When it comes to capturing love, the perfect location can make all the difference and there’s one iconic spot in Utah that truly embodies the magic. With its stunning sunsets and rich history, The Great Saltair offers a unique experience that can only be found in Utah. For couple Rylee and Isaac, this memorable setting served as the perfect backdrop to celebrate their love and mark the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.
The Couple:
Rylee and Isaac first met on a group date at BYU, and after learning that they had a few classes together, the soon-to-be couple decided to go on their own first date. Rylee and Isaac love being outdoors. Whether it’s going camping, boating, or playing pickleball, you can catch this adventurous duo making the most of Utah’s beautiful landscapes.
The Proposal:
The proposal was a perfect surprise for Rylee. Isaac had told her they had dinner plans with his family at Sundance. Little did she know he was about to propose with a display of flowers, candles, and pictures of the two of them. According to Rylee, “Everything about that day was perfect.”
Weddings planned during COVID required us to get creative, to think outside the box, to do things differently than we ever have…That’s exactly what Emilia and Sebastian from Germany did. When they couldn’t celebrate their wedding in 2020, they decided to do an after-wedding shoot in the Grand Canyon on their road trip through the United States instead.
Photo by Tyler Rye.Photo by Tyler Rye.Photo by Tyler Rye.
“Seeing the Grand Canyons was a big dream for me as a child, as I had always read about them in books,” Emilia says. The Grand Canyon is already a memorable location, but when the sunset hits, it turns the photos into a glorious celebration of love.
Photo by Tyler Rye.Photo by Tyler Rye.Photo by Tyler Rye.
This was a magical time for the couple because Sebastian finally got to see his stunning bride in her wedding dress in the most breathtaking setting.
Photo by Tyler Rye.
They found photographer Tyler Rye, who is an elopement photographer based in Zion National Park. He loves giving couples perfectly lit, stunningly backdropped photos that the couple will cherish forever. His extensive knowledge of the southern Utah area makes him a trustworthy photographer—he knows all the hidden gems of the areas, guaranteeing unique photos.
Photo by Tyler Rye.Photo by Tyler Rye.Photo by Tyler Rye.
“It was indescribable!” the couple gushes. “Many thanks to Tyler Rye for the great photos!”
Immerse yourself in a romantic wedding scene at Utah’s newest fine art venue on UVU’s campus.
Elegant florals, innovative place settings and delightful details transform Utah Valley University Museum of Art’s courtyard into a scene plucked straight from a wedding dream.
GATHER AROUND
Photo by Jackie Siggard Photo & Video
Rather than choosing a traditional altar setup, many couples are leaning toward a more interactive experience. In this magical scene set against the picturesque, European manor facade of the UVU MOA, guests are surrounded by a beautiful botanical garden as the couple exchanges vows in a circular ceremony arrangement that puts the lovers at center stage. Rich ruby and caramel florals radiate from the main event, immersing each guest in the day’s breathtaking scene.
Photo by Megan Robinson Photography
ALL IN THE DETAILS
Elegance is infused into every moment of this dreamy design, thanks to the distinctive details planted by the pros on site. Personalized fans direct the dinner’s seating chart, where expertly ruched linen delivers rich texture to the tabletops. Among hand-crafted blossoming trees, a stunningly sculptural cake matches organically molded chargers and flatware to continue the nature-driven theme along each tablescape.
Photo by Jackie Siggard Photo & VideoPhoto by Megan Robinson PhotographyPhoto by Megan Robinson PhotographyPhoto by Megan Robinson PhotographyPhoto by Jackie Siggard Photo & VideoPhoto by Jackie Siggard Photo & Video
IGNITE THE NIGHT
Capture the beauty of Utah’s iconic sunsets, and ignite your wedding dinner with dusky dreams. Rich twilight tones set the stage for speeches and the welcoming of guests. Then transition to glowing candlelight, evoking a sense of sultry mystery that concludes the evening. Teaming with traditional tapers and votives, gilded lanterns add luxury and extra sparkle to the scene.
Photo by Jackie Siggard Photo & VideoPhoto by Jackie Siggard Photo & VideoPhoto by Jackie Siggard Photo & Video
Forget the European getaways and tropical elopements—wanderlust-fueled couples flock to Utah’s diverse regions for their dream destination weddings.
PEAK PARTY
Vegas and Nashville no more. Adventurous brides know that the mountains are the place to be for a truly memorable bachelorette celebration. And what better stop than the luxury mountain hub of Park City, well-known for its unique blend of rustic and refinement?
By day, take your maids on any of the area’s iconic hikes or careening down runs on the greatest snow on earth. By night, visit historic Main Street or the vibrant new developments in Kimball Junction for an unforgettable dining experience. For the ultimate alpine escape, bask in all the luxury the mountains have to offer at one of many high-end resorts around town, such as the St. Regis Deer Valley (pictured above), an oasis of pampering and poise. Access the iconic St. Regis Deer Valley Resort via funicular—the only guest transportation of its kind at a North American ski resort.
