3 Sustainable Wedding Ideas

May 24, 2022

It’s no secret that weddings are not environmentally friendly. From the thousands of airline miles required to gather far-flung friends and family to single-use wedding attire to exotic floral décor and imported food and drink, the carbon footprint for even a modest event can be significant. But we submit that celebrating love is perhaps more important now than ever. As such, we’ve gathered three ideas for planning a memorable nuptial celebration that minimizes the next-day carbon guilt.

Sustainable Wedding — Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock

CHOOSE A REUSED, LAB-GROWN OR ETHICALLY RESOURCED DIAMOND

An inherited engagement or wedding ring diamond is, of course, the most environmentally friendly choice, not to mention the most meaningful. Those without access to legacy gems can buy new at a retailer that procures all its natural diamonds from ethical sources, like O.C. Tanner Jewelers. Another option is to choose lab-grown diamonds, which helps save the planet from high-impact mining practices required to unearth the precious gems. “Aside from where and how lab-grown diamonds are formed, they are optically and molecularly the same as natural ones,” says Joe Maughan with 9th and 9th Jewelers.

2. CHOOSE A GREEN-CERTIFIED VENUE

Ask your planner about venues that adhere to earth-friendly energy efficiency, recycling and water conservation practices. A few of Utah’s more notable eco-friendly venues include the Montage Deer Valley in Park City, a LEED-certified building that was named a platinum GreenLeader business by TripAdvisor; Zion National Park’s Zion Lodge, which has received Green Seal’s prestigious Gold certification; and Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort, powered completely by a new in-house cogeneration power system that’s 50% cleaner than coal-based energy sources.

3. GIVE REUSABLE CUPS AND SERVE SINGLE-SOURCE BEVERAGES

To avoid the water and waste presented by glassware and canned and bottled drinks, give each of your guests a personalized, pint-sized, stainless-steel cup at the rehearsal dinner with the request that they use it to catch the tap beer and wine, water and even homemade root beer served over the course of your wedding weekend.

Find more tips on eco-friendly wedding planning here!

Real Wedding: Remote Ranch Romance

May 23, 2022

Taylor & Austin
4U Ranch, Peoa, July 16
Photography by Gideon Photography

THE COUPLE
Before heading out on a date with someone else, Taylor, who is founder and CEO of the women’s golf clothing brand, Draw & Fade Modern, agreed to stop into a friend’s office party. It was there that she met the company’s senior director of offline sales and operations, Austin. “He was dating someone else at the time, but as cliché as it is, it was love at first meeting for both of us,” Taylor says. A few months later, the two met for a round of golf. Two years after that, Austin proposed. “We were on vacation in Italy and he rented a boat to ‘explore’ Lake Como,” Taylor recalls. “He even hired a photographer to capture his proposal but had her disguised as a deckhand so I wouldn’t suspect anything. It was pretty perfect.”

WEDDING WEEKEND
Taylor and Austin anchored their three-day, wedding celebration at Peoa’s 4U Ranch. “We had seen a handful of other venues in Park City, but didn’t think the hotel settings were for us,” Taylor says. “4U is so remote and set against a picturesque mountain and river with no onlookers; it was perfect for us.” The ceremony, attended by 85 guests, was officiated by Taylor’s brother, Garrett, and included vows the couple had written themselves. Seven bridesmaids and six groomsmen stood with the couple during the ceremony. The couple hosted other events during their wedding weekend including a rehearsal dinner/welcome party at Promontory Club’s Outfitter’s Cabin and a send-off brunch the day after the wedding.

THE SCENE
Taylor and Austin’s wedding colors reflected the creamy beige and dusty green palette of the rolling landscape surrounding 4U, with pops of burgundy for contrast. Marianne Seale, with Bushel & A Peck Floral Design, set a dramatic tone at the riverside ceremony site with an asymmetric phantom arch made with multiple rose varieties, larkspur, dahlias, magnolia greens and feathery pampas grass. An Aperol Spritz signature cocktail was served to guests with passed hors d’oeuvres immediately following the ceremony. To acknowledge Taylor and Austin’s engagement locale, the dinner menu had an Italian theme, served to guests at two long, king’s tables. The cake, by Flour & Flourish, was the same sweet potato flavor served at the bride’s brother’s wedding. Among the gifts the couple gave their guests were ballet flats, given to women at the reception, “because we knew it was going to turn into a huge dance party and wanted everyone to be comfortable,” says the bride. Taylor and Austin took their first dance to “Yours to Keep” by Jordan Mackampa. The New York City-based Shag Horns, a band the couple had seen while out on a date before they were engaged, provided the music during the dancing portion of the reception. Guests enjoyed burgers and fries from In-N-Out Burger as late-night snacks.

