Email
Print"Fire and Ice" Sophie & Aaron
Before the Wedding
Occupations: Sophie is a veterinarian undertaking specialist training in radiology. Aaron is an electrical engineer working in technology development at a semiconductor company.
How the couple met: Playing ice hockey at their local ice rink in Redwood City, Calif.
How he proposed: “Both of us were flying to Salt Lake from different parts of the country for a relaxing weekend of skiing,” says Sophie. “Due to poor weather, I didn’t make my flight. After desperate calls to the airlines and flexing his elite status, Aaron managed to get me on another route so I could make the liaison. As I came down the escalator at the airport, Aaron was holding a sign with my name on it just like all the transportation drivers do in the baggage claim. However, there was one big difference: when he turned the sign over it said ‘Will you marry me?’”
Bachelor party: Aaron and his groomsmen spent a long weekend in Cancun, Mexico.
Bachelorette party: Sophie had her ‘hen party’ in Park City the week of the wedding when her British and American friends could all be together. Sophie’s friends dressed her in ’80s attire, then they went out for dinner, drinks and a lot of dancing at a local bar.
Wedding
Place: Empire Canyon Lodge, Deer Valley
Date: March 14, 2009
The bride wore: Amy Kuschel “Sydney” gown. “The dress was custom made at the designer’s San Francisco salon, and I slightly redesigned it using red ribbons,” says Sophie.
The groom wore: A black Calvin Klein tuxedo with a cummerbund and bow tie in Sophie’s family tartan.
Bridesmaids: Fiona McLeod and Charlotte Bland.
Groomsmen: Andrew Gibby, Alex Gibby, Philip Golden and Jeffery Kerr.
Reception
Place: Empire Canyon Lodge, Deer Valley
Wedding music: A bagpiper performed during the ceremony; a DJ provided ambient background music and reception music.
Wedding song: “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
Menu: Deer Valley’s Fireside Grill menu, which included raclette, roast lamb, stews, salads, roasted vegetables and cheese and chocolate fondues.
Cake: A 12-inch circular lemon cake. The cake was cut with a sword Aaron acquired during his time in the Marines.
Colors: Red and black with accents of yellow and orange to match the fireplaces at the lodge.
Flowers: Blooms in shades of red, yellow and orange from Every Blooming Thing. “I left the details up to Every Blooming Thing, because I know nothing about flowers, and they worked their magic,” says Sophie.
Décor elements: Every Blooming Thing provided floral centerpieces and candles for the tables, larger pieces for the fireplaces, and vase arrangements to outline an altar and an aisle for the ceremony. For the reception tables, the couple made their table ‘numbers’ using fun “Life is Good” stickers. They placed stickers in named envelopes for table allocation. Guests kept the stickers as mementos from the wedding.
Special touches: The bagpiper, the tartan elements of Aaron’s ensemble, and Sophie’s scarf reflected the couple’s heritages: Sophie attended Scottish University and has Scottish blood through her grandparents (they had both passed away before her wedding, and she wanted to honor them at the event), and Aaron’s family also has Scottish blood. “Our wedding was basically a weeklong event, which allowed British friends and family time to adjust to the time difference and gave everyone time to enjoy the fabulous snow,” says Sophie. “American friends and family joined us during the week, and the entire wedding party was invited to the rehearsal dinner. By the time of the big night, everyone knew each other.”
Most Memorable Moment
Sophie’s answer: “Looking around seeing all my beautiful friends and family, and realizing they were all in one room together for us. So many people had traveled so far—it was really overwhelming.”
Aaron’s answer: “I’ll remember the ceremony itself for the rest of my life. It was so wonderfully intense. The rest of the night was a warm, happy blur.”
Honeymoon
Place: The couple has yet to take a honeymoon, but they are planning a trip.
Listings
Rings: Diamond Creations, diamondcreationsltd.com; Fred Meyer Jewelers, fredmeyerjewelers.com
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas, weddingpaperdivas.com
Rehearsal dinner: Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Park City, 435-940-5070, ruthschris.com
Guest book: Framed engagement photograph by Pepper Nix Photography, 801-661-1106, peppernix.com
Photography: Pepper Nix Photography, 801-661-1106, peppernix.com
Bridal gown: Amy Kuschel, San Francisco, Calif., amykuschel.com; available locally at Alta MODA Bridal, SLC, 801-531-1215, altamodabridal.com
Tuxedo rental: Men’s Wearhouse, SLC, 801-467-6220, menswearhouse.com
Flowers: Every Blooming Thing, SLC, 801-521-4773, everybloomingthing.cc
Decorations: Every Blooming Thing, SLC, 801-521-4773, everybloomingthing.cc; Table numbers, Life is Good, lifeisgood.com
Catering: Deer Valley Catering, Empire Canyon Lodge, Deer Valley, deervalley.com
Cake: Deer Valley Catering, Empire Canyon Lodge, Deer Valley, deervalley.com
Entertainment: DJ Dan Riha, Sausalito, Calif., djdanriha@hotmail.com
Swing dance lessons: Swing Utah, SLC, swingutah.com
Bagpiper for ceremony: CH Bag Piping, Bountiful, 877-747-3744, chbagpiping.com
Venue: Empire Canyon Lodge, Deer Valley, deervalley.com
Transportation: Bus for guests: All Resort Express, Park City, 877-658-3999, allresort.com
Officiant: Rev. Gary G. Pinder