The Vintage Room at St. Regis Deer Valley offers luxury lounging among 360-degree views. Photo courtesy of St. Regis Deer Valley.
The St. Regis Spa and restaurants both have impressive menus of indulgences ready to enjoy, and a team of expert concierges is ready to customize your bachelorette weekend, whether you fancy a night on the town at galleries and bars or crave the ultimate resort experience with butler service and champagne sabering.
DOWNTOWN DINING
Salt Lake City’s entertainment center has been on the up and up in recent years, with new restaurants and lounges popping up on every corner. If you have guests arriving from out of town, a metropolitan welcome meal is the perfect opportunity to show off the city’s food scene.
At the renowned Grand America Hotel, A-list pastry chefs dole out delectable desserts, chic brunch favorites and downtown dining delights at the hotel’s newest addition, Laurel Brasserie & Bar.
Show off the swanky airs of downtown SLC in the sleek interior spaces at Hotel Monaco.Photos courtesy of Hotel Monaco.
Amid the city’s iconic hotel district, the Hotel Monaco hosts your guests in high style, with custom catering provided by the talented culinary team at the Monaco’s celebrated New American eatery, Bambara.
Work with the team at Market Street Grill to craft a welcome menu of fresh seafood fare. Allow the bar pros at Market Street Grill to wow your guests with cocktails as stunning as they are delicious. Photos courtesy of Market Street Grill.
With three locations—downtown, South Jordan and the base of Cottonwood Canyon, Market Street Grill is a prime spot to indulge in for cocktails, celebrating and some of Utah’s freshest seafood fare.
RED ROCK RECEPTION
One of Utah’s newest and most glamorous resorts, Black Desert Resort, hit the St. George scene in autumn of 2024, and is ready to host lavish and adventurous wedding celebrations. Set against Southern Utah’s striking red rock landscapes, Black Desert Resort offers both indoor and outdoor spaces spanning over 45,000 square feet with spaces from elegant ballrooms to picturesque private terraces, tailored to each couple’s vision. Whether you have a grand wedding soirée or an intimate and adventurous micro-wedding on your vision board, the Black Desert team is poised to execute your ideal wedding weekend with style and flexibility.
Photos courtesy of Black Desert Resort Utah’s latest and most luxurious resort boasts modern design and beloved red rock vistas year-round.
While on-site, treat your guests to the pinnacle of Utah’s culinary landscape at one of Black Desert’s high-end dining outlets including: Basalt, an upscale steak and seafood restaurant; Club 73, open-aired and ready for a party; and Oasis bar and grill with a rooftop terrace and stunning views.
In the state’s southern region, fair weather can be found nearly year-round, ready to host your iconic outdoor ceremony and celebrations. Image courtesy of Black Desert Resort.
For an unforgettable finale, chat with the planning team to coordinate a nightly drone show viewing to commemorate your nuptial celebration. Talk about a superb sendoff!
Anna & Wesley Stein Eriksen Lodge, park city December 31 Planning & Design by Canvas Weddings & Events Photographs by Whitney Hunt Photography
THE COUPLE
High school sweethearts Anna and Wesley reconnected later in life, while each on a visit home for their siblings’ graduations. Following seven years of dating bliss (plus three years of long distance), Wesley began to hatch a plan for a surprise proposal. On a Jackson Hole anniversary trip, he asked Anna to join him for a morning hike and fishing trip. “I was caught by complete surprise when he got down on one knee with the sunrise pouring over the Tetons behind us,” says Anna.
THE WEDDING
Anna’s parents call Park City home, and the allure of Stein Eriksen Lodge drew this couple in with scenic vistas and the romantic warmth of its classic ski hotel atmosphere—perfect for their cozy winter wedding.
A black-tie affair inspired by Dutch Masters paintings, every vignette was adorned with rich pink, red and mauve florals, beginning with the ceremony altar. Twin floral pillars pulled shades from an alpine sunset, all nestled against spindling dried foliage, allowing the installation to blend with and celebrate the scenic backdrop off the Stein patio. French-blue gowned bridesmaids carried petite posy bouquets, while warmed by elegant fur wraps. Anna arrived on scene in the Gables gown by Australian designer Georgia Young, smitten with the flowing fabric and asymmetrical design. Custom teardrop earrings by Shay Fox Jewelry complemented an heirloom sapphire bracelet belonging to Anna’s grandmother. She and Wesley were married by Reverend Elizabeth McVicker of the Park City Community Church during a ceremony filled with special bible readings and a unity braid now on display in the couple’s home.
