“Not everyone loves a white cake,” says Flour & Flourish’s Cassidy Harrison, who eats up any pastry challenge handed her way. Her pastry palette captures many colors—emerald green, nautical blue and even charcoal black. But Harrison’s craftsmanship doesn’t end there. Harrison doesn’t just add fresh blooms to finish her sugary sponges, she handcrafts life-like sugar flowers, blowing away the competition. Edible cosmos, dahlias and garden roses, anyone? “Some brides want something totally out of the ordinary.” And that’s exactly what she gives them.
Hidden Gem: Breathtaking and Timeless Bridals at Tibble Fork
Utah’s wild boasts two unique, post-card worthy views: The mountain peaks and the sunsets. What would you say to a bridal shoot that features both in all their splendor?
We say, “Yes, PLEASE.” Captured by Meghan Beatty Photography, this session as is timeless as it is breathtaking. Bride Danielle distracts even from Utah’s landscapes in a classic long sleeved bridal gown from Fantasy Bridal, featuring delicate lace trim on the edges and a luxurious set of satin buttons which bring the perfect hint of vintage flair. The old-time charm only accentuates Danielle’s striking, art-deco-esque ring set.
Her groom, Justin, greets her in a clean-lined suit from Men’s Wearhouse. Both sport abundant floral accents by Ceryl Curtis .
For more stunning views and golden-hour goodness, scroll on through the rest of the gallery!
Photos: Meghan Beatty Photography | @meghanbeattyphoto
Gown: Fantasy Bridal | @fantasybridalut
Suit: Men’s Warehouse | @menswearhouse
Floral: Ceryl Curtis Design | @cerylcurtisphotoanddesign
Real Wedding: Autumn at Montage Deer Valley
Natalie Gorman & Steve Bertram
THE COUPLE
Los Angelenos Steve and Natalie spent many evenings getting to know each other while watching the sunset over the Pacific Ocean from Steve’s terrace. It was that same location where he proposed to Natalie, all the while gazing over the blue sea. “We went to a nice restaurant after the proposal to celebrate, but quickly got back home to sit on the balcony and soak it all in,” Natalie recalls.
THE WEDDING
Steve and Natalie decided on an early autumn wedding in the mountains. “We wanted a location that was upscale, yet laid back, and was central for friends and family to travel,” Natalie says. “I love the mountains in the fall. We wanted a place where Steve’s two sons could explore outside, and we could all have fun as a family.” Without Natalie knowing, Steve called Montage—prior to popping the question—to inquire about open dates. Serendipitously, the Saturday after their first-date anniversary was open. What’s more, the email confirming those dates was sent by a Montage employee named Natalie Stevens (a combination of the couple’s first names). All the stars aligned for an August 26th wedding at Montage Deer Valley.
A Grand Lawn ceremony opened the big day, where Steve walked down the aisle with this two sons, Matthew and Nicholas. The boys took part in the ring ceremony by offering Natalie a diamond band to wear with her engagement ring. “Steve and I also made vows to the boys during the ceremony.”
THE MOOD
“My goal was to achieve a balance of elegance and fun. I kept everything light and airy. We had a speciality cocktail and arranged the seating so it would be easy to socialize. Two large farm tables and our most outgoing friends centered the tent,” Natalie says.
Fresh views, gourmet cuisine, a photo booth, a giant Jenga game, s’mores and a popcorn station entertained guests on the big day. For invitees who could not attend, the wedding was live streamed. “It was special to be able to share our day with them in whatever way we could.”
THE TUNES
The couple danced to the Dixie Chicks’ “Lullaby” sung by the bride’s cousin, Elizabeth Heller. The live band Gold Standard took the mic for big-band music, before the party switched gears to a DJ as the evening progressed. “My stepson Nick took over the dance floor. He does a mean ‘worm’ and made the stage his own, which was incredibly entertaining for everyone,” Natalie says. The bride and her younger sister were the last two dancers to leave the dance floor that evening.
