This Couple Exchanged Vows in Front of a 17th-Century Mission-Style Chapel with Mountain Views

When Bailey needed a date for her sorority dance in October of 2013, her friend offered to set her up with Andrew, who was also part of Greek life at The University of Alabama. When the two met, they immediately hit it off, and by the end of the evening they shared a kiss while Sister Hazel played "All For You" live. "It was pretty magical, I must say," Bailey says.

A few years later, they spent Thanksgiving in St. Charles, Illinois, with Andrew's parents. The day after the holiday, Andrew made reservations at their favorite restaurant and invited friends to meet them post-meal at a speakeasy bar. After they ate, Andrew managed to convince Bailey to pop into The Hotel Baker for a drink, where he took her straight to the elevator. "I kept asking if he knew where he was going," Bailey remembers. When he got down on one knee to propose, Bailey felt the tears come—and noticed a photographer capturing the moment. Soon after, family and friends flooded the room to congratulate the pair (some had flown in from around the country!).

The couple aimed for an 18-month-long engagement, and were able to move forward with their original wedding date: May 1, 2021. They invited 162 guests to celebrate their wedding at Tubac Golf Resort and Spa in Tubac, Arizona; most celebrants stayed on-site. This made everything that much more special, they say, since Bailey's grandparents have lived on the golf resort for 20 years, and her family visited often throughout the years. "Not long after our decision to get married there, my parents moved to the resort, as well," Bailey says. "The charm and positioning of the resort truly makes it a remote oasis." Bailey and Andrew worked with a wedding planner from Crain & Co Events to execute their ceremony with mountain views and an all-white tented dinner reception.

The pair worked with Brie of Brie Dumais Designs to customize their invitation suite, which set the tone for the event's neutral color palette. Suites were printed on thick paper, wrapped in a vellum belly band, and finished with a wax seal. They incorporated a sketch of the venue's chapel, which Bailey's grandmother composed, along with a big-day timeline that featured icons illustrated by their stationer.

Bailey's grandmother also hand-painted 15 canvas bags for the bridesmaids and the bride's mother and mother-in-law. "This was incredibly special. Each bag was slightly different, as she used different techniques (watercolor, acrylic, dark, light) for each," Bailey says. "To top it off, she added a custom name tag with the girls' room numbers to the bag." The canvas totes and other guest welcome bags were delivered to the attendees' rooms by the staff at the resort. Bailey's mother filled them candles from the venue, a custom "things to do" package, a weekend timeline, and snacks.

The bride always envisioned herself wearing a Monique Lhuillier wedding dress, and when she tried on an ivory lace number that she had been eyeing from the latest collection, she knew it was the one. During the reception, she changed into a Bronx and Banco mini dress with feather detailing.

Bailey wore her late grandmother's diamond and pearl earrings as her "something old." "My grandmother loved jewelry and ever since I was a little girl she told me because I was the only granddaughter, I would one day get all of her jewelry," Bailey says. "Wearing her earrings was extra special to me. I knew she was looking down on us during this special day." For her "something borrowed," Bailey's other grandmother lent her a clutch that matched her second look.

And the finishing touch for her ceremony look? A bouquet of garden roses, spray roses, ranunculus, lisianthus, and sweet peas embellished with greenery and wrapped in a neutral ribbon.

Andrew wore a classic black tuxedo paired with a boutonnière of white ranunculus accented with greenery.

Bridesmaids wore white dresses from Amsale and held a miniature bouquet that matched Bailey's. "I've always loved the classic white bridesmaid look," Bailey says. "It paired very well with our color scheme."

The groomsmen and the couple's ring bearer matched Andrew in black tuxedos, creating a striking black-and-white palette within the wedding party.

Bailey and Andrew shared a first look on a scenic pathway at the resort. "We had been waiting for this for so long and I couldn't wait to marry my best friend!" Bailey says. She shared a similar moment with her father, which turned emotional quickly. "He explained it as years of emotions all within seconds—he broke down in tears," she adds.