Once indoors, the palette darkened, drawing from the still lifes that inspired Anna’s wedding vision. Candles across every surface complemented the cozy, warm wood interior of the lodge, and bespoke chandeliers delivered elegance and festivity in honor of the New Year’s Eve wedding date.
THE PARTY
After dining on a curated menu featuring sea bass and bison, 175 guests hit the dance floor, rocking alongside Gold Standard Music and DJ, who kept the party going well past midnight. Guests performed surprise covers of favorite songs, and the newlyweds shared their first dance to a classic Andy Williams tune, “Love is a Many Splendored Thing.” Just before cutting into their champagne and apricot cake, the couple shared handmade Christmas Crackers with their guests. These gifts from the bride honor a longtime family tradition, and everyone cracked them together in celebration of the winter holiday.
THE HONEYMOON
Little Dix Bay in the British Virgin Islands hosted Anna and Wesley on their post-nuptial getaway.
Setting a meaningful intention for your marriage is an essential first step when planning a wedding. As you embark on this new journey, imagine grounding your ceremony in love, peace and purpose with a handcrafted holistic sage bundle.
At Elements of Sage, owner and sage artisan Johanna Pay thoughtfully designs sage bundles to reflect the beauty of new beginnings. Her creations use locally and ethically sourced sage, herbs and wildflowers, ensuring sustainability with only natural components.
“Alongside sage, blending additional components can help refine intentions. While sage burning represents renewal and the clearing away of old patterns, other elements such as dried flowers are incorporated to enhance specific energies and embody warmth, happiness and health,” explains Pay.
“Adding rose strengthens the heart chakra with love and unity, while lavender brings peace, calm and joy to comfort the union. Once we understand our clients’ motivations and intentions, our bundles provide a way for the couples to connect with nature, supporting their journey toward wellness and harmonious beginnings.”
As you plan your special day, embracing an intention-setting sage ritual is a unique way to deepen your connection and enrich your celebration.
In addition to our signature sage bundles, the collection now includes sage wedding favors and bouquets thoughtfully designed to bring a natural beauty to your wedding day.
Excited About:
Our new collection of wedding favors and bouquets! These new offerings are designed to set heartfelt intentions, clear old energies and enhance positive energy throughout your celebration.
Fresh Ideas:
Sage adds a powerful element to traditional wedding ceremonies, symbolizing blessings for the bride and the significance of the day. At a recent ceremony, the earthy aroma meandered through the crowd, connecting the couple to their guests. The officiant spoke about how the natural energy of the sage bundle serves to bless their union, creating a sanctuary of support for one another, emphasizing the couple’s bond and newly shared energy. It was truly magic
Back east transplants Emily and Meg went from college teammates to forever lovers with a celebration at Victory Ranch.
THE COUPLE
College hockey teammates-turned-lovers, Bostonite Emily and Midwest-hailing Meg made the leap from friends to girlfriends two years after graduation. Three years after that, Emily planned a surprise sunset proposal at a family home in Wisconsin over Independence Day weekend. Meg returned the gesture with a post-golf engagement ring later that summer at Kamas’s Victory Ranch, which would later become the setting for their marriage vows.
THE WEDDING
The couple decided they wanted to show off their new home state, so they invited nearly two hundred of their loved ones to meet in Kamas for an elegant and organic outdoor wedding nodding to Utah’s mountain landscapes. Stunning textural white florals teamed with thick greenery and a quaint pergola for a setup that perfectly blended with the course, while the bridal party’s green and burnt-orange attire echoed the hues of a mountain sunset. Linens detailed with a subtly topographic grain further echoed Utah’s geography.
For their ceremony, both brides wore simple crepe gowns purchased in their hometowns. Emily wore a sleek one-shoulder number and rhinestone belt, while Meg donned an elegant ruched off-the-shoulder look. Rather than traditional heels, the pair wore matching Jimmy Choo sneakers to help them bust a move later in the evening. Their hand-written vows were officiated by a college friend and teammate, and were accompanied by special readings. “We selected readings that spoke more to the gay experience,” shares Meg. “It was important to us to make things tastefully intentional and authentic to us as a couple.”
THE PARTY
After the ceremony, guests flocked to a custom-constructed pergola for an upscale family-style dinner of miso marinated cod (a favorite of the couple’s), filet mignon and pasta, with a s’mores station and mini dessert bar to follow. At the bar, Emily and Meg paid homage to their love of skiing with green, blue and black slope-grade inspired cocktails named after their favorite runs at Deer Valley and Loon Mountain resorts. In the clubhouse, Metro Music Club led all the guests as they grooved for hours on the intimate dance floor and cheered the newlyweds on in a special choreographed first dance.
Rather than hosting a rehearsal dinner the night before the main event, Emily and Meg broke from tradition and opted for a blowout goodbye party instead. Guests reconvened at Victory Ranch the day following the wedding for pickleball and a pool party.