The Details
VENDORS
Photos: Heather Nan | @heathernan
Planner: Fuse Weddings and Events | @fuseweddingsandevents
Catering and venue: Montage Deer Valley, Park City | @montagedeervalley
Flowers: Artisan Bloom | @artisanbloom
Tent and dance floor rentals: Diamond Rental | @diamondeventandtent
Lighting and draping: Moonlight Utah | @moonlightutah
Linen rental: La Tavola | @latavolalinen
Photo booth: Couth Booth | @couthbooth
Rings: RockHer Haute Jewels, Beverly Hills | @rockherjewelry
Invitations: Ann Elizabeth Print Studio | @annelizabethprintstudio
Gown: J. Mendel, Saks Fifth Avenue, Beverly Hills | @j_mendel
Suits: Elevee Custom Clothing, Van Nuys, Calif. |
Bridesmaids’ gowns: Joanna August | @joannaaugust
Entertainment: Gold Standard Music | @goldstandardmusic
Videography: The Brother Martens, Dallas, Texas | @thebrothersmartens
Officiant: Anita Gordon | @revanitagordon
Ogden Grown: Alyssa + Tracy’s Local-Focused Wedding Celebration
A charmingly chic celebration featuring all-Ogden vendors shows off the rustic flair of this mountain-loving couple.
The Couple
Alyssa and Tracy, a pair of introverts, met online. When they finally met up in person, they discovered they had loads in common: they both had family in Kansas, love hiking and the outdoors! Tracy is an avid snowboarder, and Alyssa is a self-proclaimed “bird nerd,” and loves birdwatching in Utah’s mountains.
So it’s only fitting that Tracy proposed on one of their favorite trails in Ogden. It was the first hike the pair ever braved together, and they had taken the trip to the waterfall hideaway in October of 2018 with their dog, Hurley. They raced to the bottom, and when Alyssa turned around to make sure the border collie made it down the mountain okay, she found Tracy on one knee.
“Tracy likes to tell people I said no at first, but I have to correct him,” Alyssa says. “I said ‘Oh Tracy, No!’ as in ‘No Way!’ Of course I said yes!”
THE WEDDING
In August of this year, Tracy and Alyssa tied the knot at a venue close to home, the Fifth Floor in Ogden. The space was right down the street from their apartment, and the couple fell in love with the modern vibe and especially the mountain views. It was the perfect spot to show off their love of Utah to all of their out of town guests. Alyssa’s family came for the wedding all the way from Kansas, and Tracy hails from Wyoming.
“Tracy and I knew we wanted to get married in Ogden. It’s where we met, where we fell in love and where we live!”
When Alyssa was selecting her wedding themes, she knew she wanted something to represent them as a couple. To show off their rustic lifestyle, she selected a palette of steel blue and eucalyptus green, which brought that perfect modern Utah touch to the day’s décor.
She walked down the aisle in an intricately laced gown from Bridal Corner Gowns in North Ogden, toting a strikingly modern blue and white bouquet trimmed with berry accents and dripping with delicate white petals. Tracy’s niece led the way into the ceremony as the flower girl, and the couple officially became “The Lee’s,” flanked by childhood best friends, work pals and siblings, in a ceremony led by Linda Radford.
THE MENU
“Tracy is more of the foodie, so I let him take the lead when it comes to food,” Alyssa says.
The couple simply knew they needed dishes that everyone from grandparents to nephews, vegetarians and every diet in between could enjoy to accommodate all of their guests. They landed on a menu from Union Grill next door to the venue, with parmesan chicken, roast potatoes, grilled vegetables and abundant sides.
Another Ogden favorite, Cupcake Shoppe and Bakery, crafted the affair’s stunningly simple cake. While plain on the outside, the pastry had yet another Utah touch under the icing, with the bakery’s local favorite “Better than Sunshine” chocolate cake.
Scroll on to see the new Lee family become one, and Tracy and Alyssa dance the night away in their newlywedded bliss.
