Basilica of Saint Joseph Wedding | Haley & Dillon

Haley & Dillon’s Basilica of Saint Joseph Wedding

Haley and Dillon’s Basilica of Saint Joseph wedding took place in the heart of Bardstown, Kentucky, with their ceremony inside the historic church and their reception right next door in the parish hall.

Haley described their wedding as traditional, and the Basilica was a fitting setting for it. One of the reasons she loved the church was its age and stained glass windows, so the building itself was an important part of what she envisioned for their wedding day.

Getting Ready at St. Joseph

Haley spent the afternoon getting ready at St. Joseph while Dillon got ready separately with his side of the wedding party. Their wedding colors included burgundy and mauve mixed with cream and neutral tones.

Haley chose not to see Dillon before the ceremony, but there was one first look she definitely wanted. She had told me ahead of time how much she loved father-daughter first look photos, so we planned time for her to see her dad outside the church before the ceremony.

With no first look between Haley and Dillon, the first time they saw each other that day was when Haley came down the aisle.

A Traditional Wedding at the Basilica of Saint Joseph

The Basilica of Saint Joseph Proto-Cathedral is one of those churches where you really don’t need to add much. Between the stained glass, tall ceilings and historic architecture, there is already plenty to work with visually.

Haley and Dillon kept their ceremony traditional and had a large group of friends and family involved in the wedding party.

Wedding Party and Couple Portraits at St. Joseph

After the ceremony, we stayed around St. Joseph for family photos before moving into wedding party and couple portraits. With the ceremony and reception both on the same property, we didn’t have to add another location or travel time to an already full wedding-day timeline.

We spent some time with the wedding party first before moving on to photos of just Haley and Dillon. Since they chose not to do a first look, this was also our first opportunity during the day to focus on portraits of the two of them together.

The Basilica and the areas surrounding the church gave us plenty of options for their photos while keeping everything in one place. Once we finished portraits, everyone could head straight into the parish hall for the reception.

A St. Joseph Parish Hall Wedding Reception

The reception was held in the parish hall at St. Joseph, where Haley and Dillon added some of their own details to the space. Haley had made their centerpieces and a photo arch for the reception, bringing some more personal elements into an otherwise very traditional wedding day.

After dinner, their maid of honor and best man gave speeches before Haley and Dillon moved into their first dance and the parent dances.

One detail Haley had planned for later in the evening was a song dedicated to Dillon’s dad, with Dillon and his sister sharing the dance floor for it. It was a personal addition to the reception and a way to include his dad in the evening.

From there, the dance floor opened and everyone could settle into the rest of the night.

A Traditional Bardstown Wedding

One of the things I like about weddings like Haley and Dillon’s is that a wedding doesn’t have to be unusual to feel personal. They weren’t trying to reinvent the day or make every part of it different. They chose a church Haley genuinely loved, included the traditions that mattered to them, added some things they had made themselves, and celebrated with their family and friends.

Looking for a Photographer for Your Basilica of Saint Joseph Wedding?

If you’re getting married at the Basilica of Saint Joseph in Bardstown and like the way I photographed Haley and Dillon’s day, I’d love to hear from you. You can learn more about my wedding photography and what’s included on my Services page, or get in touch through my Contact page to check availability for your date.