Close your eyes and let your mind wander back to the delightful summer memories of childhood.
Where are you?
Dodging the ice cold sprinklers?
Diving head first into the neighborhood lake?
Running—with your mouth watering—after the ice cream truck?
Fortunately, you can relive at least one of those sweet childhood memories during your wedding day. Brides and grooms throughout the country are surprising wedding guests’ with a little trip down memory lane all thanks to the repurposed ice cream truck.
Whether you prefer cones, sandwiches or scoops, there are dozens of ways you can incorporate ice cream into your big day.
Personal touches—including a five-course menu with wine pairings, signature High West Distillery cocktails, plus a meaningful venue—cater to Alex and Henry’s luxurious autumn ranch wedding.
The former college athletes met at the University of Washington. New York native Henry was a swimmer and Alex, who grew up in Park City, was on the soccer team. The two dated for seven years before Henry proposed at Gary Farrell Winery in Napa while on vacation with both their families. And today, the newlyweds live and play in Park City where Henry is the Director of Adventures at Blue Sky Ranch and Alex is a nurse at Park City Medical Center.
Where to wed was a no brainer for Alex and Henry. “In addition to being a great wedding venue, Blue Sky Ranch is owned by my mother and father,” says Alex. “It’s a very special place for my family.” Park City’s autumn colors displayed an ideal backdrop to the rustic ranch.
“Since it was a ‘destination’ wedding for a lot of the guests, we made a week of the wedding with events, hikes, pool parties and concerts.”
After meeting as volunteers in Tanzania, Brittany and David dated for five years before David got down on one knee in St. Maarten and proposed. Although David was from England, Brittany (a Salt Lake City native) wanted to hold the wedding close to home. The two decided on a home-based wedding for her family and a destination wedding for his. “For starters, it was a unique wedding because it brought so many different people together from all over the world,” says Brittany. “David and I couldn’t believe that over 45 of our friends and family from England flew over to celebrate our special day with us.”
The couple focused on details to make the wedding a memorable experience for their family members and friends. “We named the tables after different places throughout Tanzania and each table had a globe and wine bottles we had collected from London, Utah and Tanzania,” remembers Brittany. But there was one detail every guest appreciated. “Everyone especially loved the late night snack of fish and chips we served to represent London.”
Tessa Barton, wedding photographer, talks lipstick, managing career and beauty, and her idea of a night out.
STYLE
I grew up in a home full of artists, where everyone is super creative. I was always encouraged to create and try new things. My style is ever-changing depending on the way my life is going. Growing up in Utah allowed me to create a palette unique to me, pulling from all of my favorite lifestyles and putting it into one.
My style ranges from layering and loud colors to monochromatic soft blends. I don’t ever feel like I am dressing up, more just getting dressed. I let my clothes speak to me, always putting on way too much jewelry and going with the flow, it’s definitely an organized mess. I like clothes that come alive, have a story to tell, a personality. Clothing speaks just as much as your voice, and I like to be heard.
Boots and a hat make an outfit. Literally, I wear boots with anything — doesn’t matter the season or time of day. And a hat tops it off like a cherry!
My career has made my life a crazy and exciting adventure. It most definitely has an effect on my routine; I don’t get enough sleep and I am constantly on the go. I have learned to live in the moment and be easy-going. Life can be crazy and you never know what’s coming next. I am constantly being pushed or pushing myself to change and to grow. I have been lucky to get to work and connect with so many different people. I am constantly being motivated and inspired to progress and live a happier life.
BEAUTY
My motto is if it’s not broken don’t fix it! Your skin will tell you what it needs. My number one thing is moisturizing, keeping the skin soft and clean to prevent wrinkles and peeling is my necessity. Other than that I drink about a gallon of water a day, I sincerely think this cures all things: hydration, skin, metabolism, and energy levels! Make it easy for yourself and always have a giant container of water on hand, you will take way too many bathroom breaks, but trust me, it’s worth it!
Lipstick is a YES!! Whenever I don’t want to get ready or put on make up, if I just slap on some lipstick it looks like I took some time to get ready. I love it all. Reds, purples, nudes. Nail polish — I usually stick to three colors: plum, coral or white. But I try not to always have my nails painted so they can grow.
I absolutely love BOOTS No7 Lift & Luminate Day Cream. I use it morning and night, it’s my favorite thing! Have to have all the time! If I could only have two products in my makeup bag it would be Benefits Mascara “They’re Real!” and my liquid eye liner —Stay All Day by Stila. Other than that I keep it pretty simple. Always have a nude lipstick on hand.
I am currently crushing on rose water. It’s easy to find and always a classic.
I am also a sucker for a plum lip year-round. I think that gives an edgy-sophisticated look to anything. I already over-accessorize day and night, but one can never have too many accessories.
OFF DUTY
Anything that involves music. Whether it’s writing a new song, playing a show, or going to a concert . . .
I am also a sucker for good eats. So a night out would have to involve a fantastic dinner somewhere or even doing a little of the cooking ourselves. But lets be honest… What actually sounds better than a fall canyon cruise, listening to Fleetwood Mac, and ending with a campfire tinfoil dinner under the stars?
There’s the obvious parts of wedding planning, but there are also the things no one thought to tell you. A well-seasoned wedding photographer, Lindsey Stewart of Green Apple Photography, lets you in on one those secrets . . .
It’s your wedding day, and that is so exciting! A million to-dos are on your list, and your head is probably spinning. As a wedding photographer, I have photographed hundreds of weddings over the years, and I have seen lots of different kinds of weddings, all beautiful, but if I could give a pieces of advice to every bride, it would be the following:
Be yourself!