VENDORS
Photography: Moose Studio, Ogden | @moosestudio
Venue: The Fifth Floor | @the5thfloor_ut
Wedding Dress: Bridal Corner Gowns |
Tux: Men’s Wearhouse | @menswearhouse
Hair: Maggie’s Hair and Bridal | @maggieshairandbridal
Catering: Union Grill | @uniongrillogden
DJ: Squawkbox Sound |
Florist: Mitzi at Absolute Flowers, Hutchinson Kansas | @absolutely_flowersandhome
Officiant:Linda Radford | https://lindaradford.com/
Real Wedding: Hometown Greek Orthodox Wedding
Anna Adondakis and Stauss Paulos traditional Greek Orthodox Ceremony made for an unforgettable and far from ordinary backyard bash.
THE COUPLE
Sparks between Anna and Stauss ignited in high school, but the fire didn’t flare until Anna moved back to Utah from Boston College. Four months later, Stauss treated Anna to a downtown date during which he popped the question. It started with a Fleming’s Steakhouse dinner and ended at Grand America Hotel. “The suite was illuminated by candles and roses covered every inch of the floor. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him in front of the outdoor balcony,” Anna recalls. Holiday lights lit up the January snow outside. The next morning, they enjoyed breakfast, followed by a spa date at the Grand Spa.
THE WEDDING
The wedding locale—Anna’s parents’ home—was a no-brainer. “It’s a place of love and safety, a place that has a beautiful creek and view of Mount Olympus and is a place I felt comfortable sharing with 450 of our family and friends,” Anna says of the Sunday nuptials. “We began the festivities Friday night with a welcome dinner and drinks at Tuscany, where we Cretan danced in the outdoor garden and broke plates and glasses to celebrate our union. We hosted our Rehearsal Dinner on Saturday night at Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church. We also held a pre-wedding event in Crete, Greece for the family members that could not make the trip to the United States.”
THE MOOD
Anna’s parents’ lush garden hosted 450 guests—from three different countries and over 13 states—for a traditional Greek Orthodox Ceremony. The ceremony began with the blessing of the crowns during which the duo wore, switching them three times over their heads to symbolize their lives of two becoming entwined into one. Next, the union moved to the blessing of the rings, during which rings are swapped three times between the groom and bride’s fingers to that symbolize that, in married life, the weakness of one partner will be compensated by the strength of the other. Apart, the newly betrothed are incomplete, but together they are made perfect. Cretan accents‑including olive branches—adorned the tables. “The white rose petals reminded me of my favorite, soft, romantic times in Crete,” Anna explains.
THE CUISINE
With both of their families hailing from Crete, Anna and Strauss celebrated a traditional Cretan meal. Hors d’oeuvres included Greek charcuterie, kalizounia (cheese squares), keftedes (Greek-style meatballs), spanikopita (spinach pie) and spicy feta dip. For the main course, guests enjoyed salata with Snuck Farms arugula roast leg of lamb, Cretan pilaf and a local tomatoes, cucumber and feta salad. Sweet tooths nibbled on a gelato trio—olive oil, red wine and chocolate—as well as a bourbon-and-almond wedding cake. Late night partygoers snacked on mini gyros and fries.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT
“The dance floor was full, the music was blasting and I was dancing with my wife,” Strauss recalls. “I couldn’t believe that she was finally my wife. In a crowd of over 450 people, it felt like it was just she and I swaying back and forth.”
The Details
Photography: Sparkle Photography | @sparkle_illuminating
Wedding planner: Soiree Productions | @soireeproductions
Catering: Culinary Crafts | @culinarycrafts
Site: Private Residence, Holladay
Flowers: The Art Floral | @theartfloral
Rentals: Diamond Rental | @diamondeventandtent
Rings: AAA Jewelers | @aaajewelers
Invitations: Ann Elizabeth Print Studio | @annelizabethprintstudio
Gown: The Brides’ Shop | @thebridesshop
Suits: Beckett and Robb | @beckettrobb
Bridesmaids’ gowns: Off White Bridal | @offwhitebride
DJ: Disc Connections |
Videography: Kale Fitch | @kalefitchfilms
Officiant: Metropolitan Ignat
The Boudoir Session: Matching Your Personal Aesthetic
Boudoir can be intimidating, especially if you have a very specific vision in mind. Photographer Heather Nan encourages all brides to do it. “[It can be] a very empowering experience. Brides put a lot of work into their health and body during wedding prep. It’s as great a gift for the bride as it is for the groom.”
