While many of us think of white when it comes to wedding dresses, red has been the color of choice for centuries. Red tones from scarlet to vermilion can pack a punch on your wedding day and are known across the world for bringing good luck and happiness–two things we are all looking for on our big day.
This shoot by Olive Avenue Photography offers tips on creating monochromatic magic on your wedding day.
“The slight rolling of the hills creates an undeniable dimension and depth against the wide open sky,” says photographer, Angela Marie. “When the sun hits it just right, you can even spot subtle reflections of The Great Salt Lake from certain angles! All these natural elements come together to create a truly majestic location that promotes freedom and bliss.”
The Dress…
This romantic two-piece gown by Betsy Couture is comprised of the “The Ruby” top–which boasts intricate lace detailing–and the “The Juliet” skirt–which features billowy, organic lines. The look is completed with a long tulle veil and a Lizzy Slip to bring it all together.
The Flowers…
The neutral, blush-toned bouquet by Wish Blossom Flowers brings in elements of charm and femininity. “We wanted understated florals that would make a statement while enhancing the beauty of everything around them,” says Angela Marie. “With soft hues of pink and muted green, the tones of each flower provide a gorgeous balance of bold and elegant. The ribbons complete the look by flowing freely in the breeze with a graceful romance.”
Ode to the Past…
“Not only does this styled shoot celebrate freedom, but it also pays tribute to what might have come before that feeling. We chose to feature brilliant vintage earrings as an ode to the past. They symbolize that we must honor the past in order to fully enjoy the present, and they also bestow timelessness upon the bride. The rustic book symbolizes the bride’s story–the one she has already lived and the one she is currently creating. Every bride has a unique story that led her to where she is today, and she will feel completely free only once she accepts every chapter.”
The Gatherist’s design in this stylized shoot is a lesson in push-and-pull from top to bottom.
Ember’s floor-to-ceiling windows–paned in iron–provide bright, natural light and create shadows along the concrete floor that photographer, Kate Osborne uses to create depth. And, the simplicity of the space compliments the classic silhouette of the Jann Marie Bridal shift gown.
Finally, to top it all off, flowers by Soil + Stem provide an all-but-anticipated pop of color.
The bottom line: moody doesn’t always mean dark and simple doesn’t have to be boring.
Every season has its merits; spring has flowers blooming, summer has long days by the pool and winter, here in Utah, has what we like to call “the best snow on earth.” But, there’s just something special about fall. From the leaves changing colors to the crisp autumn air, I’ve always felt like fall breathes romance back into the air after the hot summer months.
Which is why autumn is the perfect season for romantic shots in moody tones, and Meagan Woods is here to show us how it’s done.
The orange and peach tones in the floral design by Lennox Flora pair perfectly with the rust color of the Kenneth Boggs worn by Mr. Boggs, himself.
The intricate and surprising textures in Mrs. Boggs’ boho-inspired Reclamation Design Company gown add depth to the dress’ classic, vintage silhouette.
Childhood sweethearts Sara and Willem seal the deal in a magnificently customized Snowpine Lodge wedding, with flawless details and classic energy.
THE COUPLE
Sara and Willem met for the first time when they were teenagers at a mutual friends party, but it wasn’t until they were running into each other all over town that sparks started to fly. Nine years later, after a magical proposal atop Rice-Eccles Stadium, the pair tied the know at a magical Snowpine Lodge wedding.
THE MOOD
The crisp white linens paired with romantic cross-back chairs and simple all-white flowers helped achieve the couples overall hope for their simplistically romantic wedding day. “We essentially looked at each element individually and choose what we both agreed upon and we think it worked out perfectly,” Sara says. From the wood mounted table numbers to the coordinated invitation suite and seating chart, a surprise from the couples wedding coordinator, each detail fit the couples individual style perfectly. “Or wedding coordinator, Ashley, spent a lot of time making sure all of the details fit our style,” the bride explained.
THE WEDDING
After touring many great venues, Sara and Willem found their perfect place in Snow Pine Lodge. “What really sold us was the idea of having a ceremony outside followed by an indoor reception that still had exceptional views of the mountains,” Sara explained. The couple was married by a close family friend who officiated a romantic ceremony highlighting the couple equally as partners.
