Erin Napier loves a good love story, and her latest will be especially fun for HGTV fans. On September 4, 2025, the designer shared a photo in her Instagram Stories of a newlywed couple: her childhood friend Brad Smith, who appeared on an episode of “Home Town” in 2024, and his new bride, Emily.
Erin captioned the photo, “here’s a sweet story for you. remember brad, our drummer bachelor friend? emily saw his episode and commented on my post about his nice smile. he saw it. he’s not a bachelor anymore.”
Late on September 4, Erin added more proof of the online match, sharing a screenshot in her Instagram Stories of Emily’s comment on her post, which said, “Tell Brad that Emily from NC said he has nice teeth! 😁😉.” Erin replied by tagging Brad and writing, “just doin my job here 👆😁”
‘Home Town’ Bachelor is Now Happily Married
Erin’s Instagram Story linked to wedding photos of the happy couple taken by Jeff Reich. She and her husband Ben attended the nuptials, as they were seen in the background of two photos.
The Smiths also posed in front of the Laurel Mercantile, co-owned by the Napiers with their close friends Josh and Emily Newell, and Mallorie and Jim Rasberry.
Erin commented on the photos, “okay these are gorgeous” and Reich replied, “it’s a wonderful magical story and a privilege to have a small share in. Thank you for the kind words. 😊”
Brad was featured on the eighth season of “Home Town” in May 2024, as a recently-divorced creative who wanted to give his old home a fresh start.
“He’s been living in limbo for a year now, where the house doesn’t reflect who he is,” Erin said during the episode. And she would know, given that they’ve known each other since they were kids and even formed a band together in high school.
When Ben asked him to describe his “brand,” Brad quipped, “Just awesomeness. Super chill, laid-back, just have a good time.”
After Quick Engagement, ‘Home Town’ Couple Are Living in House That Ben & Erin Napier Transformed
Erin and Ben transformed Smith’s very “bland” bachelor pad into a “Bradgical,” moody oasis, complete with a “milk bar” in his new kitchen. He told the couple on the show, “I don’t drink alcohol, but I do drink a lot of milk, so I love having the idea of a milk bar.”
On the post of Brad and Emily’s wedding photos, a fan asked, “So is she moving into his bachelor pad with the milk bar?” Riggs cutely responded, “I already did 😉❤️”
The couple asked only for gift cards or cash to help with Emily’s move from North Carolina to Laurel. On their wedding registry, the couple wrote, “We met thanks to the ‘Bradgic’ of Home Town—what began as a renovation in Laurel turned into love. Emily is moving from North Carolina to join Brad in a few weeks, and this registry helps with the big move. Your love and support mean the world as we start our life together in our shared home.”
Brad’s Instagram feed shows that he and Emily connected not long after his episode aired in May 2024. He posted his first photo of them together in September. On April 27, he shared photos from a sweet picnic where he proposed.
The couple married a month later, on May 29, according to a wedding photo Brad posted, which he captioned, “Yesterday was perfect.”
‘Home Town’ Also Featured Erin Napier’s Band Reunion
For the episode featuring Brad’s home renovation, Erin agreed to get their band, Sunday’s Maria, back together for one last show on the episode, singing and playing her guitar, and Brad on drums.
According to a 2021 Instagram post from Erin, their cover band was named after the Maria referenced in many Counting Crows songs. Erin wrote that their band primarily played Blind Melon, Alanis Morrissette, Ani DiFranco and Barenaked Ladies cover songs.
Erin also showed off her musical talents in the 2022 TV movie “A Christmas Open House,” during a scene at a karaoke bar in Laurel, with Ben and actor Victor Rasuk singing backup. She has said she still occasionally performs at special events and friends’ weddings, including singing “Amazing Grace” with a friend during an episode of “Home Town” in 2020.