But most brides spend just as much time on their wedding plans as they do on their honeymoon-ready beach bod. In this gorgeous, nature-inspired shoot, up-and-coming Utah Wedding Photographer Branson Maxwell proves that putting a bit of aesthetic thought into your boudoir session can leave a big, style-packed impression.
This inspirational shoot at River Bottoms Ranch, complete with both bridal and boudoir sessions, was styled to catch the eye of brides that want a modern, organic look to their wedding. Earthy tones and muddy textures were used to evoke the raw, honest style of the bridal vision. Each of these galleries were carefully designed to bring Mother Nature to the stage, and the ethereal bridal shots brought the look home.
But for the bride that wants her boudoir to match her personal aesthetic to a T, from invitations to table décor, this gallery is the perfect inspiration. We didn’t know such simple, forest-fairy vibes could be so alluring.
Compare this session with it’s companion bridal shoot, published on our site here. The hues both in the décor and dainty nightgown flawlessly mirror their counterpart bridal beauty shots, but embrace lighter, more metallic tones for a sensual allure. Considering including florals in your boudoir? Be sure to match the mood of the bouquet chosen for the big day. Here, Maxwell and his team chose fanning displays of foliage and dried grasses for both sessions, bringing the organic feel from the portraits into the more intimate moments.
The location of all of your photography sessions is another important item of attention when it comes matching moods in your shoots. This team was fortunate to shoot in the same location all in one day, but your average bride may not have that luxury. Besides, who wants to have to hide the groom during the boudoir shoot? If you take your bridals in a mountain meadow, an urban edge setting probably isn’t the best match. Rather, go for a floral-filled studio session! Or, if you have an edgy boudoir session in mind, consider downtown bridals to complement it.
Matching your moods is a surefire way to make your nuptials an affair to be remembered, and one you can look back on over the years with joy because it was simply, quintessentially “you.” Scroll on for more modern boudoir inspiration!
Art Direction + Floral Design – Amber Reverie | @amberreverie | amberreverie.com
Lab Sponsor – The Find Lab | @thefindlab | thefindlab.com
Film Sponsor – Fuji Film | @fujifilm_profilm
Workshop Host – Belle Lumiere Magazine | @BelleLumiereMagazine | bellelumieremagazine.com
Calligraphy + Paper Goods – Plume Calligraphy | @plumecalligraphy | plumecalligraphy.com
Ribbon & Silks – Stella Wolfe | @stellawolfeco | stellawolfe.com
HMUA – Janelle Ingram | @janelleingram | janelleingram.com
Location – River Bottom Ranch | @riverbottomsranch | riverbottomsranch.com
Gold Gown + Veil – Emily Riggs | @emilyriggsofficial | emilyriggsbridal.com
Ring Boxes – The Mrs Box | @the_mrs_box | themrsbox.com
Custom Jewelry – Allie Kirk | @stil.works | etsy.com/shop/stilworksstudio
Cake – Flour and Flourish | @flourandflourish | flourandflourishcake.com
Bridal Model – Lillian Casscells w/ Niya Models | @lilpillily + @niyamodels
Location – River Bottom Ranch | @riverbottomsranch | riverbottomsranch.com
Bridal – Angelica Hedegaard | @angelicahedegaard
Black + White Gown – Emily Riggs | @emilyriggsofficial | emilyriggsbridal.com
Bridal Boudoir – Brie Michalko | @brie_michs
Salt Lake’s Most Chic Small Venues
Frustrated with trying to find an intimate spot for hosting a rehearsal dinner or bridal luncheon? Make like Maklemore and head downtown. Is a hip, industrial space with food options a’plenty your thing? Or do you prefer a funky restaurant with a popular five-star menu? Either way, Mara Marian of Fuse Weddings & Events reveals her top go-to petite party rooms.
