The best way to wrap up the 2023 wedding season? With Alec Fair, Bailey Heimann, and their brunch wedding in Westfield, Indiana of course!
Both in life and on their wedding day, Alec and Bailey are very intentional. They knew exactly what they wanted their wedding day to be, and on Saturday, October 21, 2023, Alec and Bailey became husband and wife with a 10:30 am ceremony and the most beautiful at-home, brunch wedding reception.
Between the intentionality Alec and Bailey put into planning their wedding and all of the truly stunning details they selected, I will forever be in awe of this VRP bride and groom’s celebration, and I’m so excited to share previews from their intimate wedding on the blog!
Alec & Bailey became husband & wife at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church & then celebrated with an at-home, brunch wedding reception in Westfield, Indiana.
Now, a brunch wedding does require a pretty early wakeup call. As a result, Bailey was up by 5:00 am with Angie—Bailey’s cousin who happens to be a very talented hairstylist—to get ready.
By the time Megan (my second shooter) and I arrived at Bailey and Alec’s house, Bailey and all of the ladies were ready, and it was time for Bailey to put on her wedding dress. (Typically, we photograph bridal details first thing in the morning, but since the sun still wasn’t up and natural light is best—in my opinion—for photographing details, we came back to Alec and Bailey’s invitations and other details a bit later.)
Bailey put on her wedding dress, veil, and jewelry with the help of her mom, mother-in-law, cousin (who is more like a sister), and her cousin’s daughter. And, guys, just wait until you see this stunning bride! Bailey is such a classy woman with a timeless style, and this definitely shows in her gown and jewelry selection. Personally, I still cannot get over her flawless pearl details!
After Bailey was ready, she shared a very sweet first look with her dad, and since Bailey is her parents’ only daughter, as you can imagine, this moment was especially emotional.
Next, Megan and I went to the other side of their house where we took Alec’s getting ready photos. Alec got ready with the help of his parents and brother, and while this just took a few minutes, it was obvious that Alec could not wait to see his bride.
After getting ready photos had been taken, everyone traveled to St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, where Alec and Bailey shared a private first look outside the church. Now, an early ceremony time may cause some couples to decide to skip a first look, but I think it’s safe to say that Alec and Bailey are glad that they still opted to see one another before their ceremony. They wanted to spend as much of their wedding day together as possible, and a first look allowed them to do exactly that.
Following their first look, Alec and Bailey became husband and wife at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church surrounded by their 30 guests, which included Bailey and Alec’s closest friends and family.
After they were announced Mr. and Mrs. Fair, we took family photos inside the church and then grabbed a few bride and groom portraits outside the church. (I mean, we had to take advantage of the water and those fall leaves!) From there, everyone headed to Bailey and Alec’s for the most beautiful brunch!
Now, some people hear the term “at-home” wedding, and they assume that the celebration will be less than elegant. But, I can assure you that that was NOT the case for Alec and Bailey’s wedding reception. You see, Alec and Bailey put careful thought into every last detail. First of all, their home—which was built just a year before their wedding—was seemingly built to be the perfect place to host an intimate reception. I mean, the neutral colors and large windows that offer great natural light made the perfect backdrop.
Also, while Alec and Bailey didn’t have a large reception, they were very intentional about the reception items they invested in. I mean, just wait until you see their beautiful brunch spread put together by The Board Ladies, the gorgeous tablescapes Bailey designed to be placed under a white tent in their backyard, amazing florals from Oberer’s Flowers that filled the house, and one of the most beautiful wedding cakes I’ve ever seen made by Classic Cakes. (In case you can’t tell, I’m a big fan of all of Alec and Bailey’s pearl details!)
Once everyone was at the house, Alec and Bailey spent a few hours simply enjoying brunch and quality time with their guests. (I did sneak away to photograph their details for a little while, which were very lovely!)
After brunch, Angie helped Bailey with a second hairstyle, and Alec, Bailey, Megan, and I traveled to Coxhall Gardens in Carmel, Indiana—where leaves had already begun to change—for bride and groom photos.
By 4:30 pm, all photos and wedding festivities came to a wrap, and after we hugged Alec and Bailey goodbye, they mentioned that their plan for the evening was to pick up Chipotle on their way home and to hang out on their couch in pajamas. And, if you know how much these two love their couch (which took eight months to arrive), then you also know that there truly wasn’t a more perfect way for Alec and Bailey to end their wedding day.
Both on their wedding day & in their everyday lives, Alec & Bailey know what matters most to them.
Now, I know I’ve already said this, but as I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Alec and Bailey over the last year, I have absolutely loved witnessing their intentionality—both in how they planned their wedding and in how they live their lives.
I mean, when it came to their wedding, Bailey and Alec decided what they wanted their celebration to look like and planned and invested accordingly. When it came to planning their honeymoon, they decided that taking a European vacation a few months before their big day and then a short resort vacation after their wedding would allow them to make the most out of their travel. In their daily lives, they are both incredibly successful—especially considering their age—but also clearly invest a lot of time and energy into the relationships that matter most to them. And, when it comes to their relationship, they’re even more intentional. For example, Bailey remembered that Alec really wanted to try a specific bottle of tequila, and she gave it to him as a gift on their wedding day.
I think it’s safe to say that most people let life happen to them. Alec and Bailey, however, decide—together—what they want in life and then work together to make things happen. I hope and pray that that’s exactly how they continue to live over the next 50+ years.
Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Fair!
Alec and Bailey, I cannot begin to explain how honored I was that you trusted me to be your wedding photographer. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for trusting me to take your engagement photos, to celebrate your marriage with you, and to capture your first day as the Fairs.
I hope you enjoy these previews from your St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church and brunch wedding in Westfield, Indiana. However, I hope you love being husband and wife even more. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Fair!
Want to see more of Bailey and Alec? See their engagement photos at Holcomb Gardens in Indianapolis!
Creative Team
Ceremony Venue: St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church
Reception Venue: Private Property
Officiant: Fr. Mike McKinley
Wedding Dress Boutique: The Wedding Studio
Wedding Dress Designer: Stella York
Seamstress: Tong’s Alterations
Hair Stylist: Angelina Perez
Florist: Oberer’s Flowers
Caterer: The Board Ladies
Baker: Classic Cakes
Rings: Rayman Jewelers
Invitations: Zazzle
Photographer: Victoria Rayburn Photography
