What sets a purpose-built venue apart? It starts with a deep understanding of what couples, vendors, and guests really need, and follows through with intention to create spaces that serve those needs beautifully. That’s the foundation of The Sixpence and Westwood.
Captured by Humble & Grace Photography
The Why Behind The Sixpence
In November 2020, we broke ground on a piece of land in Indiana with a big dream and a deep belief: that weddings deserve spaces made just for them.
The Sixpence was born from years of hands-on experience in the wedding industry. Shelby Dempsey, one of our owners and lead designer of The Sixpence facility, spent years behind the camera as a luxury wedding photographer, working in venues across the country. She had the opportunity to work in grand, historic buildings full of charm and creative, reimagined spaces brimming with potential. With her experience, she noticed something missing in her home state: Indiana didn’t yet have a venue that felt intentionally crafted for the full rhythm of a wedding day.
Of course, Indiana has wedding venues. Beautiful barns and elegant estates, spaces lovingly restored by passionate owners. And while each has a story to tell, The Sixpence takes a different approach.
The Sixpence was built from the ground up with one single purpose: to host weddings and events in a space where aesthetics and functionality blend.
Why Purpose-Built Matters
Creating a venue that’s both functional and aesthetically stunning is no small feat. It’s not just about chandeliers and natural light (though we love those too). It’s about what happens behind the scenes, in the quiet moments and logistical details that make a wedding day flow effortlessly.
It’s about getting-ready suites with built-in hair and makeup stations, plenty of outlets, and thoughtful natural light for your photographer. It’s about indoor climate control for all seasons, DJ power capacity, and bars that are not an afterthought but designed into the very bones of the building. It’s about having everything you need to host the biggest day of someone’s life, without compromise.
Where some venues are renovated from previous lives – barns, warehouses, homes – a purpose-built venue starts from a different place. It starts with the couple in mind. It’s not an adaptation. It’s a full expression of what a wedding venue can be when it’s crafted from experience and designed with intention.
Every Detail Matters
A purpose-built space isn’t just beautiful. It’s smart.
Design choices are made with photographers, DJs, guests, and planners in mind. It’s where layout meets light, flow meets sound, and every transition, from parking to last dance, feels seamless.
Here’s what that means in practice:
- Handicap accessibility that’s part of the plan, not patched in after.
- Parking and restroom facilities that feel effortless to access.
- Getting-ready suites that are spacious, camera-ready, and truly comfortable.
- A flow that supports the natural arc of the day: ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, and beyond.
- Design details like ample lighting, bar integration, vendor access points, and decor storage are all built into the plan from day one.
In other words: thoughtful solutions to problems you may not even know exist until it’s too late.
Why Not Just Renovate?
We’ve been asked that before. The short answer? Because experience taught us what works and what doesn’t.
Repurposed venues often carry their own charm and character, and many do an extraordinary job creating memorable celebrations. But conversions also come with compromise. A beautiful old barn might need portable A/C in July. A historic building might have tricky accessibility. In a renovated space, outlets (for bar, DJ, photobooth) might not be located where each element could have the most impact on wedding day. In a renovated space, power outlets often dictate layout, limiting options when it comes to customized floor plans and ideal event flow.
At The Sixpence, we didn’t settle for “good enough.” We want every part of the guest and couple experience to feel intentional. Purpose-built design means nothing is an afterthought, but it’s been thoughtfully integrated into the blueprint.
May Construction at Westwood Captured by The Lang Co.
From Sixpence to Westwood: A Continued Commitment
The Sixpence brought to life our vision for a purpose-built wedding and event space, where aesthetics and functionality are seamlessly integrated from every phase of the expansive client experience, down to the smallest details of the facility. The Sixpence’s upcoming sister venue, Westwood Vowery and Estate (opening spring of 2026) signals the continuation of our commitment to creating purpose-built venues.
Captured by The Lang Co.
Backed by everything we’ve learned from hosting hundreds of weddings at The Sixpence, Westwood takes the principles of a purpose-built space and raises the bar. It’s more than just another venue. It’s a reflection of years of listening, learning, and leading. A space where beauty and utility speak the same language. A place where you feel seen, whether you’re the one walking down the aisle or the one behind the scenes making it all happen.
Because in a purpose-built venue:
- Hospitality isn’t an afterthought. It’s in the lighting, the layout, and the way a guest feels stepping into the space.
- Luxury is in the details. Not just how a space looks, but how well it works and how it makes people feel.
- A couple’s peace of mind is as important as their Pinterest board.
Purpose-Built Isn’t Just a Phrase, It’s a Promise
At The Sixpence and Westwood, we’re building more than venues. We’re building experiences that honor the weight and wonder of a wedding day. We’re thinking about every person who walks through our doors and every memory made within our walls.
In an industry filled with options, The Sixpence and Westwood offer something different: venues designed from day one to celebrate moments that matter.
Because purpose-built isn’t just how it starts. It’s how it works and how it feels, long after the last song plays.
Loving what you see? Come by for a private, complimentary tour at The Sixpence and Westwood! Book at for The Sixpence at our website: https://thesixpence.com/ and for Westwood: https://westwoodvenue.com/experience.
Follow us on socials to see more of the details, the magic, and the moments we’re creating at The Sixpence and Westwood.
The Sixpence:
Instagram: @the_sixpence
Pinterest: @the_sixpence
TikTok: @the_sixpence
Facebook: @thesixpenceweddings
Youtube: @the_sixpence
Westwood Vowery & Estate:
Instagram: @westwoodvenue
TikTok: @westwoodvenue
Pinterest: @westwoodvenue
Facebook: @westwoodvoweryandestate
Youtube: @WestwoodVoweryEstate
Loving the inspo? Looking for something specific? Email our creative team any time at creative@thesixpence.com. We’re dedicated to providing resources and inspiration that help guide and support your wedding planning journey. Be sure to follow the fun on Instagram @the_sixpence and our upcoming sister venue @westwoodvenue
As the co-owner and designer of The Sixpence, Shelby Dempsey brings her extensive background in wedding photography and videography to create a purpose-built venue that blends aesthetics with functionality. After capturing nearly 400 weddings across the country and internationally, Shelby designed The Sixpence with a photographer’s eye, ensuring that every space not only looks beautiful but also serves the practical needs of both couples and photographers on their special day.
