Jessica and Conor’s Notre Dame Basilica of the Sacred Heart & Downes Club Wedding felt joyful from beginning to end. Their summer celebration brought together a sacred Catholic Mass, soft garden-inspired florals, meaningful family tributes, and a Downes Club reception where guests were invited onto the dance floor before dinner had even been served.
Pastel pink, peach, yellow, and blue flowers filled the day with color, while greenery and twinkle lights transformed the reception into a true indoor garden party. Every beautiful detail felt perfectly suited to Jessica and Conor, but what stands out most is simply how happy everyone was to be there.
Jessica and Conor chose my trusted associate team to document their wedding day, with Megan and Allie behind the cameras. I loved getting to know Jessica and Conor throughout the planning process, and then experiencing their celebration through every image as I selected and edited their gallery. The joy was impossible to miss. You can feel how much fun they were having, and my team did such a beautiful job capturing it all.
How Jessica and Conor’s Story Began
Jessica and Conor’s story began with a trip to see The Greatest Showman that neither of them was quite ready to call a date. What followed were study sessions, plenty of inside jokes, and even an accidental Valentine’s Day dinner at Panera before they officially began dating in March 2018.
Over the next several years, their relationship took them from Notre Dame to Austin, Seattle, and Staten Island as they navigated graduation, cross-country moves, and countless new adventures together.
In August 2024, Conor brought their story back to where it began and proposed to Jessica along the shore of Saint Mary’s Lake. Less than two years later, they returned to Notre Dame to celebrate their wedding with the people they love most.
Getting Ready for Their Notre Dame Wedding at The Morris Inn
The morning began with Jessica and Conor getting ready separately alongside the people closest to them. Conor shared an easygoing morning with his groomsmen as they helped with the final details of his tuxedo. But most importantly, made sure there was still plenty of room for a little fun before heading to the Basilica.
Jessica got ready with her family and bridesmaids. She wore a timeless off-the-shoulder gown finished with a beaded belt, delicate buttons, and a long lace-edged veil. Her bridesmaids wore a mix of blush dresses and soft floral prints, while pastel bouquets brought together shades of pink, peach, yellow, blue, and cream.
One of the most meaningful moments of the morning was Jessica’s first look with her dad. His reaction was immediate and emotional, followed by the kind of hug that says more than words ever could. Afterward, they took a few quiet family portraits together before leaving for the ceremony.
A Wedding Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Jessica and Conor were married during a Catholic wedding Mass inside the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. There is truly nothing like watching a couple exchange vows in such a sacred and historic space. Surrounded by family, friends, and the beauty of Notre Dame, there is nothing better.
The ceremony also included a deeply meaningful tribute to Conor’s mother, whose memory was honored throughout the day. His sister served as the ring bearer and carried the rings on a pillow made from their mother’s wedding dress. It was such a thoughtful way to keep her close and include a piece of her in the celebration.
From Jessica walking through the Basilica doors to the quiet moments of prayer, the ceremony felt reverent and emotional. Their joyful recessional was the perfect ending to a beautiful Mass.
Wedding Portraits Around Notre Dame’s Campus
After Mass, Jessica and Conor stepped outside for portraits with their wedding party before spending a little time together around campus. Their friends brought so much energy to the group photos, making the entire portrait portion feel relaxed and fun.
The soft, overcast sky created beautiful, even light throughout the afternoon. It also allowed the pastel flowers and wedding-party attire to stand out without harsh shadows or bright summer sun.
Jessica and Conor later paused near the water for a quieter set of portraits together. With Jessica’s veil catching the breeze and the lake behind them, the setting was so heartfelt and meaningful to them.
A Garden-Inspired Downes Club Wedding Reception
The Downes Club at Corbett Family Hall was completely transformed for Jessica and Conor’s reception. Merry Me Events brought their vision together with flowing blue linens, soft pastel florals, glowing candlelight, and greenery wrapped around the ceiling lights.
Before their guests entered, Jessica and Conor shared a private reception reveal and took in the completed space together. Their reactions said everything. Months of ideas and planning had finally become real, and they were able to pause and enjoy it before the room filled with everyone they loved.
Family wedding photographs and the ring pillow made from Conor’s mother’s gown were also displayed at the reception, carrying the meaningful family tributes from the ceremony into the celebration. And one of my absolutely favorite detail was their create-your-own-character Lego guestbook. Guests built minifigures to represent themselves then added them to the display. It created a playful keepsake that felt completely unique to Jessica and Conor.
A Downes Club Wedding Reception That Began on the Dance Floor
Jessica and Conor’s reception was never going to be a quiet one. After making their entrance, they shared their first dance. Then immediately invited their guests to join them on the floor, before salads were served. It was such a fun way to begin the evening and removed any hesitation guests might have had about dancing later.
From that point forward, the energy never really disappeared.
There were emotional parent dances, heartfelt and funny speeches, and a dance floor filled with friends and family. Guests surrounded Jessica and Conor, pulled one another into the middle of the floor, and kept the celebration moving well into the evening. At one point, Conor was even lifted into the air by his friends.
The reception photographs are full of the kinds of moments that cannot be staged: Jessica laughing with her family, guests singing together, friends cheering from the edge of the floor, and relatives wiping away tears.
Evening Portraits Overlooking Notre Dame
Later in the evening, Jessica and Conor stepped away from the reception for a final set of portraits on the Downes Club rooftop.
From there, they could see Notre Dame Stadium, Touchdown Jesus, the Golden Dome, and the Basilica in the distance.
Taking ten or fifteen minutes for evening photographs gives a couple something more than another set of portraits. It also gives them a rare chance to breathe, look out at the day they created, and be alone together before returning to the party.
Jessica and Conor ended the night with one final kiss beneath a tunnel of sparklers, surrounded by the friends and family who had celebrated them all day.
Congratulations, Jessica and Conor. Your wedding was meaningful, colorful, and incredibly fun—and it was an honor for our team to document it. And a huge shoutout to the team that made it all happen for them!
Vendor Team
Photographer: Cat Alkire Associate Team | Ceremony Venue: Basilica of the Sacred Heart | Cocktail Hour: Corbett Family Hall | Reception Venue: Downes Club | Florist, Stationery, Rentals, Planner: Merry Me Events | DJ/Band: 27 Entertainment | Videographer: Vibrant Video Productions | Catering: Navarre Catering | Hair & Makeup: Beauty & Bliss | Cake/Bakery: Three Leaf Catering (Chef Sinai) | Wedding Dress Designer: Essense of Australia | Wedding Dress Purchased At: The Curvy Bride | Tux: The Black Tux | Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal | Rings: Vik’s Fine Jewelry
Planning Your Own Notre Dame Basilica of the Sacred Heart & Downes Club Wedding?
A Notre Dame Basilica of the Sacred Heart & Downes Club Wedding brings together a sacred ceremony, iconic portrait locations, and a reception venue with some of the best views on campus. It also requires a timeline that accounts for Basilica requirements, campus transportation, portrait access, changing light, and the distance between locations.
As a Notre Dame wedding photographer and Catholic wedding photographer with 16 years of experience photographing celebrations on campus, I help couples plan for those details long before the wedding day arrives.
Explore these resources as you begin planning:
