Over 550 weddings and special events later, we’re still grateful and amazed.
In the past five years, The Sixpence has had the privilege of hosting some of life’s most meaningful celebrations. Since opening our doors on June 18, 2021, we have witnessed love stories unfold, milestones celebrated, and countless moments that have become cherished memories for the families who gather here.
We often say that we have the best seat in the house. Day after day, season after season, we have watched our big white barn become the backdrop for proposals, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and community gatherings of every kind. From garden parties beneath the late summer sun to starry nights spent tidying up after the last guest has gone home, every chapter has shaped who we are.
As we celebrate 5 years of The Sixpence, we find ourselves reflecting on the moments that defined our journey. Choosing only 5 was no easy task, but these memories continue to hold a special place in our hearts.
The Moment It Became Real
Long before it opened its doors, The Sixpence existed as an idea. It lived in sketches, conversations, planning sessions, and countless hours spent searching for the perfect property. There were zoning meetings, design revisions, and years of dreaming about what this place could become.
Then came the day the gambrel framing was raised.
Watching the structure emerge against the Indiana sky was breathtaking. For the first time, the vision stood before us in tangible form. The outline of the building stretched across the landscape, revealing the very first outline of what would soon become The Sixpence.
In many ways, that moment marked the beginning of everything that followed. This beautiful, bare sculpture erected into the sky, the first indication that a dream would become a place, where stories are told, memories are made, and generations gather to celebrate.
The Proposal
The evening before our Grand Opening, The Sixpence became part of a love story before it officially welcomed its first guests.
As final preparations for Grand Opening were underway, Seth Dempsey was quietly coordinating the details of a surprise proposal. When Shelby (née Henry) walked through the doors, she was greeted by a stunning display of hanging florals, candlelight, rose petals, and photographs documenting their relationship. Surrounded by the memories that had shaped their story, Seth asked Shelby to spend a lifetime creating new ones together.
The Sixpence had not yet officially opened, but it was already witnessing the kind of moments it was built to hold.
The First Wedding at The Sixpence
Every venue remembers its first wedding.
For us, that honor belongs to our beautiful first couple: Natalie and Nick, whose day was captured in stunning fashion by Shelby’s photo and video studio, Amavi.
Their celebration represented far more than a wedding day. It marked the culmination of years of planning, building, and believing in what The Sixpence could become. Watching a couple begin their next chapter within these walls felt deeply meaningful.
Wedding morning saw all of The Sixpence’s intentionally designed spaces in action and being used by our first special group of guests. The groomsmen gathered in The Workshop while the bridesmaids prepared in The Loft Suite. Guests arrived for a beautiful outdoor ceremony on The Patio before moving into an unforgettable reception celebration in The Barn. Our diamond-cut quartzite bar lit up for the very first time, our custom chandeliers dimmed for the perfect first dance, and it became clear that The Sixpence was doing exactly what it had been created to do.
We have been honored to host countless weddings since that day, but Natalie and Nick’s wedding will always remain a special part of our story.
The Unveiled Bridal Runway Show
One of the most ambitious events we have ever hosted began with a simple question.
“What would a truly elevated bridal runway experience look like in Indiana?”
That question sparked months of dreaming, planning, and collaboration, eventually becoming the 2023 Unveiled Bridal Runway Show in partnership with The Wedding Studio.
From the beginning, the conversation centered around possibility. The question was never whether it could happen. The focus remained on how to bring the vision to life.
The result was an unforgettable evening featuring designs from some of the most celebrated names in bridal fashion, including Viktor & Rolf Mariage, KYHA, BERTA, Martina Liana Luxe, Hera Couture, and Colby John. Guests enjoyed an immersive experience alongside industry professionals, prospective brides, and members of the wedding community. The evening also welcomed special guests including Hannah Ann Sluss and bridal designer Colby John. Three sessions of curated bridal collections were presented on an impeccably designed runway that slowly transitioned bright, breezy bridal looks, to sleek modern styles, and finally glamorous and sparkling fashions, backdropped by a coordinating production transition and in front of an enraptured crowd.
What made the event especially meaningful was its commitment to a greater purpose. Proceeds supported Vow for Girls, a global organization working to end child marriage and create opportunities for girls around the world.
It was an evening that combined beauty, creativity, and impact, all under one roof.
The Announcement
On October 1, 2024, The Sixpence hosted an intimate, invitation-only affair with a select group of individuals to share something the team behind The Sixpence had been working on for over a year, quietly in the background, in late nights and whispered plans.
On this special evening, a hush settled over the crowd as Shelby stepped on stage to announce her hospitality group’s next endeavor: Westwood Vowery & Estate. A second, purpose-built venue located in Westfield, IN, boasting clean modern architecture with refined European influence. The Sixpence’s sister venue promised to be a distinct facility with a drastically different design and aesthetic, but with the same heart of “purpose-built,” where aesthetics and functionality blend together to host some of life’s most special moments.
Since officially opening its doors on April 25th with a stunning Grand Opening celebration, Westwood has had the privilege of hosting many events, including the Westfield Mayor’s Gala, corporate functions, baby showers, birthday parties, and more than 20 weddings.
As we look back on this evening when we shared the idea of Westwood within the walls of The Sixpence, we count ourselves incredibly blessed to see the growth of our team, our company, the many couples who have trusted us with their story, and the community that has supported The Sixpence for so long, and has effortlessly extended that love and support to her sister venue as well.
As we celebrate this anniversary, our gratitude remains difficult to put into words. What began as 17 acres of rolling Indiana countryside has grown into a big white barn with an enduring commitment to hospitality, beauty, and meaningful experiences.
To every couple, family, vendor, professional, team member, and guest who has been part of this journey, thank you. The story of The Sixpence has always been about people, and we are honored to continue writing that story alongside you.
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.