Best All-White Historical Gem
Ember SLC, 623 State St., SLC, emberslc.com “Ember is a cool space that could work for a small group of around 30 people,” Marian says. Ember SLC features exposed brick, raw wood beams, a vaulted ceiling and spiral staircase. The 3,700 square foot space inhabits a 100-year-old building, but its high-gloss white walls provide a clean backdrop wide open for modern-day interpretation.
Favorite No-Nonsense Locale
Blended Table, 925 Jefferson Street West, SLC, theblendedtable.com What this light-filled concrete space lacks in frilly furnishings and overstuffed whatnot, it makes up for in bountiful buffets and artful food concoctions. Here, the focus is on the slow-food and just-like-family service, which makes sense considering it’s run by a long-time catering favorite, Blended Table. “It’s a new, cool event space in the Central Ninth neighborhood that would work for any small group.”
Best Modern-Farmhouse Vibe
Tasting Room, 357 W. 200 South #100, SLC, tastingroomslc.com If you know Culinary Crafts’ recently-retired founder Mary Crafts-Homer, you know that in addition to cherishing quality cuisine and exceptional service, she’s an avid outdoorswoman. Fortunately for the downtown scene, the ranch-gal-at-heart and her team offer the same farm-fresh, hearty menu options at this urban venue that they serve elsewhere, from Park City to Provo. Plus, Tasting Room is set inside a downtown loft flaunting exposed brick and hardwood floors. “Tasting Room also works well for closer to 30 guests,” Marian says.
Best Big-City Space
Stanza, 454 E. 300 South, SLC, stanzaslc.com If upscale and metropolitan gets you excited, consider Stanza. Walls of windows call out to guests, “Get inside!” And with a reputable menu—think tapas, pasta, duck and veal—this Italian wine bar is all about a fine dining experience. Here’s another Central City gem offering a cozy private room for 30 seated, and it boasts its own built-in bar. For a larger guest list, the upstairs Mezzanine seats 80 diners and has AV and two big-screen TVs.
Best Neighborhood Joint
Provisions, 3364 S. 2300 East, SLC, slcprovisions.com Tucked into Salt Lake’s Millcreek neighborhood, Provisions serves locally-sourced, in-season, organic cuisine. ”Provisions has this really fun orange floral wallpaper that makes the restaurant really bright and cheery,” Marian says. “They have a small private room with the same wallpaper and really cute windows that allow a lot of natural light inside. It’s a great private space for smaller gatherings of up to a couple dozen guests.”
Best Urban Patio
Current Fish & Oyster, 279 E. 300 South, SLC, currentfishandoyster.com What better way to celebrate love and adoration than dining on everyone’s favorite aphrodisiac: oysters. “Current has a very large patio that would be perfect for a larger group of 50-or-so and also a private space upstairs space inside the restaurant that can also accommodate a large group,” Marian explains. With its downtown locale and subtly-nautical historical renovation, one might think they’re in a hip coastal town like Annapolis, Maryland or Camden, Maine.
We Asked.
You Answered.One thing we know for certain: Our readers get around. Naturally, we headed to our Instagram (@utahbridemag) friends and asked: What are your favorite small-party venues?
“Table X and Market Street at Cottonwood’s patio.” —Sarah Lyman
“The Grand America Lobby is fun for an afternoon tea.” —Amanda Hansen, Decorations Inc.