MEANINGFUL DETAIL
Taylor and Austin made seating place cards from wine corks that they individually inscribed with a date and event specific to each guest. “We based it on a tradition we have as a couple of writing the date, what we were doing, who we were with, etc., on a wine cork after we’ve finished the bottle,” Taylor says. “The place cards took a ton of time to do and lots of looking through calendars and photos, but was well worth it in the end.”

THE HONEYMOON
Taylor and Austin had initially planned to tour Australia and Fiji for their honeymoon, but with COVID travel restrictions still in place, decided instead to go back to Italy. There they spent 10 days in Tuscany wine tasting and “eating as much food as possible.”

VENDORS
Planner: Michelle Leo Events
Photographer: Gideon Photography
Stationary: Ashley D. Studio
Venue: 4U Ranch
Rentals: Diamond Event & Tent
Bride’s Dress and Shoes: Vera Wang and Loeffler Randall
Bridesmaid gowns: Jenny Yoo
Hair & Makeup: @NatalieClarkStudio
Groom’s Tuxedo: Bonobos
Groomsmen Suits: The Black Tux
Videographer: Ryan Hinman
Florist: Bushel & A Peck
Caterer & Bar Service: The Blended Table
Cake: Flour & Flourish
Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Music: Nicholas James
Reception Band: Shag Horns
Photo Booth: Couth Booth
Balloon Installation: Pop! Park City
Transportation: Snow Country Limousine

Like the ranch scene? Here’s another beautiful ranch wedding.

Celebration Makers: Serendipity Event Designers

May 21, 2022

There’s something about falling in love that makes magic come to life. Karla Edlinger, owner of Serendipity Event Designers, is a believer in magic, but it’s not her own love story that inspires her; it’s yours.

Edlinger has been working as a professional wedding planner and designer for more than a decade, and has the perfect spell for creating lasting memories.

First, Edlinger and her team sit down with you as a couple, to chat about everything under the sun. They want to know you, feel you, and understand your story and dreams. Then comes the vision. Along with the usual suspects like venue and headcount, Serendipity Events encourages clients to think about what they want their day to look and feel like. Once she understands your fairy tale, Edlinger uses her decade of experience to tackle the details that make your event special.

“The environment we create together is the most important thing,” says Edlinger. “The things people will see and hear, touch and taste, matter.” Those sensory and emotional minutiae are what make Serendipity Weddings unforgettable.

Edlinger and her team only take two events per month, devoting their full attention to creating you an event that has soul, vision and memorable flair. Book Serendipity Events for a dose of magic on your wedding day.

“I believe that wedding planning and event design is a full collaboration process,” Edlinger says. “You invite me into your lives and dreams, and I craft them together into one perfect set of beautiful memories.”

Ask the Expert

WHAT’S AHEAD

It’s time to level up the design and production of weddings in Utah. We didn’t come to this earth to play small, so I’m challenging myself to transform every moment into a magical experience. I believe that Utah brides deserve the best: they always have such a special light to them. This year, my goal is to create events that capture all the magic inside each bride that comes to Serendipity.

EXCITED ABOUT:

Another year of working in Utah’s wedding community. You need to know that I love what I do and with whom I do it. My job is to create extraordinary experiences. That’s why we surround your event with partners that love what they do as much as we do!

FRESH IDEAS:

The key to perfected wedding details is a sensory approach: consider the colors, textures, sounds and smells that will bring your perfect wedding to life. These elements all meld together to create an immersive nuptial experience that can only be described as “utterly you.”

4223 Vintage Circle, Provo

We’ve got more wedding planning tips for you here.