The snow dusted mountains (yes even in June) visible from all the windows at the Snowpine Lodge wedding, lodging and ski stop venue make for the perfect cozy location. “Each room is perfect from the cocktail lounge and ballroom to the bridal suite,” said photographer, Zandra Barriga. The couple wanted the weekend “to feel like a big family reunion,” and with the ball pit and a karaoke room, Snow Pine Lodge checked every box.
THE MENU
Food was an essential part of Sara & Willem’s celebration. Bacon wrapped dates, strawberry rhubarb crisp and braised short rib featured on the menu, all perfectly pairing with the couple’s must-have of “good, old-fashioned mashed potatoes.” The crowning jewel of Sara and Willem’s menu though, were their individualized cocktails.
“The bar manager at Snow Pine was kind enough to work with us to create unique cocktails with each of our favorite ingredients,” Sara describes. For the bride, “Strawberry Fields” was a cocktail with gin, fresh lemon, lime St. Germaine, and a champagne floater. For the groom, “The Watson”, named after their beloved English bulldog, was a creation with whiskey, lemon juice, local honey, ginger syrup, a splash of Islay scotch, and candied ginger on top. “They turned out amazing, by far the best cocktails we’ve ever had, and our guests absolutely loved them too.”
For dessert, the couple chose a beautifully curated cake with sugar flowers matching the bridal bouquet and centerpieces.
THE PARTY
The band at the reception played four 45 minute sets, meaning almost 4 straight hours of dancing (including a few breaks for snacking and drinking obviously). The dancing crowd did not die down a bit. “One of our top priorities was to have a lot of dancing as long as possible, and we were thrilled when the majority of the attendees danced late into the night,” the bride explains. The couple shared their first dance to “Crazy Love” by Van Morrison. The couple was joined by their parents, Sara by her father and Willem by his mother, and they danced to “In My Life” by The Beatles.
This outdoor minimony inspiration editorial was influenced by a romantic fine art aesthetic and a touch of European influence. With soft and delicate floral, champagne dress, and elegant invitation suite handmade in Spain this wedding was a dream.
The images were captured with a gorgeous blend of light and airy romance. The golden sun perfectly peeking out from the soft rolling clouds created warm and beautiful highlights of the bride’s hair as she danced with her flowing champagne tulle dress through the tall grassy field. The bride and groom are a real couple who were creating their own fireworks as they kissed under the wide open sky on this top of the world landscape high above Salt Lake City.
The light and loose florals were a delicate and exquisite accent to the look. The gorgeous florals of pink, white and ivory roses, peonies, Queen Anne’s lace, sweet pea, orchids, tulips and a hint of golden cosmos. The charming table dressed with ivory chiffon cloth and carefully with white and ivory stoneware and gold lettered menus on each created a timeless tablescape. Together each elegant detail and the soft warm colors created inspiration for the perfect summer wedding.
Jillian and Jacob met in 11th grade at Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida. Years later, their journey took them to Utah where Jacob proposed to Jillian while fly fishing on the Provo River over Labor Day weekend.
The Wedding
After a ten-year courtship, the Florida couple chose Park City for their destination wedding. Jillian’s family had been traveling to Deer Valley to ski since 2002, so once Jacob and Jillian began dating, Jacob naturally joined in. “We felt it was only perfect to share our favorite destination with all of our friends and family from Florida,” Jillian says. Jillian’s dad hosted a golf day at Promontory Ranch Club for the gents on the Friday before the wedding. Later that night, Jacob’s parents hosted a rehearsal dinner and welcome party at High West Distillery’s Nelson Cottage. The couple married on Jillian’s parents’ wedding anniversary, which fell smack dab in the middle of Park City’s wildflower season and July 4th celebrations.
The Mood
“Empire Lodge typically looks like a ski-lunch spot, but Hoopes Events and Deer Valley transformed it into an elegant, rustic-chic environment,” Jillian says. “Most of the color came from the beautiful flowers–including eucalyptus–and the blues in the hydrangea, delphinium and thistle flowers.”
The Menu
Deer Valley offered up: charcuterie, shrimp skewers, bison empanadas and wild mushroom flatbread as appetizers; a first-course butter crunch salad with strawberries, pistachios and feta cheese; Niman Ranch tenderloin and crab-crusted Utah trout as an entree; a stacked vegetable Ratatouille as a vegetarian option; a selection of mini pastries; and grilled cheese and fries for a late-night snack.