The happiest weddings are the ones where couples stay true to their own voice. Your wedding doesn’t have to have the most details or the most glamour, but what makes it memorable is when you involve pieces of yourself.
Do you love to read? Incorporate that!
Are you a low-key kind of gal? Keep your make-up simple.
There’s no right or wrong answer, but just remember that this day is about the one you love and the family sharing it with you. All those other bits and pieces are icing, which is delicious and fun, but just a bonus.
Flowers are one of the best parts of being a bride. It’s not everyday you carry a bundle of blooms around in your arms, wear them in your hair or ceremoniously toss them to your friends.
What you choose says something about you; it’s a part of your wedding day style. Consider what colors, shapes and sizes best suit you in our guide below.
Soft & Sweet
You know who you are. Soft shades of pink petals make for an inarguably feminine look. When choosing your wedding day blooms, look for garden roses, peonies, ranunculus and even double-flowering tulips (a less expensive peony look-alike).
Full of Flair
For the bride that’s not worried about being overshadowed, the bigger the bouquet the better. Choose flowers with serious volume and texture, like Delphinium or Queen of the Prairie. With flowers like these, they’ll make you’re bouquet something to talk about.
Wild & Wily
Grocery store bouquets don’t interest you? We get it. Some bridal styles call for a little something unusual. Flowers like protea and orchids are natural beauties, even when arranged in bouquets they still look wild and exotic.
Crisp & Clean
Simplicity will never go out of style—and you can count on that. If you’re a bride with an eye for simple design go with basic shapes, long stems and simple, singular arrangements. A bouquet full of white anemone or narcissus will add a crisp freshness to your bridal look, not overpower it.
On a day filled with laughter and happy tears, Stacia and Dustyn infuse glamorous and whimsical details into a summer scene staged beneath an aspen canopy.
A year and a half after meeting Stacia on Match.com, Dustyn surprised her with an engagement ring when she least expected it: on Valentine’s day. “I hinted to my girlfriends that I did not want to be proposed to on Valentine’s Day,” Stacia laughs, “but Dustyn somehow heard that I did not want to be proposed to on Valentine’s.” Nonetheless, Dustyn took advantage of February’s unusually warm weather to lead Stacia on a sunset hike to Ensign Peak where he proposed.
“I turn around to find him on one knee and I asked, ‘What are you doing?’ He said he had a ring and I said, ‘No. Get up, people are staring at us.'” Stacia, of course, said yes and now the couple has a funny engagement story to tell.
With the help of Fuse Weddings & Events, the Utah couple (who live in Herriman) hosted a summertime wedding at Deer Valley Resort’s Empire Canyon Lodge. A highlight of the ceremony was Stacia’s daughter Sami. “I put together vows to say to Sami and we had a birthstone ring made for her by my jeweler,” Stacia says. “It was so special. We wanted to make sure she didn’t feel like her dad was leaving her and that she knew she was an important part of this new family [with Dustyn].” The sweet family moment brought a few guests to tears.
Tinder may get a bad rap, but it worked wonders for Ellie and Ryan. “My good friend Ashley and I both had Tinder and we shared the same profile picture (a photo of the two of us),” remembers Ellie. Ryan’s friend matched with Ashley and showed Ryan the picture of Ashley and I. Ryan realized he had previously matched with me and so we all went on a double date. The rest is history!”
When it came time to get married, Ryan caught Ellie by surprise after a trip to Florida. “When we walked out to the baggage claim area both our families were there with a huge sign that said ‘Ellie will you marry me??’ I was shocked. His young nephew then ran up with the ring box in his hands. Ryan got down on one knee and proposed. It was so much fun sharing that moment with family and quite a few other people who decided to stay and watch the proposal. One lady even told us that once she walked out and saw the sign she decided to miss her bus so she could see the proposal.”
“Park City is near and dear to our hearts and we immediately knew we wanted to get married there.”
After working in the same company for quite some time, Jeff and Lindsay planned to meet for drinks with coworkers. When none of the coworkers could attend, Jeff picked up Lindsay for a date night of their own. “We both saw stars when I opened the door and saw one another standing there,” remembers Lindsay. “Drinks turned into dinner, dinner into drinks and we started dating immediately.”
Fast forward three years to Jeff’s surprise proposal. “Jeff took his best friend and my son to my parents’ house, decorated the whole backyard in my favorite flowers, and had a brand new white free people dress there for me to change into when I arrived. When I walked into the backyard all dressed up in my new “required” clothing, Jeff and my son were there in matching bow ties to propose to me. When I said yes, our parents and and a few friends came out from the side yard and we had an instant engagement party after!”
Thousands joined Derek and Moudi for a joyous day infused with the couple’s passion for food, adventure and community.
Derek Kitchen and Moudi Sbeity were already well-known from their farmer’s market presence selling Laziz Mediterranean spreads, but the power couple became heroes in the LBGT and civil-rights community for the landmark court case Kitchen v. Herbert, bringing marriage equality to Utah and the 10th circuit states, helping pave the way for the nation.
Then, Kitchen was elected to the Salt Lake City Council. But it all started when they met, fell in love and got engaged like any other couple. After months of online chatting, the men met in 2009 in Logan. “We spent the weekend visiting coffee shops, eating out and studying at the university library,” says Sbeity. “There was an energy of connectedness, understanding and attraction.”
The couple had much to celebrate at the Gallivan Center. After six years of cooking, traveling, exploring, sharing a home, starting and running a business and suing the state of Utah, Kitchen and Sbeity married in a ceremony surrounded by hundreds of their friends, family and supporters. “It’s this love for risk and adventure that builds us up everyday,” Sbeity says.