Then the couple, clad in stylish white suits, met their friends and family at Kimball Terrace for a country music-backed farewell dinner and dancing. Alongside a fun-filled dinner catered by Culinary Crafts, the brides honored their mothers with curated wine selections as the signature beverages.
THE HONEYMOON
After the wedding weekend, the couple had a ‘mini-moon’ in Park City, before embarking on a three-week New Zealand adventure a year later.
Western-inspired wedding design takes a luxurious spin at High West Distillery.
Experience the charm of the Wild West and the allure of a high end wedding in one fell swoop with rich color and delicate touches in an idyllic rustic venue.
The Intro
Kick off your wedding mood by showing your signature style in paper form. Carefully crafted by La Madeleine Studio, this perfectly matched paper suite employs a pronounced palette, elegant typography and landscape-inspired patterns to capture a beautiful balance between desert rustic and feminine luxury.
The suite boasts an abundance of rich greens and deep tans, mirroring the verdant palette of Utah’s summer landscapes. Raw-edged paper invokes visions of hand-written love letters, echoed in a collection of vintage stamps on each personalized envelope.
This bold foundation, adorned with dainty ribbons and coyly floraled illusion coverlets, tells guests to expect an adventure of an event, infused with all the pomp of wedding elegance.
DESERT INSPIRATION
When it comes to a mountain-magic wedding dinner, your event’s design can capture the allure of an iconic view and natural setting before guests even glance outside. “I was inspired by High West’s rustic charm and high-mountain desert landscape,” says wedding planner Kristin Spear of Soirée Productions, who curated this stunning vignette. “I wanted to mirror those natural textures in the linens and table settings.”
Utah-inspired textures inform every detail, with beds of salt supporting slender tapered candles, sleek iron chairs providing a strong base and a simple patterned linen giving an ode to the Wild West. Effortless florals appear to be sprouting directly from the table’s center, a magical moment repeated in the ceremony design, where rust, blush and gold blooms burst from every open space, nearly transporting the scene right into a mountainside meadow.
HIGH WEST FASHION
The ceremony’s subtle color scheme echoes that natural beauty, while allowing this couple’s high-fashion attire to have its own moment. A sleek blue suit garbs the groom, inviting a touch of classic formality to the wedding vision. The bride’s ensemble is a brilliant ode to cowgirl-chic, but with a high-fashion twist: Intricate ruching and high-gloss accessories marry with rough hems and a corseted bodice to deliver the best of both worlds.
CHEERS!
During cocktail hour, simplicity and elegance abound, allowing the focus to be on the experience: a High West whiskey tasting full of the flavors of the state. Setting the mood, greenery and delicate blooms erupt from a stone mantel, appearing as native as can be. Bud vases add pops of color to each cocktail table, while on the bar, a customized whiskey bottle flanked by cascading tulips delivers a dose of personality to the celebration.
Reception entertainment masters share their top playlist picks to enliven your dance party
Emily Merrell makes her living hyping up a crowd at memorable receptions far and wide, as a member of Utah fan-favorite group Diamond Empire Band. She shared some of her go-to crowd pump-up songs to make your celebration a blast at every turn.
1. “24K Magic” by Bruno Mars
“Kick off the reception with this electrifying tune that brings instant energy.”
2. “Hey Ya” by Outkast
“Guaranteed to fill the dance floor with all generations with its signature dance move.”
3. “Respect” by Aretha Franklin
“Bring some soul to your playlist with a powerful anthem.”
4. “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey
“Close out the night on a high note with a beloved sing along.”
Curate your one-of-a-kind bridal jewelry set with shapely stones in every piece. Photo by Blake Hogge
Bolder brides with a finger on fashion’s hottest trends will know that multi-stone and cluster rings are all the rage in the celeb world.
“For more traditional bridal clients, the band is where we are seeing more mixed shapes of stones,” says Ericka Weissman, diamond buyer at O.C. Tanner Jewelers.
Take a page from the trends book, and treat yourself to a stack of mixed-shape wedding bands to accompany your engagement ring.
For added flair, consider a flashy eternity band. Unlike a traditional wedding band with stones on the top, it features bling all the way around the ring, another symbol of love.
“Many clients who want something different, or may not plan to be regularly wearing a traditional solitaire engagement ring, will go for a larger eternity band,” Weissman says. “Radiants in a bezel setting, or ovals and cushions are all very popular choices.”
TOP TO BOTTOMIN IMAGE
O.C. Tanner Collection Florence diamond ring in platinum, $41,200; Kwiat Cushion diamond band in platinum, $38,000; Kwiat Five Stone Ashoka diamond ring in platinum, $76,200; O.C. Tanner Collection Grace diamond ring in platinum, $55,000; Sethi Couture stacking bands, starting at $1,685.
