Courtship: Haley Bakker and Carl Eveleigh are proud natives of “flyover country.” They met in 2005 at the University of Indiana in Bloomington. Students in the same political science class and also cyclists, Haley and Carl hit it off and spent the next two years together. They remained friends for another eight, before rekindling their relationship in 2014. Two months after Carl moved from New York City to his hometown, Indianapolis, Haley accepted a job offer from Nike that found her in NYC. Having kept in touch over the years, they planned for him to visit and explored the city as if no time had passed between them. They maintained a long-distance relationship, including Haley’s relocation to Portland, over the next three years. Haley and Carl currently live in Indianapolis, where she serves as a communications director for a tech company and he works for a manufacturing company.
Proposal: In July 2017, on her family’s annual Michigan trip, Carl asked Haley to join him for a bike ride. When they stopped because of a “flat tire,” Haley decided to snap some photos of the lake, while Carl tended to his bike. She eventually turned and found him on one knee for an entirely different reason. They returned to the resort where the family waited, champagne in hand, to toast the engagement.
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Ceremony: While Haley hails from Webster Groves, she and Carl knew that the majority of their guests would be new to St. Louis, and they wanted to celebrate the city as much as themselves. Festivities kicked off on the eve of the ceremony at the historic Chase Park Plaza’s Zodiac Room, where the wedding block was held. Partygoers enjoyed breathtaking views of local landmarks, from Forest Park to the Arch. The ceremony at the iconic Peabody Opera House was both classic—white roses and lights adorned the space—and new. Haley met both Carl and her dad, who officiated, at the end of the aisle. The couple marveled at the magic of being surrounded by everyone who meant the most to them, in the same place, at the same time.
Reception: Guests enjoyed a cocktail hour before the reception, also held at the Peabody. Happy to let the space speak for itself, understated white lights and soft hues of white, gold, and green complemented the marble floors and Art Deco light fixtures. Centerpieces featured white roses and eucalyptus in sleek glass vases. Haley’s mother delivered the toast. The couple shared a first dance to Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day,” followed by electric performances from the Lustrelights and DJ Crucial, which kept the floor packed throughout the night. Post-wedding brunch at The Chase rounded out a quintessentially St. Louis weekend.
The Details:
Ceremony & Reception: Peabody Opera House
Wedding Coordinator: Alred Weddings
Photographer: Jacoby Andrick Photo & Design
Videography: Whole Street Productions
Flowers/Design: Melinda, Les Bouquets
Invites, Day-Of Items: On Three Designs
Hair & Makeup: Danielle Style
Bride’s and Bridesmaids’ Dresses: BHLDN
Bride’s Shoes: BHLDN
Groom’s Tux: Indochino
Cake: McArthur’s Bakery Cafe
Music: The Lustrelights, DJ Crucial, Serenade St. Louis Quartet
Transportation: Best Transportation
Welcome Party: The Chase Park Plaza