The Party
Heartfelt toasts, a traditional Hava Nagila and a vintage VW van Photo Booth entertained the guests, as did the music. “We spent a lot of time discussing our music ideas with DJ Pauly. Everyone danced the night away, so I know it was enjoyable for all of our guests.”
The Honeymoon
Following the wedding, the newlyweds traveled to Jackson, Wyoming for a mini-moon, where they enjoyed the Grand Tetons for the first time. Later that year, they spent two weeks in New Zealand, where they road tripped, hiked, ate local cuisine, flew in a small tour plane, went offshore and enjoyed fly fishing. “We cannot wait to return to New Zealand for a future anniversary and complete our tour.”
French elegance in Utah? Oui. Alexia Nilsen shows off Utah-born European flair in a styled shoot at the gorgeous Wadley Farms.
Est-ce que to parles français? You don’t have to speak French to understand the enchanting style. No other country masters the art of understated sophistication quite like France. How exactly do the French do it? Up-and-comer photographer Alexia Nilsen instructs us how to achieve this art for the big day.
Focus on Quality
“You don’t have to travel to Europe to achieve a stunning European wedding,” photographer Alexia Nilsen says. If there’s anything we can learn from the French, it’s to forget the fuss. Repeat after me, quality over quantity. Get to know a good tailor for all your wedding day fashion and choose natural fabrics over manufactured versions for the best fit. And while we’re on the topic of fashion, remember to allow several months to order and fit those gowns and suits.
Book a Chateau
In a state abounding with rustic farmhouses and mountain resorts, castles are a bit tough to find in Utah. Enter Wadley Farms. “Wadley Farms has so many stunning backdrops to choose from, like vineyards, stone walls, pathways, beautiful doorways and ivy-strewn gates,” Nilsen says. This Lindon property boasts a castle, a barn, and a turn-of-the-century Railway Building.
And if that weren’t enough, Wadley is a working farm that grown peaches, apples, cherries, apricots, pears, grapes, pumpkins, peppers, tomatoes and corn, in addition to raising honey bees and free-range Angus cows.
Stay with a Subtle Palette
Just like black-and-white is classically French, blush is the tried-and-true hue of weddings. “Choosing subtle, elegant colors doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, sometimes going with softer tones with a modern twist really elevates your whole wedding,” Nilsen says. Here, the pink and blue make a perfect pairing when teamed with champagnes, whits, peaches and even browns. Can you spot the dark chocolate cosmos and blue tweedia in the bouquets?
Turn up the Romance
Evoking emotion is your number one goal for the big day. How do you do that? “It’s true what they say. It’s all in the details. Pick a few key sentimental details worth splurging on, like florals and invitations,” Nilsen says. Seasonal blooms tied with silk ribbons, handmade paper finished with raw edges, and lace runners topped with garden urns conjure romance at every turn.
Set Up the Ambiance
Sure, the big day is about commitment and love, but what about the dining experience? The French never rush a meal, so boost conversation with long farmhouse tables, low centerpieces and tapered candles. Save the buffet for casual parties and opt for the formality of a full-service instead. French flair encourages guests to linger over their cuisine, wine, conversation and music without ever leaving the comfort of their Louis cane back chairs.
Want more bridal day inspiration? Browse more blogs here.
After touring many great venues, Sara and Willem found their perfect place in Snow Pine Lodge. “What really sold us was the idea of having a ceremony outside followed by an indoor reception that still had exceptional views of the mountains,” Sara explained. The couple was married by a close family friend who officiated a romantic ceremony highlighting the couple equally as partners.
For dessert, the couple chose a beautifully curated cake with sugar flowers matching the bridal bouquet and centerpieces.
In a state abounding with rustic farmhouses and mountain resorts, castles are a bit tough to find in Utah. Enter Wadley Farms. “Wadley Farms has so many stunning backdrops to choose from, like vineyards, stone walls, pathways, beautiful doorways and ivy-strewn gates,” Nilsen says. This Lindon property boasts a castle, a barn, and a turn-of-the-century Railway Building.