Everything You Need to Know About Mountain Weddings

May 19, 2022

The appeal of committing to your partner against the grand scale of a sweeping mountain vista is a no-brainer. Your pictures will be fabulous, of course, and there’s just something about that clean, mountain air that makes any celebration that much sweeter. In the second part of our On Location series, we are sharing everything you need to know about mountain weddings in Utah.

Choosing a Venue

Those looking for the ritzy-meets-rustic vibe that mountaintop wedding venues provide can consider one of the many options offered by Utah’s ski and snowboard resorts, including the sleek and modern The Summit at Snowbird, perched at 11,000 feet above sea level; Deer Valley Resort’s Empire Lodge; the rustic and refined Bearclaw Cabin at Sundance, framed by fantastic views of Mt. Timpanogos; and the glass-flanked deck at Snowbasin’s John Paul Lodge, situated at 9,000 feet with unbeatable views of Mount Ogden. A few of the state’s non-ski resort-operated mountain venues include Stein Eriksen Lodge, Montage and Goldener Hirsch Inn—three super-lux properties located near Deer Valley Resort’s ski slopes and mountain biking and hiking trails; the Snowpine Lodge, a gorgeous Scandinavian-modern hotel tucked into Alta Ski Area’s base; and Log Haven, a historic inn turned five-star restaurant and event venue in verdant Millcreek Canyon.

Timing

Not surprisingly, warm, sunny days and cool nights in July, August and September make summer and early fall the most popular times of the year for mountain weddings—and therefore the hardest months of the year to book. May and June can be a lovely time of the year at high altitudes, when top temps range from the mid-50s to mid-70s and peaks are still snow-capped. Skies across the west are also less likely to be hazy from wildfires in the early- to late-spring as well. But the possibility of rain—and even snow—still looms into June in Utah’s mountainous areas. The weather can be similarly difficult to predict in October and particularly November, which is considered the shoulder season in the mountains. But decreased wedding venue and tourism demands in the spring and late fall can mean greater affordability. And, of course, a winter wedding in the mountains can be downright magical. Expect, however, to pay top dollar for a mountain venue December through March, as you’ll be competing with the throngs of skiers who descend on Utah every winter.

The Elements

Keep in mind that most of your guests will likely be unaccustomed to altitude, so having sunscreen, lip balm and water on hand both at your ceremony—and perhaps in out-of-town guests’ welcome bags—will go a long way in making your big day comfortable for everyone. Place a woolen pashmina or throw blanket on seats at an outdoor fall or winter ceremony to help take away the chill and give your guests a lovely take-home gift.

All in the Details

Riding a chairlift to and from your ceremony can provide an off-the-charts highlight for your mountain wedding, but if your guest list includes those who are afraid of heights, you’ll need a transportation alternative. Also, if you plan to use a chairlift- or tram-serviced venue, be sure to clearly communicate the latest time guests should be on board to arrive at your ceremony on time.

Likely Utah’s most barebones-rustic and economical mountain wedding venue is the Church of Dirt, located at Guardsman Pass between Park City and Brighton. There, perched at 9,700 feet above sea level, a rickety chuppah and rough-hewn benches are surrounded by sweeping, 360-degree ridgeline views. There’s no official booking system for the Church of Dirt. Couples simply leave a piece of wood inscribed with their name and wedding date onsite and hope for the best.

We gave the complete guide on ranch weddings too!

Arm Candy: Floral Wedding Jewelry

May 17, 2022

Corsages are a traditional gift for VIP guests outside of the wedding party: important peeps like the mothers of the bride and groom—including grandmothers, godmothers and stepmothers—and, in religious ceremonies, the passage reader. A more modern take on these traditional tokens of recognition is a graceful fresh-floral bracelet, like this one created by Robert Upwall with Salt Lake City’s Every Blooming Thing.

Floral Wedding Jewelry — Photo by Adam Finkle

Our 2022 issue is out now! Find one at a newsstand near you, or place an order online here!

Utah Capitol Engagement

May 11, 2022

Spring in Utah is marked by enlivened gardens, warming temperatures and of course, cherry blossom trees. The pink blooms only show out for a few short weeks, so couples and photographers from across the state must hurry to capture their beauty. Luckily, this adorable group got to the state capitol just in time for their engagement session.