“One of my favorite spots is the grape-shaded patio at Harbor.” —Janette Eriksen, Salt Lake magazine
“I love Veneto’s outdoor patio or dining room.” —Heidi Ingham, Berkshire Hathaway
“Kimi’s Chop & Oyster House has a private room behind the balcony that is great.” —Juan Guitierrez-Naim, Estilo Salon
“My favorites are Finca, Trio at Cottonwood and Bambara.” —Nora Peterson
Midway Mystic: Tayler + Zach’s Midway, Utah Elopement
A surprise love for an AirBnb property sparked a stunning, simple, greenery-backed bohemian elopement for carefree lovebirds Tayler + Zach.
THE COUPLE
Zach and Tayler got together in what they like to call a “Cinderella Story for Millenials.” They were originally introduced by mutual friends at a bonfire. They didn’t get a chance to exchange numbers that night, but luckily Tayler was able to do some social media sleuthing and find Zach. After she followed him, he slid into her DM’s and the two have been, as they say, attached at the hip ever since. Thanks, Instagram glass slipper!
The couple dated nearly three yeas before getting eng
aged, and decided to seal the deal on their three-year anniversary on the dot.
Zach proposed three weeks before the big day on a drive up to Snow Basin, on a gorgeous scenic overlook. He surprised Tayler by having one of their best friends there to capture the big moment.
THE WEDDING
Tayler and Zach booked an AirBnb in Midway for the wedding day, with the plan to hike to find a ceremony/elopement location. But when the party arrived, they fell in love with the property the lodging was on, and the host was kind enough to let the couple share their vows on-site.
The property offered countless picturesque locations, but Tayler and Zach picked an ivy-covered side building as the backdrop for their intimate ceremony. A close friend of the couple, Nathan Layton, officiated the ring ceremony in front of the parents of the bride + groom. 
“[Nathan] knows us both very well, and has seen our relationship grow from the very beginning,” Tayler said of the close-knit ceremony.
Knowing she wouldn’t have much time to find a gown, Tayler decided to make her own wedding attire with the help of a talented friend: Natalie Workman of Natalie Wynn Design.
With the rushed timeframe, they chose a simple but extremely elegant bohemian design with a tight bodice and gorgeous cascading sleeves. Tayler gave it the flawlessly-fitting description of being full of “Stevie Nicks Vibes.” She topped off her bridal look with a long-stemmed craft flower bouquet arranged by her mother.
With the help of Tory Lynn Photography, this special day turned out to be the perfect way to celebrate the forever union of two best-friends-turned-lovers. Tayler and Zach’s fun-loving and carefree love is evident in each and every shot, making for a delightful, whimsical and breathtakingly beautiful elopement.
Scroll on through for more stunning photos, and don’t be ashamed if you shed a few happy tears. We certainly did!
VENDORS:
Photos: Tory Lynn Photography | @tlphotoartLocation: Midway, Utah.
Real Weddings: Kenzie + Greg’s Cozy Knot + Pine Wedding
After a little over a year of long-distance dating, Kenzie and Greg celebrate their unbreakable love in a cozy, intimate ceremony at Knot & Pine’s perfect barn venue. 
THE COUPLE
These lovebirds met through a mutual friend, and dated online and over the phone for a while before finally meeting up in person. They dated long distance for ten months, at which point Greg surprised Kenzie with a visit, and proposed on one of their favorite walks. Kenzie said yes! 
THE WEDDING
Six months later, on October 4, 2019, they tied the knot with a beautifully rustic wedding at Knot & Pine. Video captured by David Whitaker.
Neither Kenzie nor Greg wanted a big wedding, and with the barn venue, they achieved the intimacy they hoped for, while still celebrating in a gorgeous venue with natural wood settings and towering ceilings and windows. Kenzie selected a rustic fall palette of olive and burgundy, with gold accents and black backdrops, adding depth and charm to the rustic mood of the celebration. 
Kenzie walked down the aisle in a glittering sheath gown from David’s Bridal that glittered magnificently in the venue’s abundant natural light, and said “I Do” while backed by a custom arch hand built by her groom for the big day. The couple were flanked by a small and sweet bridal party with Kenzie’s sister and two of Greg’s best friends: one as the Best Man, and the other as the wedding’s officiant.