The ceremony took place outside a mission-style chapel on the resort that featured rounded arches.

Two asymmetrical floral installations, one eight-feet-tall and the other standing at 10 feet, framed the chapel doors.

Wooden, carved-back chairs were set up to match the chapel's expansive doors, and floor arrangements of greenery and white flowers lined the back row.

Loved ones were greeted by a welcome sign at the entrance to the ceremony. The sign was printed on gray paper and tied with ribbons to a gold frame, which was embellished with a greenery garland.

A basket held custom programs that featured Bailey's grandmother's sketch of the chapel. They also included a quote from James Taylor that is very special to the couple: "The meaning of life is enjoying the passage of time." "My mother has written this on every card that we've received for as long as I can remember," Bailey says. "This was also part of her wedding."

As a jazz duo, The JJs Band, played Canon in D, Bailey made her way down the aisle accompanied by her father. One of Bailey's favorite memories from the day was standing at the start of the aisle. "It felt like my husband, Andrew and I were the only people present at that exact moment," she says.

Bailey and Andrew had a Presbyterian wedding ceremony led by their family pastor, Reverend George Wirth. "He's been close friends with our family for over 40 years," Bailey explains, noting that he married both her mother and aunt.

Although the bride and groom stepped away from the cocktail hour to take portraits, guests enjoyed passed appetizers and specialty "his and hers" drinks. 

Guests found their table numbers on an acrylic seating chart that read "Take a sip and find your seat." Two displays were set up on either side of the chart in front of greenery backdrops, one holding glasses of Champagne and the other holding cups of cider.

Floor arrangements and white pillar candles lined the entrance to the reception tent.

The party took place underneath a clear top tent with mountain and golf course views. White drapery, string lights, and glass chandeliers created a romantic atmosphere. "The tent looking out onto the mountains was unlike anything I've ever witnessed," the bride says. "We had the most unbelievable sunset, as well. It was surreal!" A mix of round tables topped with textured white linens and gray washed farm tables with white runners filled the space; stations were paired with vineyard chairs and surrounded a white dance floor. A chandelier floral installation of greenery and white flowers created a focal point in the space.

Classic centerpieces included compote vessels that held lush green-and-white flower arrangements and white taper candles in wooden votives.

Crystal glassware, delicate charger plates with raised detailing along the edges, and a wheat colored natural fabric napkin defined each setting.

Bailey and Andrew's sweetheart table was framed with the large floral installations from the ceremony. A floor arrangement was placed diagonally from the tabletop arrangement and pillar candles in glass votives were the final touch.

Bailey and Andrew shared their first dance to "Tupelo Honey" by Van Morrison. Bailey shared a dance with her father to the singer's "Brown Eyed Girl," and Andrew took a spin with his mother to "Humble and Kind" by Tim McGraw.

The The JJs Band kept everyone on their feet during the reception. "Seeing our family and friends dance the night away and enjoy every moment of being on the resort was truly amazing for us," Bailey says. "We are so thankful that they were able to be there!"

The couple's vanilla bean and lemon blackberry cake from Jamie Cakes featured three white tiers with sugar flower embellishments running up the side. To couple's currently planning their big day, Bailey has the following advice: "Enjoy, be present, and don't take any step of the process too seriously. This truly will be the best day of your life!"

Photography, Rachel Solomon Photography
Videography, Cineprose Films
Venue and Catering, Tubac Golf Resort and Spa
Wedding Planning and Event Design, Crain + Co Events
Flowers, Alexis Grace Florals
Invitations and Paper Products, Brie Dumais Designs
Bride's Gown, Monique Lhuillier
Bride's Shoes, Alexandre Birman
Hair and Makeup, Heather Van Houten Makeup and Hair
Bridesmaids' Dresses, Amsale
Music, The JJ's Band
Cake, Jamie Cakes
Rentals and Lighting, Bright Event Rentals
Photo Booth, Bash Box Photobooths & Bus