GRACE AND JACKSON

“Right when we first started dating, we both knew we were in it for the long run,” Grace recalls. But as Jackson was still in the midst of boot camp, their love story was complicated by time and distance. “He left for the summer and for military deployment while I continued school and soccer for BYU. We made things work because we knew it was worth it,” says Grace. When Jackson finally popped the question, Grace was elated. “We have SO much fun together and I can’t wait to marry him!!!!!”

THE BACK-UP PLAN

Grace and Jackson enlisted the talented Aly Jones to capture their special moment, although the trio had not originally planned to visit the cherry blossoms for their photos. “The day before the bridal session, we were nervous as we checked the weather forecast because there was supposed to be 25mph winds at the Little Sarah sand dunes where we planned to take them,” says Aly. “We decided to switch locations and Grace suggested we take them at the Capitol building!” The blooming trees did not disappoint, and it seemed fate that Grace’s bouquet matched the blush backdrop to the T.

THE INSPIRATION

Of course, paying homage to the couple’s sweet love story was the main focus for Aly. “I wanted to capture their authentic love in a place that fit their style,” she says. “Both of them have extremely fun, playful, yet sophisticated personalities and I wanted to show that in these photos. The capitol building has numerous spots that make photos feel elegant, some of my favorite shots show the ornate design and architecture of the building.”

Photography: Ally J Photo
Flowers: Bloom by Madison Murdock
Dress: Bridal by Raili
Veil: Perfect Dress Bridal
Suit: Mr Mac
Jewelry: Dillards
Bride: Grace Johnson @gracejohnson_14

Find more sweet spring bridals here!

Real Wedding: Greenhouse Grandeur

May 11, 2022

Amy & Michael
Highland Gardens, May 24th
Photography by Pepper Nix

HOW THEY MET

Amy and Michael are Utah natives—she grew up living in various cities throughout the state and he hails from Alpine. But rather than meeting by in-person happenstance, their first encounter came with a little help from the internet. “We met where everyone else meets—on Bumble,” Michael says with a laugh. But after they’d had a few dates, Amy stopped returning Michael’s texts. He was persistent, however, and used Amy’s former job in fitness consulting as an excuse to keep the conversation going.

THE PROPOSAL

After wooing Amy for nine months, Michael decided it was time to take their coupling to the next level. With the ruse of spending a family day at Sundance Mountain Resort (both have children from previous relationships), Michael waited until they were out on the mountain to pop the big question. Once she said yes, their kids came running down carrying congratulatory bouquets for Amy.

THE WEDDING

Apropos to Michael’s proposal, Amy and Michael wanted to host a wedding and reception at a venue with a strong focus on flowers. “We considered other venues like La Caille,” Amy says, “but ultimately landed on Highland Gardens for how well it fit into our design.” With Highland Gardens’ lush greenhouse as a backdrop, Amy and Michael went for a theme best described as a traditional riff on boho, featuring a dreamy color palette of mauve, ivory and sage green with hints of dusty blue. Amy wore a stunning, light cappuccino-hued mermaid-style gown with an illusion bodice, plunge neckline, 3D floral appliques and a horse-hair-trim hem. Her shoes were hand-covered with Swarovski crystals. Michael’s tuxedo was custom-made and embroidered on the inside pocket with his and Amy’s wedding date. Jory Woodis officiated their simple ceremony in front of 150 guests. The reception dinner was served at long tables overflowing with flowers, candles and romantic mauve table runners. The menu included a sweet summer mixed green salad, steak and chicken combo entrée, chicken fingers for the children, mocktails and, along with a coconut-flavored wedding cake, a donut and flambé dessert station.

THE DANCE PARTY

Michael is both a Jazz musician and owner of multiple Utah event companies, so live and energetic music and dancing as part of the reception was a must. Instead of just one band, however, the couple contracted four—String Love, The Gabe Redondo Trio, The Groove Merchants and The Roadside Ramblers—to play throughout the reception. Amy changed into a fabulous fit-and-flare cocktail dress for the couple’s first dance to “Nothing Can Change This Love” by Sam Cooke. The bands kept the vibes high until the newlyweds made their exit under an arch of sparklers kept aloft by their guests.

THE HONEYMOON

After their wedding, Amy and Michael departed for the Ladera Resort in St. Lucia, known for its open-to-nature lodging concept. There they spent a week hiking, swimming, taking mud baths and eating at celebrated restaurants.