“It was so magical to witness Greg seeing Kenzie in her dress for the first time. You couldn’t help but tear up as he grinned from ear to ear and held back tears of his own,” said photographer Erin Shields. “They wrote beautiful vows to one another, even joking about adding more dogs to their family. Kenzie and Greg are a beautiful couple, and I am honored to have captured the love they have for one another on their perfect day!”
THE PARTY
After the vows were complete and Greg had kissed his bride, the guests congregated in the barn for a menu packed with all of the couple’s favorite foods. Kenzie describes herself as “a sucker” for crèpes, so the main dish was a crépe bar filled with sweet and savory options. Greg apparently has a bit of a sweet tooth, so naturally the cuisine included a robust dessert bar as well. All of the food was provided by Kenzie’s aunt, a caterer and chef. The couple also served a lemon wedding cake, baked and decorated by Kenzie’s grandmother.
After dinner, the couple danced the night away with their closest friends and family, in celebration of their brand new union. Both parties love oldies music, so they curated a playlist of songs from the 50’s through the 1990s, and had their first dance to The Beatles’ “In My Life.”
Photographer Erin Shields says that capturing the dancing was her favorite part of the evening: “One of my favorite moments was when “I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” came over the speakers. I was trying to capture everyone dancing with their loved ones, and caught a glimpse of Kenzie and Greg slow dancing in the center of all their guests, as if noone was around them. You could feel the love they had for each other as they looked at one another – it was truly something incredible.”
VENDORS
Photographer: Erin Shields | @shields.photoandfilm
Venue: Knot & Pine | @knotandpine
Floral: Sticks and Stems Floral | @sticks.stems
Gown: David’s Bridal | @davidsbridal
Suits: Men’s Wearhouse | @menswearhouse
Rings: Kay Jewelers | @kayjewelers
Videographer: David Whitaker | @davidwhitaker_
HMUA: Riley Whitaker | @rileyanna_21 @beautybyrii
Cake: Cheri Bentley, grandmother of the bride.
Catering: Stephanie Chischillie, aunt of the bride.
Get Wild: Garden Floral Inspiration for the Big Day
From-the-garden inspiration for the big day
No one knows Utah wildflowers better than La Fleur’s Natalie Bernhisel-Robinson. Long before brides selected wedding blooms beyond roses, this floral designer and published author of “The Living Wreath” was peddling her signature style focused on fresh-from-the-mountainside blooms. What’s her secret? “I incorporate blooms and herbs from my own garden,” Robinson says. “Not only do cut native blooms last longer than others, but they also represent Utah’s natural beauty for locals and destination brides alike.”
What’s flourishing in her designs this year? Color. And lots of it. “It’s refreshing to see couples using bright hues after years of only seeing white, green and blush. I recently had a groom wearing a bright blue suit with a flamingo-colored tie. Weddings in 2019 will be brighter.”
Don’t overlook fragrance. “Every time I pin on a boutonniere with herbs, they ask, ‘What’s that scent?’” she says. Robinson recommends floral designs incorporating a variety of herbs like rosemary and lavender in the summer or blooming mint and oregano in the fall. “These are perfect for venues like Log Haven, Deer Valley’s Empire Canyon Lodge and Sundance.”
Paper with Petal Power
Even paper gets into the blooming game. The expert stationers at Tabula Rasa take their craft seriously with lines of fine invitations and thank you cards. Let loose with these petal-printed envelope liners to delight unsuspecting recipients.
Taste the Blooms
Not literally, of course. Floral designer Natalie Robinson’s love of flowers goes even deeper with her wine selections. Both bottles showcase two of Robinson’s favorite untamed blooms: sweet peas and blooming clover.
Head Gear
Looking for a head wreath that’s more glam than gardener? Go for a gilded one, like this headpiece designed by party-planner Allison Baddley of La Fête. She worked with hair and makeup artist Lesley Lind to create a wildflower look straight off Paris Fashion Week’s runway.
Hunting for more floral design inspiration? Check out all our pretty bouquets here.