page 108 X metropolitan weddings
X SUMMER / FALL 2025
written by | meg daniel photographed by | Shelby ChantÉ photography
Preparing for a marriage, not just a wedding
While Bailey and Ian met through an online dating app, Ian knew he wanted to make sure her family understood he was not a creep, but rather an upstanding guy. So one week after their first date, Ian called Bailey’ s father and asked him to lunch. This simple gesture meant so much to Bailey’ s dad, knowing Ian’ s intentions were honorable. The couple dated for 2 years before Ian planned a big surprise. In October 2023, he first took her father and grandfather to lunch at Jimm’ s Steakhouse to ask for their blessing.“ I appreciated their guidance and examples of what a great marriage should look like and it was important to me to ask them first.” Ian told Bailey they were going to a nice dinner, then blindfolded her and took her to Twin Oaks Country Club. He popped the question- and the champagne, and Bailey said yes!
The very next day they toured the wedding venue, Glass Haus, and booked it on the spot for the entire weekend: a rehearsal dinner Friday night, complete with s’ mores at the fire pit, Saturday the ceremony and reception, then Sunday would be the send-off brunch. Everyone could stay in the tree house village at Glass Haus, making it the perfect venue for all of their out-of-town guests and bridal party.
Photographer Shelby Chanté was recommended by Bailey’ s aunt and the newlyweds could not agree more. They loved her photos, her personality and she made it seem like she was not even there. Bailey thought at the end of the day,“ Oh no, we did not get to take enough pictures!” But when her gallery came back there were thousands of photos. Shelby told her,“ just be yourself and I will figure out the rest.” Bailey says,“ Shelby is so good at making it seem like the photography did not take up our whole day.”
Bailey found her dress at Gracie’ s Bridal. She knew she wanted a plain, strapless gown and spied the dress immediately when she walked in. She had fallen in love with a black velvet ribbon and wanted to incorporate black velvet into the bridal party attire and wedding decor. Ian went to Karl’ s Tuxedo and asked for a black velvet jacket. They told him,“ we haven’ t had someone request that in decades!” He wanted something unique that wasn’ t traditional. His groomsmen wore black jackets with black velvet bow ties while Bailey’ s bridesmaids wore black velvet dresses with long black velvet gloves. She then used the black velvet theme throughout the decor with black velvet bows at the place settings and more.
Rosewood Floral was able to take Bailey’ s vision of black velvet, white roses and baby’ s breath and elevate it to the next level, incorporating gorgeous flowers into the arrangements for the tables, bouquets and down the aisle.
Before they got married, they met with their pastor, Jeremy Alvarez from North Point Church in Nixa, and had premarital counseling. Both agree, this step is so important! Jeremy is so kind with a great sense of humor and really challenged the couple with questions to set their marriage up for long-term success. They often repeated to themselves,“ We are preparing for a marriage, not just a wedding!”
After the 4:00 pm ceremony, the guests went outside for a cocktail hour while the wedding planner moved floral arrangements into the reception area. Bailey says she could not have pulled off this dream wedding without the help of her‘ day-of wedding coordinator,’ Courtney Shaw. She helped them come up with a timeline, and brought their vision to life. She was able to get everyone where they needed to be on time and took the stress out of the day.
At the reception, the couple used Bailey’ s Aunt Patty, who owns Simply Delicious Catering, and everyone enjoyed amazing food! Bailey’ s big family is Italian and so they had an Italian food station as well as an Asian food station and a dessert station. This style of serving made it easy for guests to have exactly what they wanted. The couple did have a small cake to cut for the two of them, but guests enjoyed a variety of desserts at the dessert station.
Live Events DJs did an amazing job keeping the dance floor full and the crowd happy all night long. Ian reflects,“ I did not realize how impactful the dance with my Mom would be.” Bailey agrees,“ he was sobbing!” But for Bailey’ s dance with her dad, they brought back some old memories. In fourth grade, Bailey convinced her dad to participate in the school talent show with her by singing the Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus ' duet,“ Ready, Set, Don’ t Go.” So for their father-daughter dance, they danced to that song while the video of the talent show played in the background.
Bailey and Ian opted for“ Bartending with the Bride and Groom” to interact with their guests. Folks lined up and paid a dollar to have the bride and groom give them their drinks and it was a perfect way for the couple to see and chat with all their friends who came to celebrate with them.
Bailey and Ian advise future couples to“ Keep God at the center of your marriage. Things will be hard, but if you have God at the center, it will work out.” Xxoxo