THE PLAYERS

Wedding Planning & Design: Michelle Leo Events
Photography: Pepper Nix
Venue: Highland Gardens
Invitations & Signage: Twelve30 Creative
Floral: Artisan Bloom
Bridal Gown and Headpiece: ‘Donata’ dress, Innocentia by Julie Vino, Versailles Atelier Bridal
Bride’s Shoes: custom-designed by Mickelle Tuke, @mickelletuke
Bride’s Dancing Dress: David’s Bridal
Hair: Kali Chris Hair & Makeup
Makeup: Kristen Packard Artistry
Groom’s Tuxedo: Leone’s Custom Made
Catering: Magleby’s
Cake: Cake. by Alessandra
Entertainment: Utah Live Bands
Rentals: Diamond Event & Tent
Videography: Ryan Hinman
Honeymoon Resort: Ladera Suites at Paradise Ridge

See more delightfully bright spring weddings here.

Making Change: Convertible Wedding Dresses

May 9, 2022

detachable features — Breeze silk slip dress with a removable beaded tulle overlay, also by Amy Mair Couture, available exclusively from Versailles Atelier Bridal, South Jordan

Four. That’s how many dresses media personality and socialite Paris Hilton wore during her November 2021 wedding to entrepreneur Carter Reum. While wedding day wardrobe changes can certainly add a one-of-a-kind drama to a celebration—as well as offer practical benefits (just try to dance in a ball gown)—purchasing four wedding dresses is simply not realistic for many brides outside of the celebrity set. Thankfully, this fact of life is not lost on wedding dress designers, who have found a middle ground for the betrothed who want to switch things up during their big day without breaking the bank. Their arsenal: removable sleeves, capes, over skirts and even full overlays.

“Dresses with detachable features are slightly more expensive than most one-look wedding dresses,” says Natasha Boyle, owner of Versailles Atelier Bridal in South Jordan. “But they also offer the versatility of multiple gowns and are certainly more affordable than purchasing multiple dresses.” Beyond cost, however, the benefits of choosing to wear a convertible dress on your wedding day are many.

Sunrise wedding gown with detachable sleeves from Amy Mair Couture’s 2022 “Like a Bird” collection. Photo courtesy of Amy Mair Couture.

If you are feeling conflicted between an obligation to wear a more traditional, less revealing dress for your wedding ceremony and wanting a fun, body-conscious look that better reflects your personality for the reception, you’re not alone. A removable over-skirt, like the Pippa from Maggie Sottero, allows you to easily transition between a more conservative ball gown look for the “I dos” and a sexy, mermaid silhouette for the cocktail hour, dinner, toasts and dancing.

Capes continue to be a huge trend in wedding dress fashion in 2022, and one that adds a particularly fashionable allure to the bride as she strolls down the aisle. Cape options range from modern and minimalist styles with clean and simple detailing, like Anne Barge’s Jasper Cape, to more theatrical versions, like Maggie Sottero’s floor-length cape with a beaded and scalloped-lace hem.

Carrington detachable cape with beaded lace trim, Maggie Sottero. Photo courtesy of Maggie Sottero.

There are not many bridal-gown features that can both hide and highlight your arms more beautifully than detachable sleeves. Wearing a dress designed with removable sleeves, like Amy Mair Couture’s ethereal Sunrise gown, or embellishing a simpler dress with Maggie Sottero’s Brava sleeves, offer the fantastic opportunity to embrace incredible details for as long as you feel comfortable and then place the sleeves aside when the party really gets started. Removable sleeves are also ideal for events that move from indoors to outdoors and vice versa.

Amy Mair’s Breeze gown features a silk, cowl-neck slip and removable hand-beaded tulle overlay. Brides can choose to wear both pieces together for, say an outdoor afternoon wedding, and then can remove the overlay, leaving the silk slip to be accessorized for a dramatic evening look.

Lastly, transforming your look over the course of a six, seven or even eight-hour wedding celebration, with a little help from a convertible dress, is fun. It can give you just the boost you need be the life of your party well into the wee hours—no hotel fortune or social media empire required.

Need more tips for your perfect bridal style? We can help.

