A perfectly rustic celebration at Solitude Mountain proves the perfect fit for two east coast mountain lovers. 

THE COUPLE 

Photos by Grey Giraffe Photography.

Coworkers-turned-lovers, Jaime and Danny nurtured their love for two and a half years before getting engaged atop a snowy peak in the Cascade Mountain range. Danny got down on one knee after leading his soon-to-be bride-to-be across a frozen lake, balancing on floating logs to get to the other side.

The mountain obsessed couple began their hunt for the perfect outdoor destination venue, and finally landed on Solitude Resort. Danny is from Seattle and Jaime from New Jersey, so Utah was a fairly central point for all traveling parties. “Solitude Mountain was the last venue we looked at during our weekend in Salt Lake City, and we knew within minutes it was our spot,” says Jaime. “They only had one date available, so as we left we looked at each other and said at the same moment: ‘I guess we’re getting married on the 24th of August!'”

THE WEDDING 

Sure enough, on August 24, 2019, two families came together for the celebration of Jaime and Danny’s big day. Guests congregated at a stunning ceremony setup at the top of Solitude’s Moonbeam lift, which the wedding party used to transport them, in pairs, to the aisle.

Danny and his groomsmen (as well as his sister Rachael, acting as “best man”) arrived first, followed by the bridesmaids and finally the bride herself, escorted up the lift and down the aisle by her father. They arrived at a small arbor bedecked with winding, rustic florals by Evergreen & Ivy, the men in grey suits and maids in dark gowns. The bride glided in wearing a thick-strapped Justin Alexander gown with a flowing train and sporting a simply cream bouquet to complement the simple grey and navy palette. 

After a touching ceremony led by a sister in law (leaving not a dry eye on the mountain), Danny and Jaime used the lift as a “getaway car” back down to the reception location, “Just Married” sign and all. 

THE PARTY

The afterparty was equally rustic and entirely envy-inducing.

Guests celebrated with toasts and a luncheon (normal wedding fare by Solitude Mountain Resort, including butternut squash soup and several entrée options), as well as a cornhole tournament and a night of dancing (trying to keep up with Jaime in her glitter-encrusted Keds). Neither Jaime nor Danny like cake, so they instead opted for a s’mores bar, contributing just another factor to their outdoorsy vibes.

On the wedding, Jaime:

“We are 100% biased, but our wedding was perfection. Planning a wedding from afar (we live in DC) is a scary thing. All of our vendors were not only timely and responsive, but constantly reminded us about the magic of Utah. We sincerely enjoyed the opportunity to encourage our guests to travel and celebrate with us in a new spot.”

Scroll on for more rustic nuptial inspiration from Jaime and Danny’s perfect mountainside celebration:

VENDORS

Photographer: Grey Giraffe Photography | @greygiraffephotography
Floral: Evergreen & Ivy | @evergreenivy
HMUA: Shar Mitchell | @shar.mitchell.hair
Gown: Justin Alexander | @justinalexander
Suits: Amazon
Venue/Catering: Solitude Mountain Resort | @solitudemountain

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/

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