell Academy, Kenyon College and the University of Leeds. Their parents are Cathie and Harvey Sperling and the late Arlease and TD Young.