Celebration Makers: Hearth and Hill – Hill’s Kitchen

May 7, 2022

“A Dream Wedding” looks different to every couple, and the chefs at Hearth and Hill take that to heart. Their catering team crafts stylish, bespoke menus for every event, selecting spreads to match any wedding vision.

The Park City-based chefs have decades of experience in their alpine restaurants and can accommodate any request.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for anything. If you want a specific menu item or type of service, we want to know about it,” says Brooks Kirchheimer, co-founder. “It is our job to make your event everything you dreamed and more, but we can’t fulfill your vision unless you share it with us.”

Every couple booking with Hearth and Hill can expect a great deal of communication and craft put into curating their menu, turning the dining at their reception into an extraordinary experience that brings the whole day together in style.

“We love seeing the joy on guests’ faces when they look at their food options and can’t wait to dig in,” says Kirchheimer. “It really is all about the guests. They are the reason we do what we do.”

Sustainability is also a huge influence for Hearth and Hill, where they are committed to composting and recycling after every event, and never compromising on sourcing local, fresh and healthy ingredients.

Some of the biggest photo-ops of a wedding are centered around food: the toasts, the cake cutting and the first meal as a married couple. Craft your big food moments with a team that has seen and done it all—and is excited for what else is to come.

“Our commitment is to inspire our associates, thrill our guests and enrich our community. “We strive to thrill our guests with personal service and a fresh, approachable take on contemporary American cuisine.” —Brooks and kircheimer

Ask the Expert

What’s Ahead:
Alongside our Hearth and Hill restaurant, and Hill’s Kitchen café & catering establishments, in Park City, we are also opening a fine dining eatery in downtown Salt Lake. Urban Hill, our new restaurant with private dining and spacious patio options, will be in the Post District–stay tuned!

Excited about:
Whether it be a party of 40 in our private dining room or a full-service fête, we are geared and eager to take 2022 events from ordinary to extraordinary with our expanding team and brand-new kitchens.

Fresh Ideas:
Enjoy your first moments after “I do” as a couple, away from the bustle. Order a few of your favorite appetizers, just for the two of you. In the meantime, keep your guests entertained with a stylish cocktail hour menu, including anything from an upscale taco bar to nitrogen ice cream.

1153 Center Dr., Ste G160, Park City | events@hearth-hill.com | 435-200-8840

No event is complete without good food. Get more catering tips here.

Delicate Flower and Cake Duos for your Wedding

May 4, 2022

Your wedding is made of little details hand-picked to match your personality and love story, and nowhere is this more apparent than in wedding cakes and flowers. As the centerpieces of your celebration, vibrant floral arrangements and sweet delicacies deserve an extra dash of charm, and they definitely need to find cohesion. To help you find the perfect flower and cake duo, we’ve enlisted the wedding industry’s most trusted professionals to offer a little inspiration. In hues ranging from vibrant to subdued, über-creative event chefs and artisan florists create wedding dessert displays that are a feast for the eyes as well as the palate.

Wedding Flower and Cake Duo — Flowers by Gather Floral, Provo. Photography by Heather Nan.

The showy petals of Icelandic poppies in this beautifully free-form floral centerpiece (above) are repeated in a delicate sugar-flower scatter upon the tallest in a series of mini-cakes. Buttercream flowers and a sugar ruffle adorn the second and third cakes of the trio. The floral arrangement’s pastel and leafy palette is rounded out with butterfly ranunculus, caramel antike roses, limelight hydrangeas, white dahlias, scabiosa, blushing bride protea, astilbe, hellebore, a variety of eucalyptus and wild clematis foraged from Provo Canyon.

“I always try to include something foraged from the canyons both near where I live in Provo or from Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons in all of my arrangements.” —Sydnee Lund, Gather Floral

Sugar flowers take any wedding cake to the next level, learn how Flour & Flourish uses them to wow her clients here!

The Criticbook & movie reviews

Utah Bride & Groom MagazineUtah\'s Leading Source for Bridal Inspiration

Real Wedding: Makayla and Karsten’s Summer Garden Celebration

Real Wedding: A True Aggie Union in the Grand Tetons

Where to Buy Flowers for Valentine’s Day

Love on the Edge at the Bonneville Salt Flats